Last Updated on 7th December 2015
Children are born free from dental disease, yet by adulthood 95% of the population has active gum disease and many people have experienced some tooth decay and even tooth loss. Our Evesham dentists believe that dental disease can be prevented.
In order to maintain a healthy mouth and confident smile for life it is essential that effective dental care starts early. Families at Evesham Dental Health Team on Broadway Road are encouraged to bring their children to us for their initial visit as soon as their first tooth appears. Regular dental visits are vital for maintaining long-term dental health to help keep mouths free from tooth decay and gum disease.
By teaching children the most effective brushing techniques from a young age, they will take these skills into adulthood.
When to start brushing
Our advice is start early! Clean your babies gums from birth and as soon as their first tooth appears introduce your child to a toothbrush and toothpaste. Children up to three years old should use a toothpaste with a fluoride level of at least 1,000ppm (parts per million), after that we should all use toothpaste that contains 1,350ppm – 1,500ppm. Children should use a pea-sized amount on their toothbrush and babies just a smear.
How to brush babies’ teeth
Babies love putting things in their mouths, so hopefully they will automatically attempt to put their toothbrush in there too. Make this time fun and if all they want to do is chew on the brush to start with, let them.
Make small circular movements with the brush, covering all tooth surfaces. Parents can also brush their teeth at the same time as their child to encourage a good brushing style. Brush the teeth twice a day and keep an eye on your child’s technique until they can be trusted to brush thoroughly on their own, at around eight years old.
Fluoride
Fluoride occurs naturally in some food and drinks, such as tea, and can help prevent tooth decay. Fluoride in toothpaste is very effective at reducing decay and in 10% of the population has fluoride added to the water supply. Spit don’t rinse after brushing, to let the beneficial ingrediants in toothpaste bathe the teeth for longer.
Three top tips
Cut down on sugar
Sugar causes tooth decay. It is not the amount of sugar in food and drink that matters but, more importantly, how often there are sugary things in the mouth. Sweet drinks (especially those in a bottle or with a sports cap), sweets and lollipops are particularly bad because the teeth are bathed in sugar for a considerable time. Ask us about our Xylitol sweets that are a healthier natural alternative to sugar.
Limit sweet foods and juice to mealtimes
Fruit juice contains natural sugars that can cause decay, so limit it to mealtimes. Milk and water are best between meals.
Sweets and chocolate
Encourage savoury tastes wherever possible but when eating sweets and chocolate do so in one sitting, rather than spreading them through the day, so that the teeth are not exposed to sugar as frequently.
If you have any concerns about the health of your child’s mouth, all you have to do is call and we will do all we can to help.
