Last Updated on 18th September 2019
Many children find brushing their teeth difficult and often miss those hard to reach teeth at the back of their mouths. At Evesham Dental Health Team in Broadway Road, we advise parents to keep a close eye on their children’s brushing techniques at least until they are seven years old and encourage them to brush twice a day for two minutes using a fluoride toothpaste.
We recommend that mums and dads brush their teeth at the same time to lead by example and illustrate good brushing actions – but make sure you are teaching them wisely. Ask your dentist or hygienist for a tooth brushing master-class to make sure you aren’t passing on bad habits!
Please remember to check that your children’s toothpaste has the right quantities of fluoride as some can be found to be lacking. Children up to three years old should use toothpaste with a fluoride level of at least 1000ppm (parts per million). Three-year-olds (and adults) should use one that contains 1350ppm to 1500ppm. Children should use a pea-sized amount on their toothbrush and babies just a smear.
Help prevent decay
Nationally, some 27 per cent of children starting school have tooth decay and a third of children aged 12 have visible dental decay*. Thankfully, this is not the case for our young patients at EDHT! It’s very unusual for our child patients to get cavities because we provide excellent preventive measures and a very strong oral health message. The latest research has found that visiting the dentist annually reduces the risk of tooth decay by 60 per cent*.
As well as regular brushing and frequent visits to your dentist, there is another way to help prevent decay in children’s mouths – applying sealants can protect the biting surfaces of the teeth.
Easier to clean
These are known as pit or fissure sealants and they work by filling the tiny crevices in the back teeth with a protective plastic barrier that makes the tooth surface smoother and the teeth easier to clean. A smooth surface means it is more difficult for food and bacteria to get stuck in the ‘pits’ and therefore helps prevent decay from starting.
Applying a fissure sealant is painless and the tooth will feel the same afterwards. Sealants can last for many years but they do need checking by a dentist to ensure the seal hasn’t been damaged and that no decay can form underneath. Sealants can be applied as soon as the adult teeth have come through, usually between the ages of 6 and 7.
Help your child avoid becoming one of the 84 per cent of all adults who have at least one or more filling* – speak to your dentist about fissure sealants.
* British Dental Health Foundation: click here for some more amazing facts
