Dental health is important for children to have a happy and healthy smile. It is important to look after children’s teeth as soon as they start erupting.

It is important to start a good oral hygiene regime from a young age to prevent gum disease and tooth decay, forming good habits for life.

Tooth Decay

Dental decay occurs when plaque forms on the tooth surface and converts the sugar in our diet (food/drinks) into acid. These acids destroy the tooth over a period causing tooth decay.

Tooth decay can appear as a frosty white appearance on the tooth initially, as the lesion progresses it can turn yellow, brown, or black with a visible hole.

Tooth decay can lead to pain and infections, which can result in tooth loss.

Preventing Tooth Decay

• Tooth decay can be prevented in several ways including:
• Brushing teeth twice a day using an age-appropriate fluoridated toothpaste
• Drinking tap water (as it contains small amounts of fluoride)
• A healthy balanced diet
• Limiting sweet drinks and treats to main meal times
• Attending regular dental check-ups every 6 months
• Preventative fissure seals completed at the dentist

Children’s Teeth

Usually, the first tooth cuts through the gum between 6-12 months old, the first teeth to cut through are the front incisors. Babies usually continue teething until around two years of age with 20 baby teeth erupting.

Baby teeth are important to maintain space within the child’s mouth as they continue to grow. Children start to lose their first tooth around 5-6 years of age and the last baby tooth falling out at around 12 years of age.

Children get additional permanent molars at 6 years old that erupt behind the last baby tooth, then then get another set of permanent molars at 12 years old. And finally, as a young adult the wisdom teeth may erupt anywhere from 16 years old up into the 20’s. Not everyone has wisdom teeth and not everyone’s wisdom teeth erupt into the mouth.

Teeth cleaning for babies

It is important to clean babies teeth with a soft wet cloth and introduce a toothbrush with water only once the first tooth erupts.

Teeth cleaning for children

From the age of 18 months, you can start using a low-fluoride toothpaste when you brush your child’s teeth, encouraging them to learn to spit out the toothpaste.

It is important to help younger children, up until the age of 8 years old with their brushing. Dexterity is still developing, and children need assistance to complete this task properly.

After 8 years old, children should have some supervision to ensure they are brushing their teeth properly.

Tips for Toothbrushing

• Brush teeth twice per day – Morning and night time for at least 2 minutes
• Use an age-appropriate fluoridated toothpaste. Encourage spitting the toothpaste out and not rinsing with water. This allows the toothpaste to continue protecting the teeth.
• Use circular motions to brush the gums as well as the teeth
• Brush the tongue to avoid bad breath
• Floss between teeth that are touching, children should be supervised
• Replace toothbrushes every 3 months
• Remember to only brush the teeth that you want to keep!!