How do I take care of my child's teeth?

kids brushing

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Dental check up

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You can take care of your child's teeth by:

-making sure they brush their teeth regularly -taking them to the dentist regularly -avoiding sugary foods and drinks such as soft or fizzy drinks and sweetened juices

Brushing your child's teeth:

Brushing your child's teeth is an important part of their daily routine so they continue the healthy habit as they get older. Start to brush your baby's teeth using a baby toothbrush as soon as their teeth begin to come through. Your child's teeth should be brushed twice a day: last thing at night before bed and at least one other time. The amount of toothpaste used depends on your child's age. For children under three years, use a smear or thin film of toothpaste that covers less than three-quarters of the brush. For children aged three to six, use no more than a pea-sized blob of toothpaste. When your child has finished brushing, encourage them to spit out the toothpaste that's left, but not to rinse their mouth with water or mouthwash. Children younger than six should not use a mouthwash. Don't let your child eat or lick toothpaste from the tube. Help your child to brush their teeth, or supervise them until they're at least seven years old.

Visiting the dentist :

Take your child to the dentist when their first milk teeth appear. Your child should have regular dental check-ups as often as your dentist recommends. Do not bring your child to dentist only when problem arises as the visit may be traumatic and may create permanent fear in your child.

Sugar causes tooth decay :

Tooth decay is caused by the amount of sugar in sweet food and drinks, and how often teeth come into contact with sugar. Swap sugary drinks such as squash and fizzy drinks for water, lower-fat milks, diet, sugar-free and no-added-sugar drinks instead. You should also limit fruit juice and smoothies to a small (150ml) glass a day. Remember to limit fruit juices to mealtimes as they can cause tooth decay. Watch out for drinks that say "juice drink" on the pack as they are unlikely to count towards your 5 A DAY and can be high in sugar. Cutting down on sugar :

Try cutting down how often your child has sugary food and drinks by limiting sugary foods to mealtimes. Your child shouldn't have food and drink with added sugar more than three times a day. Drinks containing sugars – including natural fruit juices, milkshakes, smoothies and no-added-sugar cordials that can be diluted – should be avoided between meals. Water or milk should be given instead. For children aged up to three years, don't add sugar to their weaning foods when you introduce them to solids. If your child needs medicine, ask your pharmacist or GP if a sugar-free version is available.

Follow these tips, your child will be rewarded with strong and healthy teeth!