Five Key Tips For Healthy Kid’s Teeth

Start your child’s oral care right to give them the best chance of strong and healthy teeth throughout life.

It is fair to say that parents usually want the best for their children. It is for this reason that we encourage them to do well at school so that they can get a good job at the end of it, and the same reason that we try to steer them away from harmful things that they might be tempted by, even if we made the same mistakes ourselves! The same should apply to the way that we help and encourage them to have healthy teeth. Poor quality teeth can have a real impact on them as the years go by.

Good oral health care for children isn’t just about avoiding them being in pain with a toothache, but to help them have healthy teeth and gums. The latter is also important, not just because it is associated with tooth loss, but research has indicated that there may be links between periodontal disease and other illnesses such as heart disease, strokes and Alzheimer’s, among others.

So, how can our Canterbury patients do this? We offer some advice below that we think will help.

Early beginnings

Good oral health care should start very early on. Even though a baby will have no teeth for a while, it is a good idea to gently wipe their gums with a clean damp soft cloth. This will help to remove bacteria and sugars from milk etc from their gums. It will also help to familiarise them with the feeling of having cleaning carried out within the oral cavity. Once their teeth start to come through, you should clean their teeth gently for them with a soft toothbrush.

Education

As children grow a little, it is a good time to start to talk to them about looking after their teeth. There is no need to scare them with this and there are plenty of books and online videos that can help to educate them, while allowing them to have fun as well.

A good tip here is also to check that you are brushing your own teeth well. This is important and not just for your own oral health. Children often copy what we do, even if they don’t know it. Bad habits such as brushing too briefly and rinsing the mouth with water can easily be picked up by them. Talk to the hygienist at Bradley and Partners Dental & Implant Clinic who will help to get you back on track and help to guide your young children towards good teeth cleaning habits too.

Supervision

For a while, you should clean their teeth for them. Eventually, they are likely to resist and want to do this themselves. You shouldn’t try to stop them (unless they are obviously too young) and allow them to do this themselves. You should make sure that you supervise them though and correct them where they are doing something wrong. Make sure to time their actual brushing time as they will probably spend a good part of it talking, singing or generally fooling around. Teach them too, not to rinse their mouth with water as this washes away the fluoride from the toothpaste which is so important for strong and healthy teeth and will help to avoid painful toothaches!

Once they have reached a certain age, try to encourage them to floss as well. This can be tricky for children especially, so gentle perseverance might be needed.

Dietary advice

Children are going to eat sugar, and probably a lot of it. All you can do is to do your best to help them avoid this. You may have less control when they are not at home but you can make sure to restrict sugary ‘treats’ within the home. Similarly, if you pack a lunch for them when they start school, make sure it includes a large proportion of tooth friendly foods and snacks. If they take a drink to school, remember that water is by far the best drink for their teeth and will help to keep them hydrated as well.

Professional dental care

Taking your children to the dentist should start at around one year old. Treatment is unlikely at this age but it is useful to help us offer advice to the parent to improve the child’s oral health care. It is also believed that early attendance helps children to be less worried about seeing a dentist as they grow older as well. This is important as far too many adults suffer from poor oral health due to dental anxiety. Our dentists are experienced in helping younger patients to relax, and if you yourself are avoiding treatment for this reason, please talk to us about our IV sedation options.

As children grow older, they may resist going to the dentist more. This is a stage where you may have to more strongly encourage them, whether this be through insisting that they go, or perhaps even with a gentle ‘bribe’ of a trip to the cinema afterwards or similar. Getting them into this good habit will pay dividends as they grow up. You should also encourage them to see our Canterbury dental hygienist as well as this is important to keep their gums in good health.

Being a parent can be challenging and busy too. Don’t neglect your children’s teeth though, whether this is their ‘baby teeth’ or when their adult teeth come through. If you need any advice, we are here to help, and for that, or to book an appointment for your children, or yourself, please call the Bradley and Partners Dental & Implant Clinic on 01227 463529.