Top Ten Tips for Healthy Teeth in Children – Keep Your Kids Teeth in Perfect Condition
- Bring your child for their first dental visit soon after the first teeth erupt, ideally at age 1.
- Brush your child’s teeth twice a day with a small amount of toothpaste containing at least 1000 ppm fluoride.
- Use a good quality soft nylon bristle toothbrush with a small head. Don’t forget to change your toothbrush regularly, before the bristles start to splay.
- Spit don’t rinse after tooth brushing.
- Avoid eating sugary sweets or snacks between meals. Healthy alternatives include raw vegetables, yogurt, cheese & fresh fruit (although not dried fruit like raisins: they stick to teeth like toffee!).
- Beware of hidden sugars in savoury foods. Keep in mind that ‘sugar’ can also be called sucrose, glucose, fructose, dextrose or corn syrup.
- Plain milk and water are the only safe drinks for children’s teeth. Remember that even juice labelled ‘no added sugar still contains fruit sugars which can be harmful to kid’s teeth. If you offer your child juices, restrict these to mealtimes only. Avoid carbonated fizzy drinks.
- Don’t given babies a bottle containing milk, formula or juice in bed; the sugars in these drinks can stay in the mouth for prolonged periods causing rapid tooth decay. Remember “fed then bed” not the other way around!
- Always wear a mouth guard when playing active sports. A custom made mouth guard offers better tooth protection than a shop-bought one.
- Visit your dentist regularly.
