10 tips to protect toddlers' teeth

One of the main reasons children in the early years are admitted to hospitals in the UK is to have teeth extracted, due to decay. By the time they reach 5 years of age, a quarter of children in the UK have tooth decay. This costs around £836 per child and burdens our NHS, but, with the right dental and dietary habits, is very much preventable. Clearly we are letting our children down by not encouraging healthy eating and dental habits. In my work in childhood obesity prevention, I certainly see an overlap between poor oral health and a damaging diet, and sugary foods and drinks play a key role in both. Healthy teeth are essential to help children learn to chew, crunch and bite into food, so dentistry and dietetics overlap when it comes to promoting a healthful smile.*

Here are some tips to keep your child’s smile healthy.

1. Snack Right:

Every time we eat sugary foods, like jam, or drink sweetened beverages, like cola, the bacteria in our mouths produce an acid that attacks our teeth. The more frequently we eat these foods, the more our teeth are exposed to these acidic assaults. Keep sugary foods to a minimum and do not serve them at snack times, to minimise frequency. Foods to avoid at snack time include: jams, biscuits, cakes, chocolate bars and confectionary. Savoury snacks like rice cakes, breadsticks, flat bread with hummus, bread with cream cheese. Fruit, though sweet, is acceptable at snack time, but dried fruit, tinned fruit or fruit purees should only be served with meals.

1. Drink it up:

Water and milk are the only drinks children need, and are definitely the only drinks that should be served at snack time. If you want to give them fruit juice, dilute it with water so it’s a 50:50 concentration of juice and water. Smoothies, like juice, should only served with a main meal, not snack, and the serving size should not exceed 150 mls. Ideally soft drinks, cordials and squash shouldn’t be introduced to toddlers, but if you choose to let them have these drinks they should only be consumed very rarely. Never send your child to bed with a bottle full of juice, no matter how comforting you think that might be. From 1 year, children can drink from a cup and bottle feeding should be ceased.

1. The first tooth:

You should start brushing your child’s teeth as soon as the first tooth comes through, which is usually at 6 months of age.

1. Supervise: According to the NHS guidance, parents should supervise their children brushing their teeth till they are at least 7 year old. Children don’t usually have the dexterity required to floss completely independently till they are at least 10 or 11 years of age.

Always make sure they brush their teeth or you do so for them, before bed, and one other time of the day, for two minutes.

1. Buy the right stuff: Whilst I’ve certainly never seen many people scrutinising the toothpaste labels I the supermarket, we really should, as there are toothpastes out there that are too low in fluoride to afford adequate protection against decay. Look for toothpastes with a minimum of 1000 ppm. For maximum protection buy toothpaste with 1350-1500 ppm fluoride and a toothbrush with a small head and medium bristles. It’s acceptable to use a manual or electric toothbrush.

1. Less is more: Don’t give children the same amount of toothpaste that you use. If they are under 3, they only need a smear. Children over the age of three need a pea sized amount of toothpaste.

1. Believe baby teeth matter: “Does it even matter? They are just baby teeth, right?” is a very common response from parents when discussing their child’s oral health. Whilst they will ultimately fall out, baby teeth play a vital role in fostering good nutrition by enabling them to chew properly. Baby teeth also play a key role in your child’s speech development and, of course, a pleasant smile and mouth full of healthy, clean teeth promotes healthy self esteem.

1. Follow the rule of two: Teach children to brush for two minutes two times a day, with one of these times being just before bed, sot he fluoride can work to protect your child’s teeth during sleep.

1. Take your child to the dentist regularly, even if you’re afraid of the dentist: You should first take your child to the dentist when heir first tooth erupts (which, as previously mentioned, typically occurs at 6 months of age) . It gets children familiar with the dentist form a young age and makes them less likely to be fearful when they are older. Visit regularly, as per your dentist’s recommendations. In the UK, dental visits are free for children, so you won’t be out of pocket. If you yourself are fearful of the dentist, try not to make that apparent to your child as you don’t want your fear affecting them too. He dentist can give you tips on how to brush your child’s teeth.

1. Brush off bad habits:

Many of us grew up rinsing our mouths with water after brushing, but this is actually bad practice, as we rinse away the fluoride protection. Instead, we should spit out the toothpaste, without rinsing. Nor should we use a mouthwash or drink water immediately after brushing. Another habit to brush off, is wetting the toothbrush before we brush, as it dilutes the fluoride. We don’t want children picking up these, or other, bad habits, so it’s a good idea to chat to your dentist to ensure you’ve got the right routine.

Teach your children the right habits, from the start, and they will grow up with a routine of treating their teeth well throughout their lives and you’ll get to see their healthy smile everyday.

* While I’ve used the most up-to-date national oral health guidance to write this article, remember your dentist is the best source of advice when it comes to brushing and flossing and your child’s oral health.