Looking after your child’s teeth is vitally important. Did you know tooth decay is the biggest reason for general anaesthetic procedures in children in Wales.
Just because baby (milk) teeth eventually fall out and are replaced does not mean they don’t need to be looked after. Looking after your baby’s teeth has so many positives:
- Instills an importance of their teeth which will last a lifetime
- Prevents pain
- Prevents unnecessary general anaesthetic surgery
- Maintains space lowering the risk of permanent crowding
- When adult teeth do erupt it is less likely to be painful
When should I start brushing my baby’s teeth?
As soon your little one’s first teeth come through you should start using a small headed soft brush or even a finger brush.
What toothpaste should I use for my baby?
Children under 3 years old should use a toothpaste containing no less that 1000ppm Fluoride (Sodium Fluoride). A small smear on the brush is plenty to begin with. Do not rinse out the toothpaste, just spit out the excess foam.
What toothpaste should I use for my Child?
Children over 3, all the way to adults over 103, should be using a toothpaste containing 1350-1450ppm Fluoride (Sodium Fluoride or Stannous Fluoride). Children 3-6 should use a pea sized amount of toothpaste. Do not rinse out the toothpaste, just spit out the excess foam.
How often should I brush my Child’s teeth?
Children and Adults should brush their teeth twice a day, with the most important being last thing at night, before bed with nothing to eat or drink (other than water) after this time. This allows the Flouride to protect the teeth overnight when your natural protection – saliva – is reduced. You should also brush teeth at another point in the day.
Can my child brush their own teeth?
Can my child brush their own teeth?No, they should be helped brushing their teeth until they are at least 8 years old. Children’s little hands do not have the manual dexterity to do all of the teeth.
Can my child use an electric toothbrush?
Yes. Oral B make a “stages” toothbrush range and the 3+ model is what we use in our house for my son Noah. We have been using it since he was 2 and he prefers it to his manual brush.
When should I take my child to the dentist?
As soon as your babies first teeth come through you should start bringing them to the dentist. These appointments are good for picking up any problems early, and for positive acclimatisation to the dental setting that will hopefully result in them not having dental anxiety when they grow up.
When will my baby get their first tooth?
Your baby will most likely start teething, and their first teeth coming through at around 6 months.
| Feel free to download our baby teeth eruption guide : |  |
When will my child start loosing their baby teeth and getting adult teeth?
Your child will start naturally losing their baby teeth at around 6 years old and more will continue to be lost until around 12 years old. These will be replaced by their adult teeth.
| Feel free to download our adult teeth eruption guide: | |
- We are very lucky in Wales to have Designed to Smile which is a national oral health improvement programme for children. There are other resources on their website which you may find helpful.
- Other things you can do to improve the oral health of your child would be to reduce sugar intake, healthy bedtime routine and regular fluoride varnish application at your dentist. I will cover these in follow up blog posts over the coming weeks.
If you have any questions about your child’s teeth or want to book them an appointment please do not hesitate to contact the surgery either by phone or by email.
