Tips for Parents

There is little more pleasing to see than the smiling face of a child. Parents go to great lengths to keep their children happy and healthy. And a healthy smile is an important part of overall health. Parents can play a key role in helping to make dental care a part of their child’s daily routine.

Here are some tips to help parents encourage good dental habits:
• Start early—teach even your young children the importance of taking good care of their teeth.
• Have your child brush his teeth at least twice each day, for at least two minutes—the simple 2 for 2 plan. use a soft bristle toothbrush—one to fit your child’s size
• Place a match-head amount of fluoridated toothpaste on your child’s brush. Children up to age 8 need help with good tooth brushing.
• Have your child spit out toothpaste after brushing, but not rinse with water, that way some of the fluoride stays on the teeth for added protection.
• Remind children to reach back far enough to clean those important six-year molars—they’re meant to last a lifetime.
• Once your child’s teeth touch each other, floss every day. Children up to age 12 need help with flossing. have your child wear a mouth guard when playing contact sports.
• Take your child to the dentist every 6-9 months. talk to your dentist about putting sealants on the chewing surfaces of your child’s permanent molars.
• Set a good example by brushing and flossing your own teeth properly
• Good eating habits are important for your child’s overall health and for strong, healthy teeth.

Not “JUST” Baby Teeth

A smile is a baby’s way of reaching out to people. Even toothless, a baby’s smile has the power to make people feel good. Something that precious needs care and attention right from day one.
Sometimes that care is overlooked during a child’s early years. The idea that “they’re only baby teeth” leaves an impression that they are unimportant. This is very much incorrect. Baby teeth need as much attention as permanent teeth.

An important note for babies and toddlers, is never ever put your baby to bed feeding on a bottle, this leads to rampant dental decay and destruction of the teeth. If it is water it is ok, but anything else is just a major problem coming.

Consider that:

-Baby teeth remain in a child’s mouth until about age 10 or 12, Baby teeth help a child eat and speak,
-Cavities in baby teeth can cause pain and discomfort for a child,
-A baby tooth that is lost too early can cause crooked adult teeth,
-Extensive dental treatment on a young child can be expensive and upsetting, leaving a child anxious about future dental visits. Treatment may also have to be done in a hospital under general anaesthetic. This poses a health risk,
-A child feels good and proud of a healthy smile.

Know your child’s teeth

Dental care starts at home. In fact, during those important first years, few children ever see a dentist. Checkups at home can help spot problems early and they are easy to do. The first step is to know when to expect teeth to appear. Most parents are well aware of when the front teeth come in, but many lose track when it comes to the molars in the back. Molar care is very important because of the grooves and cracks that easily trap small pieces of food. Children will need help with reminders of proper molar care.
It is worth taking a few minutes regularly to inspect your child’s teeth. You may notice a white spot, a dark area or even a hole in a tooth. These could be early signs of a problem and should be checked by a dentist.

Teething remedies

There are a number of remedies available when teething makes a baby fretful. Chewing or biting usually provides relief. Try offering unsalted breadsticks or crackers to your infant. Approved commercial teething rings are also useful. Avoid the teething beads they can become dislodged and cause suffication.

Avoid giving teething biscuits or cookies to your baby. They contain sugar and can cause tooth decay.

Don’t use teething gels or ointments unless your doctor or dentist agrees. These medications can be harmful to your baby’s health if they are applied too often.

Pacifiers / Thumb sucking

The need to suck is natural for an infant. A pacifier may satisfy this need. Use of a pacifier is fine after six weeks of age, if breastfeeding is going well.
NEVER dip the pacifier in sugar, honey or a sweetener. It can lead to tooth decay.
Thumb sucking; it is preferable to not have thumb sucking but before the age of two it is ok. Sucking offers your child comfort and it is a natural need. If it continues after the age of two it can lead to significant teeth malpositioning.

Cleaning toddlers teeth

Teeth need to be cleaned regularly no matter how young the child. In the beginning, a piece of gauze or a clean face cloth can be used to simply wipe the teeth clean. As the child grows, it becomes much easier to use a soft, infant-sized toothbrush. This is particularly important once molars have come in.

It is difficult for young children to clean their teeth properly. Parents will need to help until they feel confident that the child can clean all the hard to reach areas, such as the top and bottom molars at the back of the mouth. Young children should be encouraged to practice brushing their own teeth, too! It is best if they use only a very small amount (match head size) of toothpaste on the toothbrush. Make sure it is child strength toothpaste. Children should be taught to spit out, not swallow, the toothpaste. I recommend parents clean their childrens teeth once a day until the age of 7-8 years of age, your child can clean their teeth themselves the ther time in the day. From the age of about 3-4 the ritual of cleaning their teeth twice a day should be encouraged as this just builds better ghabits for later on.

Young children learn best by imitation. Brushing together can become part of the daily routine. Habits set early, when a child is eager to copy, are easier to maintain. Here are a few tips to get things off to a good start.

– Make tooth brushing time fun, use a brushing chart, I like the use of elcetric toothbrushes as young children tend to enjoy the feeling, they also have timers play music etc.
– Bedtime is the best time for brushing but not always the best time to gain your child’s cooperation, pick another time. A thorough cleaning once a day is recommended.
– If your child does not like the toothpaste, try another brand. As long as the toothpaste contains fluoride and is recommended for children, it is fine.

Pit and fissure sealants

Fluoride toothpaste offers surface protection to teeth every time a child brushes. Fluoride is particularly effective for fighting the decay that starts on the smooth surfaces of teeth. Pit and fissure sealants are effective on the chewing surfaces of bumpy molars, the teeth that provide the grinding force to chew food into small pieces. The grooves in these molars are often deep and narrow, making it difficult and sometimes impossible for the toothbrush bristle to reach all areas. At the same time young children also lack the dexterity to brush these hard to reach areas. Left undisturbed, bacteria in these areas generate an acid that can dissolve the enamel layer of the tooth, creating a cavity. These teeth are so hard to keep clean that they are the site of 88 per cent of all cavities despite the fact that molar teeth represent only 12 per cent of our tooth structure.
The best way to prevent tooth decay in these molars is to seal the pits and fissures. It is recommended that sealants be put on six year old and 12-year molars as soon as they erupt to prevent cavities in these teeth. Children and teens who have deep and narrow pits and fissures, previous decay in other teeth, or decay in enamel on molar teeth are considered most at risk for cavities.
The process is reasonably simple, painless and cost effective. A dentist paints the sealant on to the tooth and it flows into the pits and crevices to bond with the enamel. No dental anaesthetic is needed and no healthy tooth material is removed.

Encourage Good Eating Habits

Good eating habits are important for your child’s overall health and for strong, healthy teeth. Keep these tips in mind:

– Encourage your child to choose healthy snacks, and discuss their choices. Teeth-friendly snacks include fresh fruit and vegetables, cheese, crackers, popcorn, nuts, and yoghurt. Snacks high in sugar or starch can cause cavities especially if eaten often and left to stay on the teeth. Raisins or other dried fruit, rice marshmallow squares, cookies, chips, granola bars, and fruit roll ups are best eaten as desserts rather than snacks
– Offer plain water for thirst between meals
– Sweets may be offered occasionally-just to be sure that teeth are brushed after they are eaten

It’s important for children and adults alike to eat a well-balanced diet and avoid excessive snacking between meals-especially sticky, sweet things like candy. You can encourage your child’s good eating habits by giving them a good example to follow.