How to care for your children’s teeth with tips from our dentist

Taking care of your children’s teeth is no small matter. A child who has a lot of tooth decay is likely to need surgery to have teeth removed, which can cause issues with tooth alignment later in life. In this instance, prevention is better than cure, but it can be hard for parents to ensure that their children are looking after their teeth.

At Family Dental Care, our dentist in Doncaster East is a firm advocate of educating children and their parents on how to maintain teeth, to prevent issues such as tooth decay and gum disease, while also providing top-quality orthodontic care when needed.

So, what are some other things you can do to ensure that your child has good oral health? Here are some tips from our dentist in Doncaster East.

Early check-ups

Many people assume that a child who does not have teeth in their mouth does not need to see our dentist in Doncaster East. If your baby has not had their teeth erupt by the age of 12 months, you should still bring them in to see our team. This will get them used to the dental surgery as a whole, along with the noises and the routine of a dental check-up. This has been found time and time again to prevent dental aversion in later life, leading to a healthier mouth all around.

High fluoride toothpaste

A child’s toothpaste is naturally lower in fluoride due in part to issues that can occur relating to swallowing. You should always aim to ensure that your children are using the highest fluoride toothpaste that they can to keep their teeth and gums healthy. You should always supervise children who are under the age of seven when they are brushing their teeth to prevent them from swallowing dental products too.

Limit sugars

You should always aim to limit your child’s access to sugars, especially in sodas and chocolate. But, particularly for younger children, there may be sugars in what they are consuming that you may not be aware of. If your child still takes naps during the day and is given a bottle full of milk to help them sleep, this will contain lactose which will (given enough time) form plaque in the mouth and cause decay. This is the same for fruit-based drinks. Aim to give your child a bottle of water when they go to bed, as this will prevent decay from forming.

Do it together

Children learn best by imitation, so if you brush your teeth at the same time that they do, they are more likely to brush their teeth regularly and efficiently. This can also be the best way for you to observe their brushing technique and to help them keep their teeth and gums in good condition. Without having to lecture them or ask them a lot of questions when they wake up in the morning!

Seek help

If you have concerns that your child or children are not adhering to keeping their teeth in good condition by brushing and flossing, then please reach out to our team at Family Dental and we will aim to help you. We are always big on educating children about how to care for their teeth and will gladly show your children how to care for their mouths without being overbearing. We will aim to make it fun, whilst providing you with tips on how you can do this at home.

DISCLAIMER

All treatments carry risks. Individual consultation is required with one of our practitioners to ensure that the treatment is right for you.