First class dental habits are key to maintaining healthy teeth. Children should be encouraged to develop a good oral health routine from an early age. If you take care of your child’s teeth together, decay is entirely preventable.
First teeth ( baby teeth) usually come through between six months and two and half years of age. These are followed by the first permanent ‘adult’ molars when the child is about six years, before the first teeth begin to fall out at around 6 or 7 years of age. These second teeth should all be through at around 12-14 years of age. (Teething is fully covered in our “Baby’s Teeth” leaflet).
As soon as teeth are through they are at risk of decay. This occurs when bacteria feed on carbohydrates, especially sugars, in the mouth to make acid and this attacks the surface enamel. Sugars are present in many foods but it is the sugar in many manufactured foods that is the most harmful. Read labels carefully for hidden sugars and restrict food with added sugars to mealtimes only. It is the frequency of sugar intake that causes the problem.
Ideally your child should drink only water and milk but, if used, dilute ’baby juices’ and squash with extra water and keep them to mealtimes. Choose sugar free medicines where it is possible.
In most cases if your child chips or knocks their teeth, very little, if any treatment is needed but it is always best to seek advice or treatment as soon as you can. If a tooth is knocked out completely, please store it in milk and contact us as soon as possible.