Apollonia House: Caring for children’s teeth

Ann-Marie Banks, from Apollonia House Dental and Health Care in Grasscroft, offers some advice on caring for children’s teeth.

IT IS recommended children go to the dentist with their parents as soon as possible.

You should then take them regularly as often as your dentist recommends. This will let them get used to the noises, smells and surroundings and prepare them for future visits. The earlier these visits begin, the more relaxed the child will be.

First (or ‘baby’ or ‘milk’) teeth usually start to appear when your child is around six months old. All 20 baby teeth usually appear by the age of two.

The first permanent ‘adult’ molars (back teeth) will appear (behind the last baby molar) at about six years, before the first baby teeth start to fall out at about six to seven years.

It is usually the lower front teeth that are lost first, followed by the upper front teeth. All permanent teeth should be in place by the age of 13, except the ‘wisdom’ teeth. These may appear any time between 18 and 25 years of age.

• Cleaning your child’s teeth should be part of their daily hygiene routine, ideally before breakfast and before bedtime.

• It is important to supervise your child’s brushing until they are at least seven. Use a toothbrush with a small head and soft bristles in small, circular movements and try to concentrate on one section at a time.

• Don’t forget to brush behind the teeth and onto the gums.

• If possible, make brushing a routine – first thing in the morning and before bed time.

• Remember to encourage your child as praise will often get results

The main cause of tooth decay is not the amount of sugar or acid but how often it is eaten or drunk. It is important to have sugary and acidic foods only at mealtimes.

If you want to give your child a snack, try to stick to cheese, vegetables and fruit. Try to limit how much dried fruit you give as it is high in sugar and can stick to the teeth.

Don’t give them drinks containing sugars, including fruit juices, between meals. Give them water or milk instead.

Try checking the list of ingredients in the food products you buy – the higher up the list sugar is, the more there is in the product. Generally anything ending in ‘ose’ is a sugar, for example: fructose, glucose, lactose or sucrose.

Please feel free to call Apollonia House Dental and Health on 01457 821800 or email info@apolloniahouse.com for any dental questions or concerns you have.