Thereโs nothing cuter than a kid with a mouthful of shiny new teeth, but unfortunately those pearly whites wonโt stay strong and healthy all on their own. The fact is there are several steps you need to take if you want to keep those toothy pegs in tip-top shape. Read on to learn exactly what those steps are and when you need to take them.
Breaking through
Kids develop teeth at different rates. One might bite into his first birthday cake with just a single tooth, while another might havea full set of front teeth. Either way, the Australian Dental Association says that most children will have cut all 20 of their baby teeth somewhere between the age of two-and-a-half and three years old. These teeth will eventually fall out and be replaced with permanent adult teeth, but that doesnโt mean you can afford to ignore them while theyโre here.
Childcare experts Arlene Eisenberg, Heidi Murkoff and Sandee E. Hathaway, co-authors of What To Expect: The Toddler Years (Harper Collins), point out that though these baby teeth arenโt for keeps, they must take a child through the next five to 10 years of eating.โ The last of them wonโt be replaced by permanent teeth until somewhere between the ages of 12 and 14,โ they say. โAnd since each tooth is vulnerable to decay from the moment it breaks through, itโs important to make good dental hygiene a priority.โ So what does good dental hygiene entail exactly? First and foremost, it means brushing both morning (after breakfast) and evening (before bed). If youโre really keen you can have your child brush after lunch as well.
Brushing right
Of course, brushing tiny teeth differs somewhat from the grown-up version. For one thing, you need to use a toothbrush designed specifically for kids (with a small head and soft rounded bristles) so itโs comfortable for a mini-sized mouth. Many brands design brushes that are age-appropriate so check the packaging. Choose one that has a design your child gets a kick out of โ it could make all the difference!
Once youโve got your brush, squeeze a pea-sized amount of kid-friendly toothpaste onto it. Next, itโs time for brushing. Start by using a circular motion along the outsides of the teeth, then brush with a back and forth motion along the insides. Finally, brush across the tops of their little chompers .
When youโre done, offer your child a turn of his own and make as much of a game out of it as you possibly can. You want him to get into the habit of brushing and to enjoy it if at all possible โ at our house, we sometimes sing Old MacDonald Had a Farm. On other occasions we pretend weโre painting our teeth, rather than brushing them, and on really desperate occasions Iโve been known to use bribery.
If it works itโs worth doing, says Elizabeth Fenwick, author of The Complete Book of Mother & Baby Care (Dorling Kindersley). โAt any age, the more of a game teeth cleaning seems, the more your child will be encouraged to cooperate,โ says Elizabeth. โPlaying dentists, cleaning your own teeth with him, and spitting out messily into the wash-basin will all help.โ
Flossing too
By the time heโs two or three, your child will most likely want to brush his teeth on his own. Let him. But afterwards, finish the job yourself โ he wonโt be up to doing the task alone until heโs about seven or eight years old. When the brushing is done, give him a glass of water and encourage him to rinse his mouth clean. This will help to remove the toothpaste and also any loose bits of food.
At some point youโll want to teach him how to floss. The Australian Dental Association recommends kids begin flossing as soon as all their primary teeth are in, but as any parent knows, thatโs easier said than done. โUnless you have an unusually cooperative toddler, you will probably not be able to floss the entire mouth every night,โ says Eisenberg, Murkoff and Hathaway.
Our advice? Give it a go, but if itโs too difficult, donโt panic. Simply show your child what flossing involves and then do your best. Eventually heโll allow you to do it and incredibly enough, by the time heโs seven or eight years old, heโll be able to floss all on his own.
Thereโs one other area you need to consider โ your childโs diet. Like the rest of us, kids need to go easy on the sweet, sticky stuff and tuck into the healthy and fresh instead. If your child enjoys cheese, then encourage him to eat it after meals. Itโs thought to decrease the chance of cavities and to strengthen tooth enamel.
Also take it easy with juice, as most brands are full of sugar. And donโt send your little one off to sleep with a bottle: the milk will remain on their teeth overnight, encouraging acid to form, leaving him at a higher risk of later developing cavities.
ASKING THE PROS
*The Australian Dental Association recommends a first visit to the dentist at 12 months, or shortly after the eruption of the first baby teeth. It might seem early, but if you look after your kidโs teeth now, he will have less chance of developing any problems down the track.
*Book in with a paediatric dentist if you can. โA dentist who is used to treating children will usually have developed techniques for minimising any fear,โ says Dr Miriam Stoppard, author of Complete Baby & Child Care (Penguin).
*Before you go to the dentist, explain to your child what will happen and do your best to reassure him. If he becomes accustomed to visiting the dentist now, he will most likely remain comfortable for life.
*At your first appointment the dentist will inspect your childโs mouth, teeth and gums, and check for decay. Heโll probably also provide a professional clean and will advise on fluoride treatments.
*Regular six-monthly appointments are recommended.