The first baby teeth start erupting at around 6 months old and the last ones erupt at around 3 years of age. Although at dental school we were taught that a child experiences few problems with these teeth erupting, being parents has taught us all something else!
Children often get rosy cheeks, a streaming nose, excessive dribbling, be off their food or even have upset tummies and awful nappies! There are all kinds of chews a baby or little one can gnaw on at this time, some of which can be stored in the fridge which can be soothing. Any paracetamol medicine is also a help particularly before bedtime.
Baby teeth only have a thin layer of enamel and so are more at risk of tooth decay and erosion from excessive exposure to sugar and acids. But it is the frequency during a day that these teeth are exposed to these foods stuffs not the actual amount that is so important in the production of tooth decay.
Adult teeth start to make an appearance at around 6-7 years of age behind the last baby tooth.
Tooth brushing should be incorporated into the morning and bedtime routine as soon as they start to erupt, using an age-appropriate fluoride toothpaste and toothbrush so that the baby gets used to the sensation of the bristles on the gums and teeth.
It is a good idea for a parent or guardian to brush until the age of 8, after which we would recommend that the child brushes in the morning and the adult brushes before bedtime.
From the age of 6 years, the teeth should be brushed for 2 minutes
“Spit don’t Rinse” Also from the age of 6, children should brush with an adult toothpaste so they have increased exposure to fluoride. After brushing excess toothpaste should be spat out but not rinsed away with water or a mouthwash. It is important that the toothpaste stays on the teeth as that is how the fluoride can protect the enamel.
In the morning, the teeth should be brushed after breakfast. It is best to try to avoid having orange juice or any citrus juice at breakfast owing to having to brush teeth soon after this. Acid erosion causes the mineral surface layer of the teeth to be prone to damage when brushing occurs straight after. So instead have fruit juice at tea time as there is longer before brushing.
At bedtime, the teeth should be brushed immediately before going to bed and try not to eat for the last hour before bedtime as the saliva flow at night time is lower than during the day so sugars are more readily available to bacteria that cause decay.
The main cause of tooth decay is the frequent consumption of processed sugar which increases the risks of cavities.
Try having sweet treats at mealtimes as a dessert when the saliva flow is high and savoury, healthy snacks such as cheese and fruit between meals.
Beware of foods that are marketed as “healthy”. A rule of thumb is that if it tastes sweet and comes in a packet, it is probably high in processed sugars. Also, watch out for high levels of sugar in cereals and unsuspecting savoury snacks – some flavours of crisps can be surprisingly high in sugar!
The good news is that fresh unprocessed fruit in normal amounts is not considered harmful to teeth and we can have so much fun turning fruit into yummy treats.
Finally, this little video below might make little ones smile!
Keep safe,
Mehdi.
