Caring For Your Childs Teeth 0-2 Years Old

Caring For Your Childs Teeth 0-2 Years Old

Brilliant Brushing-

Even before the first milk tooth comes through, its a good idea to gently clean your child’s gums with a soft cloth after each feed. Milk teeth start appearing any time from 3-12 months and will usually be fully in place by 3 years old. When they start pushing through we know your child might feel irritable and want to chew. You could try giving your child something to chew on, like a teething ring, or massage their gums with a clean finger.

Its really important to look after milk teeth as they help to make sure the permanent big teeth come through healthy and strong. As soon as the first little tooth appears, you should brush it in the morning and just before bed using a gentle circular motion. Make sure you clean all tooth surfaces, on the inside, outside and right up to the gum line and spend time on each tooth.

 The right equipment-

Using a toothbrush and toothpaste specially developed for children ages 2 years and under makes unfamiliar brushing more comfortable and supports healthy development of your child’s milk teeth. Apply a smear of fluoride toothpaste to a child toothbrush specially designed with a small head and soft bristles to be comfortable in little mouths

Healthy eating

As babies grow into toddlers they get better at distinguishing tastes and, like most of us, favour sweet foods. However its the sugar in these sweet foods that react with your child’s natural mouth bacteria to produce harmful acids, which can attack their teeth and cause decay. If milk teeth are lost prematurely due to decay, it can affect the development of your child’s big teeth.

In fact, milk teeth have thinner enamel than big teeth and are more vulnerable to decay, so it is really important to limit the sugary foods eaten by your child

Visiting your dentist-

As soon as your child’s first tooth comes through you should begin visiting the dentist and, unless the dentist recommends otherwise, return every 6 months.

Going on regular trips to the dentist is one of the most important parts of caring for your child’s teeth as it familiarises them with the new and sometimes strange environment and sets them u with good habits for years to come.