Caring For Your Teeth 6+ Years Old

Caring For Your Teeth 6+ Years Old

Brilliant Brushing-

From around the age of six, your child will have a mix of little teeth, big teeth and gaps. This is the time when the first new new big teeth grow through the gums and make little teeth wobbly. The little teeth are eventually pushed out completely, leaving gaps for the big teeth to fill. The enamel of the new big teeth is not fully mature and so is more vulnerable to decay. This phase will continue into the teen years. Losing their little teeth is an important part of growing up for any child and an important time for oral care, as big teeth need to last a lifetime.

By around age 7, your child should be ready to take charge of brushing themselves. Its still important to supervise though- make sure they brush around all parts of the mouth with a gentle circular motion over all the biting surfaces including the front, back and sides of each tooth and all the way down to the gum line.  At this age your child should be brushing for 2 minutes twice a day. Encourage them to spit the paste out after brushing, but not to rinse their mouth so that some protective fluoride remains.

The Right Equipment-

The changing mix of little teeth, big teeth and gaps make it more difficult to clean effectively. By choosing a toothbrush and mildly flavored toothpaste specially designed for for children aged 6 and above, you can help encourage your child to brush every morning and night. Its a good time to introduce a mouthwash too, as it helps where brushing can miss.

Healthy Eating-

Your child no doubt loves sugary foods and drinks, such as biscuits, chocolate and fizzy drinks, but unfortunately the bacteria on their teeth love them too. The bacteria eat the sugar to make acid, which attacks the tooth surfaces and causes decay. Its best to try and limit sugary foods and drinks to mealtimes, and ensure sugars are not consumed more than 4 times a day.

To make things more complicated acid can also come from healthy food and drinks such as fruit and fruit juices and eating or drinking a lot of these can be harmful to your child’s teeth. We understand it can hard to know which food or drinks can harm your child’s teeth, so ask your dentist about healthy options to ensure your child’s teeth stay healthy and strong

Visiting Your Dentist-

Now your child’s big teeth are coming through its more important than ever to make sure they are regularly visiting the dentist. By going every 6 months, your dentist will be able to catch any potential problems before they become painful or more serious. Going regularly is also a great habit to get into and sets your child up for a life of healthier teeth