The current advice is that adult toothpastes should be used for children over 2 years of age, and NO toothpaste before then. This is down to the fluoride content in the toothpastes-proprietary childrens toothpastes do not contain high enough levels of  Fluoride. From a taste perspective, this presents a challenge as most children complain of a burning sensation from the general adult toothpastes (the mint and eucalyptus flavours tend to burn their sensitive and tender gums and mucosa).

But before you panic–Tesco ( and I do not hold shares in this company unfortunately!) Strawberry Ice Cream Flavour toothpaste ticks the boxes for suitable flavour for children and recommended fluoride levels. We recommend that you brush your child’s teeth twice daily, and let them spit out the residue, but try not to let them rinse-thus leaving more fluoride for further topical effect.

Finally, ensure that while you allow your child to brush their teeth themelves, that you, as the parent/carer also brush them—to be sure , to be sure…!

Try to allow enough time to make it an interactive and fun start and end to the day–this can be tricky as all parents know—the morning rush and of course the evening tiredness (of both the parents and children), but remember the benefit of little/no dental treatment is a wonderful gift to give to your child.

This information will help you and your family have healthy teeth and gums that will last a lifetime. As a parent, you can work with your children to help them understand why good oral healthcare is important — and show them how to do it right!

Four Steps to a Healthy Smile:

1. Brush at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste

How fluoride works-
Every day, the enamel on teeth is attacked by acids produced in dental plaque. These acids can erode through the enamel and result in decay. That’s where fluoride comes in. As it reaches your teeth, fluoride is absorbed into the enamel. It helps to repair the enamel and prevent tooth decay. It can even help stop the decay process. You can get the benefits of fluoride from a variety of sources. It works on the outside of your teeth. At home, you and your family should brush with fluoride toothpaste at least twice a day. Fluoride rinses can also provide additional protection. Your dentist can also apply fluoride to your teeth in the surgery.

2. Floss every day.

3. Limit the number of times you eat snacks each day.

Snacking and tooth decay:While fluoride is our greatest protection against tooth decay, frequent snacking can be our teeth’s biggest enemy. Every day, you and your family face snacking challenges. Here’s what you need to know:
It’s how often you snack that matters- The truth is that what your family eats isn’t as important as when and how often they snack! It all has to do with the “plaque acid attack,” Everyone has plaque bacteria in their mouths. But when these plaque bacteria meet up with the sugars and starches that are found in snacks such as sweets, biscuits, soft drinks, or crisps, the plaque reacts to create acid, and a “plaque acid attack” occurs. The fact is most snacks that you eat contain either sugars or starches that give plaque this opportunity to make acid. And each “attack” can last for up to 20 minutes after you have finished your snack. During this period, the plaque acid is attacking tooth enamel, making it weak. That’s when cavities can start!

4. Visit your dentist regularly and follow his/her advice.

The dentist is your family’s partner in keeping your Smiles Healthy. Be sure to schedule regular dental appointments for the whole family. A child’s first visit should take place before his or her third birthday.
Dental check-ups early in a child’s life allow children to have a positive dental health experience.
TIP: Take your young toddler with you to your own appointment first. That way, the dental surgery becomes a familiar place.

Your dentist may recommend:
1-Fluoride treatments:
Your dentist may treat your child’s teeth with extra fluoride in the form of a gel or varnish to make teeth stronger.
2-Dental sealants:
These are thin, protective plastic coatings applied by the dentist to the permanent back teeth (molars). They fill in the grooves on the chewing surfaces of the teeth where foods and bacteria can get stuck and cause cavities. Once applied, sealants can last for several years.

3-X-rays: Sometimes these are taken at this visit–these “pictures” are radiographs that show the dentist what’s going on inside the teeth and under the gum.

How Do I Help My Children Care for Their Teeth and Prevent Cavities?

Teaching your child, good oral care at a young age is an investment in their health that will stay with them for life. You can start by setting an example, taking good care of your own teeth sends a message that oral health is very important and anything that makes taking care of teeth fun, like brushing along with your child or letting them choose their own toothbrush, encourages good oral care.

To help your children protect their teeth and gums and greatly reduce their risk of getting cavities, teach them to follow these simple steps:

1. Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste to remove plaque-the sticky film on teeth that’s the main cause of tooth decay.
2. Floss daily to remove plaque from between your teeth and under the gum line, before it can harden into tartar. Once tartar has formed, it can only be removed by a professional cleaning.
3. Eat a well-balanced diet that limits starchy or sugary foods, which produce plaque acids that cause tooth decay. When you do eat these foods, try to eat them with your meal instead of as a snack-the extra saliva produced during a meal helps rinse food from the mouth.
4. Use dental products that contain fluoride, including toothpaste.
5. Take your child to the dentist for regular check-ups.

What Brushing Techniques Can I Show My Child?

You may want to supervise your children until they get the hang of these simple steps:

1. Use a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. Take care that your child does not swallow the toothpaste(this is difficult with very young children—so we recommend using a children’s toothpaste which contains lower levels of fluoride).
2. Using a soft-bristled toothbrush, brush the inside surface of each tooth first, where plaque may accumulate most. Brush gently back and forth.
3. Clean the outer surfaces of each tooth. Angle the brush along the outer gum line. Gently brush back and forth.
4. Brush the chewing surface of each tooth. Gently brush back and forth.
5. Use the tip of the brush to clean behind each front tooth, both top and bottom.
6. It’s always fun to brush the tongue!

What Is Fluoride and How Do I Know if My Child Is Getting the Right Amount?

Fluoride is one of the best ways to help prevent against tooth decay. A naturally occurring mineral, fluoride combines with the tooth’s enamel to strengthen it. For most children the proper use of fluoride toothpaste will be sufficient to help prevent decay. For children at high risk of dental decay and without access to fluoridated water, milk, or salt, your child’s dentist may suggest using fluoride drops or mouthrinse in addition to a fluoride toothpaste.

How Important Is Diet to My Child’s Oral Health?

A balanced diet is necessary for your child to develop strong, decay-resistant teeth. In addition to a full range of vitamins and minerals, a child’s diet should include plenty of calcium, phosphorous and proper levels of fluoride. If fluoride is your child’s greatest protection against tooth decay, then frequent snacking may be the biggest enemy. The sugars and starches found in many foods like biscuits, sweets, soft drinks and even some savoury snacks are food for bacteria in dental plaque and are converted to acids. These acids attack the tooth enamel and can lead to cavities.
Each “plaque attack” can last up to 20 minutes after a meal or snack has been finished. Even a little nibble can create plaque acids. So it’s best to limit snacking between meals.

What Should I Do if My Child Chips, Breaks or Knocks Out a Tooth?
With any injury to your child’s mouth, you should contact your dentist immediately. The dentist will want to examine the affected area and determine appropriate treatment.
If your child is in pain from a broken, cracked or chipped tooth, you should visit the dentist immediately. You may want to give an over-the-counter pain reliever to your child until his/her appointment. If possible, keep any part of the tooth that has broken off and take this with you to the dentist.

If a tooth is completely knocked out of the mouth by an injury, take the tooth to your dentist as soon as possible. Handle the tooth as little as possible-do not wipe or otherwise clean the tooth. Store the tooth in a cup of fresh milk until you get to a dentist. It may be possible for the tooth to be placed back into your child’s mouth, a procedure called re-implantation.

What Are Dental Sealants and How Do I Know if My Child Needs Them?

A dental sealant creates a highly effective barrier against decay. Sealants are thin plastic coatings applied to the chewing surfaces of a child’s permanent back teeth, where most cavities form. Applying a sealant is not painful and can be performed in one dental visit. Your dentist can tell you whether your child might benefit from a dental sealant.

I read with some dismay a headline in the papers this weekend, which highlighted the risks posed to dental health from too much fruit! It seems like your five-a-day isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, and that you can’t do right for doing wrong!

So, let me try and clear up a few things here ☺

Fresh fruit and vegetables are undoubtedly good for your general health, and I don’t believe that anybody would advocate cutting them out. Certain fruits, however are more damaging to your teeth than others, so be reasonable in the amount you consume, and avoid very acidic fruits and juices. The most acidic fruits are oranges – pineapples – sour apples – sour plums – lemons – grapefruits – sour peaches – limes – tangerines – sour grapes – tomatoes. Regular over-consumption of these can lead to acid damage of your teeth.

Also:

Cut down on acidic beverages. Reduce or eliminate your consumption of fizzy drinks and white wine. Also so-called “sports drinks” in particular contain large amounts of citric acid and sugar.

Avoid grazing through the day. If you enjoy nibbling on food all day long, you may be endangering your teeth.

Combine acidic foods and drinks with ones that can counteract the acidity. Nuts and dairy foods are considered helpful balancers to acidic foods. If you really must drink acidic fruit juices, consider rinsing thoroughly and gargling with a spoonful of baking soda (bicarbonate of soda) in water.

Use a straw. Reduce the contact of juice and soda drinks with your teeth by drinking through a straw. This is only a minor help, so don’t rely on it as a major solution! The best approach is to reduce your overall consumption of fruit juice and soda drinks.

NB