Starting good oral health with your child early is vital for their smile. Before baby teeth appear, through to adult teeth, good teeth come from good habits. When a baby is born, the first set of teeth is already there, just under the gums. The arrival of a baby’s first tooth is always an exciting time! The front teeth usually begin to come through the gums between six and twelve months. Over the next 2 years the remaining ‘baby’ teeth will appear. By the time a child is 3 years old all 20 baby teeth will have arrived. These teeth are very important for eating, talking and smiling. They also keep spaces for the adult teeth.

 

 From 4 months to 24 months - Start oral care early:                                                                                     

  •  Wipe gums with a soft washcloth after feeding to remove plaque and germs that can cause tooth decay and gum disease
  •  After baby teeth arrive, brush teeth twice a day, with water and a soft -bristle toothbrush, you should avoid toothpaste containing fluoride
  •  Steer clear from sweet drinks in the baby bottle as this can be harmful once teeth start appearing                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
  • Once your child understands not to swallow toothpaste, they can brush with a pea-sized squirt of kid’s fluoride toothpaste to stop cavities.
  •  Brush twice a day for two minutes for the most effective clean, at bedtime and one other time during the day.
  •  Attempt to discourage thumb-sucking and pacifier habits before age 4 –they can affect tooth spacing
  •  Book regular dental check-ups each 6 months
  •  From age 5-7 help kids develop into independent brushers:                                                                                            
  •  Reinforce 2 minute brushing sessions, twice a day (in the morning and before bed)
  •  Choose a child’s toothbrush designed to clean the hard-to-reach back molars, where the most plaque collects.
  •  Go for a child-safe fluoride toothpaste to prevent cavities – and make sure they’re not swallowing toothpaste.  Brushing with a fluoride toothpaste is very effective in preventing dental decay. Regular toothbrushing removes plaque, which causes gum disease.

 

SOURCE: https://www.dentalhealth.ie/children/effectivetoothb1.html Please note Cornmarket cannot be held responsible for information contained in external websites.