Primary or baby teeth, usually the bottom two, come through at about six months but can erupt anywhere between one and 11 months. “Actual age is less important. The sequence they arrive in is more important,” says Miss Joanna Johnson, a Consultant in Paediatric Dentistry at St George’s NHS Hospital Tooting and 76 Harley Street. By 36 months your child should have all 20 of their baby teeth. “Baby teeth are not a joke. It’s not just Round One,” stresses Miss Johnson. “Primary teeth are important to help your child chew, keep space for their ‘big’ teeth and aesthetically.”

 

 

Between age six and 12, your child will lose all of their milk teeth and it is not uncommon for an adult tooth to come through without the baby tooth falling out. A double row of teeth is usually nothing to panic about. Encourage your child to “wiggle” their baby teeth and if they haven’t come out after six weeks then take them to the dentist for a check, says Dr Noushin Attari, Specialist Paediatric Dentist at Weymouth Street Paediatric Dentistry.

 

 

Brushing with a fluoride toothpaste twice a day and regular visits to the dentist will encourage good dental care. To get the maximum effect from the fluoride, ‘don’t rinse’ and make sure you brush teeth after milk too. Use a fluoride mouthwash from age 6 after snacks. “Keep mouthwash in an accessible place like by the kitchen sink,” suggests Dr Attari. Partner and clinical director of Toothbeary, a children-only dental practice, Dr Nicole Sturzenbaum says even with babies: “You can massage the gum with a cotton swab to get rid of bacteria, give relief from teething and get them used to the ‘tooth brushing’.” For older children sometimes an explanation from a third party such as the dentist or hygienist will help underline to the child how important it is to look after their teeth. Disclosing tablets are a great idea for older children: “Use them once a week after brushing their teeth so that they can see what they missed,” says Dr Attari. If your child’s teeth are close together then they need to floss regularly. Floss sticks rather than tape are the best for children to use.

 

 

Children need help and supervision until they are 9–10 years old. An easy rule to follow is: Once their handwriting looks like it is maturing they will have the dexterity to do their own teeth.

 

 
Always use a toothbrush that is right for your child’s age. Oral B Stages have a great range. Electric toothbrushes are fine from 3+ but “Only buy a rechargeable one as battery ones lose their effectiveness after a few brushes,” says Dr Sturzenbaum. Give your child a ‘minty’ flavoured toothpaste and not anything sweet-flavoured like berry or strawberry toothpaste otherwise they will become accustomed to ‘sweet’ tastes. Be aware that many organic toothpastes don’t contain fluoride.

 

 

Restrict children to five meal/snack intakes a day, says Miss Johnson. Watch out for foods with hidden sugars. “Raisins or dried fruit are high in sugar and stick to teeth,” says Dr Attari. If you give your child a ‘soft’ snack’ like a banana, try to give them something harder like carrot or cucumber after as it will have a cleansing effect, suggests Dr Sturzenbaum. Likewise, if the snack is acidic e.g. an apple, neutralise it with a piece of cheese. The best drinks for are water or milk (daytime only). But if they want a fizzy drink, juice or a smoothie use a straw and make sure they drink it all at once to reduce the exposure to the teeth, advises Miss Johnson.

 

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To find a Specialist Paediatric dentist or check that a professional is registered on the Paediatric Dentists Specialist list, try the General Dental Council www.gdc-uk.org

Expect to pay about £50-150 for a check up.

www.76harleystreet.com www.paediatric-dentistry.co.uk www.toothbeary.co.uk

 

 

 

DON’T BREAST OR BOTTLE FEED YOUR BABY MILK DURING THE NIGHT BEYOND A YEAR.

 

 

SUPERVISE TOOTH BRUSHING UNTIL ABOUT 9 OR 10 YEARS.

 

 

ONLY GIVE JUICE OR FIZZY DRINKS WITH MAIN MEALS AND USE A STRAW TO PROTECT TEETH. STICK TO MILK OR WATER AT OTHER TIMES.

 

 

KEEP SWEETS FOR AFTER MEALS

 

 

ENSURE YOUR CHILD WEARS A MOUTH GUARD DURING CONTACT SPORT.