Tips to keep your children smiling:
1. Limit sugar foods and drinks and choose a variety of fresh foods:
- Water and plain milk are best options to drink. With babies, going to sleep with a bottle of milk, a warm chocolate drink or juice will start to cause tooth decay as it contains sugar. Try to wipe baby’s mouth out with a wet cloth after having a bottle. If they want to suck on something to settle themselves, it’s better to use a pacifier/dummy with no sweetener. Let baby start to drink from a cup at around 6 months and you will find it much easier to wean from the breast or bottle later. When solid foods are started to be introduced, choose healthy foods and drinks to prevent developing a taste for sweet foods. Give sugar free snacks between meals containing a variety of fruit and fresh vegetables. A great website for healthy recipe ideas can be looked up from the following link/website: My Family Recipes | Healthy Kids
2. Brush two to three times per day:
- Start brushing baby’s teeth as soon as they appear from six months old. Use a soft head toothbrush with a small head and a smear of toothpaste. From 6 years, use a pea-sized amount. Brush all the inside and outside surfaces right at the gums line and don’t forget to brush the top chewing surfaces. After spitting out the toothpaste, don’t rinse with water as a small amount of fluoride stays around the teeth and protects them. Keep observing your child’s brushing until they are around 8 or 9 years old.
3. Use a fluoridated toothpaste to protect their teeth:
- Fluoride containing toothpastes are best and should be a routine part of your child’s oral health routine at home. Fluoride is a natural element and is found in fresh water, soil, plants, air, in many foods and sea water. It makes teeth stronger, repair the beginning stages of decay and prevent cavities from forming. Ensure that you purchase toothpastes that contain at least 1000 ppm (parts per million) fluoride.
At Urban Dental Studio we love see children of all ages. Remember that free dental care is offered to adolescents from year 9 until their 18th birthday. This service includes preventive and restorative treatments including oral health care advice. Dr. Juliane and her team are here to help your child get interested and excited about caring for their teeth and we are always here to help answer your questions.
Resources
Ministry of Health. (n.d). Fluoride. Search results | Ministry of Health NZ
Ministry of Health. (2021). Caring for baby’s teeth: Five steps to protect your child’s smile. Caring for baby teeth | Ministry of Health NZ
New Zealand Dental Association. (n.d.). Healthy smile, healthy child. Infants & Toddlers | New Zealand Dental Association (nzda.org.nz)
Te Whata Ora New Zealand. (2023). My family recipes. My Family Recipes | Healthy Kids