Looking after your child’s teeth 0-8 years of age
Most frequent questions answered
T
his booklet answers some of the most frequently asked questions about your child’s teeth.
4-5
When will my baby’s teeth appear? Are baby teeth important?
6-7
Does teething cause problems and how can I ,as a parent, help my child through the teething stage? When should I start cleaning my baby’s teeth and how should I do it?
8-9
What is (bottle/nursing) decay and what causes it? Can thumb or pacifier sucking be harmful for my child’s teeth?
10 - 11
Is diet important for healthy teeth? What should I do if my child bangs his/her mouth or knocks out a permanent tooth?
And more...
3
Q.
When will my baby’s teeth appear?
A.
At about 6 months, the two lower front teeth (central incisors) will erupt, followed shortly by the two upper central incisors. .
Quick guide about first teeth: • The fist baby tooth usually appears at the bottom in a centre at about 6 months. • The remainder of the baby teeth appear during the next 18 to 24 months but not necessarily in an orderly sequence from front to back. • There are 20 baby teeth in total (ten on top jaw and ten on the bottom jaw), • Keep in mind that more teeth will appear at the back of the mouth when your child is 5-6 years of age.
4
Q.
Are baby teeth important?
A.
Yes,baby teeth are very important for your child.
Few reasons why teeth are important: • Teeth help a child to bite and chew food. • Baby teeth act as a guide for the adult teeth-some baby teeth are not lost until the child is 11 or 12years old. • Teeth help a child to develop speech. • Healthy baby teeth are important for a child’s self-confidence and smile.
5
Q.
Does teething cause problems and how can I ,as a parent, help my child through the teething stage?
A.
Some children do have teething problems, such as: red or swollen gums, red cheeks, dribbling, disturbed sleep. But these symptoms may not always be because of the teething stage.
To ease teething discomfort try following: • Offer your child a teething biscuit or a cold (never frozen) teething ring. • Try massaging gums. • If the above do not provide any relieve try rubbing some of teething powder “Teetha” or “Bonjela” jel directly on your child’s gums,which are available at the local pharmacy. Please always consult the pharmacist or your family doctor in advance.
6
Q.
When should I start cleaning my baby’s teeth and how should I do it?
A.
You should start brushing your baby’s teeth as soon as the first tooth appears. Brushing at least once a day, at bedtime, will remove plaque bacteria that can lead to decay.
How to brush baby teeth: • Brush your child’s teeth twice a day,in the morning and at bedtime, it is good to make it a routine. • Use toothbrush with soft bristles and a small head, especially one designed for infants,is the best choise. • Use tap water for the babies under two years old, and a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste from two years of age on. • Always supervise brushing of children under seven years of age and avoid toothpaste being swallowed. • Change your child’s toothbrush every three months or when the bristles get ragged.
7
Q. A.
What is (bottle/nursing) decay and what causes it?
Decay is the dark tooth cavity or many of them caused by different sugary drinks and foods being in constant contact with child’s teeth. Dental plaque is a thin, sticky, colorless deposit of bacteria that constantly forms on everyone’s teeth. When you eat, the sugars in your food cause the bacteria in plaque to produce acids that attack the tooth enamel. With time and repeated acid attacks, the enamel breaks down and a cavity forms. How to prevent (bottle/nursing) decay: • Do not let your child sleep with a bottle or food in his/her mouth. • Encourage your child to drink from a cup as they approach their first birthday. He/she should be weaned from the bottle at 16-18 months of age. • Breast-feeding is beneficial for your baby’s development but should be done at routine intervals. Even breast milk in constant contact with your baby’s teeth can cause decay. • Never dip soothers or bottle teats in anything sweet before giving it to your child. • Do not forget to brush your baby’s teeth regurlary and esaecially after the last feed of the day.
8
Q.
Can thumb or pacifier sucking be harmful for my child’s teeth?
Upper teeth pushed upwards, lower teeth pushed downwards. Posterion crossbite
A.
Yes, as thumb and pacifier sucking habits that go on for a long period of time can create crowded, crooked teeth or bite problems. If they are still sucking their thumbs or fingers when the permanent teeth arrive, a retainer may be recommended by your pediatric dentist. Most children stop these habits on their own.
Guides to dealing with sucking habits: • Thumb sucking is a very common childhood habit. It provides children with a sense of security and comfort. • Thumb sucking is best treated with the strategy instead of by force by placing restraints on the thumb or actively discouraging their sucking, then this can create anxiety and confusion and increases the urge to suck. •Try to work through the problem with the child in a positive, interactive way, like reading story books with the subject to make it fun for the child and more effective in modifying behaviour. • Help your child to find other ways to comfort themselves and feel secure. Do not forget to praise and reward your child so they know they doing well.
9
Q. A.
Is diet important for healthy teeth?
Yes, well balanced diet together with good dental care habits from early in life can help keep teeth strong and healthy and safeguard a good start for adult teeth.
Dietery guide toward children’s teeth: • It is not the amount of sugar in food or drink that causes damage to children’s teeth, it is the number of times they have sugary food or drink. • Try and keep sugary foods and drinks to meal times onlyavoid snacks containing sugar between meals. • Introduce healthy snacks like fresh fruit, vegetables, plain yogurts, cheese and bread. • Remember that water and milk are the most tooth-friendly drinks. Keep all fruit juices and squashes to meal times only. • Always check the product label as other kinds of harmful food and drink ingredients include glucose, maltose and sucrose. • ’Low sugar’ or ‘no added sugar’ labels do not mean the food or drink is sugar-free. • Choose sugar-free medicines when possible.
10
Q.
What should I do if my child bangs his/her mouth or knocks out a permanent tooth?
A.
First of all, remain calm. Follow the quick guide listed and bring your child to a dentist for further care.
Guides in a case of knocked-out permanent tooth: • If possible find the tooth. • Then hold the tooth by the crown rather than the root. Replace the tooth in the socket and hold it there with clean gauze or a washcloth • If you can’t put the tooth back in the socket, place the tooth in a clean container with water or cold milk and take your child and the container immediately to the pediatric dentist. • The faster you act, the better your chances of saving the tooth.
11
8+ years Brush your teeth for 2 –3 minutes, twice a day. Use a brush designed for children 8 years and up like Wisdom Click Cool that features a feedback system in the handle to prevent over brushing to protect delicate teeth and gums. Floss at least once a day to help remove plaque and food from between your teeth. Avoid enamel erosion! Dental erosion of tooth enamel is a growing problem amongst young people. Unlike cavities which are caused by plaque bacteria erosion is caused by acid attacking the tooth enamel. These acids can be found in fizzy drinks and even fruit juice. To avoid damage through erosion: • Fizzy drinks and fruit juice should be limited. Sugar consumption is reduced when drinking diet versions of these drinks, however these products are also very acidic and can still cause erosion. • Use a straw when drinking fizzy drinks as it helps to get the drink to the back of your mouth and reduces acid contact with tooth enamel. • Avoid brushing your teeth directly after drinking fizzy drinks or fruit juice as the enamel will be more susceptible to damage from brushing. • Food and drink high in sugar should be limited to meal times. • Chewing sugar-free gum after eating will help to neutralise the acids, which form in your mouth. • Visit your dentist every 6 months.
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YOUR NOTES For more information, contact the following dental clinics: HSE DUBLIN NORTH Dental Clinic Cromcastle Road Coolock Dublin 5 Tel.: (01) 816 42 32 HSE DUBLIN NORTH CENTRAL Dental Clinic Ballymun Healthcare Facility Ballymun Civic Offices Main Street Ballymun Dublin 9 Tel.: (01) 846 7000 HSE DUBLIN NORTH WEST Dental Clinic Roselawn Road Blanchardstown Dublin 15 Tel.: (01) 646 4550
© Booklet design and layout - Monika Olanrewaju Additional information to original HSE “Looking after your child’s teeth 0-8 years” booklet is taken from different internet sites like www.instyledental.com and similar. Please contact the designer for more details.