Caring For Your Childs Teeth

Our teeth are precious and it is important to our health and wellbeing to have clean and well cared for teeth. It is essential to start caring for our teeth as early as possible. So, as a parent, what do you need to know about teeth, and how can you help your children keep their teeth strong and healthy?

Teething
The first time you'll be aware of your child's teeth is likely to be during 'teething'. As with all growth and development stages babies are individuals, and there is a range of normal teething. Most babies get their first tooth between six months and one year old, however some babies may begin teething as early as three or four months, while others may not have a tooth at fifteen months. The lower middle teeth are usually the first to appear. If your baby's first tooth hasn't appeared by the first birthday, or you are concerned about your baby's teething, you can contact the dental clinic.
Teething affects every baby differently. Many babies have no behaviour changes or signs of discomfort associated with teething, while others find teething painful and upsetting. Some of the signs of teething include dribbling, dribble rashes, flushed cheeks, changes to feeding patterns, different bowel motions and sometimes nappy rash (as a result of changes to bowel motions and urine).
If your baby has symptoms that persist for more than a few hours or has a fever, see your family doctor to ensure baby is not unwell.
If your baby is uncomfortable when teething you might like to try A teething gel from the pharmacist, or A teething ring to chew on, especially one that can be cooled in the fridge. Cold things to suck on, making sure they are clean and firm like chilled fruit. By wrapping fruit you can help prevent baby chewing off bits of fruit and choking
When babies are teething they might experiment with new ways of using their mouth. If you are breastfeeding and your baby starts to bite you, try taking your baby off the breast each time it bites, have a short break, then try again. Your baby will soon learn that it is going to miss out on breastfeeding if it keeps biting!

Caring for your child's first teeth
Your child's first teeth, or 'baby' teeth, are important for eating, and for developing speech. The first teeth keep space for the second adult teeth and also guide their development. Looking after the first teeth is a delicate balance between keeping them clean and treating them gently. A soft cloth, like muslin, with a very small smear of fluoride toothpaste can be a good way of cleaning these early teeth. By around 12 months you can start using a small soft-bristle toothbrush with a thin smear of fluoride toothpaste.

Teaching your child to brush their teeth
Children learn a lot by copying, so if you brush your teeth in morning and before going to bed at night, your child will quickly learn that this is part of a healthy routine. Children need help from an adult to clean their teeth until they are at least six years old. When you feel they are ready, some of the following might help to introduce them to brushing their own teeth:
If seeing into your child's mouth is difficult, try tilting their head slightly upward, sitting them on your lap or in a high chair - or for older children, stand behind them, allowing them to have a go at brushing their own teeth and then encouraging them to let you finish off.A pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste on the toothbrush is all that is needed. If you put the paste on the brush for your child you will be sure they don't use too much. Cleaning the teeth with a gentle circular motion is a good way to reach the entire tooth surface. Encourage your child to spit out the toothpaste as using too much toothpaste, or swallowing the toothpaste, can cause white speckles on the developing second teeth.

Using a fluoride toothpaste
Fluoride helps prevent tooth decay and strengthens teeth. It occurs naturally in all water supplies but is low in New Zealand water and in most areas fluoride is added to our tap water. Fluoride works in three ways to help protect our teeth from decay by, making teeth more resistant to decay by strengthening the tooth surface. Restricting the growth of the bacteria, which cause cavities. Helping to repair the early stages of tooth decay. Fluoride tablets are not recommended for young children even if your drinking water is not fluoridated, using a fluoride toothpaste is a good way help strengthen and clean teeth instead.

How can you help reduce dental decay?
Removing the sipper bottle of milk or juice if your child falls asleep while drinking, making water your child's main drink, apart from milk this is the best drink to give children. Diluting fruit juice with water (10mls of juice to 100 mils of water). When children drink from bottles and sippers their teeth are in contact with sugar for extended periods of time, be aware that this can cause decay. Keep high sugar foods for treats, try having them at the end of a meal, and keeping snacks between means as low in sugar as you can. Checking your child's teeth frequently. If you see any brown areas on your child's teeth see your local dental clinic or your dentist

Preventing tooth decay
Natural and added sugars in food and drinks can result in dental decay, which can cause holes in teeth. The bacteria in the plaque on teeth use the sugars to make acid, which begins to dissolve the surface of the teeth.Eating a lot of sugary foods - such as biscuits, muesli bars, dried fruit and sweets, and drinking sugary drinks like fizzy and fruit juice increases the chances of developing dental decay.