Dental Care for Your Child
Your baby's first teeth begin to appear when they are about 6 months old. By the time they are 3 years old, the whole set of 20 baby (or milk) teeth will be fully erupted.
From the age of 6, these will gradually be replaced by adult teeth. Practising proper dental care will help your child keep their adult teeth permanently.
Why Looking After My Child’s Teeth Is Important
Some parents might ask: "Why is it crucial to look after my child's teeth now, since the baby teeth will drop out anyway and they will be replaced by adult teeth?"
Your child’s first set of teeth, the baby teeth, are extremely important. A healthy set of baby teeth helps them chew food properly, speak clearly, and look good. They also help maintain space for the eruption of the permanent successor developing just below these teeth. In contrast, a neglected set of primary teeth can cause your child much pain and inconvenience. Seeking treatment for tooth decay at this age can also often be costly and traumatic for the child. Early loss of baby teeth due to tooth decay may result in misalignment of adult teeth.
Healthy habits start young and will carry over to adulthood. A child who does not want to brush their teeth or go to a dentist will likely continue to do so in adulthood. Not unless parents guide them and instill good health habits from young.
Consistently guide your child on how to care for their teeth and this healthy habit will stay with them for life.
Daily Care
Your child needs to brush their teeth twice a day, once in the morning and once before they sleep at night. Young children are usually not thorough when brushing their teeth. It is crucial to supervise your child until they have the dexterity to do so independently, roughly till they are 7-9 years old.
You can make tooth-brushing a happy affair every day. Find a way that works for both you and your child. Do try out some of the suggested activities at the end of this chapter to encourage daily toothbrushing.
How To Brush Your Child’s Teeth
Systematically brush the surfaces of your child’s teeth: outer, inner and chewing surfaces.
- Start by brushing the outer surfaces of the top row of teeth. Position the toothbrush along the gumline of your child’s teeth. Start from the back, move to the front and then to the other side. Get your child to close their mouth slightly or bite together so you can stretch your child's cheek to better position the toothbrush when brushing the outer surfaces of the back teeth.
- Do the same for the outer surfaces of the bottom row of teeth. (Avoid brushing both upper and lower teeth together as toothbrushes are usually not sufficiently wide enough to cover both upper and lower teeth to the gumline.)
- Ask your child to open their mouth to brush the chewing surfaces of the top and bottom row of teeth.
- Lastly, brush the inner surfaces of the top and bottom row of teeth, starting from the back, moving to the front and then to the back of other side. To do so, place the toothbrush on the chewing surfaces of teeth and tilt it inwards a little so that the bristles reach the gumline of the inner surface of teeth.
- For each surface, brush for about 10 counts for every 1-2 teeth.
Watch this video to learn how to brush a toddler’s teeth and some useful oral health tips.
Tools for Teeth
The toothbrush section of a supermarket or a pharmacy is a confusing place. There are so many different types of toothbrushes available, how do you choose the right one?
For children, choose a toothbrush with a smaller head and soft, tightly-packed bristles. The mouths of children are not as large as those of adults; a smaller-head brush will be able to reach into the back sections better. Soft bristles are gentler on the gums.
Tool Tips
• Electric or manual, which is better?
Whether using an electric or manual toothbrushing, correct positioning of the bristles at the gumline is the most important factor. An electric toothbrush can be helpful for children with less manual dexterity, like for children with special needs.
• Toothbrush tag
Change toothbrushes every 3-4 months or when they become frayed. Worn-out toothbrushes do not clean the teeth well and may injure the gums.
• Toothpaste
Fluoride in toothpaste protects your child's teeth from tooth decay by strengthening it. Fluoridated toothpaste containing at least 1000ppm fluoride prevents tooth decay. However, children may get fluorosis on permanent teeth from swallowing too much fluoride toothpaste at a very young age. Fluorosis results in a change in colour or texture of the teeth.
To prevent fluorosis, ensure that an appropriate amount of toothpaste according to your child's age is dispensed and that your child does not swallow the toothpaste. It is recommended that children below 3 years old use only a smear amount of 1000ppm fluoride (F) toothpaste (size of a rice grain) under adult supervision, while children 3 years old and above, who are less likely to swallow toothpaste, can use a pea-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste. By the time your child turns 1, bring them to visit a dentist who can advise you on the appropriate use of toothpaste.
• Dental Floss
Flossing is an important step in dental health. It is the only thing that can effectively clean in-between the teeth. Start your child on this path early and let them develop it as a good lifelong habit. Young children do not have the dexterity to carry out flossing. You can help your child floss their teeth once every day. Watch a video on how to help your child floss their teeth here.
A Dental Check-up: What Happens?
First, the dentist will discuss oral hygiene and dietary habits with you to ensure that you are doing the right thing for your child at home.
The dentist will check your child's teeth and gums to look out for things like decay, and whether the gums are healthy. Bleeding gums are a sign of gum disease. The dentist will also check the number of teeth to ensure your child’s dental development is on track.
The dentist will also look at your child's facial bones, cheeks, tongue, and palate to see if there are any unusual swellings. If there are any problems, or if your child requires further treatment, he will discuss follow-up options with you after the examination.
Sealants To Prevent Tooth Decay
Dentists use dental sealants to protect teeth against tooth decay. The chewing surfaces of molars (the teeth at the back of mouth) have deep grooves called "fissures".
Tooth decay often starts in these areas. A layer of sealant can shield these pits and fissures from bacteria and food debris to lower the risk of tooth decay occurring.
Sealants are very effective. Best of all, they are painless! After the tooth is cleaned and dried, the dentist applies the sealant on it. Once the sealant hardens, it forms a protective covering over the tooth. If a sealant is worn down or defective, it can be easily repaired or replaced.
Together with proper brushing, flossing, regular dental check-ups, and a balanced diet, sealants can help to ensure that tooth decay is kept at bay.
Parent-Child Activities: Get Active!
Bond with your child while enjoying these tooth-some activities.
Sort Your Food
Cut out a large white tooth and a large yellow tooth from construction paper. Cut out different types of food from magazines. Have your child sort out the food according to those that are good for teeth (place these on the white tooth), and those that are harmful to teeth (place these on the yellow tooth). Talk to your child about eating more of the food on the white tooth.
Brush Your Teeth
Draw a picture of a mouth with teeth. Shade the teeth using a pencil and have your child erase away the black stains with an eraser, to highlight the effects of tooth-brushing.
Junior’s Adventure
Let your little one watch this short animation on Junior’s adventure to learn about the harmful effects of eating too many sweets and how to protect his teeth from tooth decay.
Visit Parent Hub, for more useful tips and guides to give your child a healthy start.
Download the HealthHub app on Google Play or Apple Store to access more health and wellness advice at your fingertips.
Read these next:
Contributed By
- Health Promotion Board