Eyes & Smiles - Expert 5* Dentist in Friern Barnet N11

Oral Hygiene for Children 

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Why is oral hygiene important in Children | For Babies | Brushing children's teeth | For older children (aged 10 years to 17 years) | What type of toothpaste to use | Is fluoride safe? | Sugar advice | Visiting the Dentist | Find out more | References

Why is oral hygiene important in Children?

• Oral health is an integral part of child health.
  
• Dental decay among young children remains an important public health issue as it leads to pain and distress, sleepless nights for children and parents, and time off school and work. 
  
• The prevalence of untreated decay in deciduous (baby) and permanent (adult) teeth peaks at ages 1-4 years and 15-19 years, respectively. 
  
• In England, 41% of under-18s and 77% of children aged 1-2 years did not visit a dentist in 2018, even though dental care is free for this age group under the National Health Service. 
  
• Interventions to prevent dental caries—proper tooth brushing, reduced sugar intake, regular dental appointments—are simple and cost-effective.
  

Remember that for babies:  

• Breast milk is the only food or drink babies need for around the first six months of their life. Formula milk is the only suitable alternative to breast milk  
  
• From the age of six months, bottle-fed babies should be introduced to drinking from a free-flow cup. Bottle feeding should be discouraged from 12 months old  
  
• Only breast or formula milk or cooled, boiled water should be given in bottles  
  
• Only milk or water should be drunk between meals and avoid adding sugar to foods or drinks for your baby
  
• Do check the amount of sugar that some formulas and ready-to-drink formulas have in them
  

Brushing children's teeth:

• Start brushing as soon as the first tooth appears (usually at about 6 months of age), at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste last thing at night and on at least one other occasion 
  
• Brushing at bedtime is important as it makes sure that the fluoride continues to protect the teeth while your child is asleep  
  
• Parents/carers should brush or help their child to brush their teeth until they are at least seven years old to make sure the teeth are cleaned properly, to supervise the amount of toothpaste used and to prevent licking or eating the toothpaste  
  
• Brush your child's teeth thoroughly, cleaning all surfaces of the teeth   
  
• Choose a toothbrush with a small head and medium-textured bristles, a manual or electric toothbrush can be used  
  

In addition, for older children (aged 10 years to 17 years):  

• As part of a daily oral health routine in addition to brushing, it is important to clean between the teeth using interdental brushes or floss. Some teenagers may not have large enough spaces in between their teeth to use an interdental brush so flossing can be a useful alternative 
  
• Disclosing tablets can help to show if any plaque is left on the teeth 
  
• The dental team will show you how best to clean between your teeth and gums 
  
• If you have an orthodontic brace clean your teeth and appliance carefully as shown by the dental team 
  
• If required, your dentist may prescribe a higher strength fluoride toothpaste (eg. Duraphat), or recommend a fluoride mouthwash to be used at a separate time to brushing, again spitting without then rinsing.
  

What type of toothpaste to use:

• Fluoride toothpaste is more effective than non-fluoridated toothpaste at reducing the rate of decay. 
  
• For children under three years old use a smear of toothpaste containing no less than 1000 ppm fluoride (see Figure 1).
  
• Children between three and six years old should use a small pea-sized amount of toothpaste containing more than 1000 ppm fluoride (see Figure 2).
  
• Encourage your child to spit out the toothpaste after brushing and do not let them rinse out with water as this will wash away the fluoride and reduces how well it works - spit don't rinse 
  
• The amount of fluoride that is in the toothpaste can be found on the side of the tube or on the packaging  
  
• For children 0-6 years with a higher propensity to tooth decay (eg. those with special needs, dry mouth or other predisposing factors which give the dentist a greater concern) use toothpastes equivalent to the adult recommended dosage containing 1350-1500 parts per million (ppm) fluoride.  
  

Is fluoride safe?

• There have been some concerns that fluoride may be linked to a variety of health conditions. Reviews of the risks have so far found no convincing evidence to support these concerns.
  
• However, a condition called dental fluorosis can sometimes occur if a child's teeth are exposed to too much fluoride when they're developing. 
  
• Mild dental fluorosis can be seen as very fine pearly white lines or flecking on the surface of the teeth. Severe fluorosis can cause the tooth's enamel to become pitted or discoloured.
  
• It's uncommon in the UK for fluorosis to be severe enough to seriously affect the appearance of teeth. This is because fluoride levels in water are carefully monitored by the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) and adjusted if necessary.
  

Sugar advice: 

• Each time we eat sugary food and drink, the bacteria in dental plaque produce acid that attacks teeth. If we eat or drink sugary foods frequently throughout the day we have more 'acid attacks', which can lead to tooth decay. 
  
• Reduce the amount and frequency of having foods and drinks that contain sugar, only give sweet foods including dried fruit at mealtimes  
  
• Squashes sweetened with sugar, fizzy drinks, soft drinks and juice drinks have no place in a child's daily diet  
  
• Limit the amount of fruit juice and/or smoothies your child drinks to a maximum of 150 mls (one portion) in total per day and drink it with meals to reduce the risk of tooth decay  
  
• Always ask for sugar-free medicines 
  

Visiting the Dentist: 

• Take your child to see the dentist as soon as their teeth start to appear, and visit regularly, as often as your dentist recommends (usually every 6 months).
  
• Ask your dentist about fluoride varnish - all children over 3 years should have this applied to their teeth. If younger children are at particular risk of tooth decay the dentist may apply to their teeth.  
  
• At Eyes & Smiles we see children under 18 for free if they are accompanied by a paying adult having examination or treatment
  

Find out more: 

• For further information about how to look after your child's teeth, visit the NHS page on pregnancy and baby care
  
• To find out how much total sugar is in your food and drink, visit the NHS Change for Life Campaign page
  

References:

• Delivering better oral health: an evidence-based toolkit for prevention
  
• The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health - Oral health: oft overlooked