Sand_Issue_September-2018
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19<br />
Caring For Children’s Teeth<br />
As soon as the first baby tooth<br />
comes through you need to start<br />
cleaning it. Use a damp cloth or a<br />
soft baby toothbrush with either<br />
water or a speck of toothpaste. If<br />
you give your baby a dummy<br />
don’t sweeten it with honey or<br />
syrup, as this coats the teeth with<br />
sugar and leads to a decay. If you<br />
are bottle-feeding your baby,<br />
avoid bottle-feeding fruit juices<br />
or other sweetened drinks for<br />
the same reason. For toddlers,<br />
choose a toothbrush with soft<br />
bristles and a small head that can<br />
reach to the back of the mouth.<br />
Change the toothbrush regularly<br />
every three months. Until your<br />
child is at least eight years old,<br />
you should continue to help them<br />
brush their teeth. Always choose a<br />
toothbrush recommended for your<br />
child's age.<br />
To help prevent tooth decay in<br />
children here’s what you can do:<br />
• Brush their teeth twice a day.<br />
Try brushing before breakfast<br />
and after dinner at night. Tooth<br />
enamel is softened for about 30<br />
minutes after eating acidic foods<br />
so avoid brushing immediately<br />
after food.<br />
• Use regular fluoride toothpaste.<br />
Opt for kid-friendly flavour like<br />
bubble gum but avoid a sugarladen<br />
children’s toothpaste.<br />
Give them water only after they<br />
spit the toothpaste out or they<br />
will accidentally swallow the<br />
toothpaste-mixed water.<br />
• Ensure that children have a<br />
healthy diet, which is low in<br />
sugar. Sugary food and drink<br />
allow bacteria and acids to<br />
thrive in your child’s mouth.<br />
They create tooth decay. Foods<br />
containing calcium, like milk<br />
products and vegetables and<br />
phosphate, like leafy vegetables,<br />
fruit, meat and poultry, are<br />
essential in the prevention of<br />
cavities. Of course, make sure<br />
that you are feeding them ageappropriate<br />
foods.<br />
• Avoid sticky, sugary snacks<br />
between meals. Avoid fizzy<br />
drinks, which are acidic and can<br />
erode the teeth. Encourage them<br />
to drink water and sugar-free<br />
drinks.<br />
• Check children’s teeth regularly.<br />
Lift the lip to check for signs<br />
of tooth decay. See a paediatric<br />
dentist at the first sign of any<br />
discolouration.<br />
• Ensure that they have regular<br />
dental check-ups from an early<br />
age.<br />
yourwellness.com
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