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Oral care for children

 

The toothbrush removes bacterial plaque from the teeth so that cavities are prevented. Cavities appear more often in places where it is difficult to keep clean.

One brushing method that many people prefer using is small, horizontal movements. That way bacterial plaque and food remnants are removed from the top surfaces of the teeth, and from the sides. You should also use dental floss to clean between the teeth.

Many children find it boring to brush their teeth every morning and night, but a playful approach to brushing children’s teeth can make it easier and more fun. Make up a song, or play a game with the children while brushing.
A fun and colourful figure on the toothbrush can also help to make brushing easier. Our toothbrushes fits both children and grow-up hands, so that the children can brush their own teeth, although adults must also help the children to achieve a really thorough clean.

The life expectancy of a toothbrush
Most people don’t change their toothbrush often enough. Dentists recommend that you change toothbrush at least four times a year. Children wear out their toothbrush faster than adults because they have a tendency to bite on the brush.
Parents want the best for their children, and knowledge is essential for making the right decisions. The foundation for healthy teeth in children and teenagers is laid during the first years of life. Studies show that there is a connection between poor eating and brushing habits in one to two year olds and tooth decay in three-year-olds. We also know that children who get cavities in their baby teeth run a greater risk of developing cavities in their adult teeth. To ensure healthy teeth in the years to come, establishing good habits at a very early age is the best you can do for your child.

Many parents of young children grew up in an era of fluoride toothpaste, fluoride applications, fluoride supplements and fluoridated water, but an unfortunate side-effect of the positive effects of fluoride is that insufficient attention may have been paid to the importance of good brushing habits. Today’s children have greater access to sweets and other unhealthy foods than their parents had, and this means that you, the parent, must actively make decisions when it comes to your child’s oral hygiene and diet in order to give your child the best possible start in life.

Brush teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste (containing minimum 0.1% fluoride). Remember that for children under the age of 10, brushing without adult supervision has a limited effect in preventing tooth decay so adult supervision is important at this stage.

Once the first tooth has come through, bacteria appear that can cause tooth decay.
• Bacteria grow on the surface of the teeth, forming a coating called plaque,   even when we are not eating
• The plaque reacts with food, turning sugar into acid
• The acid can then dissolve the enamel on your teeth
• This results in tooth decay
• Fluoride prevents the acid from dissolving the enamel on your teeth
• Regular brushing = little plaque = little acid = no cavities

Make brushing a good habit (Age 0-2)
The very first teeth come through during the first year of life. Most babies get their first tooth at around 6-8 months. A Norwegian study has shown that children whose good brushing habits were established before the age of one had markedly healthier teeth at the ages of three and five than those children whose teeth began being brushed at a later age. It is therefore important to get started on brushing as soon as the first tooth appears. You can make brushing fun by letting your child play with the toothbrush.

Young children have a strong sucking need. It is often easier to get a child to stop using a dummy than to stop sucking their thumb. Most of the baby teeth should be through by age two, and the enamel on these first teeth is more prone to tooth decay. In the worst case, bad habits can lead to cavities in the course of only a few months. Beware of giving your child or baby bottles of milk, squash (fruit drinks) or other sugary drinks, especially at night and between meals, as this can cause tooth decay. Saliva helps to protect teeth, but less saliva is produced at night, thereby providing less protection than during the day. If you need to give your child a drink when putting them to bed, water is the best option.

Step 1 - Toothbrush, toy and teething ring in one

GOOD ADVICE
• Start brushing as soon as the first tooth appears
• Use a toothbrush with super-soft bristles
• Use only a very tiny smear of fluoride toothpaste
• Brush teeth twice a day
• A teething ring can reduce the discomfort of teething
• Only give your child water to drink between meals

New teeth are prone to decay (Age 3-5)
The last molars (back teeth) should be through and the set of 20 baby teeth complete by the age of three. As at this stage many children develop cavities in the biting surface of their molars it is a good idea to create a tooth brushing routine to clean all tooth surfaces. The inner surface near the tongue, the outer surface near the cheek and the biting surface must be brushed thoroughly. The more sugary foods your child consumes, the greater the need for good brushing habits and fluoride. You can stand behind or beside your child while brushing, hold them on your lap or cradle them in the crook of your arm. This will make your child feel secure. Your child can also brush their teeth themselves but you need to ensure yourself that your child’s teeth are brushed thoroughly, particularly before bedtime. At this age most children have their first visit to a dental practice. Children are good at understanding what grown-ups say and feel, so do not discuss your fears or negative experiences in front of your child before their first visit. However, the mouth and teeth are sensitive, so it is best to give your child a realistic picture of what is going to happen as it is important for them to trust the dentist or dental hygienist.
It is best to help your child to stop using a dummy or sucking their thumb before the age of four to avoid problems with the position of the teeth (bite). By the age of five or six, at least half of all children have cavities or have had treatment for tooth decay. Because fear of dentists can often be linked to early, painful visits to the dentist, preventing decay in baby teeth is very important.

Step 2 - An extra tip on the bristles to clean the biting surface of the back teeth

GOOD ADVICE
• Brush teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste
• Use a slightly less than pea-size amount of toothpaste
• Snacks between meals increase the risk of tooth decay
• Fruit is the best snack between meals
• Give your child water when it is thirsty
• Limit the consumption of sweets to just once a week

Adult teeth are coming through (Age 6-8)
Children run the greatest risk of tooth decay between the ages of six and eight, so parents must be particularly observant at this stage. The first permanent back teeth (six-year molars) come through at the age of five or six. They are not always easy to see, making it difficult to keep them clean. Six-year molars are particularly prone to cavities.
Normally cavities first develop on the biting surface, but they can also appear on the surface where two teeth meet. Preventing decay in these back teeth will lay the foundation for healthy teeth for the rest of your child’s life so in adition to brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, your child ought to start flossing, particularly between the six-year molars and neighbouring teeth where toothbrushes cannot reach. It is also easier to establish good flossing habits in children when they are young. Children begin to lose their baby teeth during this period, and eight new front teeth will come through. The enamel on new teeth is more prone to decay than the enamel on teeth that have been in the mouth for a while, therefore a focus on oral hygiene and diet is particularly important at this stage. Although your child is more independent than before, it is important to continue to supervise brushing. You could allow your child to brush their own teeth in the morning, but you should help with the brushing before bedtime. However, you may wish to let your child brush first.

Step 3 - Specially designed bristles for a combination of baby teeth and adult teeth
Miracle Kids - Dental floss that’s simple to use, also for children

GOOD ADVICE
Brush teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste
Use a pea-size amount of toothpaste
Let your child brush their own teeth in the morning
Allow the fluoride to stay in the mouth; do not let your child rinse their mouth out too thoroughly after brushing
Floss between six-year molars and neighbouring teeth
Use fluoride supplements only on the advice and instruction of a dentist or dental hygienist

What to do if your child damages a tooth?
Children damage their teeth very often, and it can be reassuring to know what to do if this occurs.

Here are a few simple rules:

When a tooth has been knocked out:
BABY TEETH
• A baby tooth should not be put back into the mouth. Contact a dentist to determine possible damage to other teeth

ADULT TEETH
• If possible put the tooth back into place immediately and see a dentist as soon as possible
• If it is not possible to put the tooth back into place keep the tooth in the mouth and see a dentist immediately.
• The best advice for all other damage to teeth is to see a dentist to determine the scope of the damage.