6 Steps to ensure your child’s smile lasts a lifetime.

It is really important that you start to put in place good oral hygiene routines from the moment your child’s first tooth appears.

In this blog, the team at Teeth & Smiles have 6 top tips to keep your children’s teeth as healthy as possible for years to come:

1. Brush teeth using a soft, small headed toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Fluoride helps prevent tooth decay by making teeth more resistant to acid attacks from plaque bacteria and sugars in the mouth. It can also help to reverse early decay. Following a set routine each time you brush also helps to ensure that no area is missed.
2. Brush teeth twice a day, before bed and at least one other time during the day. Brushing before bed ensures that the bacteria is removed from teeth and teeth are protected when saliva production is reduced during the night. It is important to wait at least 30 minutes after eating or drinking before brushing. Food and drink soften tooth enamel and brushing straight after a meal can wear the enamel away and once the enamel is removed it cannot be replaced.
3. Encourage children to spit out any excess toothpaste, but do not rinse. This ensures that the fluoride in the toothpaste is given time to work strengthening teeth. It is important that you assist your children with teeth brushing until they are 7 or you are confident, they are brushing correctly by themselves.

4. To ensure that toothbrushing does not become a battle, make it fun. Choosing a favourite song, you can brush along to, allowing your children to choose their own toothbrush and using a reward chart to track brushing. Encouragement is essential. Buy a two-minute egg timer to help your child have a visual representation of the time they need to keep brushing for. They could add a star to their reward chart every time they brush for the required length.
5. We all know children like to copy things. Brushing your teeth in front of your child can encourage them to brush theirs too. You can also get them to help you brush your teeth before you help them brush theirs.
6. It is also important that you also book your child in to see the dentist as soon as their first tooth appears. This will allow them to understand how important routine dental appointments are for their ongoing dental health.

If you would like to find out more about caring for your children’s teeth, call Teeth & Smileson 020 7352 7049and book an appointment today.