Looking after teeth

It’s vital to help toddlers and children keep their teeth clean to reduce the risk of dental caries and decay.

Yet healthy teeth start even before their first teeth appear. Because they’re already forming under the gums, make sure your children drink plenty of milk for the calcium that helps their teeth come through healthy and strong.

Let them watch while you clean your teeth. In the very early days, children learn best through copying, and once they have their own teeth they’ll take more readily to having them brushed and, later on, brushing them for themselves.

Here are some more tips for healthy toddler teeth:

• Encourage children to brush their teeth at least twice a day, preferably after breakfast and before bed.
• Use a child’s toothbrush with soft bristles.
• Until the age of 2, use toothpaste formulated for children and encourage children to spit out toothpaste rather than swallow. Children over the age of 2 can use an adult toothpaste but will only need a pea-sized amount.
• Water and milk are the best drinks for teeth and should be encouraged between meals. Acidic or sweetened drinks such as orange juice or squash should be consumed with meals rather than between meals.
• Sugary foods should be limited and children should be encouraged to brush their teeth or rinse their mouth with water after eating sweet foods.
• Limit sugary drinks and consume them through a straw.