Taking care of your little one’s teeth

We really encourage good dental hygiene with Mr A

As an adult, you are used to taking care of your teeth and exercising good dental hygiene – but how do you impart that wisdom onto your little ones?

Before having children of your own, you probably never even considered how this process would be managed but now that your bundles of joy have arrived you are all too aware of the potential problems. Tantrums ... crying ... stubborn refusal ... kids aren’t always the easiest people to teach new things too! Despite this it's essential that parents get it right from the beginning to ensure healthy dental development for their kids and prevent future problems.

When and how to brush

As soon as you see your kids’ first milk tooth (when they are usually around six months old), you should begin brushing their mouth. Use a soft, gentle toothbrush designed for babies and use gentle motions so as not to cause pain.

Children below the age of 3 years only need a smear of toothpaste too; this increases to a pea-sized amount from 3-6 years and should be supervised until they reach 7 years. Just as you would brush your own teeth, you should brush your child’s teeth for two minutes before bed and on at least one other occasion during the day – normally after breakfast in the morning.

By 7-8 years, your kids should be happy to brush their own teeth but you should still check in once in a while to ensure they’re brushing correctly. When teaching your child the right technique, it’s a great idea to grab a mirror and an egg timer. Guide their hand so they get familiar with the correct action and use the mirror to help them see where the brush is going. The egg timer not only keeps the routine on schedule but it also adds an element of fun to the activity.

How cool is this toothbrush holder from Urban Outfitters

Going to the dentist

As with brushing, the time for their first trip to the dentist comes with the breakthrough of the first baby tooth. This visit is mainly to get your kids familiar with the dental surgery environment and prevent them from fearing the experience in the future. The simple act of opening their mouth for the dentist to take a look is helpful practise for their next visit but you should try and make the visit as fun and positive as possible – take a few toys for them to play with while waiting and make sure they feel comfortable when being examined.

After this, you should make sure your kids enjoy regular visits to your local dentist. This can help to remove any loose teeth and to spot any potential problems that could develop if untreated. It’s important that you use a conveniently located surgery to ensure you never miss an appointment or go longer in between check-ups than is advisable. If you live in Hampshire, then you may want to consider dentists in Petersfield and you’ll find plenty of listings online.

A healthy family is a happy family

Set a good example

As well as taking your kids to the dentist it is important that you set a good example by regularly visiting one yourself.  Whether you do this separately to your kids or at the same time is up to you – many families find attending dental appointments as a family is not only more convenient but far less stressful too. After all, if your child sees you sit in the chair and be examined without being afraid then they’re less likely to fear the process themselves.

This is a collaborated post