Care of your child’s teeth
Why Are Baby Teeth Important?
Baby teeth appear at about six months of age. There will be 20 of these
first teeth. Baby teeth allow your child to eat and chew properly, help
the face and jaw to develop normally and keep a space for the adult (permanent)
teeth. Baby teeth are important for guiding the permanent teeth into position.
Permanent teeth usually appear at about five or six years of age.
Good oral health benefits children’s general health. Baby teeth need to
be looked after just as carefully as permanent teeth. Decay in first teeth
can lead to toothache and distress for your child and cause problems later
on.
What Is Tooth Decay?
Tooth decay is common, but easily prevented in children. It is caused by
plaque which is a sticky film found on teeth. Decay is caused when bacteria
in plaque change sugar into acid. Plaque is difficult to see and cannot
be removed by rinsing. The best way to remove plaque is by brush and floss
regularly. The acid produces holes (cavities) in teeth. The more often we
eat sugar, the more tooth decay we get. Sugars are present in milk, juice,
cordial (sweetened drinks), and other sweet tasting food.
'Infant feeding caries' is a form of decay caused by continual sucking of
dummies dipped in sugar syrups such as honey, or bottles containing milk,
fruit juice or sweet drinks. It is best if your child does not take a bottle
to bed. But if they do, make sure it contains only water, and remember to
take the bottle away once your child falls asleep.
Fluoride in the water supply has been responsible for a marked improvement
in the oral health of children. Fluoride added to the drinking water, and
fluoride in toothpaste, has reduced the amount of tooth decay. Fluoride
supplements may be needed for children at high risk of dental decay who
live in an area where the community water supply is not optimally fluoridated.
Parents need to discuss fluoride supplements with a dental professional.
How to Look After Your Child's Teeth
Start Good Habits Early
Healthy primary teeth and gums develop when good habits are set up early
in life. These habits are:
● A healthy diet – it is best to limit the number
of times sugar is eaten during the day and restrict sugary snacks to mealtimes.
● Drinking water, rather than cordial, fruit juice
or soft drinks.
● Regular teeth cleaning twice a day with a low
fluoride tooth paste.
● Use of fluoridated water.
Clean Your Child's Teeth
● Begin cleaning your child's teeth as soon as the
teeth come through. Your baby's teeth can be cleaned by wiping them with
a clean face washer. Introduce a toothbrush at around 12 months of age.
It should be an infant size with soft bristles. Clean children’s teeth twice
a day, once after breakfast and then again last thing before bedtime.
● Introduce low dose fluoride toothpaste at approximately
two years of age. It is best not to swallow toothpaste. Smear a pea size
amount of low fluoride toothpaste across the brush. For children under two
years of age, simply wet the brush with water.
● Ask your dental professional to show you how to
help your child brush teeth. Young children find tooth brushing difficult.
You need to help them for a few years until you are sure they can do it
well.
When to Visit Your Dentist
● Problems with primary teeth can affect a child's
permanent teeth. Regular dental visits will help make sure your child's
teeth are healthy. It also allows your child to get used to dental examinations
early in life, and feel more confident about them.
● Don't wait for a problem.
● Regular dental checkups are important.
● The Child Health Record recommends two dental
checks by three and a half years of age.
● A maternal and child health nurse, dentist, dental
therapist or paediatrician may do this.
● From school age, routine dental visits should
be every one to two years.
Visit your dentist if your child has:
● Toothache – this is caused by dental decay and
can lead to a tooth abscess.
● Bleeding of the gums – this is caused by poor
cleaning. Tooth brushing may cause gums to bleed a little which is quite
normal. Some viral infections can make the gums sore and bleed. If bleeding
or toothache does not stop, see your dentist.
● Dental trauma – this can be caused by injuries
to the face. Seek advice from your dentist, or nearest emergency department
after an accident.
If a Primary (Baby) Tooth is knocked out
● Do not replace the tooth back in the socket.
● Seek dental advice as soon as possible – take
any root fragments with you to the dental professional.
X-rays may be needed to determine whether the permanent tooth is damaged
or displaced and to check that there are no tooth fragments lodged in the
soft tissues of the mouth.
If a Permanent Tooth is knocked out
If a knocked out permanent tooth can be replaced in the socket immediately
it has an excellent chance of surviving. Every minute the tooth is out of
the socket decreases the chance of the tooth surviving. Dental advice should
be sought straight away.
First Aid Procedures
● Find the tooth.
● Handle the tooth by its crown, not by its root.
● If the root has debris on it, gently rinse tooth
in milk or normal saline solution for a few seconds only.
● Do not attempt to clean the tooth with vigorous
scrubbing or cleaning agents.
● Do not let the tooth become dry.
● Replace the tooth in its socket immediately if
the patient is conscious. Make sure you put the tooth back facing the right
way around
● Look at the other teeth. Hold the tooth in place
with some foil and/or by gently biting on a handkerchief.
● Contact your dental professional immediately.
A tetanus injection may be needed.
If you cannot replace the tooth in its socket:
● Wrap the tooth in glad wrap or store in milk or
normal saline solution.
● Seek medical help immediately, as it is essential
that the tooth be replaced as quickly as possible.
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