How to encourage good oral hygiene for Children

Encouraging our children to look after their teeth is something we can do for them from a very early age.  Learning good oral hygiene is very important for long term oral health. Introducing your child to the dentist from the beginning also helps with eliminating any fears they may develop in later life. Poor oral hygiene will inevitably lead to other serious health problems down the road.

We recommend you start brushing your children’s teeth from the baby stage up until they are at least 6-8 years of age.

For baby’s

A baby’s mouth can be cleaned after each feeding. Begin by cradling the head with one hand while using your free hand to wipe the baby’s mouth with a clean wet gauze, wet cloth or xylitol wipe. A child’s teeth should be brushed as soon as the first tooth erupts.

For older children:

Step 1: To properly brush children’s teeth, the parent or child should angle a soft-bristled toothbrush at 45 degrees towards the gums of the upper and lower teeth.

Step 2: The toothbrush should be moved gently in a back-and-forth motion with short strokes along the teeth and gums. This technique should be continued along every tooth’s interior and exterior surface in a similar way.

Step 3: The tip of the brush should be placed in an upright position to reach behind the front teeth on the top and bottom.

Step 4: Brush the tongue to remove bacteria on the surface.

• Your child’s toothbrush should be replaced every three to four months or sooner if it is worn out or frayed. It is also a good idea to replace the toothbrush after a cold or flu to avoid reintroducing germs associated with those conditions.
• Encourage your child to brush at least twice a day, morning and night, with a soft-bristled toothbrush. Harder bristles may be too abrasive for young children.
• Battery-powered toothbrushes can also be used to gently remove the sticky film, called plaque, from the teeth and gums.

The current advice is that adult toothpastes should be used for children over 2 years of age, and NO toothpaste before then. This is down to the fluoride content in the toothpastes, proprietary children’s toothpastes do not contain high enough levels of fluoride. It is also important for a child’s safety that they do not switch to fluoride toothpaste until they are able to spit out the toothpaste on their own.

From a taste perspective, this can sometimes present a challenge as children can find the taste of adult toothpaste too minty or not pleasant on their palette (children have more sensitive gums and mucosa). In cases like this, it is still possible to buy non-flavoured toothpastes that contain the right amounts of fluoride. If you can’t find them in your local shops, you can source them online.

Brushing teeth correctly and consistently helps remove most dental plaque. But brushing alone can’t remove plaque that is located in places that a toothbrush can’t reach. This includes in between the teeth and under the gums. In addition to removing plaque, flossing also helps to:

• Remove debris that sticks to teeth between the teeth and under the gums
• Polish tooth surfaces
• Control bad breath

Children should start flossing when their tooth surfaces start to connect with each other. Your child should floss at least once a day for 2 to 3 minutes each time to be most effective and under the supervision of an adult. If you have questions about how your child should floss, your dentist and hygienist will be able to give you guidance on this.

We recommend dental visits from as early as when the first tooth erupts or at the very least from the child’s first birthday. When a child learns a new skill at an early age, they are likely to continue this behaviour throughout adulthood.

To book your child in for a visit please contact us on (01) 4542022, email us on info@portobellodental.com