[Healthy Children] Oral Health

Healthy Children: Oral Health

DID YOU KNOW?

When your baby is born, all their teeth are already in their jaw!

ALSO…

Breastfeeding reduces your baby’s risk of dental decay, crooked teeth and discolouration!

The first teeth usually begin to erupt around 6 months, however some babies are a lot earlier and some a lot later… perhaps 14 months!

What can you do to promote good oral health for your baby?

- Babies begin to enjoy solid food from 6 months. They do not naturally want sugary food or have a sweet tooth. They will have tasted different foods through the swallowing amniotic fluid in the womb and through breastmilk.

- Try offering foods low in sugar first, children do not need sugar.

- Fruit is best given with meals rather than as a snack to reduce the exposure on the teeth

- Refrain from giving other drinks other than milk and water until five years old. Children do not need juices or other sweetened drinks.

- Brush the gums as soon as you introduce food, this will wipe any sugar away that may affect new teeth coming through the gums.

- All teeth need brushing, despite how small and you can use a soft baby brush with a smear of fluoride toothpaste that is at least 1000 parts per fluoride matter (PPM F) until the child is three years old. Get your child to spit out excess toothpaste but not to rinse with water as this washes away the fluoride.

- Children from 3 need toothpaste 1350-1500 (PPM F). Supervise your child until at least seven years old.

- Brush the teeth twice a day and even if you give an evening milk, teeth need brushing after this.

- Always use sugar free medicines if available and do not give HONEY under one. This is due to the inability for a baby to break it down and it can be toxic.

- When your baby reaches 1, move onto a free flow valve cup (not a bottle) and book a trip to the dentist. It is important that milk from a bottle is no longer given to prevent dental decay. It also needs more muscles to sip and swallow rather than suck from a bottle!

Resources/sources:

Use your dentist!

Institute of Health Visiting UK https://ihv.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/PT_Childrens-Teeth_V6-WEB.pdf

American Dental Association: https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/babies-and-kids

Oral health foundation: https://www.dentalhealth.org/childrens-teeth

Author: Abigail Laurie Registered Midwife and Registered Specialist Public Health Nurse, United Kingdom.