Caring For Toddler's Teeth
Sometime in the next 12 months you should take your child either to the dentist or to your Child and Family Health Nurse for a dental check. Before this time, it’s good to take them along with you to the dentist when you have your checkups, so they get used to the environment.
Always use gentle pressure, as brushing too hard can damage the gums.
Tips for cleaning teeth
- Help your children brush their teeth twice a day after meals. They need your help until they’re about 6 years old, and have the manual skills to do a proper job themselves.
- When brushing, use a special children’s toothbrush, small with extra soft bristles.
- Always use gentle pressure, as brushing too hard can damage the gums.
- Use a junior-strength toothpaste until they’re about 6 years old. This has a mild flavour, is low foaming and lower in fluoride if they swallow it by accident.
- Teach them how to rinse and spit, so they don’t swallow the toothpaste.
- Night time brushing is the most important, so don’t be tempted to let your children have a snack in bed. A bottle, a glass of milk, or even an apple, can undo all your good work.
- Try not to give too many sugary snacks between meals.
- Water or milk should be your child’s main drinks, but if you do serve fruit juice or cordial it is best to give it well diluted. It is also good to give it with some food rather than by itself, because the saliva produced from chewing will help to get rid of the sugar and neutralise the acids causing decay.
