TODDLER DENTAL CARE

Should I help my toddler when it’s time to brush?

Yes! While most toddlers like to try doing everything themselves, they are not yet coordinated enough to brush properly. You can let them start or finish the brushing process on their own, but make sure you take over in the middle and thoroughly reach all the teeth surfaces. Be sure to brush twice a day – in the morning and at bedtime.

When should I stop help my toddler with brushing?

Your child’s first set of adult molar teeth will start to appear around the age of 6. When they first erupt they are not fully In the first two years of being in the mouth, the teeth are not fully mineralised and are weaker.

How do kids get tooth decay?

• Putting a baby to bed with a bottle with something sweet like juice, milk or formula, soft drink or cordial;
• Sucking a bottle for a long time with something sweet in it;
• Eating lots of sugar, sticky food like cakes, chips, biscuits, pastries, lollies and chocolate;
• Drinking lots of sugary drinks like fruit juice, cordial, and soft drinks;
• Not brushing their teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste (over 18 months of age).

Checking for decay

You can easily check the state of your child’s teeth by lifting their top and bottom lips and checking for white patches, which are the early warning signs for decay, and can be reversed. Grey, brown or black spots indicate more serious decay; in either case, book an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible.

X-rays may be taken when necessary (to reveal decay and check on the progress of your child’s permanent teeth under the gums). We may clean your child’s teeth and apply topical fluoride to help protect the teeth against decay. We will make sure your child is receiving adequate fluoride at home. Most important of all, we will review with you how to clean and care for your child’s teeth.

How to keep teeth Healthy:

Drink Well

• Give tap water in-between meals

Eat Well

• Give kids healthy snacks like cheese, vegetable sticks, fresh fruit, wholegrain sandwiches and soups.

Clean Well

• Brush your child’s teeth twice a day, with low fluoride toothpaste from around 18 months;
• Night time is especially important for brushing;
• Help your child with brushing until 8 years old.

Permanent Teeth Eruption Chart

Make An Appointment

Click Here or call us on (02) 8084 7170 to book an appointment at our Erskineville dental clinic. Our friendly team will respond to you within 1 business day.