Dental Care for Babies and Toddlers

Important Points

1. Tooth decay is common among children, and about 50% have at least one cavity by age 5, but preventative measures can reduce this.
2. Recognize the symptoms of teething and reduce discomfort by chewing gum, teeth rings, hugging, and feeding properly.
3. Encourage proper brushing, regular dental checkups, a healthy diet, and avoiding habits like thumb sucking and bottle feeding to keep teeth healthy.

We have always known that children’s teeth are important. But now we understand better what we have to do to protect our children’s teeth. And that’s why it’s important that we do it.

Tooth decay is a very common childhood disease. In Australia – about 50% of children have at least one cavity in their teeth by the age of five. But this can be largely avoided by following a few simple steps.

How Many Teeth Are We Talking About?

We only get two teeth in our lifetime. 20 primary (cut) teeth and 32 secondary (large) teeth. From the age of about 20 we have all the teeth we will ever have so we need to take care of them.

Children’s teeth are formed in their jaws before birth and are only waiting to erupt at about six months. Every child has teeth at a different time but usually by the age of three they have the first 20 teeth.

The first teeth you will see in your baby are the front teeth. And the first thing you will know about this is when they bite you while breastfeeding.

Symptoms of Teething

1. Dropping/dropping.
2. Red cheeks.
3. Pimples around their chin and cheeks.
4. Being sad and sad.
5. Wanting to suck and bite anything that is nearby.
6. Changes in hunger. Fatigue and loss of appetite.
7. Changes in sleep.
8. Putting fingers and hands in their mouths.
9. Some children have runny stools and an ammonia smell from their lawn.
10. And some babies have no symptoms at all.

Alleviating Dental Discomfort

1. With clean hands, rub your baby’s mouth gently with your thumb or forefinger.
2. Give your child a teething ring.
3. Hold your baby often.
4. Offer your small food if they want it.
5. Dental problems can help. Gives a firm chewy texture. Be sure to supervise your child while they are chewing on the rusk.
6. Check with your local pharmacy to see what they recommend. Gel teeth can be comforting.

How Do Teeth Decay?

Tooth decay is a serious problem. When a cavity forms there is damage to the tooth enamel. Enamel is the hard outer coating. Acid is what causes tooth decay.

Food + Bacteria = Acid

We all have different types of bacteria in our mouths but when things are right, there is a significant increase in numbers and the type that causes decay. When a mother has decayed teeth, she can pass the bacteria on to her baby. This is done by blowing on the food to cool it, “tasting” the food from the spoon before giving it to the baby and kissing the mouth.

Even during pregnancy, women should take care of their oral hygiene and visit their dentist.

Interestingly, children who have many ear and chest infections in their first two years of life are at risk of tooth decay. And children from lower socioeconomic backgrounds are more likely to have tooth decay.

How to take care of your child’s teeth

1. Make sure your child is eating healthy foods. Foods that are high in sugar can putrefy.
2. Apply a soft cloth or toothbrush while brushing.
3. Avoid giving the baby anything to drink other than breast milk, milk or water.
4. Brush your child’s teeth once a day with a soft toothbrush.
5. Only use water on your child’s toothbrush until they are 18 months old.
6. After 18 months start using children’s fluoridated toothpaste. A small amount of peas applied to a toothbrush is a lot.
7. Take your little one to the dentist about six months after the first tooth erupts or on the first birthday.
8. Take your child to the dentist for his or her biannual check-up. An example is an important lesson in dental care.

How to take care of your child’s teeth

1. Allow your child to brush their teeth but do it yourself. Children do not have the skills to do good work until they are 8 years old.
2. Brush your child’s teeth twice a day.
3. Use a small, soft-headed brush. Talk to your dentist to see if they recommend an electric toothbrush.
4. Use a timer to encourage two minutes of washing.
5. Use children’s toothpaste until age 6. From then on they can use adult toothpaste.
6. Encourage your child to spit out extra toothpaste. Drinking fluoridated water and ingesting fluoridated toothpaste can increase the risk of developing fluorosis – discolored patches on the surface of the tooth.
7. Be extra careful when brushing your teeth at night. Saliva slows down throughout the night and this is where most of the decay occurs.
8. Start brushing your child’s teeth at the age of 2. When two teeth are crowded together, food can get trapped in the gaps. Try using “flosette” if losing weight is difficult. These are available at pharmacies.
9. Avoid snacking between meals. Acid levels peak after eating and cause decay.
10. Do not buy water, soft drinks or soft drinks. Both are high in sugar.
11. Encourage your child to eat cheese. This protects and helps support enamel health.
12. Check your child’s teeth regularly. White, gray or gray patches can be signs of early decay.
13. If your child complains of a toothache, take him to the dentist. Toothache in children is almost always a sign of decay.

Toe Sucking, Toe Sucking And Dummies

Most babies love to suck. Dummies are often used to calm and settle a broken child. As long as they are not dipped in honey or other sweet foods, there is no risk of decay from the dummy.

Thumb and/or finger sucking can cause teeth to move out of alignment.

Stop thumb/finger sucking when your child’s permanent teeth erupt at age six. Talk to your doctor about options.

What to do

1. Share your toothbrush with your child. Everyone in the family needs their own.
2. Give your baby or child an amber necklace. There is no scientific evidence to support claims that it helps reduce tooth decay. And it can be dangerous.
3. Drink your baby’s bottle or drink it yourself before giving it to him.
4. Avoid going to the dentist alone.
5. Avoid brushing your child’s teeth because they object. Many children hate brushing their teeth. But it is very important that it is always necessary to continue.
6. Put your baby to bed with a bottle. When your baby turns, try to stop all the bottles. Encourage them to drink from a cup or continue breastfeeding.

Remember These Top Ten Tips

1. Baby teeth set the pattern for how big teeth come out.
2. Children’s teeth decay more than adults.
3. Babies get tooth decay (usually) from their mothers.
4. Foods and drinks that contain a lot of sugar can putrefy.
5. Bottle feeding beyond 12 months can cause teething. Encourage your child to drink all the water from the cup.
6. Brushing your teeth makes a big difference in reducing the risk of tooth decay.
7. Suction from a sipper or straw cup can cause damage. It interferes with the saliva coming out of the front of the mouth.
8. Encourage your child/children to eat healthy foods.
9. Take your child to the dentist regularly. Early tooth decay can be controlled.
10. Encourage your child to drink fluoridated water and use fluoridated toothpaste.

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About the Author:

Jane Barry is fully qualified in paediatrics, immunisation, midwifery and child health nursing. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Science (Nursing) and has nearly 30 years of pediatric health nursing experience. She is a member of a number of professional associations including AHPRA, The Australasian Medical Writer’s Association, Health Writer Hub and the Australian College of Children and Young People’s Nurses.