Looking after your teeth is very important; though it is even more important to ensure that children and young people maintain good oral hygiene.
The most effective way to keep children’s teeth clean and fresh is to ensure proper care of them from the moment the first tooth emerges.
As children have a tendency to be keen on sweet snacks and other foods high in sugar and acid, problems can occur later on in life which could lead to a number of dental jobs that need to be carried out. One such example is a root canal treatment (or endodontics) where the pulp (soft flesh inside the tooth) can become damaged.
To ensure healthy teeth in your child it is important to get into a daily routine of helping to clean them (along with your own). It is recommended that you use a toothbrush with much smaller bristles and only use only a little bit of toothpaste (A ‘pea-sized’ amount is encouraged).
Most dentists (including dentists in London) suggest using toothpaste with a lower amount of fluoride in. A product with 1,000ppm of fluoride is usually the best. When the child reaches over three years old a fluoride content of between 1,350 and 1,500ppm is optimal.
Children up until the age of about seven years old should be supervised whilst brushing their teeth and it is recommended that the parent/s encourage their children to learn how to brush by themselves and to check they are doing it properly.
In order to become used to the idea, many professionals insist that children be taken to the dentist from an early age for regular checkups. This way they become more familiar with going. It will also help to maintain good oral hygiene if a qualified dentist is checking them on a regular basis.