A guide to dental health for your baby and the family

Transcription

1 Patient information A guide to dental health for your baby and the family

2 Contents Good dental care from the beginning 2 Registration with a dentist 3 Fluoride toothpaste 4 Brushing your child s teeth 5 Are baby teeth important? 6 Teething 7 Weaning and infant feeding 8 Sugar-free medicines 11 Accidents to teeth 11 Good dental care from the beginning As parents of young children there will be many calls on your time, but the simple dental advice offered in this booklet will provide important health gains for your children for the following reasons: Healthy habits started at a young age will often continue throughout life. Dental disease is largely preventable. Many children develop dental disease before they visit a dentist.

3 Registration with a dentist You can register your baby with a dentist soon after birth in order to receive important advice about how to prevent dental disease. All too often dentists see young children for the first time when they already have tooth decay or pain. Advice Register your baby with a dentist soon after birth. Your dentist or hygienist can provide advice on preventing dental disease and answer any questions you may have. Take your baby to the dentist with the rest of the family. Dental disease can be spotted and treated early, avoiding the need for teeth to be taken out. Your child will get used to going to the dentist and not be worried about dental visits. Dental treatment is free on the National Health Service up to 18 years of age and for mothers for one year after the birth of their baby. If you do not have your own family dentist, ask a friend or relative to recommend a dentist who they find good with children. You can also look for a dentist in your area by visiting the British Dental Association s directory of dentists on their website at:

4 Fluoride Toothpaste Start brushing teeth with a fluoride toothpaste as soon as your baby s first tooth comes through. Advice Ask your dentist about the level of fluoride in the toothpaste most appropriate for your baby. Fluoride toothpastes, such as one from the Colgate Smiles range strengthen teeth. Use a small-headed, soft toothbrush, such as one from the Colgate Smiles range, and a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. Babies and children need supervising when brushing until they are at least 7 years of age. They do not have the skills to do this properly for themselves. You will need to supervise the amount of toothpaste they use and encourage them to spit out the excess. Children love imitating and can learn to brush by watching other members of the family. Fluoride Supplements Some children may benefit from using fluoride supplements in addition to brushing with a fluoride toothpaste. Please consult your dentist for advice on the use of fluoride supplements.

5 Brushing Your Child s Teeth Brush your child s teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. One of these occasions should be the last thing at night when the protective effect of saliva is reduced and the beneficial effects of fluoride are greatest. Place a pea-sized amount of toothpaste on a toothbrush and carefully brush all surfaces of all the teeth. Encourage the child to spit out afterwards. Rinsing with water reduces the benefits of the toothpaste.

6 Are Baby Teeth Important? Parents often think that baby teeth are not important as they are replaced by another set when the child is older. Healthy baby teeth are important for a child s self-confidence and smile. They enable children to bite and chew properly. Baby teeth are necessary for clear speech. Baby teeth keep a space for adult teeth to form in the right place. Decayed baby teeth can become infected which leads to abscess formation and pain. If baby teeth are not looked after properly, extraction under general anaesthetic may be necessary, an unpleasant experience for young children. Some baby teeth are not shed until the child is 11 or 12 years old.

7 Teething Teething is a common cause of discomfort and can result in sleepless nights for babies and parents. Babies who are teething may dribble excessively, be irritable and restless, have a raised temperature or have a red or slightly swollen face. If your baby is unwell for any length of time, or shows more severe symptoms such as stomach upset, take them to see a doctor. You can help Give your baby something hard to bite on. A variety of teething rings are available. Upper Massage your baby s gums with a clean finger. Teething gel can be helpful. If sleep is very disturbed, give sugar-free paracetamol according to the manufacturer s instructions. Incisors 6-12 months Lower Upper First molars months Canines months Lower denotes new teeth denotes existing teeth Second molars months A guide to the order and approximate age at which primary teeth appear

8 Weaning and Infant Feeding To prevent the development of a sweet tooth, avoid giving sweetened food and drink. Breast milk or infant formula should be the main drink up to 12 months. Weaning, the transition from bland baby food to everyday family foods, should start between 4 to 6 months. Good first weaning foods include non-wheat cereals e.g. rice, purees of vegetables and non-citrus fruits. Sugar, honey or salt should not be added to weaning foods. Sweetened drinks can encourage a sweet tooth and should be avoided. Cool, boiled water is best between meals. Well-diluted fruit juice should only be served at mealtimes, in a feeder cup or beaker, from the age of 6 months. Always follow manufacturers instructions on usage and dilution. If you use commercially prepared weaning foods use the sugar-free varieties. Sugar-free finger foods should be introduced between 6 to 9 months to encourage your baby to chew, e.g. toast or bread sticks.

9 Nursing bottle decay is caused by prolonged and frequent contact of sweet liquids with the teeth. Sweet liquids contain sugar. The plaque bacteria on the teeth use these sugars to create acid which damages the tooth surface and causes decay. Nursing bottle decay When using feeding bottles Hold/stay with your baby until the feed is finished. Never leave a baby alone with a bottle to avoid the risk of choking. Advanced nursing bottle decay Only give your baby water or milk between meals. Restrict sweet drinks to mealtimes only. Don t use the bottle as a comforter, use a dummy. Don t dip the dummy into anything sweet.

10 From 6 months old Encourage your child to move from drinking from a bottle to using a cup. Only give a child a cup when they are thirsty, don t use it as a comforter. If you use a valved cup, make sure your child is using it correctly and getting enough to drink. A child should drink at least 6-8 cups of water through the day. Restrict sweet drinks to mealtimes only. Other kinds of sugar to avoid: Glucose Fructose Maltose Sucrose

11 Sugar-free Medicines Unfortunately, medicines containing sugar can cause tooth decay if given frequently for long periods of time. Check with your doctor or pharmacist to see if sugar-free alternatives are available. If possible, give medicines at mealtimes and not last thing at night. Accidents to Teeth If a tooth is knocked out, broken, or pushed out of position, it is important to seek advice from your dentist as soon as possible.

12 Don t forget Teeth need cleaning as soon as they appear. Use a fluoride toothpaste such as one from the Colgate Smiles range and get into the habit of brushing twice a day, especially last thing before bedtime. By caring for your child s teeth and gums right from the very start you can do a great deal to prevent painful tooth decay in the years ahead. Encourage regular brushing using a soft-bristled toothbrush such as one from the Colgate Smiles toothbrush range and use no more than a pea-sized amount of toothpaste. Brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste. PS Guildford Business Park, Guildford, Surrey GU2 8JZ.