Looking after your child's teeth and mouth from an early age can stop them developing conditions such as tooth decay.
It's important to develop healthy food choices and toothbrushing from early childhood.
This will also help the healthy development of their permanent adult teeth.
How to keep your child's teeth healthy
You can keep your child's teeth healthy by:
- brushing your child's teeth regularly
- using fluoride toothpaste from age 2
- making sure they have a balanced diet
- breastfeeding
- limiting sugary foods and drinks to mealtimes
- avoiding night-time bottles containing anything but water
- seeing a dentist regularly
Tooth decay in children
Tooth decay happens when bacteria create a sticky layer called plaque over your child's teeth. This damages the surface of their teeth over time.
If plaque is allowed to build up, it can lead to:
- holes in the teeth (dental caries)
- painful infections, such as a dental abscess (where pus collects inside the tooth)
- a swollen face or gums
Foods and drinks that have sugar are more likely to cause tooth decay.
Preventing tooth decay
You can protect your child from tooth decay with simple daily care, such as toothbrushing. It's important to control how often your child has sugary foods and drinks.
Avoid sugar
Children are not born with a sweet tooth. If you avoid introducing sugary food for as long as possible, you'll help to protect your child's teeth.
Read food labels. Sugar may also be called sucrose, fructose, glucose or maltose on labels. 'Low sugar' or 'no added sugar' on the label does not mean that the food or drink is sugar-free.
Natural products such as honey and agave syrup are also forms of sugar and may also cause tooth decay.
Follow these tips:
Do
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keep food and drinks that contain sugar to mealtimes only
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give your child milk or plain water when they want a drink between mealtimes - these are the best drinks for your child's teeth
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keep fruit juice or squash to meal times only, or not at all, and dilute well
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try to avoid fizzy drinks - they contain a lot of sugar and acid
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use sugar-free medicines when available
Important
Avoid letting your baby fall asleep with a bottle in bed. This can cause drink to pool around their teeth. It is also a choking risk.
Healthy eating
Encourage your child to eat a balanced diet with plenty of fruit, vegetables and fibre.
Helping your child to eat healthily
Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding up to 12 months is not linked with an increased risk of tooth decay. Begin cleaning your baby's teeth as soon as they appear.
Why breastfeeding is important
Support with feeding a newborn baby
Good dental routine
Before teeth appear, clean your baby's gums twice a day with a clean soft wash cloth or gauze.
When the first tooth appears, you can introduce gentle toothbrushing twice a day. This can be before their first birthday.
Use water and a small, soft toothbrush. Do not use toothpaste at this age.
Teaching your child to brush their teeth
Teach your child the best way to brush their teeth before they start to clean them on their own.
They should use gentle circular motions to clean each tooth individually. They also need to brush the back of each tooth and gently along the gum line.
When brushing your child’s teeth, try to sit or stand behind them and gently hold their chin. This should allow you to get at both their top and bottom teeth.
Help them brush their teeth until they are at least age 7. This will make sure they're brushing their teeth in the right way.
How often to brush
Brush your child's teeth twice a day.
For example:
- after breakfast
- before they go to bed
When your child first starts to brush their teeth on their own, check on them every day.
Children's tooth-brushing routine
Try to get into a regular tooth-brushing routine. This will help your child when they start to brush their teeth on their own.
Use a pea-sized amount of regular adult-strength fluoride toothpaste and a children's toothbrush.
Give your child praise and encouragement when they brush their teeth well. This will help them to develop good brushing habits. It may help if you brush your own teeth at the same time.
Encourage your child to spit out the toothpaste after brushing. They should not rinse with water afterwards as this has been found to reduce the benefit of fluoride. Fluoride is a mineral that helps to prevent tooth decay.
Fluoride
Fluoride works by making the outer surface of the tooth stronger. It is naturally found in foods and in some water supplies.
Fluoride in toothpaste is very useful. You should start using it when your child is 2.
If you're unsure if the toothpaste you are using has the right amount of fluoride, talk to your dentist.
What to do if your child refuses to brush
If your child resists having their teeth brushed, do not be discouraged.
Check that the toothbrush size is not too big. Move the toothbrush more slowly and gently in smaller circles.
Find a place and time that they may prefer. Playing a favourite song or singing can help to distract them during toothbrushing. If you are using toothpaste, check the flavour is not too strong or too minty.
If your child wants to brush their own teeth, let them start brushing. But you can finish to make sure no tooth surfaces are missed.
Dental appointments
Take your child for regular dental check-ups as soon as their first milk teeth appear, before their 1st birthday.
How often your child has check-ups will depend on if there are signs of tooth decay, or a high risk of tooth decay. Ask your dentist what they recommend.
All children can attend HSE dental services for emergency care up to age 16 years.
But they will also be called for dental check-ups in certain school classes. Children with special care needs may be seen more often.
