Children’s Dentistry

Toothbrushing and Diet

There are a few basic principles to bare in mind when thinking about protecting children’s teeth:

  1. Plaque is a build-up of bacteria on teeth, these bacteria produce acids which cause tooth decay

  2. Sugar “feeds” the bacteria causing them to produce more acid, increasing risk of tooth decay

  3. Fluoride in toothpaste changes the structure of enamel to make it stronger and more resistant to acids

So no plaque means no tooth decay, and no sugar also means no tooth decay. It’s obviously impossible to cut out all sugar in the diet or eliminate all plaque, but, keeping sugar consumption low and plaque levels down by using a fluoride toothpaste and a good tooth brushing technique should eliminate the risk of tooth decay.

As soon as teeth erupt, parents should be brushing the teeth twice a day

A soft toothbrush and a smear of toothpaste containing at least 1000ppm fluoride is recommended

For older children parents should assist/supervise brushing

Twice daily for at least 2 minutes, once at bedtime and one other time

Electric toothbrushes are recommended from 3+ years with a pea-sized amount of at least 1000ppm fluoride toothpaste

Toothpaste should be spat out, rather than rinsing the mouth to prevent dilution of the toothpaste

Brush twice daily, once just before bed and one other time

An oscillating-rotating electric toothbrush with a fluoride toothpaste containing 1350-1500ppm fluoride

Spit out the toothpaste, do not rinse the mouth with water

Toothbrushing

Evidence has shown that oscillating-rotating electric toothbrushes are superior in plaque removal when compared to manual toothbrushes

  • For children, electric toothbrushes are designed for 3+ years old, for younger children an age-appropriate manual brush with soft or medium bristles can be used

  • It is important to use the correct technique for both manual and electric toothbrushes, your dentist will be able to give detailed instructions at your check up appointment

    • YouTube also has some great clips if you type in toothbrushing techniques for children – great for motivation!

  • Cleaning your child’s teeth should be part of their daily hygiene routine. For young children parents should be brushing for them, up to 7 years assisted/supervised toothbrushing is recommended to increase children’s confidence and skill in toothbrushing whilst parents still ensure teeth are properly cleaned

    • For young children you may find it easier to stand or sit behind your child, cradling their chin in your hand so you can reach their top and bottom teeth more easily.

    • Toothbrushing charts are a good way to encourage young children and help build routine

Diet Advice

For dental health it is recommended to reduce the frequency of sugary foods in the diet. Tooth decay risk is directly linked to the frequency of sugar intake. Each time you eat or drink something sugary, the teeth are under acid attack for up to one hour. Four sugar intakes per day is the recommended number to reduce tooth decay risk, e.g. breakfast, lunch, dinner and one other snack during the day. If you are having something sugary, limit it to mealtimes - same with fizzy or sugary drinks.

  • Keep sweet treats to mealtimes, limit frequency of sugary foods

    “Saturday sweets” is a great way to limit sweet intake

    Sugary foods are best eaten all at once or after a meal, not eaten slowly throughout the day

  • Acidic foods and drinks can be just as harmful, the acid ‘erodes’ or dissolves the enamel, exposing the dentine beneath which can be very sensitive

    Water or plain milk is recommended between meals, keep sugary and acidic drinks (including fruit juices!) to a minimum and with a meal if you are having them

  • Young children need snacks to maintain their energy levels throughout the day, sensible snack choices can reduce risk of tooth decay while still allowing children their much needed fuel!

    Try to stick to cheese, vegetables and fruit, although try to limit how much dried fruit you give as it is high in sugar

    Cheese on crackers, carrot batons, breadsticks, cucumber sticks and marmite sandwiches are all good examples that aren’t high in sugar

  • It is also worth remembering that some processed baby foods contain quite a lot of sugar. Try checking the list of ingredients: the higher up the list sugar is, the more there is in the product. Generally anything ending in ‘ose’ is a sugar, for example: fructose, glucose, lactose or sucrose

    Check that all medicines are sugar free