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Ten Dental Balham: Promoting great oral health in children
If you're a new parent and wondering when the right time is to start promoting great oral hygiene habits in your child, the team at Balham's Ten Dental clinic are here to help!
Co-founder Nik Sisodia gives us his top tips on how best to lay the foundations of great oral health in children.
"We believe that the sooner children start nurturing good oral hygiene habits, the more likely they are to develop healthy and beautiful teeth. Right from birth, parents and carers can play an essential role in instilling these habits, which will ensure that as they grow older, children understand the importance of cleaning their teeth and gums twice a day, and visiting the dentist regularly for check-up
“And this can start from birth! As soon as your child is born, you can start cleaning their mouth with a wet washcloth or cotton gauze at least two times a day, which can help remove any food remains or bacteria. All children are different and develop at different rates, but milk teeth usually start to appear when children are around 6 to 9 months old. At this point, you should start brushing your child’s teeth using water and a baby toothbrush with soft bristles.
“It’s also important that you take your child to the dentist as soon as their first tooth appears – the dentist will be able to assess your baby’s mouth and identify any oral health problems at an early stage. Additionally, the dentist can recommend the most appropriate time for you to start using kids’ toothpaste for your child. Giving the baby the opportunity to get to know the dentist will also help reduce their fear of future visits to the practice.
“Once your child is two years old, begin brushing their teeth with a pea-size amount of kids’ toothpaste that contains at least 1000ppm (parts per million) of fluoride to prevent tooth decay and gum disease. You should make sure that your child does not rinse but spits out the toothpaste and avoids swallowing it. This way, the fluoride stays in the mouth for longer and will be more effective. You can teach your child to start brushing their own teeth but it is important to supervise them until they are at least seven.
“Children should be taught to brush their teeth for two minutes twice a day – just before they go to bed and at least one other time during the day. You can correct your child’s movements, if required, to prevent bad oral care habits from forming. By the age of 6, your child’s milk teeth will start falling out in preparation for the permanent teeth to appear. Children aged 7 and over should brush their teeth using a fluoride toothpaste that contains between 1,350ppm to 1,500ppm of fluoride.
“Besides at-home oral care, it is vital that you take your child to the dentist every six months for a professional check-up to ensure their teeth and gums are healthy. Establishing an effective oral hygiene regime as early as possible ultimately helps lay the foundations for a lifetime of good oral health.”
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To find out about the full range of treatments Ten Dental offers and to book an appointment for your child, call 020 3944 5865, email hello@tendental.com or pop in to the clinic at 156 Balham High Road – they're open Monday-Saturday (including up to 8pm, Monday to Thursday). You can also find out more on their website.