6 Common Misconceptions about Children’s Dental Care
Everyone wants their child’s teeth to be strong and healthy, but do you know what good dental habits are for your child? Their attitude towards dental hygiene starts early on and can be carried with them for the rest of their life. Here are 6 common misconceptions about children’s teeth care, cleared up.
1.“Baby teeth don’t matter that much, they fall out eventually anyway!”
Yes, baby teeth do fall out eventually but they are still very important. If they are not properly looked after they can develop caries, and infection from caries can affect the permanent adult teeth forming underneath. They are also essential as place-holders for permanent teeth, stopping the first adult molars that come in from blocking the rest of the adult teeth– a very important job! Healthy baby teeth are also important for learning to talk and for doing lots of chewing to fuel all the growing they have to do.
Overall, if your child’s baby teeth are healthy, it’s more likely that their adult teeth will be too. Making sure that they start looking after their teeth now means they will carry these good habits into adulthood.
2.“Fruit juice is always a healthier option”
Juice may seem like a healthy choice because it’s made from fruit, but some fruit juices contain lots of added sugar, and even pure fruit juices can contain a lot of “hidden” natural sugars that can contribute to tooth decay. If your kids are drinking fruit juice, make sure they have it with a meal and are having no more than 150ml (one portion) in total per day to reduce the risk of tooth decay.
3.“Kids don’t need to start seeing the dentist until they start school”
You should take your child to see the dentist as soon as their teeth start to appear, and visit regularly, as often as your dentist recommends. Your dentist can answer any questions about the best way to look after your child’s teeth and can spot problems earlier. Visiting the dentist early on also gets your child used to the dental environment and will mean much more pleasant trips in the future!
4.“Snacking is ok as long as it’s not on sweets and chocolate”
Sugar is very sneaky! It’s not just sweets and chocolate that are high in sugar; be wary of some cereals, dried fruits, yoghurts and even crackers. An effective way to keep track of the amount of sugar in groceries is to use the Sugar Smart app that shows you how many sugar cubes are in an item when you scan its barcode. Reducing the frequency of foods and drinks that contain sugar is also important, and only give sweet foods like dried fruit at mealtimes.
5.“Kids shouldn’t use fluoride toothpaste until they’re 2 years old”
All children up to 3 years old should use a smear of fluoride toothpaste with a fluoride level of at least 1000ppm. Between the ages of 3 and 6, children should use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste containing more than 1000ppm. For children aged 6 and above, the recommended amount is between 1350ppm-1500ppm. The amount of fluoride that is in the toothpaste can be found on the side of the tube or on the packaging.
6.“Kids just naturally get more cavities than adults”
They don’t have to! Good brushing with fluoride toothpaste and the right eating habits can go a long way towards avoiding tooth decay in both children and adults.
References
https://bda.org/public/sugar-and-children%E2%80%99s-oral-health-top-tips
PHE publications gateway number: 2016696, Delivering better oral health: a quick guide to a healthy mouth in children
