Dental Guide for Children
FAQs
How soon should I start taking my child to the dentist?
Ideally, you should start taking your child to the dentist as early as possible. Not only will this ensure they get the best possible start in terms of dental care and advice, they'll also get used to going early on.
How does what my children eat affect their teeth?
Eating a balanced diet with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables is as good for your children's dental health as it is for their overall health. Getting them to give fizzy, sugary drinks a miss might be tricky, but it is well worth it if you want them to develop strong, filling-free teeth. Try and stick to water and milk, especially between meals, and replace sweets and crisps with pieces of fruit.
What should I give my child to drink?
Ideally, you should give your children milk or water wherever possible and avoid sugary or fizzy drinks. Fruit squashes are usually full of sugar which can cause tooth decay, while fizzy drinks and fruit juices contain acid which can wear away the enamel. If you can't avoid these, get your child to drink them through a straw, which will direct them to the back of the mouth, avoiding the teeth. Also, look out for diet or low sugar versions of their favorite drinks - they have less sugar and so can help to reduce the chance of decay. Beware, though, as they still contain the acid which can cause erosion.
When your child goes to bed, don't give them a glass of squash or juice to take with them. The sugar and acid will work on the teeth overnight and could cause real problems down the line.
When do children's teeth start to come through?
A child's first teeth start to come through any time between six months and a year. These milk teeth should all be through by the age of three. By the time your child is six, they should start to lose their milk teeth and getting their permanent teeth. By fourteen, they should have 28 out of their 32 permanent teeth. The final four, the wisdom teeth, tend to come through between 18 and 25.
Ideally, you should start taking your child to the dentist as early as possible. Not only will this ensure they get the best possible start in terms of dental care and advice, they'll also get used to going early on.
How does what my children eat affect their teeth?
Eating a balanced diet with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables is as good for your children's dental health as it is for their overall health. Getting them to give fizzy, sugary drinks a miss might be tricky, but it is well worth it if you want them to develop strong, filling-free teeth. Try and stick to water and milk, especially between meals, and replace sweets and crisps with pieces of fruit.
What should I give my child to drink?
Ideally, you should give your children milk or water wherever possible and avoid sugary or fizzy drinks. Fruit squashes are usually full of sugar which can cause tooth decay, while fizzy drinks and fruit juices contain acid which can wear away the enamel. If you can't avoid these, get your child to drink them through a straw, which will direct them to the back of the mouth, avoiding the teeth. Also, look out for diet or low sugar versions of their favorite drinks - they have less sugar and so can help to reduce the chance of decay. Beware, though, as they still contain the acid which can cause erosion.
When your child goes to bed, don't give them a glass of squash or juice to take with them. The sugar and acid will work on the teeth overnight and could cause real problems down the line.
When do children's teeth start to come through?
A child's first teeth start to come through any time between six months and a year. These milk teeth should all be through by the age of three. By the time your child is six, they should start to lose their milk teeth and getting their permanent teeth. By fourteen, they should have 28 out of their 32 permanent teeth. The final four, the wisdom teeth, tend to come through between 18 and 25.
