Dental Guide for Children
Common Problems
Packing a healthy lunch box
When your child goes off to school, you want to be sure that they've got everything they need. And one of their most important pieces of kit is their lunchbox, or rather what goes in it.
It's tempting to put in chocolate bars and bags of crisps, but it's much better for your child's teeth to avoid these. But just because you keep it healthy, doesn't mean it has to be boring. Fresh fruit salads, bottles of water with cartoon characters on, sandwiches cut into interesting shapes - all of these are easy to do and they won't cost a fortune either.
Protecting teeth against sports injuries
Going to school often means getting involved in contact sports, like football or rugby. These sports can be just as dangerous to the teeth as the shins or ankles, so you need to protect them. Our dentists will be able to fit a special mouth guard that will help protect the teeth from high tackles, poorly aimed shots at goal and flying hockey sticks.
Because the mouth guard is specially fitted for your child's mouth, it will offer more protection than something bought off the shelf. Remember, though, that as your child grows, they'll grow out of their mouth guard, so make sure they take it with them when they go for check-ups to ensure the best possible fit.
When accidents happen
Accidents happen, especially if you're playing sports. You can help avoid injuries when playing sports by wearing a specially-fitted mouth guard. However if your teeth do get, chipped or damaged, then your dentist may be able to repair them.
*Oral Hygiene
Teaching your child how to brush on their own
As your child gets older, they don't want Mum or Dad standing over them in the bathroom to make sure they're brushing properly. Teaching them how to brush effectively - including those hard to reach areas - will set them up for life and will help spare them tooth decay, fillings and, of course, bad breath - especially important as they head towards their teens!
When brushing your teeth, always start and finish at the same point. That way you know when you've done the job properly. With a pea sized blob of fluoride toothpaste on the brush, start with the top set back teeth and make small circular motions with the brush, moving gradually around to the other side of the mouth.
When you get to the last tooth, bring the brush round and do the same with the inside of the teeth. This is often the part that people forget, but it's also likely to be where bacteria and tartar (calculus) - the hard stuff that the dentist scrapes off the teeth - will occur, so make sure you brush properly. Then do exactly the same with the bottom set.
When your child goes off to school, you want to be sure that they've got everything they need. And one of their most important pieces of kit is their lunchbox, or rather what goes in it.It's tempting to put in chocolate bars and bags of crisps, but it's much better for your child's teeth to avoid these. But just because you keep it healthy, doesn't mean it has to be boring. Fresh fruit salads, bottles of water with cartoon characters on, sandwiches cut into interesting shapes - all of these are easy to do and they won't cost a fortune either.
Protecting teeth against sports injuries
Going to school often means getting involved in contact sports, like football or rugby. These sports can be just as dangerous to the teeth as the shins or ankles, so you need to protect them. Our dentists will be able to fit a special mouth guard that will help protect the teeth from high tackles, poorly aimed shots at goal and flying hockey sticks.
Because the mouth guard is specially fitted for your child's mouth, it will offer more protection than something bought off the shelf. Remember, though, that as your child grows, they'll grow out of their mouth guard, so make sure they take it with them when they go for check-ups to ensure the best possible fit.
When accidents happen
Accidents happen, especially if you're playing sports. You can help avoid injuries when playing sports by wearing a specially-fitted mouth guard. However if your teeth do get, chipped or damaged, then your dentist may be able to repair them.
*Oral Hygiene
Teaching your child how to brush on their own
As your child gets older, they don't want Mum or Dad standing over them in the bathroom to make sure they're brushing properly. Teaching them how to brush effectively - including those hard to reach areas - will set them up for life and will help spare them tooth decay, fillings and, of course, bad breath - especially important as they head towards their teens!
When brushing your teeth, always start and finish at the same point. That way you know when you've done the job properly. With a pea sized blob of fluoride toothpaste on the brush, start with the top set back teeth and make small circular motions with the brush, moving gradually around to the other side of the mouth.
When you get to the last tooth, bring the brush round and do the same with the inside of the teeth. This is often the part that people forget, but it's also likely to be where bacteria and tartar (calculus) - the hard stuff that the dentist scrapes off the teeth - will occur, so make sure you brush properly. Then do exactly the same with the bottom set.
