A trip to the dentist can be a daunting experience for some, but caring for our child’s teeth is essential. As parents we are thrilled to see that first tooth and know that we need to care for our children’s teeth, but when does good oral hygiene start?
From the minute your baby gets that first tooth, you can begin to teach them about looking after their teeth!
As part of our ‘Cuppa Support’ sessions, we invited experts from the community to come and share their knowledge and tips. Dentist, Dr Olga de Moon, was kind enough to come and chat to the SensoBaby community about caring for our baby’s teeth, how to make visits to the dentist stress free, and what we can expect as out children get older. The little ones played with a sensory box of brushes whilst their parents and carers learned some tips and tricks for caring for those winning smiles!
Here are some of the Dentist’s top tips!
- When baby gets their first teeth, you can get them used to brushing straight away! There is no need for abrasive brushes though, just a piece of clean cloth wrapped around your finger can clean and polish that perfect peg!
- Toothpaste isn’t essential for babies and young toddlers as most of them just want to swallow it anyway! Daily, gentle brushing should ensure that those teeth are kept clean. If you do use toothpaste, just use a pea size amount.
- Get them used to the dentist from an early age. They don’t need to actually have a check up, but can become familiar with the sights and sounds of the dentist by watching Mum, Dad or older brothers and sisters have their teeth checked. This way they know it’s normal and when it comes to their turn for a visit to the dentist, it isn’t overwhelming for them.
- Avoid tooth decay by not allowing your little one to fall asleep with a bottle of milk, juice or tea etc as this pools around the tooth and the sugars and bacteria can erode the enamel.
- When the adult teeth come in from around age 6-7, you can opt to have their permanent molar teeth ‘sealed’ to prevent decay before it starts. This involves a thin coating being painted on the chewing surfaces of the teeth.
If you want to make an appointment with Dr Olga de Moon, you can find her at The Dental Hub, Plot 2850 Southring, Extension 10. Telephone: 3187178.
As always, we love finding new ideas for sensory play for our little ones. A basket of brushes; soft brushes, hard brushes, toothbrushes and dusters, are all fantastic ways for babies to explore textures! Why don’t you create your own, dentist inspired, discovery basket?! Happy brushing!