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Tooth decay is a common disease throughout the world, and many children will go on to develop cavities in their teeth. An untreated cavity can cause toothache, greatly affecting a child’s well-being and health. Tooth decay will worsen without treatment because it is a bacterial infection that cannot clear up without professional dental care. In addition to toothache, children affected by tooth decay can suffer from:

• Difficulty sleeping
• Problems with eating can affect the growth and development
• Speech problems
• Lower self-esteem can lead to social isolation
• Untreated cavities can damage the permanent teeth developing underneath
• There is a higher risk of other teeth developing tooth decay
• Problems concentrating at school or missing a significant amount of schooling due to pain and the subsequent dental care needed for severely infected teeth

Although tooth decay may be common, it is preventable with the right oral hygiene habits. We have listed some points to follow below if you have a young child.

Make sure you do not put your baby to sleep with a bottle containing anything other than water. You can begin brushing their teeth as soon as they appear using a small baby toothbrush and either plain water or a smear of toothpaste. Ask us for advice on which we would recommend, as it is best to book your child’s first dental visit as soon as they get their first teeth.

From age one to eighteen months, you should be brushing your child’s teeth twice a day. We can show you how to brush them thoroughly when you bring your child to visit us using the proper techniques. From age one onwards, a child should be able to drink from a cup.

Between ages one and a half and five years, you can start brushing your child’s teeth with a pea-sized amount of toothpaste. You will need to help your child brush their teeth until they are aged eight because, before this age, they lack the dexterity needed to complete this task. Milk and plain water are the best drinks for a child, and it is better to avoid fruit juice that can be laden with sugar, regardless of your child’s age. Instead, encourage kids to eat fruit that contains useful fibre.

General Tips for Looking after Your Child’s Teeth

We recommend an initial dental visit by age one, so our dentist can make sure your child’s teeth are developing properly, and we can talk to you about how best to care for them at home. Many parents find this initial visit extremely helpful, especially for first-time mums and dads. Make sure you use an appropriate child-sized toothbrush to clean your child’s teeth. As they get older, it can be a good idea to involve them in choosing a toothbrush as there are many appealing designs available for kids, which can help get them more interested in dental care. Please encourage your child to eat healthily and limit their access to processed foods and foods high in sugars, including sports drinks and energy drinks.

Getting older takes its toll on your body, and your teeth are no exception, but the good news is there is a lot you can do to help keep them in great shape with good preventative dental care. Read on to discover easy ways to reduce the wear and tear on your teeth and gums.

Avoid Damaging Oral Habits

Your teeth are covered with strong tooth enamel, but all that biting, chewing and grinding food can gradually wear down over the years. Over time, your tooth cusps also become flatter due to wear and tear. It’s impossible to prevent all wear and tear on teeth, but you can reduce your risk by avoiding very hard foods or habits like chewing on ice cubes. These can chip or crack your tooth enamel and may require restorative care.

Get Treatment for a Poor Bite

Teeth can be ground down if you have a poor bite, where your teeth do not occlude or bite together properly. Poor occlusion may mean you bite together with some teeth before others, wearing them down. A poor bite can also place stress on your jaw joints. One option is to look into orthodontic treatment to realign teeth, and these days there are several adult braces that are discreet and easy to use. Alternatively, depending on the problems requiring correction, we may be able to adjust your tooth surfaces, so your teeth meet together properly.

Teeth Clenching and Grinding

Many people have a clenching and grinding habit called bruxism, which normally occurs during sleep. It can significantly damage teeth, jaws and gums, causing problems with toothache and jaw ache and even chronic headaches. If you suspect you may have bruxism make an appointment to come and see us. Our dentist can gently examine your teeth and jaw joints for signs of damage and inflammation. Often, bruxism is easy to treat with a custom-made night guard. The night guard fits over your teeth and is made from a strong plastic material, so the opposing teeth grind harmlessly against it.

Gum Health

Maintaining healthy gums is extremely important, protecting your teeth and even your general health. Each day, a sticky biofilm called dental plaque coats your teeth and begins to build up just minutes after brushing and flossing. It contains bacteria that, if not promptly removed, will infect and inflame your gums. Eventually, these bacteria will destroy your gums and the bone around your teeth, loosening them so we may need to extract them. As the gums are infected, they start to bleed more easily, allowing these bacteria to enter your bloodstream, where they can cause serious health problems.

When you come and see us regularly, we always check for any early signs of gum disease because, at this stage, it is reversible. We can clean your teeth professionally, getting rid of plaque and hardened plaque, a substance called calculus or tartar. Our hygienist can also review your oral care routine with you, making sure you are cleaning your teeth thoroughly and using appropriate tools.

We can help ensure your teeth remain in great shape no matter your age by working with you.

Cold and flu season is here, and perhaps you have noticed others around you have started to cough and sneeze. You may not realise that general health is closely connected to oral health, so when you have a cold or the flu, it affects your dental health. If you get sick this winter, follow our easy tips to help protect your oral health.

Pay Extra Attention When Brushing Your Teeth

While it’s important to clean your teeth thoroughly at all times of the year, you are more likely to use medications that contain sugars when you have a cold. These sugars can harm your teeth, especially if you are sucking on cough drops continuously to soothe a sore throat. Although you can purchase sugar-free cough drops, these may be more acidic, and the acids can also damage your teeth. After sucking on cough sweets, it’s best to wait half an hour before cleaning your teeth.

When brushing your teeth, make sure you spend at least two minutes cleaning all tooth surfaces thoroughly. Try to brush methodically, and if you have an electric toothbrush, it will probably alert you when it’s time to move on to a new section of your mouth. 

Replace Your Toothbrush Regularly

Has it been a while since you replaced your toothbrush? You need to purchase a new toothbrush every three or four months or sooner if it begins to look worn. It can also be a good idea to replace your toothbrush after being ill because it can harbour bacteria.

Stay Hydrated

Staying hydrated, especially if you are feeling ill or under the weather, is especially important, and it helps ensure you can create plenty of saliva. Saliva is an important part of controlling harmful bacteria in the mouth, helping keep your mouth fresher and cleaner. It washes away excess food particles that can feed these bacteria. If your mouth feels dry, it can be uncomfortable, and your chance of cavities and gum disease increases. Many medications, including decongestants, can cause dry mouth as a side effect. Also, if you have a cold, you are more likely to have a stuffy nose and need to breathe through your mouth, drying out your oral tissues. The best way to stay hydrated is to drink plenty of water, so keep a refillable bottle with you or have a large glass of water nearby to sip on frequently.

If You Have Been Sick, Swish Your Mouth with Water before Brushing

It’s quite common to feel sick or vomit when you have the flu, and your immediate reaction is probably to reach for your toothbrush. However, being sick exposes your teeth to strong stomach acid, so it’s best to wait a while for the acidity levels in your mouth to normalise. Try making a mouth rinse by dissolving a teaspoon of baking soda in water to help neutralise acids more quickly. If you have a sore throat, gargling with salt water can help to soothe it and reduce bacterial levels.