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Toothy Matters
Bub Hub E-Newsletter, May 2007, Issue 57 - Article 3



 

That first sighting of a pearly speck in your baby's mouth is a much anticipated and much admired affair.

But once the excitement of discovering your child's first tooth has died down, it's time to start the lifelong task of caring for them.

Scary figures are showing that Australia's children's teeth are decaying more now than in previous decades.

A survey by the Australian Research Centre for Population Oral Health last year showed the rate of permanent tooth decay in 14 and 15 year olds had increased by more than 70 per cent in the six years to 2002. And about one in five children aged five and under get at least one filling when they visit the dentist.

To avoid your children ending up in the dentist's chair for much more than a check up, there are some basic things you can do to keep those beautiful baby pegs healthy.

Little baby buds

There is sometimes a belief that since your baby's first teeth will fall out anyway, there's no real need to go overboard on caring for them until the second, permanent teeth come through.

But Dr Judy Fenton, of Sydney's Castle Hill Children's Dentistry, says she has seen the pain and trauma which come from baby teeth having to be removed because of decay.

"It's so important to be aware that baby teeth are not "just" baby teeth and so are not to be worried about. They are valuable space holders for the second teeth," says Dr Fenton.

"Also it's also not a pleasant thing to watch your child have teeth removed at an early age, which can require hospitalisation. As well, there's a self-esteem loss when those teeth are no longer there."

Brushes at the ready

Once the tooth has erupted from the gum, usually between six and nine months of age, it's time to start cleaning. Dr Fenton says you can use a small toothbrush, or a piece of gauze to wipe the tooth clean once a day.

You should wait until your child has learned to spit properly before introducing a small amount of toothpaste. This is because this is too much fluoride for them to be ingesting and can lead to marks on their permanent teeth, says Dr Fenton.

After that last breastfeed at night, Dr Fenton recommends wiping the tooth or teeth over, as breast milk is sweet.

The drink/decay menace

Looking after children's teeth is not just about keeping them clean. It's also about keeping sugary foods to a minimum and ensuring that the only things your baby drinks is milk, or comes out of a kitchen tap.

The biggest cause of decay in young children is being put to bed with a milk drink. Having the milk lie around their teeth overnight can cause tooth decay even before the teeth have come through. Drinking sweet drinks, flavoured milks and juice are also no-no's because the sugar sits on the child's teeth for too long. Dr Fenton says children should only drink milk and water from the tap.

One of the possible reasons behind the rise in decay in children is the amount of bottled water being consumed which doesn't contain fluoride. Calls have been made to add fluoride to bottled water, but Dr Fenton says parents are best to give their child tap water and if they are worried about bugs, to boil it and let it cool.

Tasty Thumbs?

It may be a comfort (for both child and mum!) but thumb-sucking can alter the shape of the mouth. Dr Fenton says it's a tricky issue, as it's such a natural urge and a difficult habit to break.

She assures parents even if their children are big thumb suckers, there are lots of teenagers out there with beautiful teeth who once found the habit hard to kick. So while it's worth being aware of the issues, it's not the end of the world if you've got a thumb-sucker.

Make the most of that smile

It might seem an early age to start regular dental visits, but Dr Fenton recommends you visit your family dentist shortly after your baby's teeth have come through at six to nine months of age.

"Early education is the most vital thing, to start good habits early," says Dr Fenton.

So start the visits early and keep them regular to help your baby's adorable gummy smile turn into a toothy grin you'll love just as much.

 

Article written by Carmel Sparke. Article appears in the April/May 2007 issue of Mother & Baby magazine.

For more information regarding Toothy Matters and anything relating to pregnancy or parenting, visit Mother & Baby or buy our latest issue of Mother & Baby, on sale now.

 
 


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