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PUBLISHED ON 23/12/20
Dental health and hygiene habits will vary for babies, kids and teens. We have put together a brief overview of what to do for each age group, and of course if you have any other questions simply ask us. You can also find more detailed information on dental health on the ADA website.
– Wipe your baby’s gums with a warm, moistened face washer after feeding.
– New teeth often breakthrough around the 6-month mark, though it can happen earlier or later. This can cause discomfort; to ease it you can use a dummy, teething ring or wet washcloth for your baby to bite.
– Once they have teeth, brush twice a day with a baby’s toothbrush, using plain water.
– We recommend their first dental visit is at 12 months of age.
– Babies are at risk of losing primary teeth too early if they develop caries (decay). You can reduce the risk by brushing and flossing your child’s teeth daily, using plain water or plain dummies to settle them, phasing out bottle-feeding at about 12 months, providing good, balanced nutrition and regular dental check-ups.
– As soon as two teeth touch, you can start flossing between them.
– At around 18 months toothpaste can start to be used, brushing in small circular motions along the gums and teeth. Use a pea-sized amount.
– Brush twice a day.
– To make brushing more fun, try using a brushing game or playing their favourite song for two minutes.
– Try to limit sugary snacks, and if giving your child a sugary treat it’s best to do it at mealtimes.
– For kids younger than 6, we recommend using a low-fluoride toothpaste.
– Continue supervising your kids’ brushing and flossing until they’re around 8-10 years old.
– Primary teeth will start to fall out at this stage and be replaced by permanent teeth.
– If your child has reached 8 years old and still hasn’t had any permanent teeth erupt, you may want to get an X-ray to double-check there are no issues under the surface of the gums.
– At this stage teenagers should be brushing and flossing independently.
– Make sure they know the correct brushing technique: start at the back, with the toothbrush at a 45° angle, and brush gently in a circular motion for two minutes. Spit, don’t rinse once finished.
– Brush twice a day using a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. Click here to read about the correct flossing technique.
– Make sure flossing is also a part of their daily routine, either in the morning before they go to school or at night before they go to bed.
– If you’re considering orthodontics for your teenager, we recommend you book in an appointment to discuss your options and to assess your child’s teeth. You can find out more about braces here.
