Children's Dental Health: Building Good Habits Early

Primary teeth — commonly called milk teeth — are far more important than most parents realise. They hold space for permanent teeth, support proper speech development, and allow children to eat a nutritious diet. Decay in primary teeth can cause pain, infection, and alignment problems that persist into adulthood.

When to Start Dental Care

Dental care begins before the first tooth even appears. Wiping an infant's gums with a damp cloth after feeding removes bacteria and gets them comfortable with the sensation. When the first tooth arrives — usually around six months — begin gentle brushing with a smear of fluoride toothpaste the size of a rice grain.

Making Brushing Positive

Children mirror their parents' attitudes toward dental care. Brush your teeth together, use a fun timer, let them choose their own toothbrush, and celebrate their efforts. Avoid framing brushing as a chore or consequence. The goal is for children to associate dental care with routine — as natural as washing hands before eating.

Diet and Sugar Awareness

Frequency of sugar exposure matters more than total quantity. Sipping sugary drinks throughout the day — including fruit juice — batches acid attacks on enamel repeatedly. Encourage water as the primary drink, limit juice to mealtimes, and avoid sticky, slow-dissolving sweets which prolong acid exposure.

• check_circleWater is always the best between-meal drink
• check_circleCheese and plain yoghurt are excellent snack choices — they neutralise mouth acid
• check_circleLimit fruit juice to 120ml per day, served at mealtimes only
• check_circleFresh fruit is far better than dried fruit, which sticks to teeth

Fissure Sealants

Fissure sealants are a painless, highly effective preventive treatment for children. A thin protective coating is applied to the biting surfaces of the back teeth — where most childhood cavities occur. Research shows they reduce decay risk by up to 80% in the first two years following application.