A Guide to preventing tooth decay in pre-school children.

Teeth are protected on the outside by a layer called enamel – the hardest substance in the human body.  But enamel on your child’s baby teeth is thinner than that on adult teeth so they are more prone to decay.

Decay  happens when plaque (soft white and sticky substance) found on teeth mixes with sugar from foods and acid is produced.

Acid eats away at the tooth until a small hole called a cavity is formed.  At first this won’t hurt and if the dentists spot this early on it can be repaired with a filling.  If not decay will spread to the centre of the tooth, become painful and may need to be taken out.  This is why regular dental check ups are important.

It is therefore important for your child to brush this plaque off their teeth.

How to brush

Brushing should always be supervised up until the age of about 7 to ensure they are brushing for 2 minutes and cleaning all surfaces of their teeth.

• They should brush with fluoride toothpaste (a smear of toothpaste for children under 3 and a pea sized amount for children over 3)
• For children scrubbing movements should be used for cleaning the teeth
• Brush for 2 minutes, twice a day.  Try timing them and see if they are brushing for the recommended amount of time.  (egg timers or listening to a song for 2 minutes can help)
• Once the 2 minutes are up spit the excess toothpaste out but don’t rinse as the fluoride in the toothpaste can strengthen the enamel.
• You should always double check once your child has finished brushing and brush areas that they have missed.
• Disclosing agents show missed areas.  A disclosing tablet is chewed and the excess spat out.  The disclosing tablets stain the teeth.

 The picture shows teeth that have been disclosed.

This child has not been brushing where the gum meets the tooth and it has stained pink.  they can now go back and brush this area and the plaque will be removed.