NCT article on oral health advice for parents
So happy with my six page spread in the local NCT magazine for Tunbridge Wells.
To read full article please see below –
Victoria Wilson, Dental Therapist, founder of Baby Smile Revolution, and mummy of two baby girls shares practical tips on how best to look after your babies’ teeth.
As a dental therapist and mummy of two baby girls, Sophia aged 2 and Alice nearly 1; I am frequently asked by other parents on the do’s and don’ts for their babies’ teeth and how to maintain oral health in general. Ultimately caring for your babies’ teeth is one of the most important responsibilities as you become a parent. Being a new parent has certainly been the most wonderful thing that has ever happened to me. Yet, on speaking to other mummies, realising I am not alone it has been one of the most overwhelming things at the same time. I decided to write an article for NCT magazine as a little resource for their Christmas edition and for other parents, as we approach the festive time of year when we are tempted with even more treats than any other time of year. I intend for this article to be broken down into the key facts to consider, and a realistic practical resource on babies’ oral health from one parent to another who really understands the daily challenges that being a new parent can bring.
For the avoidance of doubt to clarify, a Dental Therapist is essentially a dental care professional who carries out routine preventative and restorative dental care for adults and children.
As you can imagine my professional life influences me to easily become obsessed with my daughters’ tooth brushing habits and what they eat. I am not OCD, at least I try not to be, but it is a huge priority in our house. The irony being due to my obsession and intent to tick all the boxes on the do’s and don’ts to achieve oral health for my girls, my first daughter officially has the sweetest tooth in the world! I certainly did not sign up for this challenge or nurture it intentionally, however it just proves each parent has their own individual trials and tribulations to overcome as we strive for optimal wellbeing for our babies.
Due to my role in my professional life and my number 1 role of being a mummy in my personal life I am now on a mission to help support other parents in the pursuit of oral health for their children. I hope you find answers and practical solutions in what I write.
So what are the facts that parents need to know?
Why are milk teeth so important in our babies’ mouths?
Why is it so important that they are looked after?
Essentially, they maintain the space for the adult teeth to enter the mouth, as well as aiding with eating and speaking. Since the enamel of milk teeth is thin they are more at risk from being affected by tooth decay and erosion.
What should parents do as soon as a milk tooth appears in the mouth?
- Begin brushing your babies’ teeth at least twice a day for 2 minutes, with ONLY a smear of fluoride toothpaste. Check the toothpaste has no less than 1000ppm fluoride for ages 0-3. It is recommended to brush them last thing at night and one other time in the day.
- Book an appointment to see your dentist as soon as their milk teeth come through.
- The last thing to touch a baby’s teeth before they go to bed should be a fluoride toothpaste.
- Cut down on sugary foods and drinks.
- Sugar free medicines are recommended.
- Encourage your child to drink from a free-flowing or open top cup from 6 months of age, and from age one year feeding from a bottle should be discouraged.
- Once your baby is old enough to drink anything other than milk, water should be the only drink encouraged.
Real life practical tips
Buying the right toothpaste. Frequently it is overwhelming when you go shopping looking for specific things for your babies. Do be careful when buying your baby’s toothpaste as not all toothpastes contain the recommended 1000ppm of fluoride, for this reason I have devised a list of some toothpastes to look out for in the supermarket that contain exactly 1000ppm that babies can use between 0 – 3 . This list is provided as information only and is NOT endorsed by any particular brand, merely some children’s toothpastes that are available.
Asda – Protect 0 – 3 Milk teeth.
Aquafresh – Milk teeth 0 -2 years
Boots – Smile Kids 2 – 6
Colgate kids 0 – 3
Dr Fresh Thomas the tank engine
Kokomo – Hello Kitty
Sainsburys own – Kids toothpaste 0 – 3
What does a smear of fluoride toothpaste on a tooth brush look like?
How to avoid brushing becoming a battle?
Practical tips on how best to install good tooth brushing habits.
The brushing battle becomes a topic of conversation frequently amongst friends and other parents and has been for years with patients. So I have done my best to avoid this in my own household.
My number one tip is, always make brushing fun, and keep it as fun as possible to avoid it ever becoming a battle. Some may say ‘easier said than done’, and this is very true as brushing before bed when the babies are tired can be a challenge. On occasions, it has certainly turned into a battle in my house. Yet predominantly I try to keep it as fun as possible.
Before their first teeth –
I would recommend prior to your baby’s teeth erupting you get into the habit of playing with your baby giving your baby a baby brush or a rattle with a brush in the morning and just before bedtime. I found my girls liked chewing on the baby’s brush whilst they were teething.
This will help you and them when it comes to brushing their new teeth as they will already be familiar with the routine. You can start to try this last thing at night before they go to bed.
Examples of first baby brushes to look out for in the shops or order online could be –
Bickiepegs Finger Toothbrush & Gum Massager
Curaprox orthodontic teething ring
Baby Banana Teething Toothbrush for Infants
BrushBaby’s chewable toothbrush
BrushBaby’s first teether
When their teeth have arrived how to get them brushing –
- Playing with their lips is always a fun game that helps with making brushing fun.
- Blowing raspberries.
- Brushing your teeth at the same time as when you brush their teeth.
- Brushing in the morning can be a challenge. It is always better to brush their teeth before eating as the process of eating produces acids in the mouth making the teeth more susceptible to erosion if brushed directly after breakfast. So brushing before breakfast is ideal. To ensure this happens I have found it helps to brush their teeth as soon as they wake up after changing their nappies. By bringing their toothbrush to them and brushing their teeth whilst they are still lying down after changing their nappies helps ensure brushing takes place before the day becomes too hectic.
- In an ideal world, it would be preferable to always get your child into the bathroom to brush their teeth, but reality is this is not always possible so as many solutions we come up with as parents to fit the ideal, the better. By taking the brush to my babies and brushing their teeth as I am getting them ready while they are lying on the changing table, means I get their teeth cleaned even if it’s not done in the bathroom.
- At night before witching hour it can be even more challenging so after tea we will generally play for a bit and then take certain toys to the bathroom and include the toys in the brushing regime.
- Singing a song to brushing.
- Downloading an app for brushing.
- We practice roaring like lions to help to encourage them to open their mouths wide so I am able to brush all their back teeth thoroughly.
Book an appointment to see your dentist as soon as their milk teeth come through –
Go and visit the dentist as soon as their first tooth appears. The Chief Dental Officer for NHS England, Sara Hurley in association with the BSPD (British Society of Paediatric Dentists) has raised a campaign in support of this called ‘Dental Check by One’ DCby1. So please go and see the dentist as soon as your baby’s teeth appear.
I would highly recommend making the trip to the dentist a fun experience. If you have any personal reservations or phobias about the dentist, I would strongly recommend you do not share them with your babies, remain enthusiastic and aim to have fun. It is common that parents who are nervous share their fears with their children who in turn develop anxieties about the dentist.
The poster used to promote DCby1 can be a helpful resource in first talking to your baby about going to the dentist.
Get your baby’s 1stDental Certificate –
Practical tips on sugar free snacks for fussy eaters –
My eldest daughter is a fussy eater, so I am always trying new foods in the hope she will like them. If time allows I try and cook with her by pre-weighing out the ingredients and getting her to mix. I find by involving her in as much as possible she is more tempted by the food we cook. I focus on savoury snacks such as cheese puffs, spinach muffins, frittatas etc. I avoid giving the girls sugar at all times between meals as sugar really has no nutritional value within their daily life. (If you are interested in getting recipes from the sugar free foods I cook, please follow my Instagram @baby_smilerevolution)
Practical tips on what your baby should drink and what your baby should drink from.
Avoid nurturing a sweet tooth by giving your children juice to drink.Other than milk I encourage Sophia to only drink water from a free-flowing cup where possible. I found the Doidy Cup was particularly helpful as an early introduction to a free-flowing cup. As daunting as it may seem to give your baby a free-flowing cup, there are inevitably spillages, however this does seem to be for a limited time only with the Doidy Cup with my help and guidance – in comparison to a normal cup. 5I find having multiple colours in cups for Sophia and Alice helps to entice them to drink a lot of water. I will use straws on occasion, but I will avoid juice and squash all the time.
If you are interested to learn more on helpful tips to support your baby’s oral health please follow me on Instagram – @baby_smilerevolution. I update my post fairly regularly including various competitions and chances to win some giveaways for your baby’s teeth.
All the facts in this article are evidence based, and my practical tips are merely what I have discovered along the way whilst being a mummy.
Email me – info@smile-revolution.com for further questions.
Resources and Influential people to follow on social media –
Delivering better oral health: an evidence-based toolkit for prevention Third edition