Caring for New Teeth
How should I care for my toddler's new teeth?
It’s never too soon to start caring for your child’s teeth. The steps you can take to help your child develop strong teeth that resist decay include ensuring the diet contains the right nutrients for healthy teeth, avoiding sweets and making teeth cleaning part of your child’s regular routine.
- Ensure the diet contains calcium and vitamin D to help develop strong teeth. These are present largely in dairy foods.
- Offer your toddler a beaker or cup rather than a bottle and try to keep to mealtimes rather than snack and juice between meals.
- Avoid too many sweets. The odd treat is fine but remember, a slice of cake or biscuit is less harmful than a lollipop or sticky caramel that stays in the mouth for a long time.
- Even raisins and fruit bars can stick to teeth so offer a drink of water after eating.
- Show your child how to clean their teeth, but don’t rely on them to do a good job. Help them clean their teeth morning and evening using a soft toothbrush and a pea-sized amount of children’s fluoride toothpaste.
- Get your child used to the dentist by going with you, then make regular dental visits for your child. Prevention is always preferable to dealing with dental problems later on.
