Help children keep healthy teeth at home

Dentists around the country are doing their best to try to help children keep healthy teeth. But it’s not just up to dentists!

As at least 95% of cavities are preventable, we’re trying to spread the word so parents and carers can help children have better teeth than generations before them.

A recent BBC report (see below) highlights the dental problems of people in Cornwall, from children to fishermen and a man with dental phobia.

In the video a mother is interviewed at the time her nine year old daughter has five teeth removed. I have nothing but admiration for Jasmine’s mother. She honestly and sincerely recognises her own role in not offering sufficient preventive care for her daughter’s teeth. She admits that she did not properly supervise her daughter’s tooth brushing time, but left her to get on with it. That meant that the back teeth which are more difficult to brush were vulnerable. Moreover, she also recognises that swapping out juice for water and changing habits is the only way to try to prevent further decay.

We want to help parents and carers realise the consequences of poor oral hygiene and the affect sugar has on teeth. Parents must realise before they have to watch their child go under anaesthetic in hospital – which is what happened to about 40,000 children in England last year.

Preventive care is what makes the difference between having healthy teeth and having fillings or extractions.

What is SpaDental doing?

Our educational programme team  has talked to over 3,500 children in schools and nurseries in the Plymouth region over the last two years. The team is also available to talk with groups of parents in schools and nurseries too. They want to help parents confidently implement best dental routines at home – because home really is where dental care begins.

SpaDental practices that have a contract with the NHS have been prioritising the registration of babies and children. We do this because we want to help children with preventive care as early as possible. There is, however, a limit to the number of young patients we can actually accommodate in our practices, so even though we don’t want to keep children waiting for dental services, sometimes it’s inevitable.

Almost 9 out of 10 hospital tooth extractions among children aged 0 to 5 are due to preventable tooth decay, according to data published by Public Health England (PHE).

Parents help children keep healthy teeth at home

The two most important steps to put in place at home are:

A tooth-brushing routine

• Set two times for toothbrushing during the day. One of those must be the very last thing before sleep.
• Supervise the proper cleaning of teeth. It’s one thing to encourage children to be independent and take responsibility, but for proper cleaning an adult should make sure that it’s two minutes of brushing with fluoride toothpaste around all the surfaces of the teeth, especially at the back.
• After brushing, remember not to rinse, but just spit. Rinsing washes away most of the fluoride, and it’s good to keep fluoride on the surfaces of teeth to strengthen the enamel.

A healthy diet

•  Plan a healthy diet. Not only is it better for our children’s teeth, but for body and mind as well.
•  Swap when you shop! Read the labels and even check the ingredients of so called ‘trusted brands’. Make the switch to a lower fat, lower salt and lower sugar alternative.

How your dentist helps

Regular dental appointments mean that the dentist will spot concerns before they become a problem Moreover, the dentist is the best person to protect young teeth with fluoride varnish – an excellent way to help protect vulnerable enamel.

We look forward to hearing from you! Let us help you to help your children keep their teeth healthy.
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