Protecting your Child’s Smile!

3 July 2024

Protecting your Child’s Smile!

We are coming to the summer holidays and the practice has been busy with families getting their check ups done. We have been giving the children a goody pack with a certificate, a brushing chart, some colouring pages and an age-appropriate toothpaste sample. It’s important to encourage children to look after their teeth and to give them an incentive to encourage them along the way.

The amount of sugar that children are consuming has reached worrying proportions and we are seeing younger and younger children needing invasive dental treatments, including root canal and extractions. This is totally avoidable, and it is possible to turn this trend around with advice from your dentist and firm but fair guidance at home.

All dentists agree that the frequency of sugar intake is more significant in the development of tooth decay than the amount. With this in mind it is worth looking at the nutrition labelling on the foods you are giving your children.

These are all names for sugar……

GLUCOSE, FRUCTOSE, MALTOSE, DEXTROSE, LACTOSE, MOLASSES, TREACLE, INVERT SYRUP, HYDROLYSED STARCH, HONEY.

If these sugars are in the foods and snacks you are giving your child, then you are giving then sugar and probably several times a day.

A new World Health Authority guideline recommends adults and children reduce their daily intake of sugars to less than 10% of their total energy intake. Children aged 7-10 years should have no more than 24 grams of *added sugars a day, (6 sugar cubes). Children aged 4-6 years should have no more than 19 grams of added sugars a day, (5 sugar cubes).

*Added or free sugars are those added to foods and beverages before consumption.

Try to encourage children to try new foods and textures and avoid prepackaged snacks and opt for Kiwi fruit, wraps, pineapple, pitta bread, hummus, melon, soft cheeses, crackers or crumpets.

AVOID Biscuits, jams, fruit buns, chocolate spread, dried fruits, fizzy drinks, luxury yogurt, fruit squash and milk shakes.

Be aware of how many times a day your children are grazing and snacking. Every time they eat something the teeth go soft for one hour and the hard enamel that protects teeth is being attacked by acid that will eventually break through the surface and decay will happen.

ENCOURAGE CHILDREN TO…..

• Brush for two minutes twice a day, once at night and at one other time.
• Use a pea size amount of fluoride toothpaste and spit don’t rinse.
• Brush along the gum line.
• Supervise and help younger children to brush. (If they can’t tie shoelaces, they don’t have the manual dexterity to brush effectively)
• Toothpaste should be the last thing on the teeth at bedtime.
• Have regular check ups.
• Choose water to drink.
• Eat fresh fruit and vegetables.
• Set a good example.

We can work together to make sure that our children can have a healthy mouth and minimal treatment and that will make us all smile!