Treasure their tiny teeth, right from the start
For many parents, brushing baby teeth can be a bit of a mystery and toddlers’ teeth, a challenge.
But, forming good habits early on is worth it.
Dr Aifric Ní Chaollaí, paediatric dentist with Dental Care Ireland recently said “Dental decay is the most common chronic disease of childhood and it often causes small children to experience pain, infection and to need invasive dental treatment such as crowns or extractions.”
It’s not all bad news though, as she went on to say: “With simple measures, it is almost always preventable.”
Developing good oral habits from the get-go helps make brushing fun, and hopefully stress-free for parents. But most importantly, it keeps their little teeth healthy and strong and avoids too much intervention down the line.
We spoke to Zoe Watson from children’s brand MAM for some top tips on tooth care for your little ones.
When should my baby first visit the dentist?
“It is recommended to start taking your child to the dentist from around one, or after the first tooth has started to come through. Early visits to the dentist allow them to assess how your child’s teeth are coming through. Plus, you can learn how to help take care of your little one’s teeth and they can get familiar and comfortable with the dentist.”
How much toothpaste should my baby or toddler use?
“When brushing baby teeth, stick with a smear of toothpaste for kids under two, a rice sized amount for kids aged two-five years and a pea-sized amount for children over five.
How often should I brush my baby’s teeth?
“You should brush your baby’s teeth every evening after eating. For children from two years onwards, brush their teeth in the mornings and evenings.
The MAM Baby’s Brush with Safety Shield €6.00 is easy and comfortable for small hands to hold and features a compact, ergonomic handle. MAM toothbrushes also come with a clever safety shield, to help make sure that baby can’t hurt themselves by pushing the brush in too far.
How do I, as a parent, encourage brushing?
“Young children don’t have the manual dexterity to do a really good job until age seven or eight, so parents have to take an active involvement in their children’s oral health at least until then.
“Kids mimic their parents, so it’s totally natural they will soon want to brush their teeth independently too. The MAM Baby’s Brush allows babies to imitate adult brushing independently and they come with a clever safety shield, to help make sure that baby can’t hurt themselves by pushing the brush in too far.”
