I don't know about your house, but the tooth fairy has been very busy over at our house this lockdown.
So busy, in fact, that at one point, the poor fairy had to borrow coins for from child to leave under the other child's pillow – because who the heck has a wallet full of coins in the middle of a pandemic when you can only pay by card everywhere?!
Anyway, it all ended well, and everyone was excited about their missing teeth and gained cash.
There is no denying that losing your first tooth (and the ones after too) is a big milestone in a child's life. To us parents too, tbh.
The Tooth Fairy, of course, feels all sorts of passionate about making sure children take good care of their teeth – both baby ones and the new ones growing in where the old ones fell out. In fact, getting children into a good dental routine from a young age is pretty much her prime message to any parent.
A child’s baby teeth fall out to make way for permanent teeth to grow. This big milestone usually begins to happen from the age of 6 onwards.
Luckily, we have chatted with dentists Drs. Lisa and Vanessa Creaven, the sisters behind Irish dental brand
Spotlight Whitening, and got their top tips for getting little teeth tooth fairy ready!
Out with the old and in with the new - top tips for losing baby teeth
1. For some children losing their baby teeth is an exciting moment while others may be concerned that it will cause pain. If your child is scared, reassure them that it happens to everyone, and is part of becoming a grown-up.
2. Depending on the location of the loose tooth, certain hard foods may become difficult to eat i.e apples – if so cut into bite-sized slices.
3. You can encourage your child to wiggle a wobbly tooth gently, but never pull out a loose tooth. Tugging on a loose tooth will only pull on the sensitive root, causing pain.
4. When a tooth falls out, a little bit of blood may accompany it, and this is completely normal. Not to worry if the tooth falls out naturally there is usually no pain.
5. When a tooth falls out expect a visit from the Tooth Fairy. This is the exciting part – place the tooth into a small box/pouch and have your child put it under their pillow. During the night, the Tooth Fairy will take the tooth in exchange for a small amount of money.
Aftercare: When a tooth falls out the gum can become tender, to avoid irritation don’t brush too hard around the area. Once baby teeth fall out this is a great starting point to prepare your child to start brushing their teeth by themselves. Supervise them at first and ensure they are brushing morning and night, as they need to maintain good oral hygiene while their permanent teeth start to grow.
Top Tips for Children’s Dental Hygiene
1. We would recommend bringing your child to the dentist as soon as the first teeth start to appear. This helps create a positive environment around the dentist, yes this is possible! It will also help identify any potential issues or problem as the teeth develop.
2. We know children are hungry creatures but grazing on snacks throughout the day does have a negative impact on their teeth. Where possible, try and avoid this grazing or try and squeeze in an extra afternoon brush!
3. Avoid sugary foods and drinks. Or else be conscious to brush teeth well after a treat!
4. Practice makes perfect- up until a certain age, you will have to support your child in the teeth brushing process. If a parent can brush their teeth with their child, it helps establish a good habit on how to brush correctly. Handy egg timers are a good way too. It is all about making it fun!
5. Use a toothpaste that contains fluoride, like the Spotlight Kids Toothpaste, as this will help prevent tooth decay. For children under two, use a smear of toothpaste and after this a pea-sized amount.
