How to prevent tooth decay in children
Brushing from the first tooth, sugary food, fluoride and fissure sealants: advice for parents on protecting baby teeth from decay.
Baby teeth are temporary, but they matter for the permanent teeth. A baby tooth lost early can cause the permanent tooth beneath it to come in out of place.
Brush from the first tooth
Clean the teeth twice a day from the moment the first one appears. Up to age three a rice-grain amount of fluoride toothpaste is enough, then a pea-sized amount. Finish the brushing yourself until your child can brush well alone (usually around 7–8).
It’s how often, not how much sugar
What causes decay is less the amount of sugar than how often it is eaten through the day. Give sweets with meals and avoid sugary drinks and sticky sweets between meals.
Don’t put them to bed with a bottle
Babies who fall asleep with milk, juice or sweet drinks develop fast-spreading “bottle caries” on the front teeth. Give only water at night.
Fluoride and fissure sealants
Fluoride varnish applied in the clinic strengthens enamel. The deep grooves on the chewing surfaces of the permanent molars that come in around age six can be sealed to protect them from decay.
Regular check-ups
The first visit should be when the first tooth appears or by the first birthday, then every six months. Decay caught early can be stopped with a small filling, or even with extra fluoride alone.
