Children Teeth
Once your toddler has got through the teething stage, there are plenty of other challenges to expect from the loss of primary teeth to the eruption of permanent teeth. But don’t worry, the latter isn’t as scary as it sounds! It’s just a fancy way of saying their permanent teeth will start to come through. I will talk you through all the steps you should expect and how to best keep your little one’s teeth in tip-top condition!
Children Teeth: Care and Hygiene
The importance of maintaining a good brushing routine cannot be understated, particularly in regards to children teeth. Below is a quick summary of what children aged 3 - 7+ should be incorporating into their teeth cleaning routine:
Children aged 3 to 6 years
Brush at least twice daily for about 2 minutes with fluoride toothpaste.
Brush last thing at night before bed and at least on 1 other occasion.
Brushing should be supervised by a parent or carer.
Use children's fluoride toothpaste containing no less than 1,000ppm of fluoride (check label) or family toothpaste containing between 1,350ppm and 1,500ppm fluoride.
Use only a pea-sized amount of toothpaste.
Spit out after brushing and don't rinse – if you rinse, the fluoride won't work as well.
Children aged 7 and over
Brush at least twice daily for about 2 minutes with fluoride toothpaste.
Brush last thing at night before bed and at least on 1 other occasion.
Use fluoride toothpaste containing between 1,350ppm and 1,500ppm of fluoride (check label).
Spit out after brushing and don't rinse – if you rinse, the fluoride won't work as well.
Children aged 7 and over should be able to brush their own teeth, but it's still a good idea to watch them to make sure they brush properly and for about 2 minutes.
Children Teeth: Loss Of Primary Teeth
From about 6 years old, baby teeth start to become 'wobbly’ and fall out to make way for adult teeth. It is completely normal for a child to lose their first tooth a few years earlier or later than 6 years of age. Generally speaking, girls lose teeth earlier than boys. The first tooth to fall out is usually located in the front of the lower jaw.
The loss of baby teeth can be an unsettling and sometimes painful experience for young children. To ease the process, here are a few things that you can do:
Reassure your child that losing baby teeth is a natural process and new adult teeth will come in their place.
Use cold compresses or over-the-counter anti-inflammatory or pain-relieving medication to help relieve loose tooth pain. Ask your dentist or pharmacist for recommendations on appropriate medication for your child.
Offer reassurance – it's normal for gums to be tender and bleed a little, although some children experience little or no discomfort while losing their teeth.
Don’t forget the Tooth Fairy! This mythology has lasted a long time for a good reason. If the idea of getting a coin in exchange for a tooth softens the idea of tooth loss for your child, then by all means use it.
Children Teeth: Eruption Of Permanent Teeth
Permanent teeth, also known as adult teeth or secondary teeth, start to develop in the jaws at birth and continue after a child is born. By about 21 years, the average person has 32 permanent teeth, including 16 in the upper jaw and 16 in the lower jaw.
At about the age of 6 years, the first permanent molar teeth erupt. These 4 molars (2 in each jaw) emerge behind the child's existing primary teeth. Other permanent teeth, such as the incisors, canines, and premolars, erupt into the gaps in the gum left by shed primary teeth.
Like primary teeth, the timing for when the permanent teeth come through differs from one child to the next. Generally, the order of eruption and rough timeline for each type of permanent tooth is:
first molars – between six and seven years
central incisors – between six and eight years
lateral incisors – between seven and eight years
canine teeth – between nine and 13 years
premolars – between nine and 13 years
Children Teeth: Visiting The Dentist
Just like adults, children should see the dentist every 6 months. If necessary, some dentists may schedule visits more often, such as every 3 months. These regular visitations can help build comfort and confidence in the child. Going to the dentist is a genuine fear for people of all ages (including myself), but the more you go, the easier it will get! More frequent visits can also help keep an eye on a development problem.
Children Teeth: Further Protection
Most children love playing sports and should always be encouraged to do so! However, some sports such as ice hockey or martial arts can be quite rough so it’s best to ensure your children’s teeth have the best protection possible (to avoid those awful trips to the dentist)! The easiest way to do this is through a mouthguard. All children playing contact sports should wear a mouthguard, even primary school-age children. Professionally fitted mouthguards are comfortable, allow speech, and do not restrict breathing.
It is best to avoid DIY 'boil and fit' type mouthguards as they are unlikely to provide much protection. See your child's dentist to have a customized mouthguard fitted.
Make sure your child wears their mouthguard at training and during the game. It may help to talk to their coach about it as all sporting clubs are encouraged to have a compulsory mouthguard policy. If they see other people wearing it, they are less likely to throw a tantrum.
Update your child's mouthguard every 12 to 18 months to ensure that it still fits and is fully effective. Children teeth are forever changing and it’s important their mouthguard keeps up! Take it to your regular dental visit to have it checked for wear and tear.
Keep the mouthguard clean. Nobody wants to wear a dirty mouthguard after all!
When not in use, store the mouthguard in a rigid container and away from heat to make sure it maintains its shape.
