“You can’t have those sweets, or you’re going to have a toothache!” There’s so much more to our children’s dental health than avoiding candies and making sure they brush their teeth. In conjunction with World Oral Health Day, we bring to the forefront the subject of oral health in our kids, an area that is often underplayed in its importance. Together with Buds Oralcare Organics (BOO), we invited child-focused dentist Dr. Lee Chian Yin, founder of Kindlehouse Dental Clinic, to answer all our questions surrounding gum and dental health, and to also debunk common myths to help our mamas keep our kids’ oral health in tip-top condition!
Dental Habits
Get your child’s dental health off to a great start and set them up for a lifetime with healthy teeth by not only instilling good habits, but also preventing bad habits.
What are some bad dental habits to look out for in kids and how do I prevent this?
Among the common bad dental habits are prolong usage of pacifiers, thumb sucking, frequent sugary snacks in between main meals, bottle feeding to sleep, to an open mouth posture.
What you can do to prevent bad dental habits:
- Limit the frequency of snacking in between meals as it will constantly bring the pH [in our mouths] to an acidic level, thus increasing the possibility of tooth decay. When we are not eating, our saliva helps in buffering our pH level to a neutral level, so please enjoy your treats right after main meals as the pH level is already low in the mouth.
- Wean your child from bottle to cup usage when they reach 1 year old, as studies have shown that drinking milk in a bottle to sleep is the main cause of tooth decay.
- It is advisable to brush your child’s teeth after milk feeds, before sleep.
- Be aware of prolong usage of a pacifier and reduce thumb sucking habits, as this will cause oral muscle dysfunction and changes in the arch form of the jaw.
What can be done to prevent the need for braces? At what age should preventive action begin?
Start early, right from birth! Here are some preventive actions you can take:
- Check for any structural limitation. For example, a tongue-tied child may have his or her tongue posture and jaw growth affected.
- Breastfeed, as it supports good jaw muscle growth.
- Limit the usage of a pacifier, or aim to wean off by 9 months.
- Limit bottle feeding, or aim to wean off by 1 year old.
- Ensure your child has a clear nasal passage and control any allergic rhinitis to avoid developing mouth breathing habits. If your child seems like they are always sniffling, seek early treatment from your pediatrician or Ear Nose, and Throat Doctor (ENT).
My son is constantly grinding his teeth. How do we get him to stop doing this?
Teeth grinding is often due to an airway disorder and can be caused by multiple factors. This then involves multi-disciplinary medical/dental attention. We would advise for a clinical assessment by either a dentist or an ENT for further understanding on the underlying causes, before deciding on a comprehensive treatment plan.
Keeping Teeth Clean, the Safe Way
You may have come across fluoride or fluoride-free toothpastes, and we often hear conflicting recommendations on which type of toothpastes to use, to keep our kids’ teeth clean in a safe manner. Dr Lee shares her expert views below.
How do I keep my child’s teeth clean? Is fluoride safe for them to use?
Fluoride-free toothpaste is also known as “Training Toothpaste”, is recommended to help kids train on spitting after brushing their teeth.
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends the usage of fluoride toothpaste for kids age 1 year and above. Fluoride is recommended for kids, but with a specific, recommended amount. Use a rice grain or smear-sized amount for kids below the age of 3, and a pea-sized amount for kids above 3 years old.
We advise parents to follow these guideline to keep their children’s teeth clean:
- Ensure your children’s teeth are brushed before bedtime.
- Guide and assist your kids when brushing their teeth (towards the back of the jaw).
- Always encourage kids to rinse and spit out (when they brush their teeth).
- Ensure your children avoid food and sugary drinks before bedtime.
Dental Visits
Visits to the dentist can be nerve-wrecking for a child – and possibly even more so for parents! Here are Dr Lee’s tips on how to prepare for this experience and ease your child’s (and your) dental anxiety.
When should my child have their first dental visit and how should I prepare them for this? I don’t want them to be scared! And if they are already scared, how do I rectify this situation?
A child’s first dental visit should be when the first tooth erupts, or when they reach the age of 1. Do role play at home prior to their first visit, incorporating some of the experiences below. Remember that positive encouragement helps!
- Get your child to sit with their legs straight and place their hands on their tummy.
- Ask your child to open his or her mouth wide and proceed to count their teeth.
- Prepare a small torchlight to shine into your child’s mouth.
You can also virtually “visit” the clinic together with your kids before the appointment by showing photos of the place and of the dentist (and staff) that they will be meeting.
It is perfectly normal for a child to cry upon entering the dental clinic. It is okay as well, if your child does not end up having any treatment or check-up done on their first visit. Be patient and focus on providing positive encouragement to build their confidence.
Don’t worry too, if your child has been traumatised from a previous visit. You can always be the role model by sitting on the dental chair for a “dental treatment” as your child observes and learns that there is nothing to be afraid of. Don’t forget to take more photos of the experience and occasionally remind your kids about this experience, prior to their next dental visit.
Milk Teeth
Here is some advice on how to keep milk teeth clean post-night feeds, and whether you need to be worried about your child losing their milk teeth too early, or too late.
Do I really have to wake up my sleeping baby to clean their teeth after a milk feed?
We understand how tiring night feeds can be, so you can just try to give a sip of water to flush away the remnants of the breastmilk or milk in the mouth. If possible, parents are also advised to use a napkin dipped in water, or an aloe-vera based gel, to wipe the teeth/gum after the feed. Sips of water should only be given once the child has started solids, from 6 months old and above. It is advisable to visit the dentist to understand your child’s oral health condition further, as each child’s condition may be different to one another.
My kids seem to be losing their milk teeth too early. A friend’s daughter is 7 and hasn’t lost any. What is the normal time for kids to start losing their milk teeth?
Every child’s growth is unique. Some may lose their primary dentition as early as 4 years old. At the end of it, a child should have a complete set of permanent dentition by the age of 12 to 13 years old.
We always advise children to start their first dental visits early on (when the first tooth erupts or when they reach 1), followed by a periodic dental visit every 6 months so a dentist can follow through and identify if there are any issues that need to be addressed.
The common age for a baby tooth to start to exfoliate is around 6 years old. We will always advise the child to shake or twist the baby tooth (when it starts showing signs of being shaky) in order to let it exfoliate itself. If the adult tooth becomes almost the same height as the baby tooth and the baby tooth still hasn’t fallen out, we would advise that the baby tooth be extracted.
Myths vs Facts
Discover the truth about oral health, with old wives’ tales debunked by Dr Lee, as she separates myths from facts.
I don’t need to brush my kids’ baby teeth, as they are going to lose them anyway.
MYTH: You must take care of baby teeth! Baby teeth are important as it preserves the space in the mouth that’s needed for healthy jaw development. Baby teeth also helps a child chew their food, and also aids in pronunciation- which in turn helps in building the confidence of the child. We would like to prevent any unnecessary pain to the child as well. For example, filling and extraction procedures may end up traumatising the kids, leading to negative associations with dental visits.
I don’t have to clean my baby’s gums and tongue from birth.
MYTH: Even when a baby has no teeth, we still recommend parents to use a napkin dipped in water to rub or massage their gums. You can also use an aloe-vera based gel that’s gentle, soothing and safe if swallowed. This helps to soothe the gums during the eruption of teeth and to also familiarise the child with the concept of toothbrushing.
Using a pacifier and thumb sucking can pose issues with kids’ teeth.
TRUTH: Yes, prolong usage of a pacifier and thumb sucking may have a negative impact on jaw development. It may cause a high arch, overcrowding of the teeth, or the child to become a mouth breather, among others.
My child has to brush their teeth immediately after every meal.
MYTH: It is not advisable to brush immediately after a meal as the pH level in the mouth will be low (acidic) after a meal. Brushing right after a meal may therefore end up eroding the tooth enamel. I would advise parents to remind their child to rinse their mouth after meals, and to only brush 30 minutes after a meal.
For kids who experience a high rate of decay in their teeth, we would advise them to:
- have a balanced diet, with no sugary snacks in between main meals; and
- maintain good oral hygiene by brushing at least 2 times a day with a fluoride toothpaste (1,000 ppm). Use a rice grain or smear-sized amount for kids below the age of 3 and a pea-sized amount for kids above 3 years old.
It is recommended to visit a dentist to find out more about the impact of your child’s eating habits and what will be the best ways to maintain good oral hygiene.
[*The contents above have been edited slightly for clarity and brevity.]
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