Looking After Your Toddler's Teeth
It is important to take care of your child's first teeth in the pre-school years, because they guide the permanent teeth into their proper spaces. Healthy, decay-free teeth also mean that the permanent teeth are less likely to decay. So, ensure that good habits are formed early on.

Strong Teeth
The surface of teeth have a hard protective coating of enamel. Fluoride is a substance that helps to strengthen the enamel and makes teeth more resistant to attack. In some areas, fluoride is present in the water supply, but if not, your dentist will tell you whether fluoride drops are needed.

Brushing Up
Fluoride is also found in most toothpastes, so using one of these is important. Get your child used to the feel of a small, soft toothbrush preferably before the first teeth appear and then introduce the taste of toothpaste. A small, pea-sized amount is enough, as fluoride in large amounts can discolour teeth. Encourage your child to spit out any excess rather than swallow it.

Gradually, allow your child to try brushing by themselves. Always be there to supervise, and clean the teeth yourself once a day until about age six. Up to this age, they do not have the physical skills to do a thorough job.

Getting the Balance
When food is eaten, bacteria in the mouth act on sugars present (packet sugars, fruit sugars and honey), and on some starchy processed foods (eg. crisps, crackers and savoury snacks), to produce acid. Saliva helps to wash away the acid but frequent snacking means that acid is produced for longer periods of time. This can eventually lead to decay. Growing active children need to eat regularly and to include some high calorie foods. Sugar-containing foods are a source of energy but take care not to give them too often. It is best to limit food and drinks containing sugars to meal times.

Drink Up
Drinks such as fruit juices, squashes and fizzy drinks should not be sipped over a long period of time or put in a feeding bottle. Consumed in this way they can promote tooth decay and the natural acidity of the drink can wear down the enamel directly (even if sugar free). It is best to encourage your child to drink from a cup as soon as possible, because there is less chance

for liquids to pool around the teeth than with a bottle. Try to avoid giving drinks at bedtime, because saliva flow is reduced during sleep, so the acid has a better chance of attacking the teeth. Water is the best drink to give in between meals or at bedtime.

The Dentists Chair
Don't wait until your child has painful teeth before going to the dentist. A check-up with your dentist is important to make sure that your child's teeth are growing properly and to get extra advice.