Milestone Moments of the Mouth: A Guide to Your Child's Oral Health
At Howick Dental Care, we are passionate about helping children establish healthy dental habits early on.
The Curaprox Milestone Moments of the Mouth booklet is a fantastic guide for parents navigating oral care from birth to 10 years of age. There are many Milestone Moments that your little’s one’s mouth will go through in this time and many important things to note to help best care for and protect their smile.
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The Importance of Sucking: Sucking is a basic need that calms babies and aids digestion, but the shape of the dummy or soother you choose is critical.
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Preventing Misalignments: Standard round soothers can negatively affect the shape of the palate over time, potentially leading to dental issues like crossbites or open bites.
2. Navigating the Teething Phase
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Recognising the Signs: The eruption of new teeth can cause drooling, disrupted sleep, a raised temperature, and sore gums.
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Teething Timelines: A baby's first milk teeth (usually the lower incisors) typically appear between six to eight months, and a complete set of 20 milk teeth is usually present by two and a half to three years of age.
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How to Help: A high-quality, biofunctional teething ring provides sensory stimulation, relieves pain, and prepares your baby for the feeling of a real toothbrush.
3. Tender Loving Care for Milk Teeth
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Why Milk Teeth Matter: Baby teeth are essential for eating, proper jaw development, and acting as placeholders for adult permanent teeth.
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Start Before the First Tooth: Oral hygiene should begin before teeth even appear by gently wiping the baby's gums with a damp cloth after meals.
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Building a Brushing Routine: Once teeth erupt, parents should brush them twice a day for children aged 0-2, and three times a day for children aged 2 and older.
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The Right Tools: Use an ultra-soft baby toothbrush with a rubberised head to protect delicate gums, and upgrade to a kid-specific brush with an octagonal handle (for ages 4-12) to help older children grip the brush correctly.
4. Choosing the Right Toothpaste
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Essential Ingredients: Choose an age-appropriate toothpaste with the correct fluoride content to strengthen natural defences, alongside beneficial ingredients like natural enzymes and xylitol (a birch sugar that helps fight cavities).
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What to Avoid: Keep little mouths safe by avoiding toothpastes with harsh ingredients like SLS, triclosan, and microplastics.
5. No More Brushing Drama!
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Make it Fun: You can ease the stress of daily brushing by setting a good example, using music as a fun distraction, or using a rewards chart.
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Interactive Learning: Disclosing tablets, which temporarily colour the invisible plaque on teeth, are a fun and interactive way to show older children where the "bugs" are hiding and encourage thorough brushing.
Want to learn more?
Pop into Howick Dental Care to pick up your own full copy of the Milestone Moments of the Mouth booklet. Dr Lemmon-Warde and the rest of the friendly team is always here to chat with you about your child's dental milestones and preventative care!