Children’s Dental

Your dentist will take the time to discuss the best and easiest ways to incorporate healthy oral habits that will benefit your child for the rest of their lifetime. 

Our advice: 

• We recommend that your child has their first dental visit by the age of 1, but if they’re older  don’t be concerned - it is never too late to take a hold of their oral health. 
• Attend the dentist at least twice per year
• Carry out preventative treatments such as Fissure Sealants and Scale and Polish as advised by your dentist 
• Minimise sugar intake by avoiding sugary snacks and drinks
• For children under two years of age brush their teeth with a toothbrush and water. There is no need to use fluoridated toothpaste unless recommended by your dentist 
• For children between two to six years use a pea sized amount of 1000 ppm fluoridated toothpaste
• For children seven years and older use a pea sized amount of 1450 ppm fluoridated toothpaste
• Parents should supervise brushing up until the age of seven

We recommend that you bring your child to the dentist by their first birthday. This allows your child to become comfortable with the dental environment from a young age and means they are more likely to receive preventative and routine care before more complex treatment is needed.

It is never too late to take hold of your child’s oral health - so at whatever age you first attend our team will make sure to put your child at ease in a completely judgement free environment.

For children’s braces it is best for the first orthodontic assessment to be carried out between 8-9 years of age to allow a plan to be put in place.

• Lay the foundations of healthy oral habits from an early age 
• Focus on prevention avoiding the need for complex dentistry later in life 
• Receive treatment in an anxiety-free and fun environment
• Affordable treatment and payment plans available
• Modern and bright clinics designed with comfort in mind
• Deal with staff who are specially trained to deal with children
• Establish a relationship with one dental practice for life, as we cater for all ages

If your child is suffering from a toothache, contact us as soon as possible so we can organise an emergency appointment  to get your child out of pain.

To comfort your child:

• Rinse their mouth with warm salty water
• If their face is swollen apply a cold compress to the area
• Give Calpol
• Do not apply heat or aspirin to the area

You can start to clean your baby’s mouth with a damp cloth once per day even before any of their teeth have erupted.

Once their first teeth erupt you should gently brush them twice per day with a damp soft toothbrush - it is not recommended to use any toothpaste until your child reaches two years of age.

A mouth guard is always recommended for children who play contact sports - especially when their permanent teeth have erupted. Mouth guards are made of a soft plastic material which fit comfortably over the upper teeth. They aim to protect a child’s teeth, lips, cheeks and gums from sports related injuries.

Your dentist will be able to advise what is the best type of mouth guard for your child.

If you are anyway concerned or anxious about your child’s teeth or oral health call us today to make an appointment.

Dental emergencies may include:

• Tooth ache which keeps your child awake at night
• Fever or loss of appetite due to toothache
• Dental trauma or broken teeth following an accident or fall

Your baby will usually begin to show signs of teething from about 6 months of age - this is when the lower front teeth will first erupt.

Some signs of teething include:
- Increased drooling
- Chewing on fingers and toys
- Increased nighttime wakening

Teething is often wrongly blamed for
- Runny nose
- Rash
- High temperatures
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea

If your baby experiences any of these symptoms it is more likely that they are experiencing a minor illness - it may be worthwhile contacting your GP for further advice.

Many parents find that offering their baby chilled teething rings and comforters will help with any teething symptoms your baby may have - Calpol may be useful to also manage discomfort.

Flossing is an essential part of any oral healthcare routine - by instilling this habit at a young age you can help to prevent gum disease and decay.

Teaching your child this skill around the same time as they learn to tie their shoes will be of great benefit to them.

Baby teeth play a really important role in helping your child to carry out everyday tasks - eating speaking and smiling. One of their most important roles is in maintaining space in the mouth as the jaw grows.

In children who loose their baby teeth early due to decay or damage early space closure occurs - this leads to significant crowding of the teeth and often requires more complex orthodontic treatment in the future.

Dental decay and infection also puts your child at risk of pain and serious illness and so it is vital to maintain a healthy mouth from an early age

There are many possible causes of black marks on teeth - usually black marks are a result of staining,  but they could also be due to decay, medication related, or caused by a build up of plaque.

If you are worried about black staining on your child’s teeth - call us now or click here to book an appointment

Prolonged thumb sucking can lead to crowded and crooked teeth as well as bite problems - most of these issues can be fixed with orthodontic treatment. However this treatment is often more complex than if the habit had been stopped sooner.

If your child is still sucking their thumb and their adult teeth have started to erupt your child’s dentist may recommend an orthodontic appliance to discourage the habit.

A paediatric dentist is one who focuses solely on providing treatment to children who are 12 years or below - or until they have lost all of their baby teeth.