Polly2
12-08-2011, 07:21 AM
I went on some dental health training this week - very interesting! We got shown some horrific slides of children as young as 2 with black stumps for teeth :panic:
Apparantly Wales is one of the worst countries for not looking after our children's teeth :(
Anyway I learnt a few things I thought I would share
Always use a dry toothbrush
It is better to brush first thing in the morning before breakfast (apparantly unless you leave it for half hour after eating you are rubbing the acid into your teeth otherwise!)
Children do not have the dexterity to brush their own teeth until they can tie their own shoe laces or write their name clearly (thought that was a good one to share with parents)
Milk and water are the only safe drinks for children. Even sugar free drinks have sweetener in which although does not cause decay causes abrasion - rubs enamel away.
It is better to have 4 sugar bursts a day (4 meals then) than many snacks because of the acidity in your mouth.
Raisins are bad for teeth as they are sticky - she was reasonable though and said better to give raisins than sweetys!
She recommended open cups as soon as children were able and she showed us this fab little collapsable cup for travel.
There were some nursery staff there and they were wittering on about how they have tooth cleaning sessions every day - BUT she said they were only really fluoride coating teeth as the children were too young to brush properly and that childminders were in a better position to properly brush!! Another pro for cm's :clapping:
Apparantly Wales is one of the worst countries for not looking after our children's teeth :(
Anyway I learnt a few things I thought I would share
Always use a dry toothbrush
It is better to brush first thing in the morning before breakfast (apparantly unless you leave it for half hour after eating you are rubbing the acid into your teeth otherwise!)
Children do not have the dexterity to brush their own teeth until they can tie their own shoe laces or write their name clearly (thought that was a good one to share with parents)
Milk and water are the only safe drinks for children. Even sugar free drinks have sweetener in which although does not cause decay causes abrasion - rubs enamel away.
It is better to have 4 sugar bursts a day (4 meals then) than many snacks because of the acidity in your mouth.
Raisins are bad for teeth as they are sticky - she was reasonable though and said better to give raisins than sweetys!
She recommended open cups as soon as children were able and she showed us this fab little collapsable cup for travel.
There were some nursery staff there and they were wittering on about how they have tooth cleaning sessions every day - BUT she said they were only really fluoride coating teeth as the children were too young to brush properly and that childminders were in a better position to properly brush!! Another pro for cm's :clapping: