Getting the best start in life means developing healthy habits, with oral hygiene a key consideration.
Tooth decay is Australia’s most common but preventable chronic disease.
While it’s often thought of as something that occurs to adult teeth, research from the Australian Dental Association (ADA) shows that one in three children have experienced decay in a baby tooth by the age of five years, and even worse, 50 per cent of Australian children under six years old now suffer from tooth decay.
So when should an oral health routine be introduced, and what’s involved?
For most babies, teeth begin to appear between six and 10 months of age. But there’s no need to wait until then to begin.
Once a baby is about three months old, you can gently wipe their gums using a damp, clean face washer or gauze twice a day. This will help them get ready for brushing their teeth when they appear.
Introducing an oral care routine
Oral-B ANZ Professional and Scientific Relations Consultant Dr Elizabeth Milford says it’s important to follow an oral health routine when the first teeth appear
“Toothbrushes and toothpaste remain the foundation of good oral health, no matter the age,” she said. “This is especially true for babies and young children.
“It can be tricky for babies and toddlers to accept toothbrushing, so making it fun is important. Things like playing music or playing a game can help motivate children. Using a phone app that has built-in timers and rewards can also help with positive reinforcement.”
When they’re old enough, letting children attempt toothbrushing themselves builds acceptance and independence, but it’s important to remember that they won’t have the skills to brush well until they’re at school age, she added.
For babies, try positioning them so that you can see their mouth and they feel secure during the process.
Dr Sanjay Haryana and Dr Michaela von Geiger, dentists in TePe Australia and New Zealand’s global odontological team, suggest brushing a baby’s teeth with the baby lying down, head nearest you, such as on the changing table.
“While brushing, gently lift the child’s lip with your finger to see and reach better,” they said.
The right tool for the job
When choosing the first toothbrush, Dr Milford recommends looking for a small head and soft bristles.
According to Dr Haryana and Dr Von Geiger, parents and carers should consider:
- Making sure the handle is big enough for the parent and child to hold together.
- Looking for a small, tapered brush head. “This makes it easier to reach further back and especially when the baby/child is biting down”.
- Soft bristles. “The softer the better, since it’s a new sensation for the baby, and also because the gum around erupting teeth can be slightly sore.”
- Using plastic and high-quality toothbrushes. “Babies/children will bite and leave dents. You want to avoid any sheering and splinters. Plastic is also easier to clean properly.”
- Bristles that are end-rounded to minimise damage to gums and teeth. “Remember that it’s hard to brush gently when you have a baby who is resisting.”
Whatever you choose, Dr Melford emphasises the importance of replacing toothbrushes regularly.
“Remember that babies and toddlers might chew the toothbrush, so it’s important to replace the brush every three to four months, or when the brush looks shaggy,” she said.
Toothpastes
Recommendations for toothpaste depend on ages. The current Australian guidelines are to brush with water only until a child is 18 months old, when a low-fluoride toothpaste can be introduced.
“This is about the age that children learn to spit out,” Dr Milford said. “From 18 months to six years of age, fluoride in a toothpaste can protect those precious baby teeth from tooth decay.”
Supporting parents
Dr Milford says pharmacy staff are an important resource for new parents navigating their child’s development at every new stage.
“With your advice, parents can set up great oral habits right from the start,” she said.
Dr Haryana and Dr Von Geiger recommend pharmacy staff make use of the wealth of educational resources available to help parents establish healthy habits.
“Use the educational material out there, such as TePe’s ‘Caring for your children’s teeth’ leaflet, or visit our website for age-appropriate information,” they said.
The ADA also has plenty of information and resources available to help families begin their child’s oral health journey.
ADA’s oral health education podcast, ‘Watch Your Mouth’, includes easy-to-understand oral health information that can be listened to on the go. The first series focuses on infant and young child oral health and is hosted by Jimmy Rees, aka Jimmy Giggle from ABC Kids program Giggle and Hoot.
ADA also offers free children’s e-books that educate through the story of the battle faced by the ‘Guardians of the Gums’ as they protect the teeth from sugar and bacteria.
Importance of early oral care
Left untreated, tooth decay can lead to many long-term and serious problems, including speech impairments, poor jaw development – which can lead to problems with eating – and severe gum disease.
Poor oral health can also have an impact on mental health, with many people feeling embarrassed about their teeth and avoiding eating and drinking in front of others, which can have an effect on a person’s overall well-being. For Aussies with a lower income, particularly in a rising cost-of-living environment, tooth decay often goes untreated due to the expense associated with dental care.
Studies have demonstrated that the proportion of untreated tooth decay is higher for those from low-income households (15 per cent) and twice as high for those living in remote and very remote areas (22 per cent). Indigenous children (44 per cent) aged five to 10 years were also shown to be more likely to have had at least one deciduous tooth with untreated decay than non-Indigenous children (26 per cent).
To lead the fight against tooth decay, oral care brand Grin Natural recently ran a ‘Share A Grin’ campaign with 100,000 biodegradable toothbrushes donated to families in need across Australia with the help of charity partner Good360 Australia.
Healthy habits
Beyond regular brushing, steps parents can take to ensure their little one’s oral health journey is off to a good start include:
Giving babies only breast milk or formula until solids are introduced at around six months of age, when small amounts of water can be introduced. If offering juice to toddlers, serve in a cup rather than bottle.
Sensible snacking. Once solids are introduced, avoid giving foods that are high in sugar. Snacks that are sticky, chewy or sweet should also be avoided, as these take longer to clear from the teeth.
Avoid ‘feeding to sleep’. When baby is asleep, less saliva is in the mouth to protect teeth. If they fall asleep while feeding, milk might pool their mouth and soak teeth.
Don’t dip the dummy. For babies that take a pacifier, don’t dip this in food, sugar or honey.
Schedule check-ups. A baby’s first dental check-up should be at around 12 months of age, or when the first tooth comes through – whichever happens first.
This feature was originally published in the October issue of Retail Pharmacy Assistants e-magazine. Live now!
