What they eat
All sources of sugars including packet sugar, fruit sugars, honey and any food or drink containing them can feed the plaque bacteria which cause acid attacks. Similarly, any food or drink containing acids can directly affect teeth. These include fruit juice, squashes, all types of fizzy drinks, fruit, yoghurt, pickles and even tomato sauce! However, if all these foods and drinks were cut out from the diet, it would become unbalanced and less enjoyable. The following is a guide to including them sensibly so that the teeth can cope.
The way that they eat it
Almost every time you eat, your teeth will be affected. The good news is that teeth can cope with acid attacks as long as they have time to recover and repair themselves between bouts of eating and drinking. Eating five times a day is about right, for example, three meals and two snacks. Try to keep sweet foods, soft drinks and fruit juices limited to these occasions. If your child likes frequent drinks, give milk or water at other times. It is also important that children do not hold drinks in their mouths or swish them through their teeth.
Consult the expert
Don’t wait until your child has toothache before coming to visit us. We can show you how to brush your teeth properly and advise whether your child needs any special protection against decay. This is also the best time to treat crooked teeth and we can advise you on the best treatments for your child.
Children Routine Check-Ups
Many dentists like to see children every 6 months to build up the child’s comfort and confidence level in visiting the dentist, to monitor the development of the teeth and promptly treat any developing problems.