When should a baby start brushing teeth?

(Credit: Umar Nsubuga)

ORAL HEALTH

The development of your baby's first teeth can be very exciting, but at the same time frustrating for both you, the parents, and the young children.

Shamir Nsubuga, is one year and four months old. Whenever his mother brushes her teeth, he follows suit. He sometimes refuses to brush his teeth when he is alone.

Ivan Lubwama, a dentist in Bombo, says baby teeth play an important role in child development and they should be given proper attention and care. Good dental make-up of any adult is the result of proper care at childhood.

He says children who are interested in brushing depend on their mothers because they see them brushing, but it is important for parents to brush their children's teeth to avoid cavities. 

"By the time a child is two-and-a-half years old, they have 20 milk teeth in their mouth. Because the teeth are very sensitive at this stage, keeping good oral hygiene is crucial," he says.

According to Lubwama, oral hygiene in children begins as soon as they start teething. "Once you get your baby into the routine of brushing his or her teeth at an early age, he or she can carry it on and start brushing on their own."

Dealing with first teeth

Suzan Akujju, a dentist in Kampala, says as your child's teeth start to appear (generally about six months), look for a baby toothbrush with a small head and grip suitable for your hand.

"It would be important to use a tiny amount of fluoride toothpaste, probably about the size of a grain of rice (or a thin smear). Fluoride helps prevent tooth decay by strengthening the enamel and making it more resistant to acids and harmful bacteria. Your baby can get fluoride from toothpaste and from water."

According to Akujju, you need to do this twice a day: gently brush on the inside and outside of each of your baby's teeth, as well as his tongue (if you can), to dislodge bacteria that can cause bad breath.

When your children express interest in brushing their teeth themselves, let them do it and make it a routine.

"As a parent, you need to keep an eye on them because they have to brush properly. As soon as a child's teeth begin to grow, tooth decay becomes a concern."

Ways of cleaning the teeth

"Parents should start brushing their children's teeth as soon as they appear in their mouth. It is also a good idea to use a clean finger or damp cloth to wipe a child's gums before and after brushing of the teeth," says Akujju.

Flossing (cleaning between teeth) should be started after two teeth have erupted next to each other to prevent cavities between these teeth.

Akujju says flossing is especially important for the molars as they are generally closer to each other than the front teeth.

Dentist Lubwama says oral hygiene becomes more important for children who drink a lot of juices and eat more sweet items. "It is important to use a soft toothbrush and a very small pea-sized amount of toothpaste".

Sometimes brushing and flossing a child's teeth can be a battle of wills. Baby teeth play a very important role in child development and they should be given proper attention and care.

The initial tooth brushing attempts need to last only 10 seconds or so and a small reward should be provided immediately thereafter.

Train the child to spit the foam after brushing. However, not all babies are old enough to spit, which is why they should drink a glass of water to dilute any toothpaste that could have been swallowed.

Whenever the child takes care of the teeth, this helps the child to develop a good dental formula.

Akujju says milk teeth help in the proper development of muscles for chewing and also maintain the space so that permanent teeth can grow in their correct positions.

She also advises parents to use children's toothpaste because it is fluoridated.  This mineral prevents tooth decay by strengthening tooth enamel and making it more resistant to acids and harmful bacteria. Just make sure they do not swallow too much.

Bad breath

Bad breath is known as halitosis, a condition experienced by any healthy child.  However, most of the time, the condition is associated with poor oral hygiene. Teaching your child good dental care habits at an early age can be vital in terms of their oral health as adults.

According to Akujju, for any child who does not brush frequently, this can cause him or her bad breath.

The tongue can also harbour bacteria that produce foul breath. So ensure that as your child brushes his or her teeth, s/he also cleans the tongue thoroughly. For this to be effective, parents should closely monitor the hygiene of their children.

The saliva is important because it helps to cleanse the mouth. When your child's mouth is producing less saliva than normal, a condition known as xerostomia may occur, and this will eventually contribute to bad breath.

Mouth-breathing, food

Dr. Lubwama says when a child breathes through the mouth (due to a stuffy nose or as a sleep habit), it prevents saliva from washing away bacteria, thereby leading to bad breath.

If your child consumes foods that have strong odour such as garlic, onions or specific spices, it can impact the freshness of their breath. Besides food, some medications may also cause bad breath.

How to avoid or get rid of stains

Brushing your child's teeth after every meal will help him or her to prevent some stains. Rinse his or her mouth with water after having foods that can stain the teeth.

Regular cleanings by your dental healthcare provider can also help in removing surface stains.

Intrinsic stains caused by damage to a nerve or blood vessel in a tooth sometimes can be prevented.

You may need to have root canal treatment to remove the inner part of the tooth called a pulp before it has a chance to decay and darken.

Dentist Lubwama says to prevent intrinsic stains in children, avoid too much early exposure to fluorides. Once the enamel is formed, fluoride will not discolour teeth.

It is therefore advisable to visit an experienced dental care practitioner for proper diagnosis. "This will help your child in assessing the type of stains and providing the best treatment", he advises.