It is important to start taking care of your child’s teeth early to prevent tooth decay. Tooth decay, or damage to the tooth’s surface (enamel), is caused by mouth bacteria acting on sugars in food and drinks, producing acids which eat away at your child’s teeth.
Prevention of Tooth Decay
- Use a smear of toothpaste (size of a rice-grain) containing 1000ppm of fluoride 2 times a day.
- Fluoride protects your child’s teeth from tooth decay by strengthening it.
- A smear amount is recommended for children below 3 years old, who tend to swallow toothpaste.
- When your child is older, above 3 years old, you can increase the toothpaste to a pea-sized amount.
Brush your child’s teeth once they emerge, usually around 6 months old
Brush your child’s teeth after (not before) his last milk feed
Brush your child’s teeth after (not before) his last milk feed. As formula milk is sweet, do not put your child to bed with a bottle of formula milk as this can cause tooth decay.
Supervise your child
Always supervise your child when brushing teeth, and keep toothpaste out of reach.
Minimise consumption of sweetened beverages and snacks
Minimise consumption of sweetened beverages and snacks with high sugar content as this can cause severe tooth decay. Dried fruits such raisins, sweetened cereals, cakes and biscuits with filling or fruit juices have high sugar content. Nuts, cheese and yoghurt naturally sweetened with fruits are better choices.
Take your child to a child-friendly dentist when he turns 1 year old
It is important to start taking care of your child’s teeth early to prevent tooth decay. Tooth decay, or damage to the tooth’s surface (enamel), is caused by mouth bacteria acting on sugars in food and drinks, producing acids that eat away at your child’s teeth.
Reference: Health Promotion Board, KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital
Follow this link for a detailed guide to dental care for your child:
https://www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/growing-kid-help-your-child-smile-for-life
Penjagaan Gigi
Jagalah kebersihan mulut(gigi dan gusi) anak anda dari awal lagi untuk mengelakkan daripada kereputan gigi dan penyakit gusi.
- Gosok gigi apabila gigi mula tumbuh (lazimnya sekitar 6 bulan). Gunakan setitik sahaja ubat gigi khas untuk bayi yang mengandungi kadar fluorida 1000pm, dua kali sehari.
- Gosok gigi bayi anda selepas habis minum susu pada waktu malam.
- Elakkan daripada menidurkan bayi anda sambil menghisap sebotol susu kerana susu mengandungi banyak gula yang boleh menyebabkan kereputan gigi.
- Kurangkan minuman manis seperti jus buah-buahan. Kurangkan makanan yang mengandungi banyak gula seperti kek, kismis dan biskut berkrim.
- Bawalah anak anda berjumpa dengan doktor gigi kanak-kanak apabila berumur 1 tahun ke atas, untuk pemeriksaan gigi.
- Sentiasa memantau anak anda apabila menggosok gigi, dan ajarkannya supaya jangan menelan ubat gigi.
