Preventing oral hygiene for children

Tooth decay, also known as dental caries, affects the tooth. First, the tooth’s enamel is eroded, then the dentin, leading to the gradual destruction of the tooth.

Various methods apply to different ages, but there is no escaping the need to brush teeth.
 

From 6 months to 1 year:
Simply apply a wet compress over the baby’s tooth/teeth. During this period, when teething may be painful, gum massages or refrigerated teething rings may help to relieve pain in your baby’s gums.
 

From 1 to 3 years:
It is your job as a parent to brush your child’s teeth.
Before the age of 2, it is advised that you brush your child’s teeth in the evening, without using toothpaste, as your child will tend to swallow it.
Children this age do not yet know how to spit out properly. You should brush your child’s teeth twice a day from the age of 2: once in the morning and once in the evening before going to bed.
 

From 4 years:
Your child is growing and is becoming more independent. he/she should now be able to brush his/her own teeth under your supervision.
You must show your child the right way to brush, going back and forth at least five times at the top and another five at the bottom. You must also teach your child how to rinse and spit without swallowing.
The time taken to brush teeth should be done as ritual play so that the child accepts it more readily.
 

From 6 years:
Your child now knows the basic brushing techniques.
You must now teach him/her how to brush the inner side of the teeth and how to alternate with a bottom-to-top movement in order to remove all deposits that may remain, including in the gaps between teeth.

For brushing to be considered effective, there are a few simple rules to follow.
 

• The toothbrush should be appropriate for the child’s age and must be soft and suited to your child’s mouth (brush with a small head, with an easy-to-hold handle).
• The toothpaste used must be appropriate for the child’s age. As the fluoride content differs according to the toothpaste, it must be age-appropriate. Toothpaste can also be flavored to be more attractive. Before the age of 3, a dose lower or equal to 500ppm is recommended, from 3 to 6 years between 500 and 1000ppm, from 6 to 10 years between 1000 and 1500ppm and a dose greater than 1500ppm from the age of ten.
• Children should ideally brush their teeth for 2 minutes.
• Toothbrushes should be replaced every 3 months, otherwise they may not be as effective.

Fluoride
Fluoride is a trace element which helps teeth by making them more resistant to the attacks of dental plaque. It attaches to tooth enamel and thereby strengthens teeth.

Food deposits tend to stick in the recesses in the upper side of molars, and even the thin fibers of a toothbrush cannot dislodge them. as 80% of dental caries develop in these recesses, this technique is used to protect the fissures in teeth, and therefore to prevent tooth decay.
 

Dental sealants are recommended once the four permanent molars have come through, i.e. around the age of 6 and then around the age of 12, when the second permanent molars appear.


This quick and painless procedure involves sealing the fissures in the permanent molars with a protective resin in order to prevent tooth decay. Even if dental sealants stay in place for several years, a dental check-up is necessary every one to two years.

• an annual dental check-up or more regular consultations depending on the risk of tooth decay, from the age of one;
• a varied, balanced diet;
• avoid snacking between meals and sweet foods;
• prefer water to any other drink.