Children in central London are like a blank canvas for about the first 6 years of their life. It takes time for them to evolve and come to life as they start to learn things. So up until they start to understand and learn how to do things for themselves, the onus is on you, the parent, to nurture them and look after them, until you can start to cut them some slack. This is very important when it comes to their teeth, so you should always get up to speed on how to be ready for delicate times such as teething and when the child’s secondary start to come through. The important thing to protect their teeth from is decay, which children are very vulnerable to. Consulting with a pediatric dentist is paramount during this period in order to get the health of your child’s teeth right. Choosing the right foods and drinks is a key factor here, trying to avoid sugary and starchy substances if you can. Early on, it’s down to you to clean their teeth in the early years to avoid tooth decay, but as they grow older, you have to find toothpastes that are suitable for them and then teach them how to clean their teeth properly. Again, if you have any doubts, you should always seek qualified help from your pediatrician or your dentist.

• Start brushing your child’s teeth as soon as the first one comes out!
This accustoms your child to brushing and teaches him how valuable the method is to maintain healthy teeth.
• Start using fluoridated toothpaste only after the age of 2 to protect your toddler’s teeth unless your London dentist advises you to start earlier.
• Get an age specific pliable nylon toothbrush for toddlers to learn brushing easily. Parents have to teach their toddlers and preschooler’s to brush twice a day until they are about 5 years old. At the age of 5 children become capable of doing the process by them. Only use about pea-sized amounts of fluoridated tooth paste and make sure your child does not eat any of it. Although you can try flossing please do be careful with over active children.
• Check to see whether your locality has fluoridated drinking water. This is an enormous benefit as fluoridated water contains the right amount of fluoride to toughen teeth and delay cavities. Ask your dentist for fluoride tablets if required.
• Ask your pediatric dentist for help if your child is still sucking his thumb at the age of four or five. Prolonged thumb sucking can cause misaligned teeth or cavities.