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Expert advice to keep your little one’s smile healthy, happy, and decay-free.
Did you know that tooth decay rates in some areas of the North West of England are more than twice the national average? In fact, around 1 in 4 children will start school with tooth decay.
Because the enamel on primary (baby) teeth is thinner than on adult teeth, they are much more susceptible to decay. To help you navigate this, we asked Helen Clint, an NHS dentist and Educational Supervisor in Liverpool, why baby teeth are so important and what her top tips are for looking after them.
Baby teeth start to come through at around 6 months old and start to be lost at around 5-6 years old (though some back teeth stay until 12 years and beyond!). Even though they fall out eventually, they serve crucial functions for a child’s development and school readiness.
😊 Smile
The appearance of teeth greatly impacts a child’s confidence, social skills, and emotional development.
🗣️ Speech
Teeth are vital components for tongue placement and making correct phonetic sounds.
🍎 Eating
Healthy teeth are necessary to help little ones comfortably eat a balanced and varied diet.
🧠 Learning
Toothache causes disturbed sleep and missed school days, impacting the child’s ability to thrive (and parents’ ability to work!).
Important: If baby teeth are lost prematurely due to decay, the spaces for adult teeth to come through correctly can be significantly reduced.
Beware of “Hidden” Sugars: Natural or artificial sweeteners (including honey and fruit juices) should not be added to weaning foods. Check labels carefully! Foods marketed as “healthy” or “natural” (like fruit bars and concentrates) are often packed with sugar.
Expert Tip: “Fruit Pouches” should be squeezed onto a spoon to be eaten, rather than sucked directly from the nozzle, which bathes the teeth in concentrated fruit sugars.
If you live in England, you can find details of how to find an NHS dentist at www.nhs.uk in the NHS Services section by clicking on ‘find a dentist’.
If you can’t find a dentist accepting NHS patients, you should call NHS England’s Customer Contract Centre on 0300 311 2233. For other regions, please contact your local health board who will be able to direct you to the appropriate department.
At Kids Planet, we support healthy routines, from nutritious, low-sugar meals to encouraging independence in hygiene. Discover a nursery that cares for the whole child.
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