Healthy Mouths for You and Your Baby NHS Healthy Mouths for You and Your Baby Today we are going to talk about how to keep babies’ teeth and mouths healthy.

Potential Problems in Pregnancy Gum disease Bleed more easily Risk of gum disease Requires high standard of oral hygiene Thorough tooth brushing Interdental cleaning Regular Dental checks Gum disease Bleed more easily due to hormones and increased blood flow. Risk of gum disease if not dealt with. Requires high standard of oral hygiene. Thorough tooth brushing which the dentist can show you. Interdental cleaning to remove the debris from between the teeth. Regular Dental checks.

Diet Healthy, nutritious diet containing all vitamins and minerals. Helps baby’s teeth to develop properly. Calcium helps bones and teeth. Morning sickness – rinse after with water to avoid harmful acid. Avoid sugary snacks. Healthy, nutritious diet containing all vitamins and minerals. Helps baby’s teeth to develop properly. Calcium helps bones and teeth. Morning sickness – rinse after with water to avoid harmful acid. Avoid sugary snacks in between meals as it causes acid attack.

Routine Dental Treatment Necessary – to stop gum disease. to stop decay. Doesn’t harm your baby. May want to hold off on amalgam fillings and x-rays. Necessary – to stop gum disease by regular cleaning. to stop decay – many women notice that the teeth have suffered during pregnancy. It is better to get the decay early. Doesn’t cause any problems per se. Local anaesthetic is all right but they may use a different one. The main problem is a drop in the blood pressure when you lie down and the baby lies on top. Choosing a more sitting up position will solve this. May want to hold off on amalgam fillings and x-rays. Although they are not dangerous and pose very little risk, unless it is necessary most dentists will hold off till baby is born. Sometimes, however, it is better to x-ray a tooth to check a diagnosis.

Smoking and Alcohol Can lead to an underweight baby. Can result in deciduous teeth not being fully formed, and so more prone to decay. Permanent sometimes affected also. Can lead to an underweight baby. Can result in the enamel of deciduous teeth not being fully formed, and so more prone to decay. Permanent teeth are sometimes affected also.

Baby teeth are important Babies get their 1st tooth at about 6 months old. Baby teeth are important because they: (i) help children eat and grow; (ii) keep the shape of the jaws and face; (iii) help children speak; (iv) keep the space for the permanent teeth; and (v) help children to have a healthy smile.

Teething Teething is a normal part of every child’s development. It starts when the first baby tooth cuts through the gum, at about 3-6 months, and can continue until a child is 3 years of age. The 1st teeth to appear are usually the bottom two front teeth. You will find this information in your child’s personal health record. When babies’ teeth start to come through they drool more and want to chew on things. If your child is uncomfortable when they are teething, offer them a teething ring or cold wash cloth. If there are other symptoms like fever, diarrhoea or rashes talk to a dentist, doctor or a child and family health nurse.

is one of the most common childhood diseases… Early Childhood decay Tooth decay is one of the most common childhood diseases... but it can be prevented. Tooth decay, or holes in the teeth, is a serious dental condition that can start as soon as the 1st tooth appears. Once your baby gets a hole in a tooth it can get worse quickly if you don’t see a dental professional about it. The best way is to prevent decay. Sometimes tooth decay in babies can cause pain. Babies don’t have the words to tell us and so through their behaviour – they might cry a lot Children who have really bad tooth decay sometimes have to be put into hospital for an operation to take out the bad teeth that are causing them so much pain. is one of the most common childhood diseases…

What causes tooth decay? There are two main things that can lead to tooth decay in children: Frequently eating sugary snacks and drinking unhealthy drinks. The more frequent, the more likely decay occurs. not brushing their teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste of > 1000ppm. Decay can be caused by Calming infants by giving them a bottle for long periods or at night. It prolongs the time the teeth are exposed to drinks. You should feed the child, then remove the bottle. Filling the bottle with sugary drinks, fruit juice or adding sugar to drinks. They are not born with a sweet tooth but what they are fed can lead to them developing a taste for it. Water or milk should only be added to bottles.

Best advice for babies Breast feeding provides the best nutrition. Exclusive breast feeding is advised for the first six months. Infant formula and cooled, boiled water if not breast fed. Infants should not be put to bed with a feeding bottle. From six months infants should start drinking from a cup. Bottle feeding should be discouraged from one year. Breast feeding provides the best nutrition and all the essential nutrients that your baby will need. If you cannot breast feed use infant formula and cooled, boiled water. However it should not be used as a replacement if possible. Exclusive breast feeding is advised for the first six months of a baby’s life. Infants should not be put to bed with a feeding bottle. This contributes to extensive decay. Feed the child then take the bottle away. From six months infants should start drinking from a cup. It shouldn’t be the non-spill type as it perpetuates the sucking motion, and harbours bacteria. It also prolongs the exposure to drinks and therefore decay because parents have the tendency to leave the child with the cup. You should stop bottle feeding from one year.

Moving from milk to family foods Weaning foods should not contain salt. Try not to add sugar as it encourages a sweet tooth and can lead to tooth decay. Good habits should be taught from an early age. It is easier to form good habits than to correct bad ones later on. Avoid honey as it contains sugar and bacteria.

Dummies If possible avoid dummys as they can cause the teeth and arch to form where the teeth grow out of line.. If dummys are used never dip the dummy or teething ring into fruit syrups, honey, fruit juices or anything containing sugars, particularly at bedtime. These contain harmful sugars and acids. You can get “orthodontic” dummies which won’t cause the teeth to grow out of line.

How to clean your baby’s teeth Dental care starts as soon as the 1st tooth appears. Brush the teeth twice a day with the baby lying down or cradled in your arms. You can use gauze or a clean cloth to wipe round the teeth initially but using a brush early on gets the baby used to it. Use a small, soft toothbrush with a smear of toothpaste with at least 1000ppm fluoride. You can find this on the tube of toothpaste. You can lift the lip to look for tooth decay as shown. Choose sugar-free medicine. They are easy to get and just ask the pharmacist. They should have their 1st dental check-up by 1st birthday. Acknowledgement of graphic source: NSW Department of Health. Early childhood oral health guidelines for child health professionals. Sydney. NSW Department of Health, 2009

Your own dental health Have regular dental check-ups Brush & floss, interdental brushes Drink water Eat healthy food You need to look after your dental health too: Always have regular dental checkups to keep your teeth and gums healthy. Germs from your mouth can pass over to your baby’s mouth on dummies, bottles and spoons. If you are pregnant, or thinking about becoming pregnant, a dental check-up is especially important. Healthy teeth and gums are needed for your own health and the health of your unborn baby. Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and clean between your teeth with floss or toothpicks. Food can get stuck between your teeth when you eat. Just brushing your teeth doesn’t always get all of the food out. If food is left stuck between your teeth it rots and causes tooth decay. Drink plenty of water. Eat healthy food and remember if you snack on sugary food and drinks restrict the number of times and rinse out with water after.

Let’s work together Dental decay is a preventable disease, let’s work together to stop children from getting tooth decay: Try to use breast milk exclusively for the first six months. help your child to drink from a cup at 6 months. Wean your child with sugar free food and try to avoid sugary snacks as the frequency of sugar can cause decay. clean your child’s teeth and gums twice a day with fluoride toothpaste Lift the lip to check for any signs of tooth decay Take the child for their first dental appointment at about 1 year old.

Thanks to… Centre for Oral Health Strategy NSW NSW Oral Health Promotion Network NSW Little Smiles Advisory Committee With thanks to NSW Oral Health Promotion Network NSW Little Smiles Advisory Committee Westmead Centre for Oral Health, SWAHS