Dental Health Facts for Children

Children need to be taught the best way to clean their teeth and recognise the importance of good dental health. Regular dental checkups are a good routine to get your children into and, as parents, the more you can learn about the dental health of your children, the better.

With this in mind, we’re looking at some of the facts and stats that impact children and their oral health today. Attitudes towards oral health are changing fast, and parents need to be able to keep up if they want to give their child the best possible start in life.

Almost 50% of 8-years-old children have signs of tooth decay

This is a shocking fact that many people are not aware of. Making sure that your children brush their teeth two times a day for about two minutes in a proper way will help to prevent this unpleasant occurrence.

There is a common misconception that decay in the milk teeth doesn’t matter because these teeth will fall out anyway. However, this is a dangerous approach, as it could lead to issues with the adult teeth as they emerge. There is also a lot of crossover, so your child will have milk teeth at the same time as new adult teeth.

To help protect their oral health and maintain good habits for life, we recommend encouraging children to take good care of their teeth from a young age. Your dentist can help if you are struggling to establish a routine.

Dental care doesn’t have to be complicated

Fluoride toothpaste is very affordable and you don’t have to pay for fancy brands or special extras. A supermarket own-brand toothpaste could cost as little as £1, so it’s very easy to make healthy oral health habits part of your daily routine.

Children that get into the habit of brushing their teeth every day are more likely to carry this practice into adulthood. This can set them up for a lifetime of good oral health.

80% of children visit dentists on a regular basis

This is good news, but we would like to see this number closer to 100%. NHS dental care is free for children under the age of 18, so there are no obstacles to seeing a dentist. If you aren’t currently registered with a dentist but would like to get your child’s dental health back on track, get in touch with our team. We offer a judgement-free environment so you can access the dental care you need.

Many healthy drinks are not actually healthy for the teeth

Unfortunately, many so-called healthy fruit juices contain a large amount of sugar which can damage your children’s dental health. Many smoothies that are marketed as healthy actually contain high levels of natural sugars.

It is far cheaper for your child to drink plain water, or milk. Milk is great for children’s teeth as it is packed with calcium to help with bone and tooth health. Water is ideal because it is hydrating without being damaging. If your child doesn’t like plain water, or if you want to offer a treat, you could consider adding a small amount of sugar-free squash.

Avoid fizzy drinks and sugary drinks at all costs. It’s far better to never offer these, even as a treat, as it can be difficult to get your child to stop asking for these once they have tried them.

The number of kids affected by plaque is going down

In the last decade, the percentage of children that have problems with plaque has been reduced by 10% which is great news. If parents make an additional effort and take good care of their children’s teeth, then the number of plaque-affected children will reduce even faster in the future.

Correct brushing technique can take some time to learn, which is why regular dental checkups are so essential. Your dentist can advise your child on the best way to care for their teeth.

You don’t have to wait for braces

If your child has issues with the alignment of their teeth or their bite, they can get on the waiting list for NHS orthodontics, provided there is a clinical need for treatment. However, waiting lists for treatment are currently very long due to backlogs caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

If you don’t want to wait for treatment, you could explore private options. This will offer the chance to choose the type of orthodontic treatment your child uses, including invisible and removable aligners like Invisalign. Financing is available to help spread the cost of this treatment.

Children should visit the dentists as early as possible

According to a recent study, children that start visiting dentists earlier feel much more relaxed. If they make their first trip to the dentist’s office when they are 10 years old or older, it is very likely that they will develop fear so the sooner you can get them into the routine of visiting a dentist, the better.

Young people are spending more on their smiles than previous generations

Achieving the perfect smile is becoming more popular with younger generations. As cosmetic dentistry becomes more accessible and affordable, young people are spending more on cosmetic treatments to help improve their smiles.

While their grandparents might have thought it was too flashy to care so much about their smiles, young people today are embracing the social currency that comes from a perfect smile.

As a parent, you can help your child by encouraging good oral health habits from a young age. This can help them to grow up with whiter, brighter and healthier teeth. Simple habits like brushing twice a day and staying away from sugary food and drink can have a significant impact on your child’s teeth as they get older.

For more advice about dental care for your children, please contact us now.