Children usually start having their permanent teeth at around age 5–6, but there are big differences in the tooth development timeline between children, and this is perfectly normal.
The first permanent teeth to come in are the front teeth and the molars, whereby the baby teeth in the area fall out to make room for the new teeth. Between the ages of 7 and 12, the child’s mouth will contain both baby teeth and permanent teeth.
Your child should brush their teeth with fluoride toothpaste in the morning and in the evening. There is no need to rinse out the fluoride toothpaste after brushing. Spitting out any excess toothpaste is enough.
A good toothbrush is small and soft. Dentists especially recommend an electric toothbrush for children, which is more effective than a regular brush.
The teeth should be brushed systematically, ensuring that all surfaces are cleaned. The toothbrush is used to clean all surfaces of the teeth, as well as the gumlines.
The biting surfaces of new molars in particular must be brushed carefully, even if the tooth has not completely emerged yet. Emerging teeth are not yet completely ready, which is why cavities form easily on them.
You should help your child get started and check their brushing results until age 10–12. If you are not sure about the quality of your child’s brushing, you can check the result with plaque colour tablets sold at pharmacies.
Between the ages of 10 and 12, your child can switch to an adult toothbrush and start cleaning the spaces between their teeth with floss or an interdental brush.
Regular meal times maintain good oral health. A suitable number of meals per day is 5–6, including snacks.
As your child becomes more independent at school age and may get their own pocket money, snacks and treats may become more common in their everyday life. You can help your child protect their teeth by explaining the harms of eating treats and packing a suitable snack and xylitol gum or mints in their backpack.
In addition to treats, common sources of sugar include yoghurts, breakfast cereals and sugary beverages. After eating them, it is a good idea to have a xylitol mint or piece of xylitol chewing gum.
Juices, soft drinks, energy drinks, flavoured mineral waters and light beverages are harmful to the teeth. They are acidic due to carbonation, and many of them also contain lots of sugar.
The best thirst quencher is water. Milk, buttermilk or plant-based milk beverages are also suitable meal beverages.
Xylitol stops acid erosion, i.e. the so-called acid attack, and prevents tooth decay. Teach your child to take a piece of xylitol gum or a xylitol mint immediately after eating or drinking a sweetened beverage.
The recommended dosage is 1–2 mints or pieces of gum for 5–10 minutes after a meal 5–6 times a day. Studies have shown that 100% xylitol-sweetened products are the best for protecting the teeth.
Xylitol is not a substitute for brushing the teeth, but it
- stops acid erosion
- prevents tooth decay
- protects and strengthens the tooth enamel
- reduces levels of caries bacteria, streptococcus mutans
- prevents the child from contracting the caries bacterium when used regularly
- decreases the formation of plaque
- helps to prevent ear infections.
Your child will undergo age-specific oral health check-ups by a dental assistant, dentist or oral hygienist every few years. You will receive an invitation to book an appointment for your child’s age-specific oral health check-up when the time approaches.
Book the appointment yourself either via Maisa or by calling the customer service for oral health care.
If your schoolchild’s teeth need special monitoring, they may be invited for additional check-ups in addition to the age-specific check-ups.
We will monitor your child’s dental occlusion (bite) and its development at age-specific check-ups and additional appointments if necessary. If we find that your child has a harmful malocclusion (bite error), we will refer them for an assessment of the need for orthodontic treatment.
When assessing the need for orthodontic treatment, we will determine the severity of the malocclusion. Some malocclusions are treated after the first permanent teeth have come in, while others are treated during or after when the child’s height growth accelerates in the teenage years.
Orthodontic treatment is specialised dental treatment that can last several years. In order for the treatment to be successful, the child must commit to following the instructions given. If the treatment instructions are not followed, the orthodontic treatment may be wasted.
