The best way to protect your child’s teeth from decay is by taking good care of them at home.
Get your child used to taking care of their teeth from an early age and set a good example. Your child will quickly learn that brushing their teeth every morning and evening is part of their daily routine.
Teething
A child's teeth will erupt at an individual pace. The first milk teeth usually appear at around the age of six months. You cannot influence when teeth will come through.
Children have a total of 20 milk teeth, which erupt within the first three years of their lives.
Eruption of permanent teeth
The milk teeth start to wobble at around 5–6 years of age, when the first transition phase begins. Often a new, permanent tooth erupts in front of or behind the milk tooth. Don't worry, the permanent tooth will gradually move to the right place.
The first teeth to be replaced are usually the lower central incisors (the front teeth on the lower jaw). At almost the same time, the first permanent back teeth may begin to erupt behind the last milk teeth.
The erupting teeth are not yet fully formed, which is why they are prone to cavities. It is important that you brush the biting surface of new molars carefully, even if the tooth is not yet completely visible. An electric toothbrush can make it easier to clean erupting teeth.
You can remove a loose milk tooth yourself
Tooth replacement is a normal stage of development. Nevertheless, a wobbly milk tooth can still be a nuisance for your child.
Individual milk teeth come loose slowly. When a milk tooth is very wobbly, only the visible crown remains, because the permanent tooth has ‘eaten away’ the root of the milk tooth as it grows.
You can reassure and praise your child. Tell them that they have become a big kid and that a new tooth will soon grow in their mouth.
You can wiggle the loose tooth if you wish. When the tooth is wiggly enough, offer to help, encourage and urge the child to pull it out themselves.
You can grab the wobbly tooth with a piece of paper towel and roll it out, for example. There is usually very little bleeding from the gum, so the child can eat and drink normally after the removal.
If you are unable to remove the tooth at home, or there are other symptoms after removal, please contact your dental care provider.
Help your child clean their teeth until they are 10–12 years old. Brush your child’s teeth with them every morning and evening. Brush systematically to clean all surfaces. Clean the outer surfaces of the upper and lower teeth, the inner surfaces, the biting surfaces and the gumline.
Make sure you can see into the child's mouth. The easiest way to do this is when the child is sitting on your lap and leaning against your chest or lying down.
The biting surfaces of new molars in particular should be brushed carefully, even if the tooth is not completely visible yet. Erupting teeth are not yet completely ready, which is why cavities form easily on them.
A good toothbrush is small and soft. It is also recommended that children use an electric toothbrush to clean their teeth more effectively.
10 tips for brushing children’s teeth
- You as the parent are responsible for looking after your child’s teeth. Brush the teeth, even if your child doesn't feel like it. Your child needs your support and determination.
- Many children benefit from routines. Make brushing the teeth every morning and evening part of a regular and safe daily routine.
- Brush your teeth together in the morning. This will set a good example for your child.
- Let your child make small choices: which toothpaste to use and which tooth to start with.
- Choose a place to brush that suits you both. You do not always have to brush their teeth in the bathroom.
- Let your child practise so that their motor skills in their hands develop. Afterwards, brush the teeth to make sure they’re clean.
- Praise your child even when things don't go as expected.
- Use your imagination – a game, song or story will make cleaning the teeth interesting. For example, you can hunt for tooth trolls or time the brushing with a timer.
- Reward them with a game or stickers, for example.
- Teach your child to feel what a clean and fresh mouth feels like. Over time, they will learn to appreciate a clean and healthy mouth.
Fluoride repairs damage to and strengthens tooth enamel.
Your child will get a sufficient amount of fluoride by brushing their teeth regularly and using the fluoride toothpaste that is recommended for their age.
Switch from the special toothpaste for young children to a toothpaste with larger fluoride concentration when your child's first permanent teeth erupt. If necessary, we may recommend additional fluoride for your child at a dental visit.
You don't have to rinse the toothpaste from the mouth after brushing. It is enough for the child to spit out the excess paste once they learn to spit. Younger children often cannot spit out the toothpaste. It is therefore important to follow the instructions on how much fluoride toothpaste to use.
Regular meal times maintain good oral health. A suitable number of meals per day is 5–6, including snacks.
We recommend introducing treats to your child as late as possible. When the family enjoys sweets, try to do so immediately after a meal – rather than, for example, having a separate “candy day.”
In addition to treats, common sources of sugar include sweetened yoghurts, juices and cocoa drinks, as well as breakfast cereals. Many typical snack foods, such as corn snacks and raisins, cause a prolonged acid attack. After eating them, it is a good idea to have a xylitol mint or piece of xylitol chewing gum.
Get your child into the habit of drinking water – water is the best drink for thirst. Juices, soft drinks, flavoured mineral waters and light drinks are harmful to the teeth. They are acidic due to carbonation, and many of them also contain lots of sugar.
Note also that prolonged and frequent breastfeeding at night increases the risk of decay of baby teeth. If you breastfeed your child for a long time, pay special attention to taking good care of their teeth.
Offer your child a xylitol chewing gum or a xylitol mint after a meal. Xylitol helps stop acid attacks and can prevent tooth decay.
Start with small daily amounts of xylitol, as it can cause stomach ache. You can give a small child mints. When your child learns to chew gum without swallowing, you can move on to xylitol chewing gum. Where possible, use full-xylitol products.
The recommended dosage is 1–2 mints or pieces of gum for 5–10 minutes after a meal 5–6 times a day.
A piece of xylitol chewing gum does not replace teeth brushing, but it
- is a healthy alternative to sweets
- stops acid erosion
- prevents tooth decay
- protects and strengthens the tooth enamel
- reduces levels of caries bacteria, streptococcus mutans
- used regularly, prevents the child from contracting the caries bacterium
- decreases the formation of plaque
- helps to prevent ear infections.
Your child will undergo age-specific oral and dental health check-ups by a dentist or oral hygienist every few years. You will receive an invitation to book an appointment for the age-specific oral health check-ups when the time approaches.
Book the appointment yourself either via Maisa or by calling the dental care client service.
If your child’s teeth need special monitoring, they may be invited for additional check-ups in addition to the age-specific ones.
Book an appointment via Maisa (Link leads to external service)
Customer service for oral health care +358 (0)9 310 51 400 (Link starts a phone call)
