Good dental health from the first tooth

The protrusion of the first milk tooth marks a new stage in the child's development. It is important to early create good habits for diet and dental health.

Tooth protrusion

As a rule, the incisors of the lower jaw break forward first. It usually occurs when the child is 6—8 months. Next come the incisors of the upper jaw, the foremost molars, the canines and finally the posterior molars. The child will have received all the milk teeth, 10 up and 10 down, by the age of 3. It is common for children to scratch their grooms when their teeth break out, and they like to put things in their mouths. Then give them a suitable bite of hard rubber or plastic, but without sharp edges. Some children become restless and may experience some discomfort from tooth protrusion.

Toothbrush

Brushing your child's teeth should start as soon as the first tooth is visible in the mouth. Use a small soft toothbrush and barely visible amount of fluoride toothpaste. Baby toothpaste can be an advantage since it has a milder taste. The amount of fluoride toothpaste is increased to an amount equivalent to the child's little fingernail at 1 year of age and to a pea-sized amount at 3 years of age. At 5-6 years of age, the amount can be further increased. Recommendations from the Directorate of Health are that the child should be given help until the child can perform the dental cleaning well enough by himself, around the age of 10.

The fluoride toothpaste needs time to act, therefore avoid food and drinks up to an hour after brushing your teeth. If you do not use fluoride toothpaste or the child needs additional fluoride, the alternative may be fluoride tablets. Follow the advice you get at the health center or dental clinic.

Caries

Sugar is the cause of holes (caries) in the teeth. When the child eats or drinks something that contains sugar, the bacteria in the mouth will produce acid that can dissolve the enamel and can lead to holes. It is therefore about how often the child eats or drinks something sweet. The saliva neutralizes the acid after each meal. Therefore, it is important not to eat or drink anything sugary between meals, especially at night when little saliva is produced.

Breastfeeding

Breast milk contains milk sugar which can be converted to acid to some extent. Saliva production decreases at night, and it somewhat increases the risk of cavities in the teeth. Research shows that frequent breastfeeding or bottled milk at night should therefore be avoided after the child reaches the age of one year, since then one will have an increased risk of caries.

Tooth position

Sucking on the thumb or a pacifier gives a small child good comfort. The sucking habit can cause misalignment of teeth and bite defects, but as a rule, the teeth will come into place on their own if the child stops sucking on the pretty/thumb before tooth decay.

Injuries

A fall or blow to the mouth can damage one or more teeth. It is therefore important to contact the nearest dental clinic to have the injury register and for proper follow-up care.

Organization of dental services

The Public Dental Service is in charge of providing services to children and adolescents from 0 to 18 years of age. The children are called in for a dental check-up at the dental clinic the year they turn 3 years old. Before that, the health center will monitor the child's dental health and habits. You will be referred by a health nurse/doctor at the health centre, if the child needs to be examined at a dental clinic before the regular call.

Please contact your nearest public dental clinic for more information.