Dr Sonia Ali of award-winning Westbourne Grove Dental shares some tip-top advice and lifts the lid on a fair few myths when it comes to looking after your child’s teeth. Here she reveals her oh-so-brilliant way to win over her littlest patients, how fluoride is key and why brushing straight after eating isn’t actually your best bet. Who knew?
Top 10 Questions
- How come my child has cavities despite brushing well?
This is probably the #1 question mums ask me! The simple answer is “sugar and acid”: too much too often is what causes decay, as teeth are hit by a 30-minute acid attack immediately after eating or drinking anything. Remember: it’s not the amount of sugar and acid, it’s the total number of sugar and acid hits per day – too many and they’ll end up with cavities.
- Should I use fluoride toothpaste?
Yes, it should be top of your list. If your child’s under 3, use a smear of toothpaste with at least 1000ppm (parts per million) of fluoride or a pea-sized amount of 1350-1500ppm for over-3s. Get them to spit out – but not rinse – the toothpaste afterwards so the fluoride can keep protecting for longer. And beware of ‘organic’ or ‘healthy-sounding’ pastes – they typically don’t contain fluoride. Sorry.
- What sort of toothbrush should I get my child?
Find one with a small head – half the size of your child’s thumb is a good guide – plus soft nylon bristles. Once most of their 20 baby teeth have come through, ideally switch to an electric brush: 1) The timer ensures they brush for long enough and 2) There’s less chance they’ll wear away their precious enamel and gums by being too keen, letting the brush do the work instead. Look for the Oral Health Foundation logo.
- Any tips for brushing?
Sounds odd, but ideally brush for 2 minutes before – rather than straight after – breakfast plus at least 30 minutes after eating at bedtime. Do one section at a time, using small circular movements to brush down to the gums, not forgetting the backs of the teeth. For under-3s, stand or sit behind them, cradling their chin in your hand to reach their top and bottom teeth. Supervise brushing up to the age of 7…plus any time they’ve had lots of sweets.
- What’s your advice about sweet treats?
Believe it or not, rather than letting your child have a few sweets every day, it’s better for their teeth for them to eat chocolate and sweets in one big-ish hit. I know! Grazing on sweets simply leaves their teeth constantly under attack. Instead, choose a ‘Treat Day’ so the massive sugar and acid attack on their teeth is more contained, avoiding repeated hits across the day or week.
- How else can I help prevent tooth decay?
Confine sugary or acidic things to mealtimes, avoiding them altogether just before bedtime, including hot chocolate. Watch out for ‘hidden’ sugars, including in savoury items (if it ends in ‘-ose’, it’s sugar!) and beware of natural things that are less teeth-friendly than you’d think: raisins can stick to teeth and are high in sugar, so too are grapes and fruit juices as well as being quite acidic into the bargain.
- Anything else I could do?
Yes, for added enamel protection, you can bring your child in for a twice-yearly fluoride treatment which involves painting a fluoride-based protective layer onto each tooth. Here at Westbourne Grove, we’re proud to have been among the very first private practices in London to offer this fluoride treatment for free to our registered younger patients as part of their routine check-ups. Protecting your child’s teeth is our number one priority, too!
- What are some teeth-friendly snacks or drinks?
Things that are low in sugar (both natural and added) and acid. So, maybe try cheese cubes, veg sticks, like carrot or cucumber, rice cakes and breadsticks. When it comes to drinks, ideally dilute fruit juices and use a straw. Avoid fizzy drinks, including diet drinks and flavoured waters – they may have no added sugar but can still be very acidic. Drinking water or milk straight after anything sugary or acidic is a great cheat.
- What causes toothache in children?
It’s no surprise that the number one cause is tooth decay, affecting a whopping 1 in 4 of 5 year-olds in England in 2019 according to Public Health England…and yet it’s almost entirely preventable. But what many parents don’t realise is what causes the most damage is how often sweet or acidic things are consumed – rather than the sheer quantity – leaving teeth under repeated attack.
- When should I take my child to the dentist?
Bring your child along with you to your own check-ups as early as possible to get them used to the sights, sounds and smells – the sooner they come in, the more relaxed they’ll be when it’s their turn, usually from about 6 months, once their first few teeth start coming through. My trick is to give the child their very own dental mirror so they can check my teeth and their parents’ – it’s a game changer!
The Dr Sonia Scoop:
- Brush before – not immediately after – breakfast.
- Spit toothpaste – but don’t rinse – after brushing.
- It’s not the amount of sugar or acid consumed – it’s the frequency.
- Brushing straight after eating can do more harm than good.
- Raisins, grapes and juices are less teeth-friendly than they look.
Dr Sonia Ali is Practice Owner and Principal Dentist of Westbourne Grove Dental and has built her reputation by word-of-mouth thanks to her ability to achieve natural-looking results through minimally invasive dental and facial treatments. She and her lovely team of handpicked superstars live by one central ethos: “We’re not happy unless our patients are happy!”
Westbourne Grove Dental • 18 Chepstow Corner • Pembridge Villas • W2 4XE • 020 7229 1730
