It's an exciting time for both you and your little one. By the time your child is 18 months old, they will likely be comfortable with solid foods as part of their daily diet. They are also growing strong, healthy milk teeth to help with chewing and exploring new textures, and you have had the chance to introduce exciting foods from various food groups.

Related: Getting Ready for Solids

Report Card: Habits You've Built

By this time, you have probably:

  1. Transited from formula milk to full cream milk.
  2. Weaned them off the milk bottle and switched to drinking milk from a cup.
  3. Started brushing their teeth twice a day, once in the morning and, last thing at night.
  4. Weaned them off on-demand night feeds.
  5. Regularly lifted their upper lip to check for early signs of tooth decay.
  6. Made a conscious effort to discourage frequent snacking, especially on sweetened foods and beverages.
  7. Brought the little one to the dentist for their first visit.

Keep up the good work, mummy and daddy! Now, what's next?

Related: Help Your Child Smile for Life

Review That Brushing Technique

You've been brushing your child's teeth so much you probably feel like a pro, but here's a quick reminder how best to brush:

  1. Use a toothbrush with soft bristles that's gentle on the gums and a small head that fits comfortably into your child's small mouth.
  2. Brush all surfaces of the teeth—chewing, inner, and outer. Be sure to brush at the gumline.
  3. Brush twice a day, once in the morning after your baby wakes, and another time just before he goes to bed, after the last meal/milk feed.

Related: Baby's Here: What to Expect Now

Related Video: Parents’ Guide to Toothbrushing for Children ages 0-2 years old.

Is It Time for Toothpaste?

 

Fluoride in toothpaste protects your child's teeth from tooth decay by strengthening it. Fluoridated toothpaste containing at least 1000ppm fluoride prevents tooth decay. However, children can get fluorosis on permanent teeth from swallowing too much fluoride toothpaste. Fluorosis results in a change in colour or texture of the teeth.

To prevent fluorosis, dispense an appropriate amount of toothpaste according to your child's age and supervise their brushing to ensure your child does not swallow the toothpaste.

For children below 3 years old who are unable to spit, use only a smear amount (size of a rice grain) of 1000ppm fluoride (F) toothpaste. For children 3 years old and above, who are less likely to swallow toothpaste, use a pea sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste. At your child's first dental visit, the dentist can make the appropriate recommendation for toothpaste.

After Brushing Comes Flossing and Rinsing, Right?

 

As a general guide, your child's teeth needs to be flossed once they come into contact with each other. Flossing has to be done by an adult as a child wouldn't be able to do so on his own. Try using a pre-threaded floss pick if you are uncomfortable with using string floss.

 

Mouthwash should not be used by children under the age of six, especially if it contains alcohol.

Related: Baby's Here: What to Expect Now

Related Video: Related Parents’ Guide to Toothbrushing and Flossing for Children ages 3-6 years old.

Don't Forget About the Diet

A proper diet not only helps your child grow up strong and healthy, it can also prevent tooth decay. Mums and dads should avoid giving their little one anything that is high in sugar for as long as possible—these include candies and biscuits with cream or chocolate fillings. Treats like raisins and other dried fruits are also high in sugar and can cause tooth decay—especially since they stick to the grooves of teeth.

Offer fresh cut fruit or veggies instead: apple and pear slices, carrot or celery sticks are all good options. Other tooth-friendly snacks include cheese and nuts.

As frequent snacking can increase your child's risk for tooth decay, do keep to 3 main meals and at most 2 snacks a day. That's the best way to get your child's teeth to a strong healthy start!

Related: Guilt-free Healthier Snacks For Kids

Milk and water's your best bet

Make water the go-to drink for your child once they have transitioned to solid foods. It is generally recommended that you avoid giving your child juice and other sugary drinks (e.g. soft drinks, flavoured milk, malt and chocolate drinks), though you may choose to offer them occasionally. In such instances, do consider choosing plain milk or other low sugar options and offer these treats together with meals. Frequent consumption of sugary drinks throughout the day can increase one's risk of tooth decay.

 

Most importantly, avoid letting your child go to bed with a bottle of formula milk, as the sugary liquid can pool around their front teeth and lead to tooth decay. If a nighttime milk feed is needed, encourage your child to drink from a cup instead, and make it a habit to brush their teeth right afterward, just before bed. 

Related: The Essentials of Bottle-Feeding

Remember: Milk Teeth Are Important Too!

It's a common misconception that since milk teeth fall out, it's not that important to take proper care of them. Tooth decay in milk teeth can, in fact, affect the underlying developing permanent tooth. And a baby tooth falling out before its time may also cause misalignment of adult teeth.

So make sure to instil proper dental care as part of your child's daily routine as early as possible because your child needs strong, healthy teeth in order to chew, speak, and of course, smile confidently.

Visit Parent Hub, for more useful tips and guides to give your child a healthy start.

Download the HealthHub app on Google Play or Apple Store to access more health and wellness advice at your fingertips.

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References:

  1. Joel Berg. When Should My Child Start Flossing?. Retrieved November 2018 from https://www.babycenter.com/404_when-should-my-child-start-flossing_1492887.bc
  2. When Should My Child Start Flossing Her Teeth?. Retrieved November 2018 from https://www.parents.com/advice/big-kids/hygiene/when-should-my-child-start-flossing-her-teeth/
  3. How Do I Care for My Infant's Teeth?. Retrieved November 2018 from https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/life-stages/infant-oral-care/how-do-i-care-for-my-infants-teeth
  4. Should Parents Let Their Kids Use Mouthwash?. (2014, August 15). Retrieved November 2018 from https://mustlovekids.com/parents-let-kids-use-mouthwash/
  5. How Do I Care for My Toddler's Teeth?. Retrieved November 2018 https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/life-stages/childrens-oral-care/how-do-i-care-for-my-toddlers-teeth
  6. Caring for Your Child's Teeth. (2015, July). Retrieved November 2018 from https://www.babycentre.co.uk/a539851/caring-for-your-childs-teeth
  7. Should Children Use Mouthwash and at What Age?. (2017, October 13). [Blog]. Retrieved November 2018 from https://smilezpediatricdentalgroup.com/should-children-use-mouthwash-and-at-what-age/
  8. Wendy C. Fries. (2010, October 28). Dental Health Care: Tots, Tweens, and Teens. Retrieved November 2018 from https://www.webmd.com/children/features/dental-health-care-tots-tweens-teens
  9. Renee A. Alli, MD. (2018, September 8). Brushing and Flossing Children's Teeth. Retrieved November 2018 from https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/brushing-flossing-child-teeth#1
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