TV dentist shares tips for parents to keep their kids’ smiles in check

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A leading TV dentist has shared some useful tips and tricks to help parents keep their children’s smiles in check.

Dr Guy Barwell shared his secrets to urge parents to monitor their children’s oral health and encourage them to adopt healthy habits at home. With tooth decay the most common reason for hospital admission among youngsters in the UK, Dr Barwell, along with dental professionals all over the country, is advising parents to introduce preventative measures and take an interest in oral health.

Brushing is incredibly important for children, even those who still have their baby teeth. Although the milk teeth are designed to fall out, it’s beneficial to promote healthy oral hygiene habits from an early age. Decay can cause pain and increase the risk of abscesses, and it can also cause the milk teeth to fall out prematurely, which can have a negative impact on the development of the adult teeth. Dr Barwell recommends supervising brushing twice a day for young children and encouraging the use of battery-powered brushes, which are more powerful. To get kids interested in brushing, you can buy flavoured toothpastes and brushes that feature pictures of popular TV and film characters.

Dr Barwell is also keen to stress the importance of eating well. Excessive sugar consumption is a major contributing factor to high rates of childhood decay and obesity. Making simple swaps and cutting out sugary snacks and drinks can help to reduce consumption dramatically. Dr Barwell suggests swapping sugary pop, juices and fizzy drinks for water and sugar-free cordial and limiting the intake of sweets, biscuits, cakes and chocolate bars. These foods should be treats that children eat once or twice a week, rather than every day.

Another important preventative measure is attending regular dental checks. Children should see their dentist every 6 months from the age of 1. NHS dental care is free of charge for children.

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