Schools out and the kids are ruling the roost! As parents, we know how sometimes you just need to keep our little darlings quiet for just a moment. We reach for a sugary treat be it a lolly, a biscuit or chocolate bar. It’s easy to slip into bad habits over the summer. But here are our top 3 ways to keep ahead and keep the kid’s teeth decay-free this summer.
1) Don’t forget to brush!
During the school holidays, your regular routines can slip and things you would usually do are easily forgotten. But please don’t let toothbrushing slip. Brushing your teeth last thing before bed and at one other time during the day with fluoride toothpaste is one of the best ways to prevent dental problems for your children.
2) Don’t snack all day!
Give your kids food at the right time so they have all the three essential meals and fall to snacks and in-between meals less often. Hunger can often be a reason for falling to sugary treats so a good way to combat it and help them avoid sugar is to give them full balanced meals at meal-times.
Also, avoid frequent sipping on juice or pop. This can be disastrous when it comes to their teeth. It doesn’t allow the ph of the mouth to stabilise meaning their little teeth are under constant attack. Encourage sipping of water through the day and if the juice is a must then limit to mealtimes.
3) Don’t reward them with sweets!
This is an easy trap for many to fall into. Sweet treats used to be just that – treats! Treats would maybe be a weekly thing. It has now turned into a daily ritual. Consider treats that you or relatives could replace for the sugary ones.
The warmer months and laid back days can mean frequent sipping on juice or pop. This is a disaster when it comes to their teeth. It doesn’t allow the ph of the mouth to stabilise putting the teeth under constant attack. Encourage sipping of water through the day and if the juice is a must then limit to mealtimes only.
Sadly Leicester children have the worst teeth in the UK according to an NHS survey. Twelve-year-old children in Leicester have the highest rate of tooth decay in England. The latest figures found 45.3% of 12-year-old children in the city have experienced tooth decay, compared to an England average of 17.5% in 2008/09.
If your child needs a dental health check-up then please take a look at our children’s services here
