Teething can be a challenging time in most households with many children experiencing discomfort with each tooth that pokes through their gums.

Did you know though, that as soon as those teeth start to come through, we need to be careful that we are looking after them. While baby teeth are a trial set, as we still have adult teeth to replace them later on, taking good care of their baby teeth will ensure that they then take good care of the adult teeth when they come through in their school years.

Is there anything you should/should not feed your child to optimise their tooth health?

Trying to ensure that your child has a well balanced diet by including a variety of foods from each food group as best as you can.

Try to delay the introduction of sugary drinks and snacks to your toddlers for as long as possible. If children have too much sugar, their teeth can become weak which can lead to the formation of cavities (holes in their teeth which can cause pain and infections).

Limit these sugary drinks:

• Soft drinks
• Cordials
• Fruit Juice
• Fruit Smoothies (non-dairy)

Limit these sugary snacks:

• Lollies/Lollypops
• Jams and Honey
• Muesli Bars
• Fruit Straps
• Dried Fruit
• Fruits tinned in syrup
• Sugary breakfast cereals
• Sweet biscuits

Make sure that your children brush their teeth (even the first little tooth) twice each day with a fluoride containing toothpaste; the amount of fluoride in the toothpaste depends on their age – check with your dentist for guidance on which toothpaste is most suitable.