Frequently Asked Questions

Injuries to a baby tooth can vary, from those of minor concern, to severe injuries involving avulsion or severe displacement of the tooth. The more severe the injury, the more likely it can cause damage to the developing adult tooth.The younger the patient the greater the risk of injury to the permanent tooth. Any damage to the adult tooth is only visible after it erupts.

We generally recommend that children have check-up visits every six months. This will allow your Paediatric Dentist to track their dental development, and treat them accordingly at that phase of development.

We see all children up to the age of 18.

We first check the teeth and gums of your child to see if there is any plaque, tartar or hidden gum disease. Depending on your child’s oral health and dental history, an x-ray may be required to detect bigger issues, such as decay, fractures, teeth grinding, teeth alignment and abnormalities below the visible gum line. Following this, we will provide potential treatment options and plans to achieve the best outcome for your child.

An abscessed tooth can have symptoms such as throbbing pain, pain with eating, sensitivity to hot and cold, a bad taste or/and smell in the mouth. The gum adjacent to the tooth can be swollen and there is often a gum boil adjacent to the tooth. Sleep disturbance is often diagnostic of a dental abscess. Other symptoms include fever, swollen cheeks or jaw.

ECC is a serious dental disease leading to multiple cavities of children’s teeth before the age of 3. This disease can affect speech, eating and chewing, and if left untreated can lead to pain and infection.

This condition often occurs due to inappropriate feeding habits. The literature indicates unusual and prolonged breast-feeding habits, excessive bottle feeding with a sugary substrate, honey on the dummy and a diet high in sugary foods are aetiological factors.

During sleep, prolonged exposure of teeth to a sweet substrate can lead to rapid development of tooth decay, a hallmark of ECC.

If your child must have a bottle at naptime or bedtime, it is recommended that it contains 100% water.

“Chalky” teeth appear as creamy yellow-brown or opaque white areas on tooth enamel. They can be small areas or affect the whole tooth surface. Back teeth are more commonly affected than front teeth.

“Chalky” teeth are hypomineralized, and are usually weaker and have a higher risk of tooth decay. Hypomineralized permanent teeth pose a restorative challenge and often involve multidisciplinary treatment planning. You can find more information about Chalky Teeth here.

Start cleaning your baby’s teeth as soon as the first tooth erupts.

Get your baby used to having their mouth cleaned early on by wiping the gums with a gauze or wet washcloth. This can lead to better cooperation when a toothbrush is introduced.

Use a small, soft toothbrush with plain water twice a day, in the morning and before bed at night. A small smear of fluoridated toothpaste can be introduced at 18 months. You should also start gently flossing if the teeth have tight contacts.

Check the young child’s teeth after they have a go at brushing themselves to make sure it's cleaned well. Adults need to supervise a child’s tooth brushing until at least 8 years of age.

It is advised that the child’s first visit can be when they turn one, or when their first tooth erupts. This early exposure can set the good standard for the years to come.

As soon as teeth erupt, they are at risk of decay. It is important to understand the caries contributing factors and various ways to protect the teeth from early on.