A healthy smile ....

As a mother of two under 5, I know how tough it can be to do the best for your children, in all areas of their upbringing, all of the time. I am human and not perfect! In terms of being healthy, children will nearly always choose and want the unhealthy options and after endless whining and tantrums it's easy to give in (sometimes). I don't like to go overboard on either sugar or artificial sweeteners but a little of each won't do any harm.
Sitting in the dentist waiting room last week, I read an article by the Children's Dental Practice stating that tooth decay is caused, simply, by sugar. Surely that's just common sense isn't it? But with lots of hidden sugars in things which we think are healthy, fruit juice for example, we as parents can often be guilty. The best and simplest way to prevent tooth decay is by limiting the amount of sugar your child has. Here is some good practical advise which the article shared with it's readers:
1. Clean your child's teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste as soon as first teeth appear
2. Use a natural fibre toothbrush to start with (Mamissima stocks natural fibre toothbrushes)
3. Ensure sure the level of fluoride is at least 1000pm up to 3 years and 1450-1500 over 3 years of age.
4. Children should spit out, but not rinse
5. Keep sweets, cakes, chocolate as treats and avoid sugary drinks
6. Avoid fizzy drinks!
7. Be aware of hidden sugars in things like ketchup, baked beans, Nutella - dried fruits such as raisins contain natural sugar in a concentrated form, plus the sticky texture is very bad for teeth!
8. Fruit juices should only be given once a day
9. Offer children nothing but water after brushing their teeth at bedtime
10. Never give baby a sugary drink in the bottle