Early Dental Care

Dental Care should start as soon as the baby teeth erupt which is usually from 6 months onwards. Finger brushing with a non-fluoride kids toothpaste is our recommendation.

Early dental visits allow the Planet team to look out for problems such as delayed eruption, defects in enamel/ dentine, early decay signs, or development of an orthodontic issue e.g. an anterior open bite due to thumb-sucking or dummies/ pacifiers.

All Planet staff agree that earlier dental visits help prevent dental anxiety in later life by bringing your young child in for a visit. This can be as simple as your child becoming comfortable with sitting in the chair and going for a ride, getting to see what the mirror, the light, and the air machine are for.  Your child will then be introduced, as they become old enough for learning, to one of our therapists to review brushing techniques and hearing the “buzzy” sounds of the slow speed drill whilst getting a polish for shining up those baby teeth!

Paying attention to providing a wholefood, nutrient-rich high variety diet to your child, offering a rainbow of foods daily with plenty of good fats and protein, whilst limiting processed carbs such as bread, pasta, and lollies will go a long way to ensuring good oral and general health. See our resources section for further information.

Researchers are now linking the oral microbiome: the bacteria in our mouth, to overall health, as well as dental health. It is no longer recommended to eradicate all the bacteria in our mouth as some are beneficial to our health. A prebiotic toothpaste may be helpful, and there are oral probiotics now available, for both adults and children designed to help reduce decay, gum disease, and halitosis (alongside a good diet and brushing technique).