Seven tips to keep kids’ teeth whiter than snow this Christmas

However, this overindulgence can have significant long-term consequences for our oral health, something that is particularly true for children where a combination of a high-sugar diet and ineffective cleaning can lead to a smile that would leave even the Grinch dismayed.

So how can we keep our little ones’ pearly whites sparkling in the face of an onslaught of soft drinks and candy canes? Catherine McCann is a Clinical Lecturer in Paediatric Dentistry at the University of Dundee, where the School of Dentistry has been named best in the UK for two consecutive years by the Complete University Guide. Here she shares her top tips to ensure that your child’s teeth are kept so bright that they could even guide Santa’s sleigh.

1: “Keep your routine. Christmas can be a busy time for a family. There are parties, school and community events, and all sorts of festivities that can disrupt the flow of everyday life.

“However, when it comes to keeping your teeth healthy, routine is crucial and this is particularly true for children. Brushing a baby or toddler’s teeth can be challenging at the best of times but try to keep some normality at bedtime so that this crucial step isn’t overlooked.

“For younger children, a method we recommend is the “baby burrito,” where a little one is wrapped up snuggly in a towel after their bath to allow their teeth to be brushed. Not only does the towel help your child feel safe and warm, but it also gives the parent an element of control when things start to get wriggly!”

2: “Like a volcano, never ignore an eruption. As soon as you see a tooth break through a baby’s gums then make sure you brush it, using a smear of fluoride toothpaste. Even though it may be hard to distinguish an emerging tooth from the gum, any exposed part is just as vulnerable to bacteria as a tooth that is fully established, so should be treated in the same way. Keep an eye out for new teeth breaking through at the back of the mouth, and make sure to get the brush at the right angle to clean these new additions.”

3: “Gums are the foundations of good teeth. Cleaning our gums is as integral to our oral health as brushing our teeth. Given that children don’t always make brushing their teeth particularly easy, parents can overlook the need to ensure their young ones’ gums are given the same attention as the teeth.”

4: “Preparation is everything. As adults we think nothing of popping a blob of toothpaste on our brushes and cracking on. With children this is not so simple.

“After applying toothpaste to the brush, squeeze it down into the bristles. Doing this means that the paste is evenly distributed throughout the mouth when brushing. This also prevents the toothpaste from being sucked away and swallowed by your child when brushing.

“It is also worthwhile ensuring that you are using the correct concentration of fluoride in your child’s toothpaste. This should be at least 1000 parts per million (ppm), increasing to 1450ppm for older children.”

5: “Spit don’t rinse. This is a common mistake made by many adults, but there is no need to rinse your mouth with water after brushing. Doing so removes the fluoride that you have just put in your mouth to protect your teeth. Avoid letting your child rinse or drink immediately after brushing, they can just spit out the toothpaste foam and leave the fluoride to do its job!”

6. “Healthy teeth are made in the bathroom, and the kitchen. We have shared advice about toothbrushing, but this goes hand in hand with being careful with your child’s food and drinks. The safest drinks for our teeth are plain dairy milk and plain water. Safer snacks for teeth include breadsticks, oatcakes, cheese, fresh fruit, carrots and peppers. Be careful with foods containing hidden sugars, such as some breakfast cereals, yoghurts and tomato ketchup. Minimise grazing, keeping to dedicated meal and snacks times – this gives teeth a chance to recover in between.”

7: “The sun should never set on two things: an argument and an unbrushed mouth. Brushing their mouth for two minutes before bedtime is one of the most important things you can do for your child’s teeth. That is, of course, in addition to two minutes brushing in the morning. Cleaning our teeth and removing bacteria is integral to long-lasting, good oral health. The habits we instil in our children at an early age set them on the best path, hopefully leading to a lifetime of healthy teeth where they smile going into the dentist and are still smiling on the way out.”