When it comes to children’s teeth, prevention is everything, but most of us aren’t sure when to start brushing, when to book that first dentist visit, or what hidden habits can actually harm little teeth (yes, even sparkling water and bottles of milk at bedtime!). With vital dental services so hard to come by, who better to ask for advice than Rebecca O’Mahony, a dental expert and hygienist with 20 years experience, known as the_tooth_scoop on Instagram. Passionate about prevention in dental care, the mum of two young boys under eight shares the most common mistakes she sees, along with simple, practical tips parents can use to keep their children’s smiles healthy and pain-free.
When asked, “When to start brushing a child’s teeth?” Rebecca replies, “Honestly, so many parents have no idea, and it doesn’t even have to start with a toothbrush! You can just wipe the baby’s teeth with a little cloth at first. And it’s not just about brushing, things like bedtime bottles, fruit juices, even sparkling water can really damage little teeth if you’re not careful.”
She continues, “Parents make simple mistakes all the time without realizing it. And with public dental services stretched beyond capacity, and private clinics often fully booked, a lot of the preventative care now falls to parents. I want parents to know what’s normal, what’s risky, and what they can do before their child ends up in pain.”
“When it comes to seeing a dentist,” she says, “it really depends on the child, but by their first birthday they should go if possible. Some children simply physically can’t go at that age, some parents can’t afford it, and some simply don’t know how to go about it. And getting an appointment can be a nightmare. If you can get an appointment, remember the dentist at this stage isn’t there to judge you, they’re just checking the jawline, making sure teeth are developing, and looking for things like tongue tie. That’s it. They’re not going to be asking if you’re brushing twice a day.”
Rebecca continues, “Under the dental act, all children under sixteen are entitled to see a dentist, but that just isn’t happening. I feel very strongly about this and have spoken out about it on my instagram. I have seen lots of kids, during the summer aged around 11 or 12 and when I enquired none of them had been called to see what we called the ‘school dentist.’ I grew up in the 90s, and back then we were always seen, and any treatment we needed came through that system. Now, the HSE is so understaffed that kids aren’t seen until problems have already started. One parent told me her child wouldn’t be seen unless he was in pain, so many children could avoid unnecessary pain and decay.”
Rebecca shares a personal story: “My oldest son was born with hypomineralisation, so his back molars don’t have proper enamel, they’re brown and crumbly. He’s not in pain, and it’s not decay, it’s just how the tooth was born. It could’ve been from antibiotics I took while pregnant. If I hadn’t been monitoring his teeth, he could’ve been in absolute agony. Early check-ups are so important and that’s why they should be accessible to all children”
She explains, “Brushing should start as soon as the first tooth comes through, usually around six months. A simple trick is using a little muslin cloth, wet it, and wipe the teeth, babies can benefit from that feeling on their gums. Then introduce a tiny toothbrush, let them play with it, put it in their mouth, get used to it. Toothpaste isn’t necessary until they’re aged two because babies don’t have the spit reflex, so the child would just end up eating the tooth paste.
Rebecca makes it clear she’s not judging any parent and isn’t a fan of parenting rule books, but she does recommend trying to steer clear of bedtime bottles.: “The sugars in milk or juices sit on teeth all night” she explained.
She also points out the issues that can come from using dummies“ I advise people to be mindful that they can push the top six teeth forward and the bottom ones back, causing an overbite. Both of mine had dummies. My eldest gave it up around 18 months ago, but now he sucks his thumb, which drives me mad because you can’t exactly throw a thumb away” she laughs. “If you can, try to wean the baby off the dummy by 18 months to 2 years. One trick is poking tiny holes so they don’t enjoy it as much. ”
When asked about fruit juices she responds, “Fruit juices are just as bad as fizzy drinks, acid changes the pH in the mouth and makes teeth prone to decay. Water should be the go-to drink, but not all water is equal, fizzy water can cause problems. The bubbles have carbon dioxide, which is acidic and damages teeth, and that goes for adults too.”
On teeth grinding, she advises: “It’s often caused by stress. Adults can get night guards, but you’d be a bit slow to give a child one because their mouth is changing and you don’t want to restrict their growth. Sometimes a little cheek massage before bed helps relax the muscles.”
Flossing comes next: “I recommend starting when the two teeth touch. If there are gaps, the toothbrush can do the job, it’s better to concentrate on brushing until they have it 110% right. I recommend sticking to manual brushes for young kids so they develop dexterity. If the child doesn’t have manual dexterity and an electric is the only thing that can be used that is fine. Electric toothbrushes are usually best introduced at around age 12.”
“The biggest mistake I see,” Rebecca says, “is when kids want to brush themselves around six or seven, but they miss the back teeth. I recommend co-brushing until about age 8. A fun trick is letting the child ‘check’ after you’ve brushed. It keeps them involved while making sure nothing is missed and it also lets them feel that they are in charge! ”
Finally, she stresses, “Children should have a dental check-up every year. If they need help with hygiene or cleaning, they’ll be referred to us.( dental hygienists) We also do fissure sealants once their adult teeth come up to prevent decay. They can last a lifetime, but it depends on things like a strong bite or sticky foods. Hygiene and these preventative treatments are key to keeping kids’ teeth healthy and pain free.”
Rebecca O’ Mahony on instagram @the_tooth_scoop
