BSPD launches new guide to help parents care for children’s teeth

The British Society of Paediatric Dentistry (BSPD) has announced the launch of a new guide to help parents take better care of their children's teeth.

The guide covers all aspects of oral healthcare for children from birth to age 16, addressing some of the most common and damaging myths about oral care to help parents establish positive dental health habits for their children at an early age.

For example, it aims to put to rest the misconception that decay in baby teeth does not matter, as well as emphasising the need to ensure children are taken for dental check-ups as soon as their teeth come through.

Currently, one in eight three-year-old children already has signs of obvious dental decay, so waiting until they reach school age before seeing a dentist is leaving it too late.

Claire Stevens, media spokesperson for the BSPD, said: "We would strongly encourage all parents to ensure that their child is taken for a dental check as soon as their teeth come through and certainly before their first birthday. This allows families to get preventive advice before problems occur."

Dental decay is one of the most common reasons for a child to be admitted to a hospital in the UK, leading many in the sector to call for a greater emphasis on prevention rather than treatment.