Your teeth

Baby and adult teeth both need protection against decay

• Some people think that baby teeth are not important, because children will lose them anyway. It is important, however, to look after baby teeth because:
  
  
  • Decay can be painful and expensive to treat. Usually, baby teeth are not completely lost until about 10–12 years of age.
  • Baby teeth have thinner enamel (the outer coating) than adult teeth, and decay can more easily get to the middle of the tooth. This can be extremely painful, keeping the child awake at night and sometimes is not relieved by painkillers. If not treated it can lead to a painful dental abscess (containing pus) and a swollen face. A dental abscess can cause permanent damage to the adult tooth developing underneath.
  • Baby teeth guide the adult teeth (which develop underneath) into position. If the baby teeth are lost too early, for example being pulled out because of decay, the space may close up due to movement of nearby teeth––this may require orthodontic treatment later on.
  • In 2004–05 across Victoria there were almost 5,000 children under the age of 10, including 250 two-year olds, who required a general anaesthetic for treatment of their tooth decay. In the same year, in non-fluoridated areas of Victoria, three times as many people per capita required a general anaesthetic in hospital for treatment of tooth decay than in fluoridated areas.
• It is also important to look after adult teeth. As people get older the gums can recede, exposing more of the root of the tooth. Unlike the rest of the tooth, the root is not covered by enamel and is more susceptible to decay, which can be painful and difficult to treat. Water fluoridation helps protect against root surface decay in older people.

Other ways to protect your teeth

• Even if your drinking water is fluoridated, it is still important to look after your teeth through healthy eating, regular brushing, appropriate use of fluoridated toothpaste and regular dental check-ups.
• Children below the age of 18 months should have their teeth cleaned by an adult, using water and no toothpaste. A health professional, however, may recommend the use of low-fluoride children’s toothpaste for children under 18 months of age.
• Children between 18 months and five years of age (inclusive) should have their teeth cleaned by an adult, using a pea-sized amount of low-fluoride children’s toothpaste, smeared over the toothbrush. A health professional, however, may recommend the use of standard fluoride toothpaste for this age group.
• Once children reach six years of age, a standard fluoride toothpaste should be used.
• Fluoride drops and tablets do not give much (if any) extra protection, and increase the risk of dental fluorosis (mottled tooth enamel). Fluoride drops and tablets should not be used at all, whether your drinking water is fluoridated or not.
• Fluoride mouthrinses may be used by people aged six years or more, who are at higher risk of developing decay. Fluoride mouthrinses should not be a substitute for brushing with fluoridated toothpaste.
• Your dental professional may also use other fluoride treatments in the dental clinic.

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