Kids Questions Answered
Why are sweets bad for my teeth?
Sweets have a lot of sugar in them. Bacteria in your mouth like sugar and they turn it into acid. This attacks the hard coating (enamel) of your teeth and can make a hole in it. The hole may get bigger and start to hurt, which is not very nice. The dentist would need to put a filling into the tooth to make it better.
Why do my baby teeth fall out?
Baby teeth are very small and wear away quite fast. As you grow bigger your second (adult) teeth are needed to replace them. The second teeth grow and slowly push out the baby teeth. This starts to happen when you are around 6, and usually finishes by 12 or 13.
Why should I brush my teeth?
You need to brush your teeth to remove bacteria from your teeth. Bacteria stick to your teeth in a sticky film called plaque. The bacteria make acid from sugars that you eat and drink, which can make holes in your teeth. It may also make your gums sore and bleed when you brush your teeth. Also you may have nasty breath that smells bad if you don't brush your teeth - Yuck!!
Does it hurt?
Coming to the dentist doesn't hurt, especially if you come and see us regularly and look after your teeth well at home. The dentist will have a look at your teeth, he may clean them if they are a bit dirty and show you how to clean them better. If there is a hole he may need to fill it, but he uses a special liquid called a local anaesthetic . This stops it being uncomfortable.
How long will it take?
Normally your appointments will be quite short - maybe 10 or 20 minutes. Think of an analogy, like same time as watching two of your favourite cartoons.
