8 ways well-meaning parents might be inadvertently harming their children’s teeth

We know every parent only wants the best for their children’s health and wellbeing. We also understand that it’s not always easy to do the right thing.

We all want our children to eat nutritious foods, get enough sleep, and learn good hygiene habits. However, when it comes to oral health, even the most caring parents can unknowingly make choices that put their children’s teeth at risk.

Here are 8 mistakes that many well-meaning parents make that can result in dental health issues. Understanding these common oversights – and what you can do to avoid them – can help protect your child’s smile for years to come.

1/ Not being conscious of where sugar is hiding in plain sight

While most parents are vigilant about obvious sugary treats, it’s easy to be tripped up by the sugar that lurks in many “healthy” foods we regularly give our children.

Fruit juices, even 100% natural varieties, bathe teeth in concentrated sugars and acids. Dried fruits like raisins and fruit snacks stick to teeth, creating prolonged exposure to sugar.

You would be best to avoid flavoured yogurts, “health” bars, and sports drinks altogether, as those tend to contain far more sugar than you expect.

The solution: Always read product labels so that you can spot high sugar contents, dilute juices with water, and encourage whole fruits over processed alternatives.

When sugary foods are consumed, timing matters: having them with meals rather than as standalone snacks reduces the acid attack on teeth.

2/ What you put in the bottle or sippy cup

Did you know that letting children fall asleep with bottles containing anything other than water is far from ideal? That’s because milk, formula, or juice pools around teeth during sleep when saliva production decreases, and that’s an ideal environment for tooth decay.

This “baby bottle tooth decay” can destroy primary teeth before a child’s second birthday!

Similarly, letting toddlers carry sippy cups filled with milk or juice throughout the day creates constant exposure to sugars. The convenience of keeping children hydrated can inadvertently turn their mouths into sugar baths.

The solution: There are three ways to combat this issue:
a) Reserve bottles and sippy cups for mealtimes,
b) Transition to regular cups as soon as possible, and
c) Only allow water in bottles or cups that children carry throughout the day.

3/ Too much fluoride can be as bad as too little

We can’t emphasise enough how much the appropriate amount of fluoride in toothpaste can help protect teeth from decay.

Unfortunately, there are some parents who avoid fluoride entirely because they have heard things about how safe it is and others who believe in using fluoride but assume more is always better. Both approaches can harm developing teeth.

Too little fluoride leaves teeth vulnerable to decay, while too much during tooth development can cause fluorosis, resulting in permanent discolouration and pitting of tooth enamel.

However, as a broader health concern, you need to make sure your child knows how to spit out the toothpaste. Swallowing toothpaste is particularly common in young children who haven’t yet learned to spit effectively, and even just a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste contains enough fluoride to cause problems if swallowed regularly.

The solution: Use age-appropriate amounts of fluoride toothpaste (rice grain-sized for under 3, pea-sized for 3-6 years), supervise brushing until children can reliably spit, and consult the friendly team at Middleborough Dental Care about your child’s individual fluoride needs.

4/ Aggressive or inadequate tooth brushing

Getting your child’s tooth-brushing technique right from an early age is just as important as ingraining twice-daily brushing as a lifelong habit. Taking enough time to get it right is crucial.

Well-meaning parents often brush too aggressively, thinking harder scrubbing equals cleaner teeth. Vigorous brushing with hard-bristled toothbrushes can actually damage developing enamel and irritate sensitive gum tissue.

Additionally, many parents don’t brush long enough or miss important areas like the gum line and back teeth.

The timing of brushing can also be problematic. Brushing immediately after consuming acidic foods or drinks can cause more harm than good, as the acid temporarily softens enamel.

The solution: Use age-appropriate soft-bristled toothbrushes, brush carefully with gentle circular motions, and use a timer to make sure each brushing lasts for a full two minutes. Wait at least 30-60 minutes after eating acidic foods before brushing.

Don’t be embarrassed about asking for advice and a demonstration from your dentist here at Middleborough Dental Care. We understand that most parents have never had to think about how to teach a child to brush their teeth until they have their first!

5/ Sharing more than love (even with love)

Parents can unknowingly transmit cavity-causing bacteria to their children through seemingly innocent actions like sharing utensils, cleaning pacifiers in their own mouths, or giving quick kisses on the lips.

Unfortunately, bacteria that your body is “managing” might be quite damaging to a young child, particularly in the first year or two. These cavity-causing bacteria can colonise a baby’s mouth before their first teeth even appear, setting the stage for future dental problems.

The solution: Avoid sharing utensils or food, don’t clean pacifiers or bottles in your mouth, and maintain your own oral health to reduce bacterial transmission risk.

6/ Allowing snacks all the time

It might be hard to believe, but frequent snacking, even on healthy foods, can be more damaging than occasional sweet treats. That’s because each time we eat, our mouth becomes acidic for about 20-30 minutes.

If your child is constantly snacking, their teeth will remain under acid attack throughout the day. Decent breaks between snacking or eating meals give teeth the time they need to recover and remineralise.

The solution: Establish regular meal and snack times rather than allowing constant grazing. Encourage water between meals and save treats for specific times rather than spreading them throughout the day.

7/ Delaying dentist visits

Please don’t wait until you notice that your child has a problem or they complain about experiencing pain before you make an appointment to see us.

This is something we also try to reiterate to adults about their own oral health, but it’s absolutely vital for children. We don’t want what starts as a small issue to have the chance to become a major problem. If that happens, it’s almost always more challenging to treat, taking more time, causing more anxiety, and potentially also costing more than if we had had the opportunity to nip the problem in the bud.

Additionally, delaying that first dental visit can make children more anxious about dental care later, particularly if they have issues by the time you bring them in. It’s so much better all round if a child’s first visit is simple, full of positivity, and gives them the “all clear”.

Some parents also postpone fixing problems in baby teeth, thinking they’ll just fall out anyway. However, primary teeth serve as placeholders for permanent teeth and help with proper speech development and nutrition.

The solution: Schedule your child’s first dental visit before the age of one, or within six months of their first tooth appearing. Maintain regular checkups even if no problems are apparent. Treat any potential tooth problem promptly, even with primary teeth.

8/ Allowing thumb sucking to continue for too long

While thumb-sucking is a natural self-soothing behaviour, prolonged sucking (beyond the age of four) can cause significant dental problems such as open bites, overbites, and roof-of-mouth narrowing.

Many parents either ignore the habit or use harsh tactics to stop it, both of which can be counterproductive.

The solution: Gently discourage the habit after age two through positive reinforcement and distraction techniques. If the habit persists beyond age four, consult your dentist or paediatrician for guidance.

Let us help you get positive outcomes

All of the issues we’ve covered are easily preventable once parents are aware of them, so you’re already on the way because you’ve read this article!

Now review your family’s daily routines and identify any areas for improvement. Keep in mind that small changes can have profound impacts on your child’s lifelong oral health.

Developing good oral health habits is a process, so please be patient with yourself and your children as you make any changes. While it does take time and conscientiousness to build new habits, the investment in your child’s oral health will pay dividends in their confidence, comfort, and overall wellbeing for decades to come.

The team here at Middleborough Dental Care is committed to helping you with any challenges you might face. We understand that most parents are experiencing many things for the first time, so remember that our dentists have been doing this for many years and know how to inform, instruct and guide children.

At the same time, a message coming from a trusted professional can resonate with a child quite differently to something a parent says. After all, parents have to tell their children so many things, but this area is our absolute specialty.

Why not start by making your child’s next appointment right now and let us help you and your child get on the right track asap?