Some bacteria that are present in our mouths love sugars and starches found in most of our food, and they turn these into an acid which causes tooth decay. Most people need to visit their dentist every 6 months, to make sure that problems are spotted before they get out of control. Routine maintenance can be carried out on your fillings, gums, and teeth.
Children are welcome at the dentist's from as young as one year old.
If you notice any problems in their mouths, do not hesitate to seek advise from your local dental surgery. The amount of decay risk our teeth undergo actually depends on how often sugars and starch enter the mouth, and not how much sugar we eat. A cup of tea with 3 spoonfuls of sugar can actually cause the same amount of tooth decay as half a spoonful. After food containing sugar or starch enters the mouth, teeth are under attack from acids for about twenty minutes - and this is greatly increased with some foods such as sticky foods. We therefore need to watch what we eat and drink, and how often.