Easy steps to protect their teeth

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Give them water or milk

Fruit juice, squash and fizzy drinks contain acid which, over time, wears away the tooth enamel, making teeth sensitive to hot and cold and more prone to decay. Always dilute the juice really well, and it's a good idea to restrict it to mealtimes only. Giving her a drink of water or milk after a sweet pudding will help to neutralise the sugar acid in her mouth and stop it attacking her teeth.

Take them to the dentist

Register your child with a dentist as soon as her first teeth appear. 'Take her with you to the dentist from an early age, so it doesn't seem frightening. It will help her get used to the sights and sounds,' says dentist Graham Wilding. Once your child is about two and a half, make sure she has regular dental check-ups every six to 12 months.

Other vital things

Check labels for hidden sugar, especially sucrose.
Buy unprocessed foods to be on the safe side.
Swap biscuits and sweets for healthy snacks such as chopped fruit and sticks of vegetables.
Avoid fizzy drinks, they're really harmful to teeth.
Give small toys or stickers as rewards instead of sweets.
The best time to give sweets is after dinner, as you'll soon be brushing your child's teeth.
Chocolate is better than sweets, but lollies are the worst because they bathe teeth in sugar for a long time.
Check that whoever looks after your child (nursery, childminder, grandparent) follows your rules, too.

When do little ones stop teething?

Most babies get their first tooth at around six months. The majority of their primary teeth are through by around two and a half. The first permanent second teeth come through at the back at around six.