Dr. Mustafa Abdalla

Act immediately rather than waiting an hour: hold the tooth by its crown, avoid touching or scrubbing the root, and rinse it gently if dirty. If you are sure it is a permanent tooth and the child is alert and cooperative, gently put it back into the socket if you can and have the child bite on clean gauze. Otherwise, place it in milk and seek emergency dental care straight away; never replant a baby tooth. If there is loss of consciousness, breathing difficulty or another serious injury, seek emergency medical care first.

Frequent sugary snacks and repeated sipping of juice, sweetened milk or fizzy drinks can increase the risk of decay. Sticky sweets and grazing throughout the day also deserve attention. I help parents find realistic changes, such as structured snack times, age-appropriate nutritious foods, and water between meals.

Laughing gas may help a child relax while remaining awake; general anaesthesia may be considered when treatment needs, age, anxiety or medical circumstances make other approaches unsuitable. We discuss the benefits, risks and alternatives and agree on an individual plan. For treatment under general anaesthesia, I provide the dentistry while the anaesthesia team manages the anaesthetic.

Baby teeth help children eat, speak and maintain space for the permanent teeth. Decay can cause pain and infection before a tooth is ready to fall out. We consider the condition of the tooth, symptoms and expected remaining lifespan when discussing care.

Brush twice daily with fluoride toothpaste from the first tooth, using a smear about the size of a grain of rice for children under three and a pea-sized amount from three to six. An adult should carry out or help with brushing until the child can clean effectively. I can demonstrate a technique suited to your child and their needs.