Tooth Talk - Your Dental Queries, Sorted!

Six reputable dentists and orthodontists in Singapore answer some of our top tooth-related questions.

When it comes to both baby and adult teeth, there is a lot to know – and it all starts with which kind of “tooth doctor” you need to visit. While dentists concentrate on the broader aspects of the mouth, orthodontists specialise in the correction of dental irregularities such as crooked teeth, overcrowding, and over- and under-bites.

Here, the experts fill us in on everything from caring for baby teeth and bringing kids to the orthodontist to root canals, straightening and whitening solutions, and more.

"Do I need to brush my young child’s teeth every night, even if he or she is exclusively breastfed?"

Yes, says dentist DR CINDY HO of Aesthete Smilestudio. “Ideally, you should brush their teeth every night. Although breast milk is antibacterial and highly recommended, there is still a build-up of plaque and bacterial acids on the enamel surfaces of one’s teeth throughout the day. This layer of plaque should be removed to minimise the risk of early childhood decay.”

Dr Ho says that if the child has no teeth or only a few teeth, a soft towel can be used to wipe the gums and surface of the teeth. If the child has more teeth, she recommends using a small, soft-bristled children’s toothbrush – without toothpaste if the child doesn’t yet know how to rinse or spit, or with just a smear of toothpaste if they are able to rinse and spit.

"Should I be taking my toddler to the dentist?"