Parents should begin their child's emergency dentistry prevention regime as early as possible with a visit to an oral healthcare professional.

Dr Victoria Ursitti explained that the earlier the regime is started, the better chance it has of succeeding, Dentistry IQ quotes the Chicago Daily Herald as saying.

She said that a good rule of thumb is to plan the first visit to coincide with the eruption of the child's first tooth, or their first birthday.

The check-up can then involve taking X-rays to check for hidden decay, discussing family history of dental problems and checking how any existing teeth are looking so far.

"Strong, healthy primary teeth help your child chew foods easily, learn to speak clearly and look good," Dr Ursitti commented.

Earlier this month, lifestyle writer Kim Patterson of Investor Spot suggested that a timer could be helpful when teaching young children how long they need to brush their teeth for each day.