There are few things more distressing than having
to take a child to the dentist for an unpleasant procedure
or oral healthcare worries.

Which is why it makes sense to avoid all such eventualities altogether, if and when possible. So while there will always be circumstances, accidents and oral health problems that cannot be avoided, the following tips on oral healthcare for kids will give them the best start possible to avoid future oral healthcare issues.

Start Early

The earlier you start introducing proactive oral healthcare for your child, the better. And yes, this means even before they have all their teeth! Dentists generally advise ensuring that a baby’s gums and slowly emerging teeth are cleaned gently after each time they are fed. This will ensure that as little as possible is left behind to potentially lead to bacterial build up and dental decay.

Visit your Dentist

It’s recommended that children are booked for their first appointment at their dentist prior to their first birthday – or around the time that their first tooth appears. Even if it’s something of a daunting prospect for both of you, it is of critical importance to have everything looked at during these crucial early stages, in order to predict and solve as many problems as possible going forward. The sooner the visits start, the less daunting they will become overtime.   Our Dentist or Oral Health Therapist  will discuss things such as cleaning regimes / dietary recommendations / facial and dental growth patterns / disease prevention strategies and determine a suitable review period. It is important that these early dental experiences are a fun and rewarding  time for the child – that way building trust and going a long way to building a lifelong positive dental experience.

Positive Habits

From the age of about two, it becomes possible to instill positive oral hygiene habits that children will remember. As with anything worth doing in life, the sooner you can practice good habits, the easier and more beneficial it becomes long term. You can begin by teaching your children how to clean their teeth, being sure to follow up their brushing efforts until the child is around 10 years old  to ensure their mouth is sufficiently clean. You may choose to brush your own teeth at the same time so they can mimic and imitate your actions as their own dexterity improves over time.

Sugar Intake

It’s important to remember that each and every time sugar is consumed, it takes at least half an hour for the saliva in the mouth to neutralise the acid that causes harm to teeth and gums. Practicing good oral hygiene in general can certainly help, but so too can keeping a close eye on sugar intake and limiting any foods, drinks or snacks that are particularly high in sugar. It is important to recognise  the hidden sugars in fruits / and other foods which may be labelled  as “healthy” snacks – e.g. muesli bars / dried fruits / sports drinks.  It is useful to remember “Sweets are for Treats” and should not be consumed on daily basis.

Flossing

At what age should children start flossing? As soon as your little one’s teeth begin to come in contact with each other – usually around the 2-3-year mark. At this stage, it becomes easier for food particles to get caught between the teeth and foster the growth of bacteria and the development of plaque. If you’re not sure whether it’s at the stage where it’s needed, ask your dentist for advice. You will need to floss  your  child’s teeth for them initially until they develop the hand – eye coordination to do this for themselves.

Brushing Twice Daily

Ensure your child is brushing their teeth twice a day – in the morning and just before bed. Spend 2 minutes brushing, concentrating a good portion of this time on the back molars. This is an area where cavities often first develop. Replace the toothbrush every 3 or 4 months (with the changing seasons is a good reminder), or sooner if it shows signs of wear.

Making it Fun

One of the best ways to keep your child’s oral healthcare in great condition while reducing the risk of tooth decay is to get them enthusiastic about daily dental hygiene. Get ‘buy-in’ from them to help choose the toothpaste and toothbrush they want to use. Make the process fun by “looking for treasure behind the teeth” or by having some music or an animated kid’s teeth cleaning video on in the background. Dr Carolyn or Morgan,  our Oral Health Therapist will be sure to make the next dental visit something to  look forward to.

For more information, book an appointment with our friendly dentist Carolyn or one of our team.