Start the New Year with a beautiful smile. Establishing good dental habits is imperative for your children, this includes having regular dental checks, developing good oral hygiene habits, having a healthy diet and protecting your teeth.

Regular dental checks

Dental check-ups are recommended every six months, this is important to keep teeth and gums healthy so that any dental problems can be detected and treated early; this could help save your child from developing a toothache. We recommend to start your child’s check-ups from the age of two.

The check-up could include a clean and preventive treatments such as fluoride application, also fissure sealants might be recommended. The Federal Governments ‘Child Dental Benefit Scheme’ is a fantastic initiative to promote oral health in children. Parents who are on Family Tax Benefit Part A are entitled to $1000 for every child aged between 2 to 17 over a two year period. This encourages regular visits to the dentist with the associated costs being subsidised.

Developing good oral hygiene habits

Good oral hygiene habits need to be developed from a young age. Children need to brush their teeth at least twice a day for two minutes. It is recommended that an adult brush their children’s teeth until they are 10 years of age however, children need to develop their skills and learn independence so let them brush in the morning (when they are of school age) and then the adult does it at night. Flossing daily is also important and again this should be done by an adult until they are older; your dental professional can teach children how to floss properly when they have the dexterity to do so. Toothbrushes should be changed every three months and a good way of remembering this is to change their toothbrushes every school holidays. Children can be encouraged to brush by having a special toothbrush with their favourite character on it or playing a song for them to brush to, there are tooth brushing songs available on YouTube.

Healthy diet

A healthy diet is not only important for your child’s general health, it is also a major factor in avoiding tooth decay. Include items such as whole grain bread, cheese, raw vegetables, yoghurt and fruit in your child’s lunch box.

Avoid having sticky or sugary foods, soft drinks, juices and pre-packaged food as a regular component of your child’s diet. If your child is going to consume these food items they should be considered a treat, and not a regular part of their diet. 

Discuss “everyday foods” and “sometimes foods” so your children can make good decisions on what foods they eat at school and at home. Good dietary habits instilled through childhood will continue on throughout their life and contribute significantly to good health. Always encourage water, water, water as the preferred drink and only send water with them to school.

Protecting your teeth

Certain sports and activities carry a high risk of falling or resulting in injuries that can impact your face.

A mouthguard can help to protect your teeth and prevent them from injuring your lips or tongue. It’s especially important to use a mouthguard if you’re involved in any contact sport. A custom fitted mouthguard from your dentist or dental technician is recommended for all children when playing contact sports.

Permanent teeth will not grow back if they are lost, so it is vital that every precaution and preventative measure be taken to protect your children’s teeth.