As part of Children’s Week (21–29 October), Simply Smiles Dental is encouraging adults to teach children good dental habits.
Children who develop good habits early have a great chance of having them for life, avoiding dental disease, and having better overall health.
Children’s Week was created to focus the attention of Australia on children, their achievements, and their needs. In support of Australia’s children during the week, Simply Smiles Dental is zeroing in on the importance of taking care of your teeth from an early age.
Tooth decay is Australia’s most common health problem. Estimates are that slightly less that 50% of all Australian six year olds suffer from tooth decay. The best way to fight this is with good oral hygiene.
At Simply Smiles Dental we want to partner with you in bringing good dental health to all our children.
Dental Hygiene and Your Children
Good dental hygiene starts early. If children learn how to take care of their teeth, they normally carry those habits into adulthood. Good oral habits can prevent potentially serious issues later on, including cavities, broken teeth, and general health complications. Teach your kids these five essential oral health habits for lifelong healthy teeth.
1) Brush and Floss Twice a Day
Experts recommend that children brush and floss twice a day. Make brushing and flossing part of your child’s morning and evening routines. Make oral hygiene fun by choosing a themed toothbrush and toothpaste featuring your child’s favorite fictional character.
Brushing should last about two minutes, which can be long for a child’s attention span. Play a favorite song while your child brushes, rewarding children for brushing, or turning brushing and flossing into a family ‘party’ activity.
Children should be flossed as soon as two teeth touch.
2) Schedule Regular Dental Visits
Children should visit the dentist at least twice per year or when required for treatment. Schedule the first visit when your child is between six months and one year old, or around the time when his or her first tooth erupts. Starting this oral health habit early will make dentist visits part of your child’s normal schedule, reducing the possibility of anxiety.
3) Teach Good Chewing Habits
Kids love chewing on things. Many children develop the habit of sucking on their thumbs or chewing on pacifiers. Care needs to be taken of this, as it can pull the front teeth out of place. As they start developing teeth, children often ease the pain with teething rings or other objects.
Although sucking and chewing can be soothing for young children, the habit should be broken by the time a child turns 4, or long term damage may occur.
4) Eat a Well-Rounded Diet
Not only do healthy foods prevent obesity, diabetes, and other serious health conditions, but they also help prevent tooth decay and gum disease. Sugary snacks and drinks encourage bacteria in the mouth, which leads to dental caries. Additionally, acidic foods can wear down your child’s tooth enamel, which leads to cavities in later years.
5) Visit us at Simply Smiles Dental
It pays to start dental visits early. Mostly, first visits are about education and getting kids acclimated to the dentist’s chair. If you begin taking your children to the dentist around the time their first tooth erupts, then they are probably too young to be nervous. But if you wait until your child is older then he or she may have some anxiety during the first visit
At Simply Smiles Dental, we are happy to support you and your children by offering services under the CDBS!
The CDBS provides individual benefits for a range of services including examinations, x-rays, cleaning, fissure sealing, fillings, root canals and extractions. Benefits are not available for orthodontic or cosmetic dental work and cannot be paid for any services provided in a hospital.
The CDBS has a means test, which requires receipt of Family Tax Benefit Part A or a relevant Australian Government payment. Contact us at Simply Smiles Dental for more information!
Your Trusted Family Dentist in Toorak
If you have a child in need of treatment, or any other dental issues, do not hesitate to call us at Simply Smiles Dental on (03) 9826 2220 .
Visit us today and take advantage of CDBS (Child Dental Benefits Schedule) and receive up to $1,000 worth of basic dental treatments over 2 calendar years.
Simply Smiles Dental is open from Monday to Saturday to cater all your dental needs
Call us on (03) 9826 2220 or book your appointment online.