Tips to Keep Your Child’s Teeth Healthy
It can be hard to know exactly what to do to keep your child’s teeth healthy. Here at Brisbane Smiles, our team of Children’s Dental Health Professionals is experienced in Children’s Oral Health. In this article, we will take you through our top tips to ensure your Children’s teeth are being well taken care of.
How to Take Care of Children’s Teeth
Taking care of your children’s teeth happens both at the Dental Practice and at home. To best maintain your child’s Oral Health, be sure to follow these tips:
- Brush, floss and practice a proper oral health routine with your child
- Maintain a tooth-friendly diet
- Take your child to the Dental Practice regularly
- Practice preventative Dental Care to avoid major Dental problems
Read on to find out how to incorporate these tips into your child’s oral health routine, plus additional advice.
How Can Children’s Poor Dental Care Affect Their Health?
Poor Dental health can lead to poor general and emotional health. The state of your child’s oral health can impact the health of their body, and their quality of life.
Severe tooth decay, even in baby teeth, can have major negative impacts on your child’s health. Tooth decay can reflect poor nutrition, and impact the development of their speech, jaw and mouth. It can also result in infection, pain and the inability to chew and eat. When baby teeth are damaged by tooth decay, it can risk the health of adult teeth coming through.
Luckily, tooth decay in children is preventable with the right oral health routine, Dental care and diet.
How to Keep Children’s Teeth Healthy with the Right Diet
Maintaining a healthy diet is not only beneficial to your child’s physical and mental health but is essential for optimal oral health. Certain foods are healthy to eat every day for their teeth, whereas some foods should be consumed only sometimes. It’s critical to maintain a tooth-friendly diet in addition to a proper dental care routine. By doing so, your child can enjoy a lifetime of healthy teeth and smiles.
The best food for your teeth:
- Vegetables
- Whole grains
- Leafy greens
- Milk
- Cheese
- Yoghurt
- Fatty fish
- Meat
- Nuts
- Water
Foods to limit for healthy teeth:
- Starchy foods
- Refined carbs and sugar
- Soft drink
- Lollies and chocolate
- Sour sweets
- Energy drinks
- Fast food
- Excessive coffee and alcohol
It’s a great idea to educate your child on which foods are healthy to eat every day and foods that should only be eaten on occasion. When in doubt, opt for nutrient-rich, whole foods instead of processed or sugary foods. Consuming too many foods that aren’t good for teeth can cause cavities in your child’s teeth.
How to Brush Children’s Teeth
It’s important to brush your child’s teeth as soon as they appear. When they are a small child, brush gently with a very soft children’s toothbrush and water. As they grow older, move on to brushing with a small amount of fluoride toothpaste.
Help your child to brush twice a day up until the age of 8. You can make it fun by using a song for the length of brushing. Brushing in gentle circles, ensure you are reaching the front, sides and back of their teeth, and lastly their tongue.
Brushing your child’s teeth twice a day helps to create healthy oral health habits, keeps their mouth clean and prevents decay.
Should You Floss Children’s Teeth?
Yes, you should floss your child’s teeth as soon as they have two teeth that touch. This may occur around the age of two to three. Your Oral Health Provider will teach you how to gently brush and floss your child’s teeth.
What Age Should Children Go to the Dentist?
We recommend that your child begins to visit the Dentist by the time their first tooth appears, at approximately one to two years old.
Once your child’s teeth come through, it’s important to visit the Dental Professional twice a year. The Oral Health Professional will be able to monitor and detect any problems at an early stage. As a parent, you will be guided in caring for your child’s oral health with valuable home care and advice.
Regularly bringing your child to the Dental Practice also helps to familiarise them with the clinic and builds confidence.
How Often Should Children Visit the Dentist?
After your child’s first Dentist visit, they will typically require a Check-Up and Clean appointment every 6-12 months. Your Oral Health Professional will let you know when to next bring in your child.
Does Medicare Cover Children’s Dental?
The Children’s Dental Benefits Scheme (CDBS) in Australia allows parents to receive Dental care for their children. Your child can receive CDBS benefits when they are eligible for Medicare. Brisbane Smiles participates in the Children’s Dental Benefits Schedule.
The CDBS will cover up to $1,013 over 2 calendar years for basic dental services under CDBS, including:
- check-ups
- X-rays
- cleaning
- fissure sealing
- fillings
- root canals
- extractions
Find out more about the CDBS Scheme here.
Keep Your Child Smiling with Brisbane Smiles
Bring in your children to see the friendly and gentle team at Brisbane Smiles and set up your child for a lifetime of good oral health habits. Book online or call us today!
