At Thirroul Dental Studio we love kids! When it comes to taking care of your children's teeth, there are a few things to remember. Teaching children good health habits from an early age is vitally important. These habits can last well into adulthood, giving them a great start in caring for their teeth and a positive attitude towards dental health.
Fear is learnt, no babies are born to be scared of dentists. And to avoid or minimise the development of dental anxiety, we do everything to put them at ease. A visit to our dentists is fun and educational, our friendly team ensure your children's oral health is on track and teach them good dental hygiene techniques that will serve them for a life time.
When the day comes to meet out dentists, we recommend that you make it an exciting event for your children to anticipate. We will count their teeth with them, take pictures of their mouth and leave your children longing for their next ride on our dentists' spaceship chair. Our aim is to make every visit a positive experience so they get to know and trust their own personal dentist. A little reassurance goes a long way.
When to bring your children to the dentist
It is recommended that every child starts their dental visit from the age of 2 year-old, to get used to the environment and help establish a positive relationship with the dentist. Ideally, you would bring your children along when you have your regular check ups, so they can see what the procedure entails.
Occasionally, we meet parents that have mistaken any dental problems associated with the baby teeth (primary teeth) will not pose a concern as they will eventually fall out. Unfortunately, that is wrong and the children's dental health can be heavily jeopadised for the rest of their life. Primary dentition help children to speak clearly and chew properly, they also pave the way for the adult teeth to come. Poor dental health in children can pose strong impact in their future oral health as well. It is very important not to wait until your children experiences toothache to visit us. By having routine check ups at Thirroul Dental Studio from an early age, we prevent dental problems and preserve the most truthful smiles your kids deliver.
Oral Health for Children
To help ensure oral health and a lifetime of good oral care habits:
- Limit children’s sugar intake
- Make sure children get enough fluoride, either through drinking water or supplement to diet
- Teach children how to brush
- Supervise brushing sessions, which can be a challenge for small hands
Major Obstacles to Children’s Oral Health
Babies
- Baby bottle tooth decay: Wipe gums with gauze or a clean washcloth and water after feeding. When teeth appear, brush daily with a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. Put child to bed with a bottle of water, not milk or juice
- Thumb sucking: Not a concern until about 4 years of age or when permanent teeth appear; after this time, it could cause dental changes
- White spots on teeth: As soon as the first tooth appears (at about 6 months), begin cleaning the child’s teeth daily and schedule a dental appointment
Toddlers
- Fear of the dentist: Hold the child in the parent’s lap during the exam
- Difficulty creating an oral care routine: Involve the whole family – brush together at the same time each day to create a good habit
Grade-schoolers
- Love of sweets: Give children health snack options, like carrots and other fresh vegetables, plain yogurt, and cheese
- Stains from antibiotics: Speak to the paediatrician before any medication is prescribed
Teenagers
- Braces: Make sure that teens brush well around braces, using a floss threader to remove all food particles
- Oral accidents from sports: Encourage children to wear mouthguards during sports
Dental Treatments often Commenced in Children
Fluoride treatment
Fluoride is the most effective agent available to help prevent tooth decay. It is a mineral that is naturally present in varying amounts in almost all foods and water supplies. It gets along really well with the mineral bonds in human teeth, or more specifically, with tooth enamel. As part of an oral hygiene routine, it is very effective in fighting tooth decay and pain in decaying areas.
Fissure Sealants
Fissure sealants are a safe and painless way of protecting your children’s teeth from tooth decay. It is a plastic coating which covers the chewing surfaces of the back adult teeth. The sealant forms a hard shield and protective barrier that prevents food and bacteria from getting into the tiny grooves in the teeth. Most tooth decay in children occurs in the back teeth. Sealants are only applied to the back teeth - the molars and premolars. These are the teeth that have pits and fissures on their biting surfaces.
Mouthguards
We all love sports, whether it is footy, hockey, netball etc. Yet, any contact sports can impose potential for dental trauma which can be a tragedy. Every year thousands of children are treated for dental injuries, which could have been prevented, or the severity minimised, by wearing a protective mouthguard. A mouthguard helps absorb the shock experienced by a blow to the face, which might otherwise result in an injury to the mouth or jaw.
Orthodontic assessment
Orthodontic problems are usually apparent by the age of 7, when most of the adult front teeth have erupted. However, your dentist may detect an orthodontic problem earlier. Early examination allows the orthodontist to detect and evaluate problems and to plan an appropriate treatment schedule. Early treatment may prevent more serious problems from developing or make treatment at a later age shorter and less complicated.