Recently The Royal Childrens Hospital have conducted a survey on children’s oral health and habits in Australia and the results found
• One in three (32%) Australian pre-schoolers have never visited a dentist
• One in three (33%) children do not have their teeth cleaned twice a day
• One in four (23%) Australian parents believe children only need to see the dentist if they have a problem with their teeth
• More than three quarters (77%) of Australian parents don’t know that children should visit the dentist for a check up when they are about one year old
Ideas for helping improve your child’s oral health include
• Bringing in your child for a check up once they have their first tooth. Compliance can be difficult at this young age but the more frequently a child is exposed to the dental environment the more comfortable they will become. A good idea is bringing your child in with you or any older siblings for your dental check-up’s to get them used to the environment and once they start getting their teeth they can be examined on your lap. The more regularly the children are coming for check ups the more cooperative they will be and will make it a lot easier if any treatment is needed in the future
• Bringing in a child for a check-up only because there is something wrong makes the child associate going to the dentist with a problem opposed to routinely coming for check-ups and being comfortable. Regular visits help build a report with the operator and they become familiar and comfortable with the environment
• Brushing your child’s teeth twice a day is crucial in preventing decay and getting into a good cleaning habit. Tooth decay in infants and very young children is often referred to as bottle caries. Bottle caries is a result of liquids which contain carbohydrates or sugars, such as fruit juices, formula, milk, which cling to the infants teeth for a long time and start to cause decay. It is important that these residues are cleaned off the teeth regularly especially before bed
In light of the recent findings Clarity Dental Care are now offering free dental check-ups for children aged 12 month – 2 years. To make an appointment for your child with one of our friendly operators please call us on 5973 5060.
