Dental Health
Looking after little teeth
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Looking after your children’s teeth and mouth might seem challenging, but it establishes good oral habits that can last a lifetime.
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What is oral hygiene?
Oral hygiene is the practice of keeping the mouth, teeth and gums clean to promote good dental health and prevent dental problems. This includes:
- brushing;
- flossing;
- cleaning the tongue; and
- regular visits to the dentist.
When a child is small, a parent will ideally perform oral hygiene on a daily basis until the child is old enough to take care of himself. Most children will need supervision and assistance from an adult until the age of six or seven.
When should children start brushing?
To help establish good brushing habits, start oral hygiene early, as soon as teeth appear in the mouth. As long as teeth are present, tooth decay needs to be prevented.
Children as young as 2 or 3 can begin to brush under supervision. A child's initial tooth brushing attempts only need to last a few seconds, and can be shared for a few years until the child has developed the manual dexterity to take over completely. It is preferable for parents to complete the brushing process to ensure that plaque has been removed from all the teeth. Getting your child accustomed to the feeling of clean teeth from an early age will also encourage them to maintain that clean feeling.
What’s the best way to encourage oral hygiene in children?
Here are some helpful tips and tricks that parents can use to encourage good oral hygiene in their children:
- Use a small, colourful, child-friendly soft-bristled toothbrush and a small amount of children’s toothpaste. Children’s toothpaste has a lower fluoride content, is mildly flavoured and foams less in the mouth, making it more suitable for use in young mouths. Encourage your child to spit, not swallow. If your child has trouble spitting, encourage him to drink water to dilute any toothpaste that has been swallowed.
- Establish a routine, and let your children know that the only thing they can take to bed with them after brushing is water.
- Keep an eye on your children to make sure they brush properly and use various rewards for good technique and behaviour.
- Try to make the whole experience fun. Be inventive, and have a positive attitude about the whole routine. Your enthusiasm is contagious. Try singing songs, laughing along, and allowing them to brush their dolls/teddy’s teeth. They might even like to help brush your teeth.
- Model good dental hygiene – let your children watch you brush and floss your own teeth, as they will imitate what you do.
- Consider using plaque disclosing tablets or gels to periodically show your child where the dirty surfaces of his teeth are. These are available in pharmacies.
- Bring your children with you when you visit your dentist for a checkup. Getting children familiar with the dental surgery from a young age helps to dispel fear and anxiety about dental visits. Children can have the opportunity to go for a ride in the dental chair and have their teeth professionally cleaned from an early age, setting them up for life. Consider bringing children along from about the age of two.
This information should be considered as a general guide only. Please consult our Dental Practices or your own physician before proceeding with any treatment.
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