Tips from our Coorparoo family dental team for good oral health in children
As a parent, you want your child to be happy and healthy and, while it may make you seem unpopular with them, especially in their toddler years, this includes maintaining good oral hygiene and attending regular dental check-ups. But making dental care fun for younger children can seem like an uphill struggle for many parents and so, our team is here to help.
At Brisbane Laser Dentist, our Coorparoo family dental team is dedicated to promoting good oral health in children of all ages, actively working with parents and children to keep those pearly whites as white as possible and educating families on the importance of good oral health.
So, what does our Coorparoo family dental team advise for keeping your child’s teeth and gums in great condition? Read on for our top 5 tips!
Reduce sugar
As obvious as it sounds, reducing sugar can keep teeth healthy. It is present in everything from raisins to fruit juices and even yoghurts. At Brisbane Laser Dentist, we recommend feeding your child a healthy, balanced diet, without too much emphasis on one particular food group. If you have your child on a heavy carbohydrate-based diet, this may cause issues with plaque accumulation and cavities since such foods are rich in sugars too. For more dietary advice on keeping your child’s teeth and gums healthy, contact our team.
No milk at bedtime
A lot of parents are tempted to give their children a bottle of milk to take to bed. However, even low-fat milk contains lactose, which is a naturally occurring sugar and, as you may have guessed, this sugar is also bad for the thin layer of enamel that children have. So, instead of milk, aim to give your child water to take to bed; it keeps them hydrated and has no sugar to cause issues with plaque!
Brush, brush, brush!
Good oral care routines start early in life and so, aim to brush your child’s teeth twice a day. As they get older, assist them with their brushing by brushing your own teeth while standing beside them. This will allow you to keep an eye on how well they brush their teeth while normalising the entire process and setting them up for a lifetime of self-care habits. Great stuff!
Regular check-ups
Of course, you can’t rule out trips to the dentist every 6 months; these are necessary to not only have your child’s teeth assessed but also familiarise them with examinations and the entire idea of dentistry. We aim to make our dental care fun for our younger patients with a focus on education too. As soon as your child develops a tooth or hits the age of 12 months, please call our team to make their first appointment.
Make it fun!
Children love fun and if you have multiple children, you could make dental care a game. One way to pique their interest is to put up some charts in their rooms, tracking their brushing and at the end of the week or month, give them a treat for maintaining good oral hygiene. For more tips on making dental care fun, talk to our Coorparoo family dental team.
DISCLAIMER
All treatment carries risks. Individual consultation is required with one of our practitioners to ensure that the treatment is right for you.