Your child’s smile care – it should be every parent’s pre-school homework! Getting your kids ready for school can actually start before they lose their baby teeth.
Well before adult teeth arrive you need to prepare your child for regular 6-month check ups. And getting into the routine of regular, pediatric dental care.
But beautiful smiles begins with oral hygiene at home! It will give your kids a confidence boost to speak up and join in with the classroom lesson – and make friends in the school playground too!
In this article – you’ll get all the smile care dental advice you need to know for preparing your kids for school, on:
- Establishing daily teeth brushing and flossing routines
- Restricting sugary foods and drinks
- Encouraging healthy eating – at home and at school
- Getting you kids to not be scared of regular checks up at the family dental centre
Start getting your kids ready for school at your local smile centreBook a visit to a pediatric dentist near you today!
Why Australian parents should start their children’s dental care early
Did you know: Over 40 percent of Aussie children had developed cavities in their primary – or “baby” teeth – by the age of 10?
Latest available research into the state of children’s teeth in Australia shows:
- 2 in 5 (42 percent) aged 5–10 had tooth decay in their primary “baby” teeth
- More than 1 in 4 (27 percent) had untreated decay in primary “baby” teeth
- A quarter (24 percent) had decay in their permanent “adult” teeth
Unfortunately, the data reveals the presence of tooth decay also increased with age.
- More than a third (34 percent) – aged 5-6
- Nearly half (45-46 percent) – aged 7 -10
- Almost 2 in 5 (38 percent) – aged 12-14
(Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare – AIHW)
The reason why is often simple: At this early stage of development your child’s enamel is thinner than an adult’s teeth. And the problem doesn’t stop there!
Tooth cavities can develop soon after they erupt. They can then also spread from the primary teeth to the permanent teeth growing underneath.
It’s a double whammy on your child about to go to school! Knowing they have a tooth problem can be embarrassing enough for them. Then those first pangs of toothache could make it hard for your child to focus on their lessons.
Apart from the increasing pain, starting a series of appointments with a pediatric dentist could also mean your child will simply miss those first important days at the start of the school term.
Time to kickstart your children’s dental care.
Let’s dive in …
Family dental care to get your kids smile ready for school!
Top of the family dental care list should be …
Establishing daily oral health routines
Teeth brushing and flossing
A child’s early years are vital for learning those daily oral health routines for maintaining healthy teeth and gums into, and throughout adult life.
No.1 for children’s dental care routines is teeth brushing and flossing. And vital for preventing tooth decay and keeping healthy, beautiful smiles.
Key teeth brushing tip for kids is:
- Brushing their teeth twice every day – every morning before breakfast (or half an hour afterwards) – and especially before every bedtime
Not just 2 seconds on the front two or three teeth! Show your child how to use the toothbrush to spread toothpaste to the entire front and back of their teeth. And how to use up and down and circular movements on every surface of every tooth. Including hard-to-get-to teeth right at the back of the mouth!
IMPORTANT! Always use a fluoride toothpaste – which helps to protect against tooth decay.
- Flossing in the fine gaps between each tooth where a toothbrush can’t reach
Show your child that removing food debris in those tight gaps between the teeth also prevents plaque from building up and tooth decay taking hold.
REMEMBER! Whether rushing to get kids to school or after they’ve had a long tiring day, it’s crucial to maintain the daily teeth brushing and flossing routine.
It helps to get your children motivated and excited by:
- Giving them a tooth brush they’ll want to use – e.g. printed with their favourite TV characters
Transforming teeth brushing into a game or competition – perhaps playing their favourite songs at the same time
Restricting sugary foods and drinks
The biggest cause of tooth decay is repeated and excessive exposure to sugar. The presence of bacteria in the mouth reacts with the sugar to make acid that attacks, and eventually destroys the tooth’s enamel surface, which leaves an exposed cavity.
Children love sugary food and drinks! But constantly eating and drinking sugary food and drinks can quickly lead to cavities in as little as 6 months. Simply because their primary teeth has thinner enamel.
The aim is to try and restrict the sugary treats your kids love to mealtimes only. It can be a real struggle with tears and tantrums. But the aim is to try and get your kids to only drink tap / bottled water or milk together with more healthy, in between mealtime snacks
Encouraging healthy eating – at home and at school
Healthy food and drinks for brighter smiles at home
Getting your kids into healthy-eating routines before starting school is key to building a foundation of good health and dental care. They’ll soon be exposed to other kid’s food snacking and drink habits.
Breakfast – try to avoid chocolate-covered cereals and sugar-packed breakfast bars. Try to add fruits like strawberries, plus nuts and seeds.
Lunch and dinner – Aim for a daily and varied diet of nutrient-rich green vegetables, salad vegetables and colourful fruit. This will give them just the right vitamins and minerals in the right proportion to create healthy bones and teeth.
Daytime snacking – Kids just love diving into the fridge and opening food cupboards to find their favourite snack. A good plan is to always stock up with a supply of oranges, apples, bananas and carrots. Rather than crisps, cookies and sweets.
TIP! Try to get your kids excited about eating colourful, healthy food rather than repeatedly asking for burgers, chips or pizza! Get your kids involved by helping to prepare healthy meals, and learning how to go for healthy options when eating out or at school.
School meals – can expose children to all sorts of temptations. Not just plates of chips but also foods such as sugar-filled desserts and puddings. The key is to help them naturally choose healthy, sugar-free options.
Packed lunches – can be the ideal way to go. Where you get to directly influence what your child is eating in school. Aim for salad-filled sandwiches and crunchy cucumber, carrot and celery sticks. Add a healthy dip, cheese cubes, banana and apple. And a bottle of water for drinking. Definitely avoid carb and salt-filled snacks such as crisps!
Regular checks up at the family dental centre shouldn’t be scary
All important to protecting your kids teeth and their beautiful smiles is regular visits to your children’s dentist.
You should paint a picture of a good and positive experience rather than as a “punishment” for eating or drinking unhealthy sugary foods and drinks.
You don’t want them to develop a fear of going to the dentist, and reacting badly during treatment.
Summary on Getting Kids Smile Ready
Getting your kids ready for school should really start before they lose their primary “baby” teeth. A child’s tooth enamel is thinner than adult’s teeth, and cavities can develop soon after they erupt, spreading from the primary teeth to the permanent teeth growing underneath.
Your child’s beautiful smiles begin with oral hygiene at home. This means getting your kids into the twice daily habit of brushing and flossing their teeth correctly, restricting sugary foods and drinks – when snacking as well as at mealtimes. The key is to always encourage healthy eating –at school as well as in the home!
Most importantly, your children should not be scared of regular checks up at the family dental centre. Looking after their teeth should be thought as a positive experience not a punishment!
FAQ’s for Children’s Dentistry
What is the earliest age for my kids to have a dental check-up?
Usually around six months. But a first check up is recommended once the baby teeth have come through, and no later than their first birthday.
What are the early warning signs of tooth decay to look for in my child?
Thin chalky white lines or spots on the surface of the tooth close to the gum. Yellow, brown or black bands indicate tooth decay has progressed.
What toothpaste is best for kids?
Fluoride toothpaste. Always check on the packaging on the amount of fluoride in the toothpaste. Children under 3 years need to have a minimum 1000 parts per million (ppm). Best protection for all children at any age is between 1350 and 1500 ppm.
Need specific answers to your kids’ teeth care?