by Monica O’Malley | Health, Preventative Dentistry
The team at ‘Your New Dentist’ are passionate about making sure your child’s dental visit is positive and fun. Most importantly we want to help establish daily routines for a lifetime of healthy smiles.
Recent figures from Dental Health Services Victoria show 47.2 per cent of adults and 30.7 per cent of children in Knox have untreated tooth decay, higher than the state average of 28 per cent.
An article featured in the Knox Leader also highlighted that the percentage of Knox children with a history of tooth decay (55.6 per cent) was higher than the state average (54.7 per cent).
With increased tooth decay rates in our region, it is now more than ever essential to get on top of oral health care for our local families. ‘Your New Dentist’ is all about seeing you less, and helping you to take preventative action to help minimise decay.
We are committed to providing a positive dental experience for you and your family and are passionate about making sure your child’s dental health story is a great one!
There are a number of key things to bear in mind when it comes to keeping your children’s teeth in tip-top condition:
Baby teeth do matter
Unfortunately, when it comes to ‘baby teeth’ there is a commonly held belief that they are not important. Yes, they do eventually fall out to make way for adult teeth but that doesn’t mean cleaning them isn’t significant. The early loss of a primary tooth can lead on to other complications, such as crowded permanent teeth, later in life which could involve treatment such as orthodontics to correct. Find out more here
Brush well
Ensure the kiddies brush their teeth twice a day using a soft-bristled toothbrush and a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste, which they shouldn’t swallow. Brush for at least two minutes at a time, you can try using an egg timer to make keeping time fun for your child.
Floss early
Flossing, with parental assistance until the age of 10 or when they are capable of doing it properly themselves, should start as soon as children have two teeth in contact.
Regular dentist visits
Kicking off at the age of 1 at the latest, or within 6 months of the first tooth appearing, your child should see their dentist regularly and understand that visiting them is an important part of growing up. Check out our article on “When to take your child to the dentist for the first time and what to expect here
Good eating and drinking habits
To help develop strong teeth, your children need a healthy, balanced diet made up of fresh foods such as vegetables, cheese and lean meats, minimal high-sugar foods such as biscuits and muesli bars, and fluoridated tap water.
Watch the sugar
Fruit snacks can sometimes be a sneaky source of sugar in your child’s diet. Try to aim for no more than two pieces of fruit per day at the most. Try swapping some fruit snacks for crunchy vegetables like cucumber, carrot or capsicum.
Find out if your child is eligible for free dental care
Did you know that your child may be eligible for $1000 worth of free dental treatment under Medicare? The Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) is a children’s dental benefit program for kids aged between 2-17 years that are eligible. CDBS provides eligible children with up to $1,000 in benefits over two calendar years for basic dental services. Please contact ‘Your New Dentist’ to find out more.
Make it fun and a daily part of life
Most importantly, developing good oral hygiene habits early will help to set up your child for life. Make it fun, be consistent and make the most of spending the time with them during teeth cleaning time!
Each and every day ‘Your New Dentist’ is helping young children avoid pain and unnecessary emergency dental care so families experience positive lifelong dental care.
The team at ‘Your New Dentist’ looks forward to helping you and your family to properly care for your teeth and to keep you smiling!
We look forward to seeing you soon
Resource:
The Knox Leader May 2016
Australian Dental Association
www.ada.org.au
by Monica O’Malley | Preventative Dentistry
Tooth decay is one of Australia’s most common health problems. Did you know that tooth decay is 5 times more common than asthma among children! Each year, 11 million newly decayed teeth develop. According to government reports, it’s also the second most costly diet‐related disease in Australia, and 90 per cent of all dental disease is preventable.
Research commissioned by the Australian Dental Association (ADA) reveals an alarming 57% of Australians expect at some stage in their lives they will develop tooth decay, a condition that can be unsightly, painful and irreversible.
Your New Dentist is committed to helping our community develop healthy habits to keep you out of our chair, getting on with your life with a confident smile and spending your money on something else.
In the past you may have been lead to believe that your parents had ‘weak teeth’ so you have inherited dental problems from them. In reality there are only a small number of dental conditions that are inherited. What’s really exciting today is that no one should just expect to get tooth decay or accept that the condition is inevitable. It can be prevented. And the best bit? It’s super easy.
Snapshot… Bacteria in your mouth convert sugar into acid. The acid eats away at the surface of a tooth, attacking the enamel, weakening the tooth and causing decay in the form of holes or cavities. Once the decay has reached the second layer – the dentine it’s now irreversible. Without treatment the cavity will continue to grow and eventually can be painful and unsightly.
We’re all human, and latest research tells us that more than 30% of Australians admit they are only brushing once daily, with most of us skipping the pre‐bed brush, and many of us admit we avoid flossing altogether.
Research tells us that 35% of parents report their children are only brushing once a day with more than 60% just accepting that their children will get tooth decay at some point in their lifetime. The overwhelming majority of Australians (83%) say that decayed teeth and bad breath are the biggest turn offs on a first date, far more concerning than excessive body odour (5%) or poor dress sense (4%).
Your New Dentist is committed to getting Australians to rethink their attitudes to tooth decay and not accept or expect it, but to work on practising better oral health habits and be aware of the damage certain foods and drinks can cause to your teeth. Your New Dentist is your healthy smile coach.
Dental decay is a massive issue in Australia. Some researchers have estimated that poor dental health contributes to 600,000 days lost from school and 1 million lost days of work each year. The total direct costs and lost productivity due to poor dental health in Australia is estimated at $2 billion a year!
To prevent tooth decay follow these simple tips;
Brush twice a day with fluoridated toothpaste – brushing can reduce your risk of decay by 25%.
Floss once a day – It doesn’t matter what time of the day. Flossing removes food from between your teeth, which brushing can’t reach. If the food is left between your teeth and forms plaque, you increase your risk of tooth decay.
Avoid snacking on sugary or acidic foods and drinks between meals. Some foods like muesli and fruit bars might seem healthy, however if they are sugary or have a sticky texture, they may increase your risk of tooth decay
Eating calcium rich foods like milk, cheese and yogurt can help to neutralise acids and protect your teeth
Chew sugarfree gum – There is evidence that chewing sugarfree gum increases the production of saliva, which helps protect your teeth against decay.
Your New Dentist is committed to prevention. We offer treatment options aimed at saving you money on dental treatment in the future. Preventive Dentistry can include; Fluoride applications, desensitizing treatments and fissure sealants. Prevention is powerful at any age. Saving money on your smile?
In the nicest possible way, we want to see less of you.
Spencer & Lewis 1988 End the decay, Brotherhood of St. Laurence ii Richardson & Richardson 2007, End the decay, Brotherhood of St. Laurence iii Richardson & Richardson 2007, End the decay, Brotherhood of St. Laurence iv Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Recommendations for using fluoride to prevent and control dental caries in the United States. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2001;50(RR-14):1–42. PMID 11521913. Lay summary: CDC, 2007-08-09.
