This National Children’s Dental Health Month, we hear from a number of dental professionals who share their top tips and advice when it comes to treating children in the surgery.
Dr Alexanne Hood
I would be mindful of how easy it is to pass a fear of the dentist onto your kids. Try to have positive conversations with your kids about visiting the dentist, talk about how exciting it is to get stickers and how important it is to look after your teeth.
If you’re really nervous, have a family member take them for check ups or book your own check ups on a different day so that we can totally focus on you and your kids don’t pick up on you being anxious.
My mam was always terrified of the dentist when I was a kid, but we never knew, as she never told us and my dad always took us for check ups. Luckily we never developed that fear, otherwise I could be in a different job right now.
Dr Mac Bule
Do not brush your child’s teeth straight after eating and/or drinking sweet things. Wait for half an hour so saliva can neutralise the acid. Eating cheese would also help.
The phosphate and the calcium in cheese would help break down the acid caused by the interaction between the sweets and bacteria inside the mouth.
Dr Sharon
My tip for parents to keep on top of their child’s oral health is to use plaque disclosing tablets.
A plaque disclosing tablet helps to identify areas of your child’s teeth that they’ve missed after completing their oral care routine. They contain a harmless dye that reacts with the plaque that may remain on areas of the teeth after cleaning.
When you see the dyed areas, you and your child can easily identify trouble spots to focus their brushing efforts.
Use this as a tool to help your child learn where they are missing and show them how to improve their brushing skills long term. It can quite easily be done once a week.
Dr Maria Papavergos
My top tip would be choose to eat fruit whole, not in juices or blended into smoothies, and avoid baby pouches that are loaded with sugar.
Rita Komunda
Children’s dental health is a vital aspect of their general health. As it’s International Children’s Dental Health Month, here are some tips for parents.
- Make toothbrushing fun with colourful toothbrushes, flavoured toothpastes
- Exciting story books and toys about oral hygiene make a difference
- Encourage your children to brush at least twice a day
- Using a fluoride toothpaste containing at least 1,000ppm fluoride, encouraging them to spit and not rinse
- Use a child friendly electric toothbrush
- For babies, gently open your baby’s mouth, and then lightly rub their tongue in a circular motion using the cloth or gauze on your finger
- Also taking your children along to your regular dental appointments encourages them to pay more attention to their oral health.
My tip would be brush twice a day with your child. Make it fun by listening to your favourite song for two minutes while brushing.
Rachael Hartley
Using music makes everything so much more fun and playful. Playing their favourite tune will help to encourage your child/children.
Let them brush first followed by you using a smaller brush. This will allow better access and cleaning of those little teeth.
I highly recommend the Curaprox CS 1006. Brilliant for bringing attention to detail and cleaning each tooth individually. The investment is for the soft bristles.
Remember, we’re not always going to win and that’s okay. Keep trying and gently encouraging.
Robiha Nazir
Using music makes everything so much more fun and playful. Playing their favourite tune will help to encourage your child/ren. Let them brush first followed by you using a smaller brush. This will allow better access and cleaning of those little teeth.
I highly recommend the Curaprox CS 1006. Brilliant for bringing attention to detail and cleaning each tooth individually. The investment is for the soft bristles.
Remember, we’re not always going to win and that’s okay. Keep trying and gently encouraging.
Simmi Bharadia
The best way to brush a baby’s teeth is to sit them on your knee, with their head resting against your chest. With an older child, stand behind them and tilt their head backwards.
Wajiha Basir
The first visit to the dentist is all about introducing your child to the dental environment and ensuring they have a positive and an enjoyable experience.
Before their visit, talk to them about what will happen and what to expect. Children love visuals and this is a great way to engage with them. Try showing them pictures of a dentist or sharing a book about a visit to the dentist.
Give them plenty of opportunity to ask questions and respond in a way they will understand. You could even have fun role playing or modelling on their favourite toy.
Let your child bring their favourite toy as this helps them feel safe and secure. Children tend to pick up on our anxieties and this could have long term effects on how they perceive things.
So even if you’re less than keen on your own visits to the dentist, try not to show your fear in front your child but speak in a positive and re-assuring way.
Last of all, plan something fun for after the visit, so your child learns to associate the dentist with pleasant things!
Dr Kunal Patel
We know at Love Teeth Kids, learning and reward is very important.
Give your little patients fun homework if they need intervention and oral hygiene education. Then review it when they return for the needed treatment.
Eg giving them a good food/bad food worksheet. They fill in what they eat and choose whether they believe it is good or bad for their teeth.
When they return with the worksheet completed they can choose a reward from a toy gumball machine.
Surroundings are key, take a look at our kid’s practice, you will want to be 5 again!
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