“An apple a day keeps the dentist away”! We all wish it was that simple to keep our children’s teeth healthy. But what if we didn’t want to keep the dentist away, but see our dentist more often to prevent issues? Dentists are always seen as a chore, but what if your children loved going to the dentist?

Most children go through the fear and worry of visiting a dentist and this has lifelong implications on their dental health. So why not turn that negative experience into a positive one so that it has lasting effects on the way children see oral health. Oral health is vitally important to our general wellbeing, so when we embrace our oral health and implement healthy habits it does more than keep their teeth clean and breath fresh. We spoke to the experts at Dr Michael’s Dental Clinic to give us some advice on our children’s oral health.

WHEN SHOULD I START TO TAKE MY CHILDREN TO THE DENTIST?

From when the first tooth erupts and is visible or no later than their first birthday, we all know life is busy so if you can’t do it before, just visit as close to that first birthday as possible. Seeing a dentist early on can help to ensure the teeth are growing as they should and can highlight any problems far earlier.

HOW CAN I REDUCE MY CHILD’S FEAR OF THE DENTIST?

If like us you only went to the dentist annually and the majority of the time there were issues, this is only going to create a negative experience. By visiting more frequently and making it a more positive experience, kids become more accustomed to the surroundings, start to recognise faces and realise it’s not as scary as it first seemed. Dr Michael’s Paediatric Dentistry is also kitted out with child friendly toys and has lots of bright colours to make the visit more memorable and approachable. Why didn’t we have dentists like this when we were young?

WHY ARE CHILDREN MORE AT RISK OF TOOTH DECAY?

Many children and babies fall asleep whilst having their milkand as we all know anything to get children to sleep is golden. But this habit is one dentists advise against, as it can affect their teeth as there is no brushing after finishing their milk.

Another cause of tooth decay is using a bottle after their first birthday, something we’re all a little guilty of! Sucking on a bottle for far longer than is necessary causes the milk pool in their mouth and around the teeth which can lead to cavities. This is why babies from their first birthday should drink from a cup or hard spouted bottle to prevent this! Coupled with the softer toothbrush’s children use because they have delicate gums, the bristles can’t always effectively remove the build-up on their teeth.

By visiting a dentist early, they can highlight any issues or potential habits that can lead to problems further down the line, so it makes sense to visit early to help encourage healthy oral habits from the start!

WHAT OTHER BENEFITS ARE THERE FOR GOING TO THE DENTIST?

Besides generally checking that the teeth have been brushed properly, dentists are able to highlight potential issues that could cause problems in the future. They can assess the bone structure of the jaw to make sure the bite is correct as any misalignments could lead to nutrition problems and can even affect speech!

Another important factor is aesthetics, such as achieving that perfect smile! With clever technology Dr Michael’s PaediatricDentistry can assess the gums to ensure teeth are growing in the right way and if needed can correct any alignment issues.

Oral health is so much more than simply tooth brushing, visiting the dentist can ensure that our children are able to smile confidently and are able to express themselves clearly, so it’s definitely worth making the trip more often than we think!

HOW CAN I BOOK AN APPOINTMENT?

Dr Michael’s Paediatric Dentistry offers a supportive environment for children and adolescents to visit the dentist without worry and aims to support families in all areas of their dental health. Equipped with facilities to encourage positive relationships with dentists from a young age, the clinic helps to break down the stigma of dentists being ‘scary’.

Appointments are available to book by contacting 04 339 7700 or visiting the website.

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