KIDS DENTISTRY

Kids EAT, PLAY and SLEEP. Parents PRAY that they will be healthy and happy.

EATING, SLEEPING AND PLAYING is what childhood is all about and we as parents just PRAY that we are doing enough to keep them healthy and happy.
Our children’s lives will follow the patterns of ours. If we as parents do not implement any changes to our own lifestyles, we will see less of these changes in our children.

How do we help our kids EAT, SLEEP AND PLAY?

EATING – From a medical and dental perspective, reducing the amount of processed foods in our diets will help to reduce the amount of sugar and simple carbohydrates we consume.

Watching the videos on this site http://protectingtinyteeth.com.au/index.html will give you some information from the Australian dental association about protecting your children’s teeth.

SLEEPING – Sleep is time for our body to rest and repair. For children, this is the time in which they grow.

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PLAYING – When our children are healthy, sleep and eat well, that is a huge relief for us as parents. Keeping our kids active will keep their body and minds healthy. When it comes to sports, a mouthguard will help reduce tooth trauma when children are involved in contact sports.

PRAYING – What can parents do apart from just praying and hoping that their child will be healthy and happy?

Regular dental appointments with children here at Bright-On Bay Dental goes beyond just cleaning and checking their teeth.

Check the development of their teeth, face, jaws and bite.
Check for signs of airway problems – dentists are part of the medical profession and quite often, large tonsils and adenoids that physically obstruct the airway are picked up here at Bright-On Bay Dental by Dr Janice Lau and referred off to ENT specialists for assessment and management.
Preventive and early treatment often is simple and quick. Intervening early prevents more complicated and expensive orthodontic treatment later on.
Teach and equip children and parents about their oral health and what they need to be doing to prevent dental and health problems.

Check out this useful video from https://healthykids.nsw.gov.au

Frequently Asked Questions

What is simple dietary rules to follow?

Simple dietary rules to follow:

Limiting to 5 meals per day (breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner)
Water in between meals – Water is free and contains fluoride which helps to prevent tooth decay. Did you know that 250ml of fruit juice contains 6 tsp of sugar and is acidic? This can cause decay to your teeth if there is frequent exposure to it.
Brushing twice daily with fluoride toothpaste

What are some signs of airway problems?

Mouth breathing – dry lips, drooling, mouth open
Snoring/cessation of/heavy breathing at night
Grinding teeth at night
Bedtime issues – bedwetting, excessive awakening, problems going to bed
Sleepiness/hyperactivity during the day

What is the relationship between allergies and dental problems?

Allergies are very common these days. This can cause proliferation of lymphoid tissues in your nose and throat (your adenoids and tonsils) which can change the way you breathe and swallow. This change then can result in changes to the growth and development of your jaws and face.

What is Dr Janice’s personal experience with babies, toddlers and children?

Having children of her own means that she knows what it is like to be a parent. Here’s some of the tricks she has used on her own children.

Babies – At this stage, she would get them used to having her fingers in their mouths. Chew toys or a wet cold towel can be helpful when they are teething.
After teeth start coming through – using a wet towel or finger brush can be helpful to get them used to having their teeth cleaned. Her children often would hold a toothbrush and play with it in their mouths whilst Janice would brush their teeth. She also found brushing their teeth whilst singing “Twinkle, twinkle little star” kept toothbrushing a playful routine. The key is to have fun and not be forceful.
Under 3 – Janice would lay her child’s head in her lap and check and brush their teeth. Start with no toothpaste or a non-fluoridated toothpaste until your child is able to spit out the fluoride toothpaste.
Kids are so smart these days! Together with a good daycare/preschool, your children will know all about which foods and drinks are healthy and which foods are ‘sometimes food’.
Disclosing tablets (available at your chemist – Colgate, Caredent, TePe) are a good fun way of showing children where there plaque is on their teeth and getting them to brush it off.

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