When you’ve fallen out of the habit of taking
care of your teeth, they’re not something you think about until you
feel a pain one morning. At that point, tooth decay has set in and
the nerve pain cuts right to the quick. Even painkillers don’t work
because nerve pain isn’t well managed through the usual
over-the-counter
medications if that’s even something that your family believes
in taking.
In this article, we discuss the importance of
effective dental care for the whole family.
It Begins with the Parents
Children learn from their parents. As mother or
fathers, we all know this. They ape what we do until they develop an
independent mind and run with enough confidence to make their own
choices. But even then, their choices are often influenced by their
parents – at least, once they’re past the rebellious stage where
they intentionally do the exact opposite!
When the kids come along to dental appointments to
see what happens or even just to get used to the look of the dental
chair and the need to polish their teeth and get them checked, it
removes their initial fear. This is an essential part of the process
for them because kids fear the unknown or unfamiliar.
Then the Kids
Once the parents have had their oral care dealt
with, it’s time to get the kids on board too.
To do this, we’d recommend using a dental
specialist like Gallery Dental.
Getting kids used to having their teeth taken care
of early is important because regular check-ups are required to see
how their teeth are developing. As they lose a tooth and the tooth
fairy rewards them, they get accustomed to taking care of their
teeth.
Parents also shouldn’t worry about the costs
because there’s the Child Dental Benefits Schedule now for dental
visits in Australia, which covers $1,000 in child dental costs over a
two year period. So, even parents on a tight budget can afford it.
And Regular Brushing & Flossing
Beyond dentist visits, brushing in the morning and
before bedtime are daily traditions to instil early in life. Flossing
is an activity suited to older children to avoid them turning the
floss material into a choking hazard. Even for pre-teens, flossing
should be a supervised activity until they are old enough to be
trusted with the material alone.
But
Don’t Forget Food & Drink Too
Along with oral care and regular brushing, don’t
forget the influence that food and drink have on oral health.
Sugary drink consumption in children has been
found to be detrimental to the long-term viability of their teeth.
Similarly, unhealthy food is also bad for gum health too. Parents
need to be aware of what their children are eating and drinking both
inside and outside the home, to ensure they don’t take in too many
bad foods or an excess of sugar.
Dental care for everyone in the family is
important. Children learn what’s important from their parents and
follow their lead in many cases. They then carry this focus on oral
health into their later years.
CONVERSATION