Time to combat cavities 

It is a sad fact that almost half of all New Zealand children have cavities before they reach the age of five. As your child’s teeth develop, you need to be extra vigilant about how you take care of their teeth and gums and what you let them eat.

Let’s take a look at how best you can take care of your pre-school and primary school-age child’s teeth and gums.

Kids learn good oral healthcare practices by practising and repeating. Make sure your child brushes after breakfast and before bed. Try to make brushing a fun routine and you will help build a healthy habit that will last a lifetime.

Your child’s oral healthcare needs also change over time so here are a few tips for two to five-year-olds:

• begin teaching your pre-schooler to brush by gripping the toothbrush and helping to guide it around the mouth;

• brush at least twice a day with a small amount of toothpaste – after breakfast and before bed;

• continue helping your child to brush at least until age six;

• use a child-sized toothbrush that is easy to grip;

• increase toothpaste to pea-sized amount as your child learns to spit after brushing.

As your child enters primary school it is especially important to keep an eye on what goes into their mouth. Limit the amount of sugary foods and drinks that he or she consumes and keep up those good oral health practices. This age is when your child learns to take care of his or her own teeth and the lessons learned are lifelong.

Obviously, getting your child to brush after school lunch is going to be a stretch [OK expression? I don’t know that one] given there are a myriad of distractions. Do try to get him or her into the habit of swishing water in the mouth after food. It’ll help neutralise the acidic conditions that bacteria love and assists in washing away the food that bacteria feed on to produce plaque.

Remember, good oral health begins in the home. And keeping your child’s chompers in top shape with these simple tips keeps that cute smile bright and healthy:

• make sure your child brushes at least twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, such as Colgate Total, especially after breakfast and before bedtime;

• change the brush every three months;

• teach a gentle, circular motion at the gum line (don’t scrub!);

• don’t apply pressure – let your brush do the work;

• get your child into a fun, everyday oral care routine to maintain good health overall;

• children aged five and older can floss every day – parents can help until children are able to do it by themselves;

• make sure you take your child to visit a dental professional regularly;

• teach your child to eat healthy foods and avoid sugar.

Make brushing your child’s teeth fun, and get him or her into the routine of twice daily brushing. Then they are more likely to keep good oral health habits throughout their lives.