At Maven Dental, we typically recommend that your little one comes in as soon as their first tooth erupts to help instil a good oral health routine right from the start. We are all about prevention, and with Dental Health Week upon us, we wanted to share a few handy tips to help your children maintain a healthy smile for life!
A well-balanced diet that limits starchy and sugary foods will reduce possible dental issues for the short and long term and ensure your child is getting plenty of essential minerals and vitamins, including calcium, phosphorous, and proper levels of fluoride.
As we all know, it is nearly impossible to remove sugary foods from your little ones' diet altogether; however, we recommend eating them with a meal instead of as a snack. Saying 'goodbye' to snacking throughout the day will reduce the risk of cavities.
It is an investment to teach your child proper oral care, and it is important that you set an example by brushing and flossing twice daily - think of yourself as their oral health coach! In addition to this, we recommend visiting your friendly dentist twice yearly to help monitor growth and development.
As kids grow, they usually become more comfortable with their six-monthly visits to the dentist; however, you will still need to assist with their daily oral health routine until the age of 7 or 8.
A few tips for your children's at-home dental routine include:
“Use a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste and ensure your child does not swallow it”
A few tips for your children's at-home dental routine include:
“It's always fun to brush your tongue”
A few tips for your children's at-home dental routine include:
“Use a gentle circular motion to clean the outer surface of your teeth”
To assist in covering the costs of your little one's dental bill, Medicare has introduced the Child Dental Benefits Scheme (CBDS), which provides each eligible child aged from 2-17 years with up to $1000 worth of dental services over two calendar years. The CBDS covers a number of dental services for Families who are receiving other benefits, such as the Family Tax Benefit Part A.
If your child is eligible for the CDBS, they will be entitled to numerous services covered under CDBS, including:
Check whether you’re eligible for the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS). The CDBS subsidises up to $1,000 worth of dental treatment for eligible children aged 2 to 17 over a two-calendar year period. Contact your nearest Maven Dental practice to find out more.
Note: Some services aren't covered by the CBDS, so be sure to check with your friendly Maven Dental dentist prior to your appointment.
After the first visit, ensure your child maintain routine check-ups with the dentist as this will prepare them for visits into adulthood.
Is it time to book an appointment for your little one? Your local Maven Dentist will be happy to help.