marriot and hand pty ltd - airport west | marriott & hand...suite 3/23 louis st airport west,...

Suite 3/23 Louis StAirport West, VIC, 3042

(03) 9330 2455

Marriot and Hand Pty LtdMore than just a great smile.

(03) 9330 2455 www.marriott-hand.com.au

Taking care of your kids teethMarriott and Hand’s comprehensive guide - helping your

kids get on track to healthy teeth and a happy smile.

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(03) 9330 2455

Table of contentsChildren’s Dentistry Melbourne

Introduction 3

Caring for your child’s smile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Tooth decay in children 4

When should you first bring your child to the dentist? 5

8 tips to protect your child’s smile 6

Brushing for babies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Brushing for children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Make brushing time fun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Create a brushing routine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Choosing a toothpaste . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Lead by example . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Check their work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Maintain a healthy approach to food . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Sport’s mouthguards 10

Marriott & Hand - Children’s Dentistry Melbourne 11

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(03) 9330 2455

IntroductionCaring for your child’s smile

Immediately after birth, your child’s brain starts developing at an extremely fast rate. Like a sponge, your child’s brain is ready to soak up information and learn new skills.

This is the perfect time to help your child develop routines and strategies that will build the foundation for positive dental care.

At Marriott and Hand, we are dedicated to helping parents care for their children’s smile at any age. Working with parents to help develop a healthy at-home maintenance routine has always been an essential and rewarding part of our jobs.

This guide will provide you with the information required to get your kids on track to a happy and healthy smile.

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Tooth decay in childrenBabies and toddlers are not exempt from

developing decay. The enamel

that protects your babies

teeth is much thinner and

softer on baby or milk teeth.

Meaning there is a greater risk

of developing decay when

children consume sugary foods

or drinks. Bacteria in the mouth

feed on these sugars and

produce acid that leads to decay

and damage.

‘Baby bottle decay’ can occur when

babies are put to sleep with a bottle

of milk or are given juice or formula to

sip throughout the day. These drinks

can pool in their mouths while they

are sleeping and cause damage.

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(03) 9330 2455

When should you first bring your child to visit the dentist?Building a positive relationship with your dentist

Establishing a good relationship with a family dentist early on can help to remove any apprehension about the dentist later in life. It is also important that you as the parent speak about the dentist as a positive experience even if you have misapprehensions yourself.

Parents typically provide oral hygiene care until the child is old enough to take personal responsibility for the daily dental health routine of brushing and flossing. A proper regimen of preventive home care is important from the day your child is born.

There is still a lot of confusion as to when you should bring your child to the dentist.

At Marriott & Hand in Airport West, Victoria, we would recommend that you bring your child in to see us when their first tooth erupts. This way we can look at the development of your child’s jaw and suggest further ways to ensure your child’s developing oral health.

When your child’s first tooth erupts, use a tiny smear of toothpaste to keep it clean; as more teeth come through, use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste to keep their milk teeth healthy and clean. You will need to help your child brush their teeth until they become dexterous enough to get right to their back teeth. The skill and motivation to do this effectively may not begin until age 11 or 12, so you need to be patient.

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8 TIPS THAT WILL HELP YOU PROTECT YOUR

CHILD’S SMILE

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Brushing for babiesTIP #1

When your child’s teeth begin to appear, you can start cleaning them with a soft, damp cloth. Wipe gently over the teeth and gums to remove any milk residue.

Brushing for childrenTIP #2

As your child grows you can start to introduce a soft children’s toothbrush to their routine. From around two to six years of age we recommend using a low fluoride based toothpaste. Once they switch to a regular fluoride toothpaste we recommend using a very small amount (approximately half the size of a pea). This is the case as most children will swallow a small amount. Despite this, children’s toothpastes are specially formulated and have reduced levels of fluoride, which effectively protect and strengthen your child’s teeth.

Make brushing time funTIP #3

Help your child to enjoy brushing their teeth by turning on their favourite music. You can encourage your child to start brushing at the start of the song and continue until the end. That way the time will go much faster and they will get their two minutes of brushing done in no time.

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Create a brushing routineTIP #4

If your child is often too tired to brush their teeth before bedtime, choose another time to brush. At Marriott & Hand Dentistry, we recommend that you child brushes at least one each day. Having said this, it is preferable to get in the practice of brushing twice a day where possible.

Choosing a toothpasteTIP #5

If your child does not like the taste of their toothpaste, try a few different brands. It is important to ensure that the toothpaste you choose contains fluoride.

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Lead by exampleTIP #6

Young children often learn best by imitation. Brushing together can help make brushing a fun part of your child’s daily routine. Parents will need to help until they feel assured that their child can reach all the tricky spots and brush with confidence.

Check their workTIP #7

After brushing, it can be beneficial to take a few minutes to inspect your child’s teeth. Make sure they have reached all of the tricky spots and have paid attention to molars in the back. If you notice any white spots, dark spots or even a hole in a tooth these should be checked by a dentist.

Maintain a healthy approach to foodTIP #8

Healthy eating habits are beneficial to your child’s overall wellbeing. A balanced diet, with children consuming foods from all sections of the healthy food pyramid, can help to prevent decay while strengthening and protecting teeth. Encourage your child to eat healthy snacks and discuss their food choices with them.

Teeth-friendly snacks include:

• Fresh fruit and vegetables

• Cheese and yoghurt

• Crackers

• Nuts

It is important to avoid foods high in sugar and starch which can cause cavities. Cookies, chips, sugary drinks (such as soft drinks) and roll-ups are fine as occasional treats; however, they should not be a regular food staple.

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(03) 9330 2455

Sports mouthguardsENSURE YOUR CHILD’S SPORTS MOUTHGUARD STAYS IN THEIR MOUTH – NOT THEIR SPORTS BAG!

When sports season rolls around this task can be increasingly difficult with contact sport being one of the leading causes of tooth injury for Australian children. Far too often our child’s favourite sports such as soccer, football and hockey can put them at risk of a number of injuries including:

• Chipped, damaged or lost teeth

• Injuries to the tongue and oral tissues

• Jaw injuries

• Cuts and damage to the facial area

While off-the-shelf “boil and mould” mouthguards are readily available, any parent who wishes to provide optimal protection of their child’s smile during contact sport should consider the custom designed sports mouth guards offered at our dental practice based in Airport West.

Why should I choose a custom designed sports mouthguard when off-the-shelf versions seem to be cheaper and easier?

Our dentists can examine your child’s mouthguard during their regular check-up appointments to ensure that any wear and tear has not decreased the effectiveness of the guard.

How do custom designed mouthguards protect my child’s smile?

The sports mouthguards we create at Marriott and Hand work in a number of ways to protect your child’s smile during the soccer, hockey or rugby season:

Our mouthguards act as a buffer between your child’s teeth and the soft tissues of their cheeks and lips to prevent laceration and bruising during contact sports. By cushioning teeth from frontal blows and redistributing the forces of impact, mouthguards can be an effective tool to reduce the risk of tooth fractures or dislocations.

Professionally crafted mouthguards can offer increased protection for jaw and neck from injury during contact. Certain instances of concussion can be prevented by sports mouth guards as these devices can act as shock absorbers between the upper and lower jaws.

As fathers themselves, our principal dentists can assist parents in educating their children about the importance of wearing their sports mouth guards during both training and games. We find that compliance dramatically increases when children are aware of the benefits of wearing a mouthguard and are supplied with a comfortable guard that is designed and made specifically for them.

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(03) 9330 2455

8 TIP’S TO HELP YOU PROTECT YOUR

CHILD’S SMILE

Marriott & HandChildren’s Dentistry Melbourne

Being fathers themselves, David and Philip passionately provide treatment and education to help your children maintain healthy and happy smiles for the rest of their lives.

If you’re seeking a family-friendly dentist that will taks care of you and your family, please don’t hesitate to get in contact with the team at Marriott & Hand.

If you have any questions about helping your kids look after their teeth, or, you would

like to make an appointment, give us a call on (03) 9330 2455, or visit the website: www.marriott-hand.com.au

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marriot and hand pty ltd - airport west | marriott & hand...suite 3/23 louis st airport west,...

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