When your child is going back to school, you have lots to think about such as buying school books, clothing and other items. The thought of including a dental check-up as part of your child’s going back to school preparations may not enter your mind. But according to the American Dental Association, a dental examination for your child is truly vital.

Why Should You Take Your Child For A Dental Check-Up?

Generally, children favour sugary food items and when combined with improper dental care, it can lead to tooth decay. True enough, according to the American Dental Association, one of the main reasons for children’s absences from school is dental suffering or pain. Dental pain can affect a child’s speech, learning, eating and other daily activities.

 

 

Just like adults, children are also advised to visit the dentist for regular check-ups every six months. Even with diligent flossing and brushing, there might be some hard to reach places in the mouth where food particle accumulation is possible. Professional cleaning by one of the Brite group dentists ensures whatever build up or teeth stains are effectively removed.

What can Brite Dental experts do for you?

 

 

A dental expert would check the overall condition of your child’s teeth. Asides from checking for cavities and advising about possible tooth filling, the dentist would also check the overall teeth alignment. A milk tooth normally first appears when a baby is around six months old. Milk teeth are gradually replaced by permanent teeth when a child is around six or seven years old. So, a dentist also checks the progress of your child’s permanent teeth, ensuring that each tooth is erupting properly.

 

Let’s say that your child has a set of permanent teeth. If there are any orthodontic issues, the Brite team can talk you through the different teeth straightening treatments available at the practice.

 

Even if the issue is merely cosmetic, it should be addressed properly. This is because it can affect a child psychologically, creating lower self-esteem among other things. So, taking the necessary step for proper teeth alignment when your child is still young is truly important.

 

The dentist may decide to take X-rays for checking the actual condition of the root system and determining if there is any tooth decay that can’t be visually seen. Professional cleaning of your child’s teeth by the Brite group experts not only ensure the whiteness and cleanliness of teeth but also gums, providing good oral health. As you may know, children are more vulnerable to diseases compared to adults and good oral health is vital for the prevention of diseases.

 

Another thing the Brite dental team can do is apply fissure sealant to your child’s teeth. The sealant is usually applied to the chewing surfaces of teeth. It is normally a thin coating which prevents the accumulation of food particles. The sealant treatment normally lasts for a few years.

Great tips for taking care of your child’s teeth

 

 

As well as discouraging your child from taking too much of sugary food and drinks, you should ensure that your child brushes and flosses the teeth at least twice a day, before going to bed and after getting up in the morning. Encourage your child to eat healthy snacks like fresh fruits, yogurt and vegetables which are healthy for your growing child.

 

Similar to adult toothpaste, your child’s toothpaste should also have fluoride, which protects the tooth enamel against bacteria and plaque. When it comes to your child’s toothbrush, get one that makes a nice fit into your child’s mouth with bristles that aren’t too soft or hard. Also, it’s advisable to change your child’s toothbrush every three months. This is because children’s toothbrushes aren’t normally robust and the bristles lose their splay and strength sooner compared to adult toothbrushes. For preventing any form of teeth damage during sports or rough play, get a custom-made mouth guard for your child from the Brite group.

 

Brite Dental are happy to be part of the Childsmile programme for Scotland. The core of the programme is to create access for families who would not otherwise have access to dental services for their little ones, particularly those areas with poor child dental care.

Get in touch today!

If you have any questions or concerns for your child’s oral health, then please feel free to contact your local Brite Dental Practice today.

As you get older you begin to realise how important your oral health is and often wish that you had taken better care of your teeth when you were younger. That is why it is important for you to be aware of how to provide your children with good dental care.

Oral Hygiene Begins Before Teeth Are Showing

Just because you can’t see them doesn’t mean they aren’t there! Many people are unaware that teeth are fully developed in your baby’s jaw at birth, which is why your focus should be on your baby’s gums for the first 6 months. You can look after your baby’s gums by using a clean, lukewarm washcloth to wipe bacteria off the gums a few times a day. When your baby’s first little teeth begin to appear, use a soft- bristled toothbrush and water to clean your baby’s teeth. By the time your child turns 2, you should begin teaching them how to spit after brushing to avoid them swallowing any plaque and to prepare them for spitting out their toothpaste. Ask your dentist when to introduce toothpaste to your child, this is normally when they are around two years old. You should use a pea sized amount of toothpaste that is low in fluoride.

Regular Check-ups

Having regular dental check-ups will not only help identify any problems early but will also prevent the fear associated with dental visits. You can also help your infants learn that the dentist is not a figure to be afraid of by reading them child friendly dental books as this will give them a more positive view of going to the dentist. Parents can play a vital role in encouraging their child’s overall oral health.

Teach Your Children the Right Technique

When your child turns 3, you should teach them proper brushing techniques, we have all seen both children and adults vigorously brushing their teeth as quickly as they can. This is not a constructive method of brushing and can often lead to more damage than good. The toothbrush should be moved in a back- and- forth motion with short strokes along the teeth and gums. It is important to teach your child the correct brushing technique so that they can protect their gums and target the most bacteria as possible. Whilst brushing for 2 minutes is the recommended amount, this is not realistic for young children, so put emphasis on this to prolong the brushing process as much as possible.

Children and Flossing

Flossing is one of the most neglected components of oral hygiene, despite it being one of the most important. To set a good example for your child, you should adopt flossing in to your daily routine as this will prepare them for when their tooth surfaces are next to each other and they can start flossing themselves. Flossing should be adopted as a consistent dental care routine as using dental floss removes plaque and excess food particles that you may not be able to target with just your toothbrush.

Providing your children with good oral care will kick them off to a good start and increase their likeliness to establish the best dental habits. Thus, keeping them as healthy and happy as possible. At Brite Dental, we are part of the Childsmile programme, so register your little ones today!

Recent data has shown that the Scottish Childsmile programme saves nearly £5 million a year in treatments costs. The statement was made by Scotland’s public health minister Maureen Watt. She explained that the savings have been made due to a decrease in the amount of fillings, general anaesthetics and extractions required.

What Is The Childsmile Scheme?

Childsmile is a national programme that was created in Scotland to improve the oral health of children and improve access to dental services. The scheme was created in 2008 and works in partnership with various schools, nurseries and dental practices.

How Has Childsmile Helped Improve Children’s Dental Health In Scotland?

The Childmsile programme has not only helped save millions of pounds but it has also helped improve the dental health of children in Scotland. Since the scheme was introduced, Scotland has seen a decrease in the number of primary one children with ‘obvious decay experience’ from 46% to 32%. 92% of Scottish children are also now registered to a NHS dentist. The results of the scheme have shown what a focus on prevention and education can achieve.

NHS Childsmile Programme and Brite Dental

Brite Dental is happy to be a part of Scotland’s Childsmile programme. As part of the Childsmile scheme, children receive free toothbrushes, toothpaste and two fluoride varnish applications per year. Children attending nursery and those who attend a primary school in a deprived area are also offered daily supervised brushing. A key focus of the programme is to prevent the development of dental decay which is important to avoid the need for root canal treatment. Brite Dental are proud to help children learn about their dental health and ways to improve it.

Brite Dental is an NHS and cosmetic dentistry dental practice. To find out more, or to register, contact us today.