Children’s Week With Bondi Dental

Children’s Week is just around the corner (from 21–29 October) with the permanent theme: “A Caring World Shares”.

Bondi Dental would like to take this chance to remind you that compared to kids with poor oral health, children who establish good oral hygiene habits at a young age are more likely to continue excellent brushing and flossing as adults, experience far fewer dental problems throughout life, maintain a positive self-image, and perform better in school.

So, the question then becomes, how can we establish good dental hygiene habits in our children?

Bondi Dental is happy to give you some suggestions! 

Why is Good Dental Hygiene Important?

The short answer is “cavities and decay”. Statistics indicate that 20 percent of children between the ages of 5 and 11 have at least one decayed tooth. Trying to keep your child out of that percentage requires healthy dental habits. You want to make it fun and encourage them without putting too much pressure on them.
When proper brushing and flossing doesn’t occur, cavities can start to develop and cause toothaches.

Later, these cavities will have to be treated by a dentist to keep the tooth healthy. By teaching your children to brush, floss, and visit the dentist regularly, you can help prevent cavities and avoid expensive treatments.

How To Start Your Children On The Path To Oral Health

Try these helpful tips for teaching your kids about the importance of good oral hygiene, and watch them form good behaviors for taking care of their teeth.

Give kids a choice. Let your child pick their own toothbrush from the variety of colors, characters and looks available today. If you want to go hi-tech, some toothbrushes even play music to encourage children to brush for a set amount of time. The same with toothpaste – if you children choose a flavour they like, they are more likely to use it.

Have a routine. Kids, and adults for that matter, respond well to regular routines. Starting when your children are young, create morning and bedtime routines that include brushing your teeth with your kids.

Invent fun contests. Challenge your kids on who can create more bubbles while brushing or who can spit the toothpaste suds closer to the drain. Give stickers every day a child brushes and flosses, and reward them when they get 30 stickers.

Flossing. In order to teach the importance of regular flossing, start by letting your child watch you floss. Then, floss their teeth for them. Eventually, they’ll be able to handle this chore by themselves.

Visit your Dentist Early and Often

Parents are often unsure about when to take a child to a dentist. Should you wait until all of his teeth have come in, or perhaps until there is a real problem? The experts say no. The Australian Dental Association recommends that a child’s first visit should be before their first birthday.

The first visit isn’t for doing much dental work. It’s more about introducing your child to the dentist’s office, allowing them to explore various instruments and even sit in the chair. Only after your child is comfortable is it time for the dentist to take a quick peek at his mouth. If necessary, the first examination can take place with your child on your lap.

This first visit accomplishes two things. First, it familiarizes your child with the staff and the office environment in a non-threatening way, thus building trust. Second, it allows the dentist to do a quick examination, looking for decay.

How can Bondi Dental Help?

At Bondi Dental, we love working with kids of all ages. We understand young children and we make sure the interaction between our staff and your child starts and ends on a positive experience.

Since January 1st, 2014, the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) has provided services for over 3 million Australian children, aged between 2 and 17. This Government funded initiative, which succeeded the Medicare Teen Dental Plan, has helped to ensure that children who otherwise might not have had access to basic dental care, do.

The CDBS covers a range of basic dental services including: Dental Examinations; Cleaning, Scaling and Polishing; Tooth Fillings; Fissure Sealing for Teeth; Extractions; Root Canal Treatment, and; Emergencies.

Children aged between two and seventeen years old can be assessed for eligibility. To be eligible, a child must qualify for Medicare, and they must be a part of a family who receives an applicable government payment

 Your Trusted Family Dentist in Bondi

If you have a child in need of treatment, or any other dental issues, do not hesitate to call us at Bondi Dental on (02) 9365 7187.

Visit us today and take advantage of CDBS (Child Dental Benefits Schedule) and receive up to $1,000 worth of basic dental treatments over 2 calendar years.

Bondi Dental is open from Monday to Sunday to cater to all your dental needs.

Call your Bondi dentist on (02) 9365 7187 or visit us at 134 Curlewis St in Bondi Beach.