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Neglecting a child’s oral health is one of the biggest mistakes a parent can make. Poor nutrition and lack of teeth cleaning within the first two years of a kid’s life has been related to cases of tooth decay. According to statistics, tooth decay is 5 times more widespread to kids compared to asthma. Also, developing tooth decay in primary teeth also heightens the risk of tooth decay in permanent teeth. Therefore, it is imperative for parents to start teaching their children on good oral hygiene habits to prevent future dental problems when they grow up. However, if your baby has already developed signs of tooth decay, it is not too late to reverse the condition. Here are some few steps to follow once you notice tooth decay on your child. 1. Teach Your Baby How to Brush and Floss Twice a Day Learning how to brush properly may take some time before the child finally masters the art. A majority of children will continue to need supervision until they are six to eight years old. That means that parents need to develop some measures that will enable their kids to learn how to brush. Such measures include brushing with your kid and establishing a routine. The earlier you start teaching them, the easier it will be for the child to maintain the habit even when they get old. 2. Use the Right Amount of Fluoride Toothpaste Many parents believe that they should wait until their children are three to four years so that they can start using fluoride toothpaste on them. However, this should not be the case. You should start using fluoride toothpaste on your child but be sure to include the right amount. For children below the age of three, you can use a rice size toothpaste for their brushing. Most children will end up swallowing the toothpaste after brushing. However, don’t worry if they do. The amount is too small to cause any harm to them. 3. Don’t Send Your Child With a Bottle to Bed Remember, sugar from liquids you give your child using a feeding bottle such as breast milk, formula or juice contain sugars that bacteria will feed on and lead to cavities. The longer these sugars will sit on your child’s teeth, the easier it will be for them to develop cavities. So, if your baby won’t go to bed without a bottle, use water instead of other liquids. 4. Visit Your Kid Dentist One common myth among most people is that a kid doesn’t need to be taken to see a dentist until they are three or four years. I beg to differ! Kids dentist are trained to detect any cavities as well as other dental complications in children before they worsen. Research has it that when you take your child to see a dentist as early as six months, the chances are that the kid will grow up cavity free. Bottom Line: Visit Us At Springvale Dental Clinic Thousands of children in Australia are suffering from the negative effects of tooth decay. Don’t let your child be among the statistics. Visit us at Springvale Dental Clinic with your child and let us kick start them with a healthy smile that they will take to their adulthood. Our kid’s dentist in Springvale will be able to detect early signs of tooth decay and employ appropriate measures to reverse it.

Saliva is the clear liquid in our mouth that is made by several glands. Saliva plays a vital role in a healthy body. Water is the main component of saliva. However, it does contain some other components that are beneficial in food digestion and keeping the teeth strong and healthy. Saliva is mainly produced when you chew. And the harder you chew, the more saliva your salivary glands make. Also, sucking on a cough drop or candy helps to make saliva too. Saliva plays several roles in oral and body health, and it is also central to the wellbeing and quality of life.  Some of these important roles of saliva in dental hygiene include the following: Saliva Maintains Stable pH inside your Mouth A stable pH level in your mouth should be maintained at all cost. There are numerous ways by which one can address oral health optimisation. And one of them is by fuelling or lubricating your saliva with appropriate nutrients to balance a salubrious oral mucosa. Additionally, the fuelling and the lubrication helps to protect against thermal, chemical and mechanical irritation. It also assists in smooth airflow, swallowing and speech Saliva Holds Ions Needed for Maintenance of the Tooth Enamel Similar to a moisturiser, saliva is a mineralizing agent. It plays an important role in adding nutrients and minerals by washing through your gums and teeth thereby toughening your oral mucosa. Also, one needs to get enough nutrition in your diet in order to support the process of remineralising the teeth and to produce good saliva. Saliva Buffers and Dilutes Plaque Acids When there is sufficient saliva production, it helps to prevent tooth decay. Tooth decay occurs due to demineralisation of the tooth enamel. Through saliva stimulation, neutralising and diluting plaque acids after eating provides that extra kick of mineral ions thereby promoting the process of mineralisation. Saliva Prevents Gum Problems Gum disease has highly been linked to reduced level of saliva in the mouth. Unfortunately, this problem is more prevalent to older people. It occurs as a person gets older. Saliva acts as a natural immunity against gum disease. Other than compounds such as lactoferrin which prevents gum problems from thriving in your mouth, saliva contains natural enzymes which maintain your mouth. One of them is lysozyme which destabilizes bacterial cell walls that lead to gum diseases. Other Important Roles of Saliva include: It forms a protective coat on the tooth enamel. Saliva acts as a solvent hence allowing interaction of food with the taste buds. Saliva clears food between your teeth and aids swallowing. Bottom Line The key to having good saliva is in your diet, the amount of water you take, how you breathe and any medications you may be on. Having good saliva is essential in protecting your gums from disease and your teeth from decay. If you are in for more information or if you are concerned about the quality of your saliva, feel free to contact or visit our dentists at Springvale Dental Clinic.

Oral health education is a continual process involving imparting knowledge on the importance of oral hygiene to promote good oral health. One of the most overlooked but important aspects of child rearing is oral health education. The oral health of a child is vital from the moment they are born up to adulthood. Pre-teething care Even before the first milk teeth erupt, it is important to start taking care of your child’s oral health. After feeding, it is recommended that you clean your baby’s gums with a damp clean cloth or gauze pad. Additionally, do not put your baby to sleep with any other food or drink other than water. This will ensure that your baby’s mouth stays as clean as possible during sleep, as this is the time when bacteria can cause harm in the mouth. After eruption Once the baby’s teeth erupt, you can now start introducing brushing as part of your baby’s oral hygiene. At this point, you can only use a non-fluoride toothpaste or just water because using fluoride toothpaste at this point may be risky. Always use a baby-sized toothbrush for this. You can also begin flossing at this point once you see at least two teeth appear. After the age of two, you can begin using a pea-sized toothpaste to brush your baby’s teeth. As they grow up, you may want to let them start brushing their own teeth. It is, however,important to note that children from the time they are born up to when they are nine years old cannot really know how to brush their teeth properly. However, you can start training them as early as possible so they can get accustomed. Train them to brush and floss twice a day or as recommended by a dentist. Dental Check-ups Dental check-ups should start as soon as your child reaches one year. During these dental visits, your dentists will check your child’s teeth development and give the necessary recommendations such as fluorides. Throughout the development of your child’s teeth, your dentist should be able to identify any anomalies and administer the necessary treatment.This is also the time when they can have professional teeth cleaning. Many dental clinics,such as Springvale dental Clinic offer such services and are happy to steer your child’s oral health education into their adulthood. This practice should continue well into their teens when the dentist can recommend braces or other dental treatments such as wisdom teeth extraction. Once children are adults and you feel they can take care of their oral health, do not stop checking up on them and reminding them of what they need to do. Children, especially teenagers, can slack on their oral hygiene,and it is, therefore,essential to help them make it a habit. Diet One of the most critical aspects of oral hygiene is diet. If you start feeding your child unhealthy snacks with lots of sugar and bacteria-inhibiting foods, you may have to deal with tooth decay later in their teenage or adulthood. Therefore, train your child/children to eat healthy foods,so they are not addicted to sugar. Bottom Line In summary, oral health education is important from the onset. This means that frequent visits to the dentist will be inevitable. Springvale Dental Clinic offers professional oral health advice and also offer professional teeth cleaning services along with other dental care services.