Every child deserves a long and healthy life and that includes a right to: be safe, play, clean air, vaccines, education, and health.”
The World Health Organisation
World Children’s Day is on 20 November! The day was first established in 1954 as Universal Children’s Day, and is celebrated on 20 November each year to promote international togetherness, awareness among children worldwide, and improving children’s welfare.
At Mills Dental Care, we want to recognise World Children’s Day by reinforcing the importance of practicing good oral hygiene and getting regular dental care. We are passionate about helping children of all ages achieve and maintain optimal oral health for a lifetime.
A Tooth-Friendly Diet
One of the best ways to keep your child’s smile bright and healthy is by choosing foods and drinks that are good for teeth. Here are some tips:
Reduce sugary, processed and acidic foods and drinks
One of the easiest ways to ensure your child has a tooth-friendly diet is by reducing or eliminating processed or packaged foods, often laden in sugar. Instead of soft drinks or sports drinks, encourage your child to drink more water.
Add more fruits & vegetables
While wholesome for the body, fruits and veggies from local markets are also good for the teeth. Particularly good ones are taro, kaukau and kumu.
Drink water after eating
If your child is unable to brush right after eating, it’s a good idea to have them drink water, which will dilute the impact of sugary and acidic foods and drinks.
The Power of Preventative Care
The saying, “prevention is better than cure,” is certainly the case in oral health. Children who adopt proper oral hygiene habits from an early age may avoid cavities and other oral health problems down the road. Healthy habits include brushing twice a day and flossing once daily.
We also encourage parents to make brushing from a young age a fun family activity. Consider playing your child’s favourite song and having them brush until the song is over.
Helping Kids Feel at Ease
We understand that many children feel nervous about going to the dentist. One of the best ways to address that anxiety is to bring your child with you to your appointment or their older sibling’s visit. When kids learn about our dental practice from a young age, they’ll likely look forward to their visits.
Tooth Problems to Be Aware of
In addition to ensuring your child practices good oral hygiene habits, it’s important to be on the lookout for any of the following:
- Toothache/pain that occurs without any apparent cause
- Tooth sensitivity
- Mild to sharp pain when eating/drinking something sugary, cold or hot
- Visible holes/pits in teeth
- Black, brown or white chalky staining on the surface of any tooth
- If they can feel any abnormal rough spot on the tooth with their tongue
If your child experiences any of these, please contact us to book an appointment. By addressing such issues when they’re smaller, they’ll be less likely to turn into bigger and more costly problems.
Contact Mills Dental Care today to book an appointment with Dr Naysan!