Pamela Holmes: Helpful tricks to make sure your children are keeping healthy and beautiful teeth

Tooth brushing and oral care for children can at times be forgotten in the chaos of sleep patterns, feeding, naps, daily growth and development.

As caregivers we are exhausted, so it’s easy to see why teeth care in the early years takes a back seat.

The first few years of life are the most important time to be making those positive oral health patterns, as they will follow a child for life and will help the teeth to form and grow in a healthy environment.

Keeping records of your child’s illness and high fevers, antibiotic use and steroid treatments in these first few years can play a critical role in assessing early if adult teeth may be affected during development and not formed properly.

Toothpaste is not recommended for children under two, however wiping the tooth surface with a flannel, small finger brush or small infant toothbrush head at regular intervals throughout the day can aid removal of milk and food substrate.

After two-years-of-age, a small smear of children’s toothpaste can be used.

Mirroring a parent, brushing teeth together and keeping it fun is the best way to have a positive brushing time.

When we are stressed or rushed the children can feel this and if we jab their gums with the brush, we can accidentally make negative connections between the brushing of teeth.

Toothbrushing songs, books and even toothbrushing in the shower or bath slow down the ‘chore’ and can make it more achievable.

Parental help is recommended up to the age of 8-10 years, due to a child’s dexterity and mental comprehension of the importance of correct plaque removal.

It’s a long journey together with your child.

Pamela Holmes is a dental therapist based in Albany, specialising in children’s oral hygiene.