Children and the Dentist by Dr. Roisin Boyle

As the summer holidays approach and children are out of their normal routines, it is important to still be mindful of ensuring they are brushing their teeth at least twice a day. For two minutes in the morning and two minutes in the evening with a fluoride toothpaste. Introducing flossing is also a great way to build a healthy habit for the future. Although some checkups will be provided by the HSE for children in school, it is recommended to visit your dentist for check up every 6months. Ideally, children should attend for their first check up around age 1, or when the first teeth erupt, so the dentist can give oral hygiene and diet advice. This also ensures the first visit is a positive one and this helps to build the child’s confidence in attending the dentist regularly as they get older.

Regular visits can help to highlight any problems that may be arising early so that they can be treated in a minimally invasive way. The need for orthodontics can also be assessed and an appropriate referral made as necessary. Early loss of the baby teeth can increase the need for orthodontic treatment in the future as there may be a loss of space for adult teeth to erupt.

When talking to your child about their first dental visit it is good to keep the tone positive, tell them the dentist will count their teeth, read them a story about a dental visit. If you happen to be nervous about dental treatment, don’t mention this in front of the children as they can be influenced by this and become nervous also. Try to avoid phrases like ‘Be brave‘ as saying this can sometimes suggest there is something to be frightened off.

Finally, a good diet and limiting sugary snacks and drinks (including fruit juices and fizzy drinks) will help to set your child up for a healthy smile for life.

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