General Dentistry
Children's Dentistry
Oral health is critical for your child’s growth and development, general health and self-esteem.
Visiting the dentist at an early age is important in order to identify any problems in your child’s jaw growth and development as well detecting any early signs of poor oral hygiene and decay. It also helps them to develop a positive relationship with our dentists from an early age, setting them up for a lifetime of good habits.
When your child is around 12 months old, you can begin using a 'pea' size amount of children’s toothpaste when brushing their teeth, and when the gaps between your child's teeth close, it is important to start flossing.
Serve as a good role model by practising good oral health care habits yourself and schedule frequent dental check-ups for your family. Remember that the bacteria that cause dental decay can be transmitted between family members so make sure everyone attends their appointment to prevent decay spreading through the family.
Check your child’s mouth regularly for signs of tooth discolouration or any signs of swelling or inflammation.
There is evidence to make us believe that a contributing factor in the progression of periodontal disease in young adults may be caused by a lack of oral hygiene motivation we had as children. Those people who maintained good oral health habits leading up to their teen years are more likely to continue brushing and flossing than children who were not taught proper oral care.
If you have orthodontic braces, food and bacteria can become trapped a lot more easily, so you will need to be especially thorough when cleaning and visit the dentist regularly.
