Exploring options for your child’s first dental visit? Read on to find out why a paediatric dental clinic may be the best option for your child. What is a paediatric dentist? Paediatric dentists are registered specialists that have completed additional training to manage and treat children from birth through to adolescence. Infact, paediatric dentists study an additional 3 years on top of their bachelor of dental science to gain qualification in this [...]
It's Easter again, and time to eat chocolate without the guilt! The good news is, you can enjoy those yummy chocolate eggs and still look after your teeth! We have put together our recommendations on the best way for you and your children to enjoy this time of year, still have the yummy chocolate and look after those gorgeous smiles. One of the keys is to know the amount of sugar you [...]
Tooth eruption occurs when the tooth breaks through the gum, also known as teething. Teething is a great milestone in your baby’s development. The arrival of teeth can happen without causing any pain however, for some babies this can be an uncomfortable process and distressing for yourself and the baby. Teething usually begins anywhere from 6-9 months, in some cases this may be earlier or later. Common signs and symptoms of teething [...]
Why use toothpaste? There are many reasons to use toothpaste. Toothpaste physically helps remove thick harmful biofilm on teeth surfaces which may cause tooth decay or gum disease. Most toothpastes also contain fluoride, which makes teeth more resistant to dental caries and aid remineralisation of early carious lesions. Additionally, some toothpastes have special ingredients to address staining and/or bad breath! How much toothpaste should my child be using? For infants, toothpaste is [...]
In our work we see a significant number of children with restricted tongues or “tongue ties”. A tongue tie limits the movement of the tongue so that the other muscles of the face have to adapt during speech and swallowing. Many children have a restricted tongue that is not picked up early as they have been able to adapt their speech and swallowing at an early age. Tongue tie is defined as [...]
We’re often asked by parents “Is it OK to put my baby to bed with a bottle?” Whilst this can be calming to an overtired or distressed child, the bacteria in the mouth thrive on the sugar that is found in liquids such as milk, formula and juice. Couple that with the decreased flow in saliva when sleeping and we increase our chances of tooth decay in the baby teeth. “But [...]
In our lifetime, we have two sets of teeth. Baby teeth (milk teeth or deciduous teeth) are the first set of teeth to appear in your child’s early life. The second set are the adult teeth (permanent teeth). There are 20 baby teeth altogether and they begin to erupt around 6-8 months and continue to progressively erupt up to 3 years of age. Children lose their baby teeth which are replaced by adult teeth typically starting at [...]
Did you know that the first dental visit is recommended to take place by the age of one but on average, children have their first visit at the age of four? First dental visits and care from a regular dentist are important factors in looking after the health of your child’s teeth and mouth. The best time to book you baby in for their first dental visit is when their first tooth [...]
ROYAL CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL Any child who has suffered a Dental Injury that has resulted in facial swelling or trauma. We would recommend going straight to The Royal Children’s Hospital Emergency Department for medical attention. The Emergency Department at The Royal Children’s Hospital provides urgent medical care to children and adolescents. The Department operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Emergency Department entrance is via Entry 2 from Flemington Road, [...]
Sucking in babies, whether this is thumb, finger or dummy, is part of normal, healthy development. In the very early stages of life, dummy sucking is not a concern, however if it continues, it can cause changes to the teeth and jaws. What are some of the problems we see with prolonged dummy sucking? Many of the kids we see with prolonged dummy habits often do have issues with their teeth and [...]