Many parents ask us what impact thumb sucking will have on their child and how they can help to stop it so we thought we’d share some insights we have. Firstly, thumb sucking is a very natural thing that many children do from an early age…and we mean very early. There is plenty of evidence that shows babies in utero sucking their thumb! Why do they do it? Thumb or finger sucking [...]
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, [...]
How does tooth decay develop? Tooth decay is a diet-related disease that damages the teeth. Teeth are covered in plaque, a sticky film that contains bacteria. When we eat and drink, the bacteria produce acids that break down the outer layer of the tooth (enamel). This is how decay develops. Dental decay can be found on both baby and adult teeth. Areas that are at a higher risk of collecting plaque and [...]
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 [...]
Molar teeth have deep, fine grooves (also known as fissures) and pits on their chewing surfaces. These grooves can be very difficult to keep clean and often, even the toothbrush bristles are too thick to brush the base of the groove. That means, even if your oral hygiene is impeccable, some areas are just impossible to clean thoroughly! This leads to an unwanted collection of plaque and food debris. If plaque and food particles are not [...]
Toothpaste physically helps to remove plaque on teeth surfaces which can contribute to tooth decay or gum disease. Most toothpastes also contain fluoride, which makes teeth more resistant to dental caries and also aids in remineralisation of early carious lesions. There are many questions around what age toothpaste should be introduced and what is the best type of toothpaste to use. The current recommendation from The Australian Dental Association (ADA) is to [...]
Baby it's cold outside! It’s that time of the year again! Winter is here and can be a magical time of the year, but we are also in the height of cold and flu season. Along with dealing with the regular cold and flu, we now have to add Covid 19 into the mix. As we have been instructed for the last 18 months, if you or your child have any symptoms [...]
Teaching your children to brush their teeth the right way! If you are wanting your children to learn how to correctly brush their teeth, then it’s important that you begin teaching them at a young age. By starting early, your children will become comfortable with brushing their teeth, making it easier for it to become part of a healthy routine. In a child’s eyes, brushing teeth can be quite scary, as it’s [...]
Tooth brushing every day can help with removing most dental plaque, however brushing alone cannot remove plaque in places a toothbrush cannot reach, especially in between teeth. By flossing your teeth, you reduce the amount of dental plaque in between your teeth and help reduce your risk of dental decay and gum infection. Gum infection can result in gingival bleeding which is why you may notice blood when flossing your teeth. Bleeding [...]