When it comes to your child’s oral health, a passionate and friendly dentist in Mackay knows that it is critical to educate both parent and child on the necessity of one’s teeth and the importance of keeping a mouth healthy in order to enjoy those teeth for life.

This is why Walkerston Dental at Walkerston GP SuperClinic, Queensland love seeing kids and do all they can to make the experience a fun, educational and positive one.

In research conducted throughout most of Australia, more than half of 6 year old have experienced decay in their baby teeth and almost half of 12 years olds have decay in their permanent teeth.

These statistics are saddening when further studies suggest that there is a link between dental health and school performance. It is not only the physical heart that suffers when a person has poor oral hygiene, it seems as if the emotional heart does too.

When should a child go to see the dentist?

A parent should aim to visit the dentist once a child is around one, or some time after the first tooth has erupted. The main reason for this visit is for parent and dentist to get to know one another, for a dentist to have a quick examination inside the child’s mouth whilst they sit on their caregiver’s knee, and for any questions to be raised and information to be given for the next few months in terms of oral care.

Since a child grows so fast, their teeth are constantly appearing, disappearing and sometimes not get brushed as often as a parent would like, it is important to start a healthy habit of visiting the dentist every 6 months.

Dentists are able to spot plaque buildup in hard to reach places easily;recommending cleaning in order to prevent any decay. They can see if a child isn’t brushing correctly and can give advice on how to improve their technique. They can also monitor the positioning of teeth as they grow and prepare parents for potential alignment changes in later years.

Why should a child visit a dentist?

Besides the obvious reasons that cover the need to maintain proper oral hygiene in order to have a healthy mouth, there are many other reasons that suggest a child should frequently visit the dentist.

By having many positive experiences at the dentist, children can overcome any anxiety they have picked up either from their parents or from horror stories they have heard about.

With gentle encouragement and positive reminders, children are able to work through their fears, which can help eliminate dental anxiety later in life.

Information needs to be provided to those regarding a child’s deciduous teeth. Simply because these teeth are due to fall out, does not mean that they do not need to be regularly cleaned and checked. Adult teeth are affected by the health of baby teeth even before they are falling out, and these habits established early in life set a child up for success later on.

Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.