A lack of awareness is one of the biggest problems when it comes to children and tooth decay.

There is a trend and misconception that baby teeth are not as important as adult teeth, with studies showing that a shocking 48.7% of Australian children aged between 5-6 have a history of dental decay.

Baby teeth maintain space in the mouth for our adult teeth to erupt through. If lost prematurely teeth begin to move and when the time comes for the adult teeth to erupt, there is often not enough space. This results in the need for expensive corrective dentistry such as braces/orthodontics. Removing teeth also causes unnecessary trauma for children and makes them fearful of the dentist.

As dentists we try to emphasise the importance of good brushing techniques and dietary habits. Regular checkups are important not only to promote good habits, but we can also carry out preventative procedures to avoid the need for more excessive dental work later on.

Parents also play a role crucial role in the fight against early childhood decay. We recommend that parents should help with brushing their child’s teeth up to the age of 6, and try to limit the frequency of intake of sugary foods and drinks throughout the day.

Sincerely,

Dr Rishi Weerasinghe
Your local Redcliffe Dentist