This Dental Health Week, from 4 to 10 August, the Royal Flying Doctor Service (Queensland Section) is educating families about the importance of helping children reach their oral health milestones.
Even before a child’s first tooth, practising good oral health can have a lasting impact on your child’s overall health, wellbeing and development.
Whether it’s eating nutritious foods that are low in sugar, cleaning your teeth and gums twice a day, or regularly visiting the dentist for a check-up, these habits can help protect little teeth from decay.
RFDS Principal Dentist George Chen said that dental health can have a direct link to overall health.
“Dental decay is the most common chronic disease amongst children – and the most preventable,” George said.
“By educating children to develop a good oral health care routine, even before their first tooth, then we can help build their confidence, speech, nutrition, health, wellbeing and smile journey.”
In the last financial year, the RFDS dental team delivered essential dental care and treatments from a purpose-built semi-trailer to 16 rural and remote communities across Queensland.
During these visits, they helped 2551 patients; 77% of these were adults and 23% were children.
George said the key to starting good oral health practices at home is talking to your kids about their teeth and regularly visiting your dentist.
“We suggest taking your child to the dentist when they receive their first tooth, as it helps them to build early habits and become familiar with dental check-ups.
“It’s also really valuable for parents to have conversations with us to monitor their child’s teeth development.”
This Dental Health Week, the RFDS dental team will be in Dajarra from 5 August to 9 August, offering vital oral healthcare services to the community, with a focus on promoting children’s oral health milestones. The team will be visiting Dajarra State School and holding an oral health education session with the children to promote good oral health habits.
Tips to help kids reach every oral health milestone
Babies
- Clean gums with a soft, damp cloth.
- Visit your dentist with the first teeth appear or by 12 months of age, whichever comes first.
Toddlers
- Brush teeth twice a day with a soft child-size toothbrush.
- Use child-strength toothpaste from 18 months of age.
- Floss teeth that touch together daily.
- Visit your dentist regularly.
Children from six years old
- Brush teeth twice a day.
- Use adult fluoride toothpaste.
- Floss the teeth that touch together.
- Visit your dentist regularly.
The Flying Doctor acknowledges the support of QCoal Group, QCoal Foundation and the Australian Government in establishing the RFDS Dental Service in 2013.
