5 Dental Health Tips for Pre-Schoolers

By Karen Ward, 1300SMILES Townsville, Upper Ross - Begian Gardens - Woodlands.

1. You should brush your children’s teeth and encourage them to learn how to brush correctly, using a small pea sized quantity of low strength fluoride toothpaste.

2. Most importantly, avoid sweet snacks and sweet drinks between meals. The possibility of tooth decay is directly related to the number of times that sweet things are in contact with the teeth.

3. Seek your dentist’s advice without delay if your children’s teeth become damaged – whether loosened or just chipped.

4. If a baby tooth is dislodged do not attempt to straighten or replace it. Take the child to your dentist straight away.

5. Now-a-days, dentists concentrate on preventing dental disease. Ask your dentist how frequently your children need a check up so that problems can be detected early enough to allow the dentist to prevent them without the need for fillings

Editor: For more information or to make an appointment with Karen (in Townsville) please call 1300SMILES (1300 764 537). Karen also visits schools and day care centres to educate young children on dental health. Go here for details.

5 Dental Health Tips for Babies & Toddlers

By Karen Ward, 1300SMILES Townsville, Upper Ross - Begian Gardens - Woodlands.

1. To soothe the irritation of teething, give your baby a teething ring to chew on.

2. Don’t give sweetened drinks from the bottle as they can cause decay. Establish regular bottle feeds and, if your baby needs a drink between feeds, use cool boiled water.

3. After feeding to prevent tooth decay, wipe your baby’s teeth with a moist cloth. At about eight months, start your infant drinking from a cup as this reduces the time that decay-producing sugars are in contact with the teeth.

4. Introduce your infant to tooth cleaning as soon as the teeth appear. As infants are unable to control swallowing, a small smear of low strength fluoride toothpaste (or no toothpaste at all) should be used.

5. At about eighteen months, take your child to the family dentist for a check-up to become accustomed to regular dental visits.

Editor: For more information or to make an appointment with Karen (in Townsville) please call 1300SMILES (1300 764 537). Karen also visits schools and day care centres to educate young children on dental health. Go here for details.

Karen and the Tooth Fairy Visit St Pauls Day Care

Bridget Arthur has a special hug from the Tooth Fairy

Thursday 29th Jan 2009

St Paul's Lutheran Child Care Centre Townsville, had a special visit from Dental Therapist Karen Ward and Liz the Tooth Fairy.

The children of group 1 & 2 listened intently to Karen as she explained the good foods to make their bodies strong and the correct way to brush their teeth. This was followed by many eager questions from the children.

Liz the Tooth Fairy then surprised everyone with special bags of toothbrushes, toothpaste, balloons, and colouring pencils.

If you live in Townsville and would like to organise a visit from Karen and the Tooth Fairy to your School or Day Care centre please email thetoothfairy@1300SMILES.com.au or phone (07) 4721 1238 and ask for Liz the Tooth Fairy.

Regular dental checks by Karen Ward will assist in keeping your child's teeth healthy and you smiling.

Karen provides dental checks for children at 1300SMILES Belgian Gardens, and  1300SMILES Upper Ross.

PS. The Tooth Fairy would love to receive a letter from you. 

Attention: The Tooth Fairy - PO Box 5021, Townsville Q 4810