I was just chatting to Antonia the other day. You know, Antonia Kidman? Yeah. Anyway, we were just talking about Colgate’s new Sugar Acid Neutraliser, and the Australian Dental Association’s research into kids’ teeth. I have to say I was shocked by the stats. Well, apparently three quarters of Aussie parents worry about the appearance of their kids’ teeth, and half of the parents interviewed had said their kids had experienced the symptoms of tooth decay in the past year. And did you know that tooth decay is 5 times more prevalent in kids than asthma?! Shocking!
As parents, we have to look after out little ones’ teeth, but all too often, dental hygiene is err… brushed over, and as long as the toothbrush is wet, we tend to be satisfied, and wave them on. It’s just too hard. Look closer, and the alarming truth is that your littlies could probably do with a master class in brushing. And if, like me, you have better things to do at 7 in the morning and at crazy o’clock in the evenings, than pinning the kids down and scrubbing their scaly gnashers, how are we to make sure they get it right?
Antonia is a great believer in routine. She insists that good brushing becomes a habit, something the kids do at the same time every day, in the same place. You may have to invest some time at the start, so you can teach them your best toothbrushing moves, but after a few days, if the routine is given priority and no one slacks, the habit will form. Add ‘brush your teeth’ to the kids’ morning list, and why not make an evening list too? And a diagram is a great idea, especially for little ones.
Diet, or more precisely, sugar and fizzy drinks, are major contributors to paediatric tooth decay. But, as Antonia rightly points out, once the kids leave the house, there’s no telling what they’re consuming. Or how much. My son’s best friend’s dad works in a donut factory. So, my son eats donuts most days. And there isn’t a thing I can do about it. Except limit what I feed him at home, what I put in his lunch box, and what I dish out in between. Antonia agrees that mum’s cant control everything their kids eat, but she is a great believer in controlling the contents of the pantry. After all, since it’s usually the mums doing the weekly shop, they have the veto.
It might not be much fun, but taking the kids to the dentist is not negotiable, if you’re going to preserve their pearly whites. Imagine poor Antonia dragging all six of hers, kicking and screaming, into the chair, but it is important, and every six months is recommended. Professional dental checks can help stave off some real nasties which could have very painful and long lasting effects. And it’s a great habit to get your kids into, if they want to hold onto their own teeth.
Raising kids is hard enough when they’re happy and healthy, but raising kids with sore gums, throbbing teeth and great big cavities must be awful. They may not realise it, but your kids are relying on you to help them look after their teeth, because without you, they really don’t have a clue. So round up the troops, grab their toothbrushes and toothpaste, and get them polishing those smiles. Auntie Antonia would be proud.
Do you have any teeth cleaning tips?
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Abi is a counsellor and mum of four. You can follow her here
