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New Term, New Start

 

The children are finally back to school. Despite their protests at having to go to bed that little bit earlier and wake up in the morning, most children are happy to be back into their routine and able to see their friends on a daily basis. For parents, the new school year usually comes as a relief as order can once more be restored. Uniforms, packed lunches, pens, notepads, sports kit.. the list of requirements for children starting or returning to school is almost endless – and it is easy to see why booking the next dental visit for your children might get missed. Here’s why it should be top priority.

Millions missing out

A highly concerning new report recently published by the British Dental Association (BDA) based on NHS figures has revealed that nearly 5 million children have missed out on a routine dental inspection in the last year alone. This figure equate to almost 42% of children not seeing a dentist at least once a year as recommended.

Kids go free

One of the main reasons identified for parents not taking their children to the dentist is a lack of understanding about who is entitled to free dental checkups and treatment. With many adults choosing to defer visits and treatments due to the costs, confusion appears to have arisen about how this affects the rest of their family.

The BDA is keen to remind parents that in the UK, all children under the age of 18 are entitled to free dental care including routine checkups, which are essential to help maintain healthy teeth and avoid problems both now and in the future.

Why dental check ups matter for children

A misconception shared by many parents is that as the milk teeth will fall out and be replaced, they do not require the same amount of care and attention as the permanent adult teeth that they will eventually be replaced with. However, advances in dental knowledge have shown that decay in the infant teeth can penetrate and damage the adult teeth as they are forming, even before they are visible. This in turn can cause problems later on in life. In some cases, tooth decay in children can also result in hospital admissions, which are stressful and upsetting for both children and parents.

A healthy smile is a key ingredient for happiness and confidence in young people and adults, and regular check ups from an early age can help to detect problems such as decay before they become an issue, helping get your children off to the best start in life.

Preventing tooth decay

There are many elements to helping your children maintain healthy teeth and gums and avoid problems with decay. Although seeing a dentist regularly is an important part of the equation, there are many things you can do as a parent to help too.

Encourage your children to avoid consuming sugary snacks between meals to reduce prolonged acid attacks on the teeth, and try to avoid the consumption of high sugar drinks.

Also, ensure that your children brush their teeth twice a day for at least two minutes, using a fluoride toothpaste. Ideally, encourage brushing from as early as possible, once the first teeth have broken through, so that it becomes something that is completely normal to your children.

At Bridge Dental and Implant Clinic in Derby, we are passionate about promoting a proactive approach to dental care and more than happy to advise you on how to keep your whole family smiling.

To enquire about becoming a member or to book an appointment now, call us on 01332 916351 or click here to complete the online form for a swift response.

 


Posted by Bridge Dental and Implant Clinic on 15th September 2017, under Children