Health

Oral Health

It’s never too early to begin teaching good oral hygiene to your children.

Behaviours learnt when they’re young tend to stick with them throughout life.

The need for this is increasingly important with tooth decay among children on the rise, with more than half of all 6 year olds having some decay in their baby and adult teeth.

You and your family can maintain good oral health by:

• Brushing twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste.
• Clean in between teeth at least once a day with floss or an interdental brush.
• Eat a healthy balanced diet and limit sugar intake. Each time you eat foods containing sugar you feed the bacteria in our mouth that cause tooth decay.
• Drink fluoridated tap water after meals helps flush out left over food particles from the mouth and strengthens your teeth.
• Play contact sports? Ask your dentist about custom-made mouthguards. They protect your teeth better than store bought varieties.
• Regularly visit the dentist for check-ups and preventative treatment.

To view more information visit: www.ada.org.au

Jenny Hill

College Nurse

Reference: Australian Dental Association