Keep them smiling

Spending a lot more time with your children lately, huh? What a great opportunity to help them develop some good health habits. We talked to Westridge Dental’s Dr Lloyd Svenson about habits that keep you smiling.

Look after your children’s teeth from an early age and you’ll be doing them a big favour for the rest of their lives,” Dr Svenson says. “Developing routines and being consistent is proven to achieve good results in study, in sports and it’s also how to maintain a healthy mouth: so brush and floss twice a day,” he says.

“Just check that your kids know how to brush their teeth and that they are doing it properly.

“Keep sugary treats and soft drinks for special occasions – they are not daily food options, unless you want to damage your teeth.

“Now is a great time to serve up a variety of healthy foods and get your kids to join in meal preparation too.”

GOOD SMILE FOOD:

Fresh fruit and vegetables – anything crunchy and chewy like carrots, broccoli and snow peas will help clean your teeth; foods with calcium – so leafy greens, dairy and soy products; and protein including lean meat, nuts, eggs, fish and tofu.

Dr Svenson also recommends drinking plenty of water. “Keeping hydrated is good for study, for exercise and it’s also good for your mouth as it rinses away acids and sticky foods that could be caught in your teeth.”

COVID-19

Toowoomba dentists are following Australian Government guidelines relating to COVID-19.

In the meantime, if you have a dental emergency – such as a broken tooth or injury to the mouth – the best thing to do is to visit your nearest hospital emergency department.

CHILD DENTAL BENEFITS SCHEDULE

As soon as the lockdown is lifted, make an appointment to see your dentist and take advantage of the Australian Government’s Children’s Dental Scheme.

You could be eligible for up to $1000 in treatment per child aged from two-years-old up to 17 years: www1.health.gov.au