At Dublin18 Dental Care we believe that prevention is always better than cure and we encourage all our patients, big and small, to come for regular dental check-ups. We treat patients of all ages and we make every effort to ensure that children have a positive experience during their time at the practice. We want children to enjoy coming to the dentist and to learn about the importance of looking after their teeth and gums from an early age.

Dental checks for children

We advise parents to bring their children for regular dental checks from a very early age. Cavities can cause pain, but losing the milk teeth prematurely can also increase the risk of problems further down the line, as the adult teeth are forced to erupt earlier than planned.

We encourage children to brush their teeth twice a day and are happy to advise parents and children about teeth cleaning and choosing oral hygiene products. We try to make teeth cleaning and going to the dentist fun for children and we can recommend tricks and tips for parents to save battling at bedtime. One of the most popular tips is to encourage children to brush along to their favourite song; this is a great idea because most songs are between 2 and 3 minutes, which ensures that children brush for the recommended time.

We find that going to check-ups from an early age benefits children, not just in terms of their oral health, but also in their attitude to going to the dentist. Check-ups allow children to get used to the sights and sounds of the surgery, which can be a little scary at first and children who go to the dentist from an early age are less likely to be anxious about seeing a dentist when they are older.

Diet

As well as encouraging parents to supervise their child brushing their teeth, we also urge parents to keep an eye on their child’s diet. One of the most common problems we see is cavities, which are often caused by eating lots of sweets and chocolates and drinking fizzy pop and sugary juices. We are happy to advise healthy eating programmes and ideas for snacks and main meals at Dublin18 Dental Care in Dublin18.