Childhood dental habits flow into adult dental habits. Photo: dvatri.
While daily toothbrushing is a battle for parents across the nation, Dr Rick Luu’s kids are more than happy for the help — and he insists it’s not because their parents are dentists.
“From the minute our children’s teeth came out, we started brushing and flossing those baby teeth. We’ve emphasised the importance of oral care from a very early age,” the Oasis Dental owner says.
That’s consistent with Australian Dental Association (ADA) recommendations, which state children should start brushing, flossing and visiting the dentist from age one or as soon as the first tooth erupts.
However, Dr Luu says the “rule of thumb” can be simplified even further.
“How long should I brush? What technique should I use? There’s plenty of expert advice, but really there’s one answer: whatever it takes to get your teeth clean,” Dr Luu says.
“The ADA recommends brushing for two minutes, twice a day. But even if you’ve brushed for half an hour, it won’t matter if you haven’t removed the plaque. What we need to instil in our kids is that it doesn’t matter if you’ve ‘cleaned your teeth’. What matters is if your teeth are clean.”
For many parents, that may seem easier said than done.
An ADA survey of 25,000 revealed 43 per cent of parents regularly struggled to get their kids to clean their teeth. To win the battle, 24 per cent distract or join in, 21 per cent hand out rewards, 20 per cent take away privileges, another 20 per cent use discipline and 9 per cent throw in the towel altogether.
But there’s no escaping the facts.
“If you’re reading this, chances are you don’t want your kids to have bad teeth,” he says.
“We all know the simple truth — childhood dental habits flow into adult dental habits.”
Oasis Dental owner Dr Rick Luu says it’s not about cleaning your teeth, it’s about getting your teeth clean. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
That’s one reason why it’s important to start visiting the dentist early — much earlier than a staggering 70 per cent of Australians realise.
The ADA survey showed four in 10 Australians think kids don’t need to see a dentist until age two, one in five push it to age three, and 10 per cent wait until four or later.
By the time children do finally see a dentist, many already have anxiety — and that’s a bigger problem than it seems.
“Anxious patients tend to have the worst teeth, because the things that ease anxiety, whether it’s medication or distraction, make providing dental work harder,” Dr Luu says.
“As with everything, prevention is better than cure. If children come to a dentist early and those first sessions aren’t nasty, they never develop a fear. Some parents bring their kids in even before their teeth have come out. That’s great. We play and we introduce them to the idea of someone looking in their mouth. You might have to pay your dentist to do little more than stick a mirror in playfully, but it’s worth it.”
Dr Luu also warns against using dentists as a scare tactic.
“In the heat of the moment, you might be tempted to say, ‘If you don’t brush your teeth, the dentist will have to pull them’. Definitely don’t do that!” he says.
“There’s no need to spring a visit on them either. Tell the truth — we’re here to help keep their teeth healthy.”
Some recommendations are easier than others. Using a soft toothbrush to protect gums and enamel is as simple as making the right purchase. And if kids are brushing and flossing daily, making brushing their tongue part of the routine becomes even easier.
But as important as when and how you brush is where you brush. While the bathroom seems the obvious choice, plenty of kids and adults wander the house, balcony or even garden while brushing.
Nineteen per cent of Aussie adults also admit to multitasking — from scrolling on their phone (31 per cent) and doing chores (16 per cent) to skincare (10 per cent), childcare (9 per cent) and even showering, cooking or exercising (5 per cent).
“Studies have shown that multitasking usually results in nothing being done well. To minimise dental problems, teeth must be cleaned thoroughly. This means investing time and effort into the task and not being distracted,” Dr Luu says.
“The bottom line is, when you value something, you give it the concentration it requires. Cleaning your teeth properly, if you want to avoid cavities and decay, is non-negotiable.
“Kids can’t be expected to understand the consequences of poor dental habits. It is an inconvenient truth, but the responsibility for their future dental health lies with us, the parents.”
For more information, visit Oasis Dental.
