Dental checks - 0 to 6 years

Children’s teeth should be checked early. The Child Health Record recommends two checks before the age of three-and-a-half years. This will help to pick-up the early signs of dental disease or prevent it from developing. These checks may be done by a Maternal and Child Health nurse, dentist, dental therapist or paediatrician.

Information about dental care will be given to you at this time. The Maternal and Child Health nurse may refer you to a dentist or the School Dental Program.

Recommended mouth checks
Mouth checks with your Maternal and Child Health nurse should occur at:

• 12 to 24 months
• Three to three-and-a-half years.

• Avoid adding sugar, salt and fat to solid foods.
• Do not use lemon juice to relieve teething pain. The acid can damage erupting teeth.
• Avoid using a bottle or breast as a comforter.
• As soon as the first tooth appears (at approximately six to nine months), it should be cleaned. Use a damp piece of gauze or face washer, wrapped around a finger. Wipe each tooth front and back, and continue this as each new tooth erupts.
• From 12 months, clean your child’s teeth with a small, soft toothbrush – simply wet the toothbrush with water.
• It is a good time for a child to visit a public dental service or private dentist.

• Try to wean your child from bottles and dummies from 12 months.
• Encourage water as the preferred drink when thirsty.
• Encourage nutritious foods as snacks and drinks.
• Continue to clean your child’s teeth with a small, soft toothbrush. Introduce a low fluoride toothpaste at approximately two years. Smear a pea-size amount across the toothbrush. Encourage children to spit out toothpaste and not swallow it

• Continue toothbrushing, using a small, soft toothbrush with a pea-size smear of low fluoride toothpaste. Children should be encouraged to do some of the brushing themselves from about three years of age, so that they develop toothbrushing skills. They still require an adult to assist them.
• Try to discourage any thumb or finger sucking habits which could lead to orthodontic problems if they continue.

• Visits a family dentist or school dental service regularly. Ask your dental professional about fissure sealants (these are protective coatings that bond in the groove of teeth to stop decay from forming).
• Brushes teeth twice daily, after breakfast and before going to bed.
• Is encouraged to eat nutritious snacks and to drink water, not sugary drinks, when thirsty.

• Look in the Yellow Pages under ‘dentists’
• Contact the Australian Dental Association.

• Preschool Dental Program – your Maternal and Child Health nurse can advise you if the PDP is available in your area.
• School Dental Program – offers regular dental care for all primary school children and concession card holder dependants in Years 7 and 8. Care is offered every 12 to 24 months, depending on treatment needs. Charges apply for non–concession-card holders.
• Youth Dental Program – provides regular dental care for concession card holders and dependants in Years 9 to 12 and for school leavers under 18 years of age.
• Community Dental Program – offers emergency, general and denture services to concession card holders and dependants. The charge depends on the type of treatment you require.
• Royal Dental Hospital Melbourne – offers an after-hours emergency dental clinic. General and specialist services are also offered to pensioner and health care card holders.

• Dentist
• Dental therapist
• Your Maternal and Child Health nurse
• Maternal and Child Health Line (24 hours) Tel. 132 229
• Dental Health Services Victoria Hotline Tel. 1300 360 054 – for information about public dental services

• Regular mouth checks with your Maternal and Child Health nurse are recommended.
• Mouth checks from the age of 12 months will help with early diagnosis and prevention of dental disease.
• The recommended ages for mouth checks are listed in your Child Health Record.
• If you are on a pension or health care card, your child may be eligible for public dental services.

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