Dental checks for young children

First mouth check by age 2

All children should have a basic mouth check by the time they turn two.

This check might be done by an oral health professional, such as an oral health therapist, dentist, dental therapist or dental hygienist.

It might also be done by another health professional, such as a maternal and child health nurse, doctor or practice nurse. These professionals will refer your child to an oral health professional if necessary.

Regular dental check-ups are important for children

Dental checks are important because:

• the early signs of tooth decay and other problems can easily be missed by families
• small problems can be treated before they become larger problems
• they give you a chance to ask questions or talk about any concerns you may have
• your oral health professional can help your child avoid decay with treatments such as fluoride application and dental sealants
• children get to know the dental staff and become familiar with the process of visiting the dentist.

Everyone has different oral health needs and risk levels that determine how often they should have a check-up. Talk with your oral health professional about how often your child needs a check-up.

For more information about the types of dental services available, see Seeing a dentist or dental health practitioner

Tips for positive dental visits

Here are some ways you can help make your child’s visit to the dentist a positive one:

• Prepare your child for what to expect by reading story books about visits to the dentist or by ‘playing dentist’ at home.
• Take your child with you when you have a check-up so that they can see what happens.
• Talk about dental visits being a part of their regular routine that helps to keep them healthy. Highlight the new, interesting, and fun aspects of visiting the dental clinic.
• Make dental appointments early in the day so your child is not tired.
• Arrive a little before the appointment time to let your child become familiar with the new surroundings.
• During the dental visit, let the oral health professional have your child’s full attention. They are trained to be gentle and make your child feel comfortable during the check-up.
• Combine the dental visit with a fun activity afterwards like a trip to the park or having a friend over to play.
• Make sure you only say positive things about your dental experiences in front of children.

The Child Dental Benefits Schedule

The Commonwealth Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) covers some or all of the cost of basic dental treatments over a two year period for eligible children.

A child is eligible if they are aged 0–17 years, are eligible for Medicare and you receive Family Tax Benefit Part A or another relevant Australian Government payment.

Visit the Services Australia website for more information.

Keeping children’s teeth healthy

You can help to keep your child’s teeth healthy by:

• Cleaning your baby’s teeth as soon as they appear (usually around 6 months of age) using a soft cloth or a soft toothbrush and water.
• From 18 months of age, start using a pea-sized amount of low-fluoride toothpaste to brush your child’s teeth. Encourage your child to spit out toothpaste after brushing, but not rinse.
• Helping your child to brush their teeth twice a day – in the morning after breakfast and before bed at night. Do this until they are about seven or eight years old to make sure every surface gets cleaned well.
• Offering a wide variety of nutritious foods and have healthy snacks on hand.
• Avoiding or limiting sugary foods and drinks (including lollies, chocolate, sweet biscuits, soft drinks, fruit juice and flavoured milk), especially between meals.
• Offering tap water regularly. Most of Victoria’s tap water has fluoride in it, which is good for teeth and safe to drink.

Where to get help

• Your oral health professional (dentist)
• Dental Health Services Victoria provide public dental services through the Royal Dental Hospital Melbourne and community dental clinics, for eligible people. For more information about public dental services Tel. (03) 9341 1000, or 1800 833 039 outside Melbourne metro
• Australian Dental Association ‘Find a Dentist’ search function or Tel. (03) 8825 4600
• Your GP (doctor)
• Maternal and child health nurse