Chorley dentist reveals parental role is key to oral health (From Chorley Citizen)

Chorley dentist reveals parental role is key to oral health

3:49pm Friday 3rd July 2009 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(0)

A Chorley dentist has stressed the importance of parental responsibilty in brushing up chilren’s oral health.

New research commissioned by Denplan, reveals the important role of parents when it comes to instilling good habits from an early age.

The survey by Denplan questioned parents with children under 12 years old across Lancashire, and it revealed 18 per cent of parents said their children do not brush twice a day.

“Parents play a vital role when it comes to instilling thorough brushing routines in their children that they carry on into adulthood,” said Dr Andrew Brierley, principal dentist at Southport Road Dental Surgery, Chorley.

With 100,000 fewer children visiting the dentist in 2008 than in 2006 according to NHS figures released earlier this year, brushing habits at home play an even bigger role in the early years of our children’s teeth.

Brushing twice a day, for two minutes, with a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste is recommended once the first milk teeth appear.

“Two minutes can seem like a long time to children,” says Dr Brierley. “An egg-timer in the bathroom can help to ensure that sufficient time is spent to really clean teeth thoroughly. Special novelty tooth timers are available in some chemists and online, helping to take the chore out of the exercise.

“Parents should not underestimate their role in the supervision of the twice-daily tooth-brushing routine. The recommended age to keep a watchful eye on your children as they brush is seven.”