Protecting Your Child’s Smile Common Dental Problems in Kids

Traumatic dental injuries in children make up 5% of all injuries

Children experience common dental problems similar to adults, but because of a child’s physical, physiological, and even psychological differences, such issues require a keen professional eye to notice them. When it comes to areas of concern, your child’s dentist can tailor specific tips and provide recommendations based on your child’s age and stage of development.

Silent signs

A foundation of good oral health in childhood paves the way for a lifetime of functional and beautiful teeth. Early signs of poor oral health are often missed as they are usually painless. This is true for adults but even more so for kids, especially the little ones who will not keep still for you to inspect their mouth! We’ve met countless parents who bring their children to us for routine check-ups and are shocked when we find numerous cavities. Here’s some red flags to look out for:

Halitosis (bad breath) that persists after brushing

Red and/or puffy gums, which may bleed when brushing along the gumline

Colour changes on the surfaces of the teeth – white, yellow, brown, or dark spots/streaks that cannot be brushed off

Teeth malalignment

Orthodontic (related to the alignment of teeth) and orthognathic (related to the jaws) problems can lead to dental issues including:

A tendency to trap food and plaque, and difficulty in brushing and flossing

Poor aesthetics and a detrimental effect on self-esteem

Poor chewing ability

The uneven wearing down of teeth

Effects on speech

Asymmetric growth

These problems have a range of types and severity which can depend on your child’s stage of personal dental development. A paediatric dentist or orthodontist can recommend treatment options at the optimal age.

Dental trauma

Traumatic dental injuries in children and young adults make up 5% of all injuries, therefore a well-fitted mouthguard is highly recommended if your child plays contact sports. In the case of a tooth avulsion (where the entire tooth gets knocked out of its socket and you can see the entire tooth, crown and root), it’s essential to reimplant it as soon as possible, if this is the child’s permanent tooth.

Tooth tips to live by

Toothbrushing should be done at least twice a day with fluoridated toothpaste. Parents should supervise until (a) the child has sufficient fine motor skills to brush by themselves, and (b) the child is motivated to brush well

Flossing should be done once a day, ideally before brushing

Food that is bad for your teeth is generally bad for your body, too. Limit “empty calories” from snacks and treats like candy, cookies, and cake, and ensure an intake of well-balanced meals with enough protein and fibre

Pick a “treat day” or “sweet drinks day” that you and your children can enjoy together. Keep it within one sitting, avoid nibbling/sipping over a long period, and follow it up with toothbrushing or a good gargle with water

Establish a regular dentist for your child early in life. The American Academy of Paediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends the first dental visit should take place when the child’s first tooth erupts or by their first birthday, whichever is earlier. Starting a dental routine now means dental visits become scheduled in and easy, instead of being random, scary appointments

Gently hold the tooth by its crown (the white part) and avoid handling its root (the long, yellow portion). If visibly soiled, rinse it gently using milk, saline, or the child’s saliva. Insert the tooth back into its socket and have the child bite on a gauze or handkerchief to hold it in place. If you cannot reimplant the tooth, store it immediately in a solution such as milk, Hanks’ Balanced Salt Solution, your child’s saliva, or saline. Seek dental care immediately. If the avulsion involves a milk or baby tooth, refrain from putting it back in the mouth. Doing so can risk further injuring the unerupted permanent tooth in the gum above.

Dr Pauline Lee has experience in treating children including sedation and GA cases, special needs and medically compromised patients, as well as interceptive orthodontics and trauma. She takes pride in providing a pleasant and positive dental environment where every child can achieve a beautiful, healthy smile.

To learn more about children’s dental issues or to book an appointment with one of our friendly dentists, contact us at 6733 9882 or www.smilefocus.com.sg

Western Australia is no longer living in the shadows of its neighbours. JO UPCRAFT says G’day to this gorgeous state that’s making a serious post-pandemic stand.

Growing up in the UK in the 1980s means that the version of Australia I had in my mind was not an altogether accurate one. For me, it was all about the Sydney Opera House, a big rock, golden sand and Kylie Minogue’s impressive perm. How ignorant I was - and perhaps continued to be - untiI I visited Western Australia last month.

Shamefully, WA was not high on my travel hitlist. If you’re reading this as an Australasian, it might not be on yours either. Over the years, the state has been outshone by its more confident counterparts, but during that time the west coast has been doing some serious inner-work. Post-pandemic, a new and transformed region is emerging, beautiful and butterfly-like, ready to show the world just how much it has to offer.

With capital city Perth being just a five hour flight from Changi airport and joyously in the same time zone, Singapore is Western Australia’s number one market for foreign visitors. Indeed, arrivals into WA from the red dot are already back at 80 per cent of pre-Covid levels. Keen to see what the fuss was about, plus desperate to cuddle a quokka, I booked a trip to Perth for me and my mum. After all, she had to live through my own difficult Kylie ‘perm’ years, so it only seemed fair. Here's why we both wish we'd visited sooner.

1 The art

Perth is a good-looking city. Sitting pretty where the Swan River meets the southwest coast, sandy beaches line its suburbs, the snaking waterway creates a stunning contrast to the city’s skyline, Kings Park and the Botanic Garden provide green sanctuary from the urban sprawl, gothic architecture peppers the main shopping district, and the arrival of the $375 million Western Australian museum in 2020, Boola Bardip, adds a swish stamp to the bustling Perth Cultural Centre.

However, it’s in Perth’s backstreets and alleyways that you’ll find its most eye-catching secrets in the shape of street art.

“Every laneway in Perth with cobblestone down the middle has a secret at the end,” reveals our sunny Perth city tour guide, Jack (twofeet.com.au). Mum and I were kept entertainingly up to speed on the old and new of our surroundings as Jack escorted us to the city’s most famous landmarks such as the Town Hall, St George’s Cathedral and London Court, but it was when he introduced us to a selection of stunning hand painted wall murals that the wow-factor kicked in.

Back in 2014 an initiative was launched to transform more than 35 spaces or walls in the city into an urban canvas. Showcasing work by local and international artists, subjects include Australian birds, dystopia, the multicultural nature of Perth, Solyptol soap, and mental health. My favourite mural was by Argentinian artist Hyuro, depicting women breaking the glass ceiling (bottom left). Prince Lane, which was home to dressmakers and factories in the 1960s, was also captivating with frescos paying homage to the fashion industry and hip retro signage by local artist Stormie Mills.

Alongside Perth’s graffiti scene to which pieces are continually added, there’s around 200 public artworks on display across the CBD, so if you want creative inspo, look no further. Perth International Arts Festival (perthfestival.com.au) keeps the party going in February and March so get booking for 2024 now.

2 High-flying adventure

I’m at a 45-degree angle, 50 metres above the Swan River when I understand why my 70-year-old mother declined to climb the new Matagarup Bridge with me. However, while I'm not great with heights, Mum's really missing out because ascending the 314 steps to the viewing platform 72 metres above ground is well worth it. The bridge and climbing attraction opened in 2021 and sees adventurous types (aged 8+) first receive a thorough briefing on full body harness, bridge latch device and safety procedures before they shimmy their way to the top. The best bit? You get to soak up breathtaking views before ziplining 400 metres over the water back to land. Wheeeee! Armed with two trusty guides who were educational and lots of fun, I felt safe (and a bit like a superhero) the entire time.

zipclimb.com.au

3 Hip new hangouts MISS MI

Miss Mi’s inaugural outlet in Melbourne is a hot favourite and the new sister venue in Perth is following suit. We dine here on a Tuesday evening during the third week of opening and the place is packed, the vibe dynamic, the service impeccable and the location excellent. The menu, curated by Filipino-born Australian chef Alex De Leon brings Western Australian ingredients and Asian flavours together. Big hitters include Miss Mi’s Lamb Shoulder Rendang with Toasted Coconut; Pemanggang Ikan Market Fish with Spicy Tamarind Broth; and Curry Pineapple with Kaffir and Curry. Pair with a Pandan Colada for a Southeast Asian spin. missmiperth.com.au

4 The wine region no-one knows about

Margaret River may be WA’s most famous wine region, but those in the know (and with no time or inclination for a longer tour) head just outside of Perth to the region’s best kept secret, Swan Valley. A mere 25-minute drive away, SV boasts almost 50 wineries and vineyards, artisan eateries, farmers markets and grapes the size of your head (okay, slight exaggeration). Being in such close proximity to the city centre, Mum and I had barely digested our Weet-Bix before we found ourselves immersed in bucolic surroundings.

We were shown around the region, which is encompassed in a neat 32-kilometre loop, by local guide Shannon (upcloseandlocaltours.com.au) who only escorts guests to locations she's tried and tested personally and targets the parts big bus tours can’t reach. All we had to do was enjoy the incredible knowledge of the winemakers, go behind-thescenes to witness the wine-making processes firsthand, and pull out the phrases “primary flavours’’ and “complexity” while reaching for the Parmigiano-Reggiano. The dream! All the vino was soaked up by a lovely lunch in the recently revamped Upper Reach restaurant (upperreach.com.au/restaurant) which

Astral Weeks

Perth’s first hi-fi listening bar opened last year in a former Chinese medicine store. The intimate 60-seater venue is an ode to an era before Spotify and puts music at the forefront with vinyl tucked into custom-built shelves and all bar staff being musicians or DJs. astral-weeks.com.au

Novotel Perth Murray Street

If you’re looking for a prime location, spacious rooms, slick staff and a splash of style, the newly revamped Novotel Perth Murray Street is for you. Emerging victorious and with more va-va-voom than its pre-pandemic days, this hotel has it all - yes, even a rooftop pool. It’s the perfect place to cool down after browsing Chanel a few doors down. all.accor.com now comes with updated décor, a new menu and a great focus on flavourful local produce.

Your Swan Valley Hitlist

Kato’s at 3000 (ask for Marlene)

The House of Honey ( thehouseofhoney.com.au)

Olive Farm Wines ( olivefarmwines.com.au)

Faber Vinyard ( fabervineyard.com.au)

Mandoon Estate ( mandoonestate.com.au)

5 Pick of the landscapes

While Perth may be one of the most isolated cities on the globe – surrounded by the Australian outback on one side and the Indian Ocean on the other – it certainly packs in the scenery. It's. Just. So. Versatile.

South of Perth we explored Boranup Karri Forest, saw thrombolites at Lake Clifton, passed through farmland, ventured into the world’s longest cave, Mammoth Cave, and dangled our toes in crystalline waters from coastal jetties (mcleodtours.com.au). North of Perth we marvelled at ancient rock pillars the Pinnacles, laughed our way through a 4WD in Lancelin Sand Dunes, and got powder in our shorts while bumboarding. We watched the sunset from Gnarabup coast, took in the harbourfront at Perth’s Elizabeth Quay, and at Cottesloe Beach we swam in the ocean and held up the very British tradition of sunbathing just a bit too much.

6 Daily escapes on your doorstep

Mum and I made Perth our base but were in awe of the options for day trips or longer that are available. From coffee tasting (yahava.com au) to kangaroo spotting (cavershamwildlife.com.au) to lobster lunching (lobstershack.com.au), it’s all here. It’s ridiculously easy to just ‘get away’ and feel a freedom that’s hard to instantly access anywhere else (especially Singapore!).

We took the 45-minute ferry journey from the bohemian town of Fremantle to Rottnest Island (sealinkrottnest.com. au), a paradise island and protected nature reserve with a sandy-footed, back-to-basics ethos where the beaches are ivory white and the water gin-clear. The heat can be searing, so jump on a Bayseeker tour bus (buy a package with ferry crossing) and plump for a seat on the left-hand side to bag the best views of 20 secluded bays, coral reefs, passing dolphin pods, amazing flora and fauna and Rotto’s smiley endemic species, the quokka. Touted as ‘the world’s happiest animal’, after visiting Perth it’s easy to see why they would be. Ten days exploring WA made Mum and I feel on top of the world, too.