5 common reasons kids under 14 need the dentist

From the moment your child’s first tooth appears, dental care is important to help prevent tooth decay and treatments.

Let's look at five reasons your child may meet the dentist's chair before they get into their late teens.

1. Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease in Australian children¹

Getting kids to brush their teeth isn’t easy, but just look what happens when they don’t.

More than one third (34.3%) of Australian children have experienced tooth decay in their primary (baby) teeth by as early as age five to six, and almost a quarter (23.5%) of kids and teens aged six to 14 have experienced decay in their permanent (adult) teeth.

If left untreated, tooth decay can wear down teeth and form cavities. Treatments such as fillings are necessary to repair the tooth before it becomes too damaged to save.

Worryingly, this may be the case for many Australian children.

More than a quarter (27.1%) of kids aged five to 10 have untreated decay in their primary teeth. Nine per cent of this age group have untreated tooth decay in their permanent teeth.

So, why is all this tooth decay happening?

2. Kids under 5 are not visiting the dentist enough¹

Regular check-ups can help catch dental problems and decay early on in kids – yet only 55 percent of children under five have visited a dentist.

That’s why it’s recommended to make the first trip to the dentist when a child’s first tooth appears (or by 12 months of age if no pearly whites have come up). Dental check ups are recommended from when a child’s first tooth has appeared or by 12 months of age. Regular check-ups can help identify any early signs problems or decay.

3. As they get older, Aussie kids are eating too much sugar¹

Many Australian kids are drawn to sugary foods and drinks - and the statistics show a worrying trend.

70 per cent of children aged nine to 13 years consume too much sugar, as do 73 per cent of children aged 14 to 18 years .

Excessive sugar consumption leads to increased plaque which can dissolve enamel and cause cavities and tooth decay.

4. Very young children sometimes need dental surgery²

According to HBF claims data, Dental surgery was one of the top 5 reasons kids under age 10 went to hospital and made an insurance claim.²

The most common dental surgeries for children under 10 include:

• Teeth extraction
  • When baby teeth are ready to fall out but are not doing so naturally
  • When a tooth is embedded in the jawbone
  • When a tooth is severely decayed
  • When teeth are overcrowded
• Fillings
• Dental crowns

5. Children in school sport are getting more dental injuries³

Australian kids love their sport, but sometimes it’s not losing a game that hurts.

Sporting related injuries add up to nearly 40 per cent of dental injuries. Injuries include broken jaws, fractured, cracked and dislodged teeth. Fixing these injuries can be costly.

When playing sport, it’s recommended that all children wear a custom-made mouthguard to help prevent serious injury.