With busy lifestyles and hectic schedules, it’s quite common to find most Australian parents dealing with health and hygiene concerns for their kids. Rushed mornings, barely finished breakfasts, and a quick swipe of the toothbrush might sound harmless at first, but a continuous lack of oral hygiene can cause severe dental issues for your kids. A recent survey by the Australian Dental Association (ADA) revealed a lot about the dental habits of Australian kids. It points out how kids today lack oral hygiene practices and healthy dental habits, and also highlights parents’ lack of awareness regarding their kids’ oral health. This ignorance is the main cause of the rise of early decay, discomfort, and dental trauma in kids.
We at the Dentist at Dickson have seen similar trends among families in Canberra, with many kids arriving with cavities at a very early age. That is why visiting a trusted family dentistry regularly to ensure kids’ good dental health is essential. This post explores the survey’s data regarding kids’ dental habits and parents’ awareness and reiterates why family dentists matter more than ever.
What the Data Says About Kids' Dental Habits?
The Australian Dental Association (ADA) surveyed more than 25,000 parents nationwide about their kids’ dental habits in 2025. Let’s look at a few key points:
Percentage Of Kids Brushing And Flossing
1. Percentage Of Kids Brushing And Flossing
Healthy teeth are essential for a healthy body. When your teeth are not healthy, they can cause serious issues for the body,
– too. The ADA survey revealed alarming trends in children’s oral health in Australia:
- 68% of children brush twice a day, 20% brush only once a day, leaving 12% kids who don’t brush daily.
More than three-quarters of the 68% surveyed fail to floss themselves, leaving their gums and underlying teeth vulnerable to decay.
This is a serious concern as irregular brushing and flossing can cause plaque build-up, which can even lead to cavities. If left untreated, this cavity can deepen and cause pain and infection in the inner layers of the teeth.
2. Dietary Habits Survey
Weekend BBQs might be fun for the family, but those fizzy drinks could be hurting your child’s teeth more than you realise. Unhealthy diet, high sugar intake, and junk food consumption are alarmingly common in most Australian kids. Look at these interesting and unhealthy numbers that have left us stumped:
- 87% of parents acknowledge that fruit juice can cause tooth decay. And yet, 27% of children continue to consume it daily – more than 7 times per week.
- 40% of children consume soft drinks almost 2 to 5 times per week. It significantly increases their risk of developing cavities.
When do Child Visit the dentist
46%
33%
21%
Too much sugar can cause severe issues for teeth. The bacteria in our mouth feed on sugar, producing acids that can erode tooth enamel. This constant erosion can cause cavities, which, if left untreated, can cause pain, inflammation, and tooth decay. As Dr. Chris Sanzaro, ADA President, explains, “When a kid gets a hole into a baby tooth and it expands to the point where we can’t save the tooth anymore, it needs extraction”.
We recommend giving water to your kids after a sugary item or fruit juice, and ensuring regular visits to the family dentistry for an oral examination. It can reduce the chances of tooth cavities in kids.
3. Parents' Awareness of Their Kids' Dental Health
Ignoring a problem in hopes it will go away on its own may seem appealing, but it’s an impractical and escapist notion. Parents want their kids to be healthy, but are very okay with ignoring their bad dental habits and hygiene practices. The survey highlights parents’ glaringly obvious lack of concern for their kids’ dental health:
- Only 25% of parents are aware that dental checkups should start by the age of one.
- 1 in 3 children see a dentist only when there’s a problem, while the rest go for regular check-ups.
- 46% children had their first dental visit for a routine check-up, 33% were taken because of pain or a problem, and others only saw a dentist after accidents, teething issues, or when sent by a GP.
It’s clear from these numbers that a child’s first trip to the dentist can happen for different reasons. However, it marks an important step toward lifelong dental care. These findings highlight the critical need for early preventive care and improved oral health awareness. Because of this disconnect between awareness and action, children are facing serious problems at an early age.
Why These Trends Matter for Families
The ADA survey makes the current scenario of kids’ dental health glaringly obvious. But why do these numbers matter for families? What effect do these dental habits have on the health of children? Let’s dig deeper into these numbers and find out:
Why Postponing Dental Visits Isn’t Worth It:
Today, young kids are facing severe dental problems that adults usually face. Kids (aged 6 to 17) are going through root canal treatment on teeth. This is mostly because most parents take their kids for their first dental visit when the damage has already been done. “We should be getting children into the dentist before the age of one or when their first tooth erupts into the mouth, whichever happens first,” said Dr. Chris Sanzaro, ADA President. And yet, most parents delay their kids’ first dental visit, which can lead to dental issues later on in life. It can damage their teeth, instil bad dental habits, make them develop anxiety toward dental visits, and lead to expensive corrective treatments later.
Small Dental Habits Shape Big Smiles:
Regular brushing and flossing are fundamental to preventing cavities and gum disease. When left untreated, cavities can cause the tooth to decay, creating a need for dental crowns to protect the teeth. And cases of extensive tooth decay where the tooth is beyond saving, it can lead to tooth extraction, too.
Sugary Drinks vs. Healthy Teeth:
The foods we eat have a big impact on dental health. Frequent intake of sugary drinks significantly raises decay risk. Sugar causes enamel to break down, leading to cavities. Cavities can lead to tooth decay if not treated at the right time.
Closing the Flossing Gap: Why Brushing Alone Isn’t Enough:
Dentists call it the ‘flossing gap’ – those tricky spots between teeth that brushing can’t clean and where food and bacteria get trapped, and lead to tooth decay. It’s also a common place for cavities to sneak in. Regular flossing can help close these gaps by preventing cavities and plaque formation, and keep little smiles healthier for longer!
Your Family’s Best Dental Defence: Early, Regular Checkups
The goal of family dentistry is to provide comprehensive care in one location for individuals of all ages, including newborns and children. By cultivating proper oral hygiene and healthy dental habits from an early age, children can prevent serious dental issues like root canals and dental implants later on in their lives. It’s the parents’ responsibility to be proactive and take preventive care to ensure their child’s dental and oral health.
Dentist At Dickson focuses on developing healthy dental habits in children from an early age, guiding parents through every milestone, and providing positive first dental experiences.
Final Takeaway
As a parent, you must start dental visits for your kids by age one or within six months after the first tooth eruption. Try to develop a habit in them to brush twice a day and floss daily. Try to cut back on juice and soft drinks for kids. Regular visits to a trusted family dentistry, early dental examinations, routine cleanings, dietary recommendations, fluoride treatments, and cavity checks can help you avoid heavy dental procedures in the future.
Schedule regular check-ups, not just emergency visits, and at Dentist At Dickson, we will guide you through the entire process as your family dentistry.