Education on oral health care for children is getting away from "don't do this" messages because they do not work, paediatric dentist Alison Meldrum says.
Under the revamped oral health programme for children there is an emphasis on collaboration between dental therapists and parents early in the child's life.
But Mrs Meldrum, who is the convener of the programme which trains dental therapists and hygienists at the University of Otago, said this was not about lecturing parents.
It was a "two way" discussion about what they were doing and exploring practical ways to help their children's oral health.
Often parents did not realise that teeth "need a rest" and that "grazing" on food throughout the day meant saliva was always slightly acidic, putting teeth at risk of decay.
Leaving two hours between exposures to food meant teeth had the chance to remineralise and strengthen.
Finding alternatives to putting a baby to bed with a bottle could also be discussed.
Ms Meldrum said the message was not about banning sweet treats, but limiting exposure to them.
She agreed that it could take some parents time to adjust to the new style of dental service where they were required to be more involved, but she likened it to visiting a general practitioner.
"You would never send a child to the doctor by themselves."
It was considered that greater involvement by parents and caregivers would lead to a reduction in tooth decay because prevention would be more effective.
The restorative model of dental care which involved fixing holes but not changing the behaviour which led to the decay did not really work, she said.
