Life & Style | Health
Childrens' dental care
Permanent teeth develop from the same tooth bud as the primary (milk) teeth. This means dental care should start from the moment the first tooth appears, says oral care expert Ihab El Labban.
- By Ruqya Khan, Freelance Writer
- Published: 00:20 September 5, 2008
- Every mother remembers the first milky white bump in her baby's mouth. There is something magical about these milestones; they give so much meaning to being a parent.
- Image Credit:
My first-born spent 14 months of her life without teeth – there was not a single pearly in sight until she was over a year old. Between then and now she has managed to just about replace her set of milk teeth with permanent ones – each tooth a deposit for the tooth fairy!
Every mother remembers the first milky white bump in her
baby's mouth. There is something magical about these milestones; they give so much meaning to being
a parent.
But there is more to paediatric dentistry than adorable toothless smiles. How well a child's jaw fills depends on proper care. It also depends on what he eats and the kind of relationship he has maintained with the dentist.
Ihab El Labban is currently the external professional relations manager for Procter and Gamble Oral Health, Arabian Peninsula. He has over 13 years of experience in the field of pharmaceutical products and is now managing the professional marketing programmes and operations for Oral-B and Crest. He has in-depth knowledge of the oral care industry in this region and is constantly involved in campaigns aimed to educate consumers about oral hygiene.
Prevention before cure
Few parents realise the impact of poor oral hygiene on children and the effect it has on their self-esteem as they reach adulthood.
And since parents are not really aware, they do not take apt measures to ensure that their children face fewer oral care problems as they grow older.
Prevention is key
Preventive steps to fight dental disease are the best approach.
Good oral health habits need to be established early. Be a good role model to your child by practising good oral health habits in their presence.
There are many scientific facts a parent should be aware of. Some of these include:
- The mouth is home to millions of micro-organisms.
- A toothbrush can become contaminated with bacteria, blood, saliva, oral debris and toothpaste.
- Old toothbrushes can become ineffective and may cause infections such as gingivitis and periodontitis.
Start early, start right
Here is a quick guide:
- Your child's first dental visit should be between the eruption of the first tooth and his or her first birthday.
- Brush your child's teeth until he is around three years old, and then start encouraging him to do it himself. Supervise brushing until age eight.
- Children under age four should use a simple brushing technique, such as
a small, circular brushing motion.
- Choose a toothbrush with a small brush head and soft bristles.
- Use only a pea-sized amount of toothpaste. Teach your child to rinse and spit out after brushing.
- Teach your child to rinse his toothbrush with running water
after brushing.
- Flossing should start when two teeth touch and supervision is needed until at least the age of 10.
- Change your child's toothbrush before the bristles become splayed and frayed.
To eat or not to eat
Tooth decay roots from what a child eats. If he eats sweets, crisps and junk food, additional care would be required. If possible, it's best to brush his teeth soon after eating such treats. However, it may not always be practical. Drinking water after food helps neutralise acidic saliva.
Moderate the use of sugar and food high in sugar. First, too much sugar can lead to tooth decay. Second, sugars and foods high in sugar supply calories but may be limited in vitamins and minerals leading to obesity and other related health problems.
Baby bottle tooth decay, also known as nursing bottle syndrome, is characterised by rapid decay of the primary upper front teeth and a few of the lower back molars.
This form of decay is associated with inappropriate bottle-feeding such as giving infants a sweet pacifier or bottle containing milk, formula or a sugary liquid when they go to bed. The sugars in these liquids pool around the teeth and feed the bacteria in plaque. Decayed baby teeth affect tooth formation and the health of permanent teeth later on.
Babies are exposed to bacteria from a variety of sources, such as a caregiver blowing on food to cool it, tasting food, sharing utensils, kissing the infant on the mouth or sharing a cup.
For your child's dental health, make sure you:
- Include plenty of grain-based products, vegetables and fruits (sources of complex carbohydrates) in your child's diet. Grains such as breads, cereals, pastas and rice as well as vegetables and fruits add colour and variety.
- Encourage foods that are low in fat, especially saturated and trans fats. Some dietary guidelines recommend keeping total fat intake between 30 and 35 per cent of total calories for children two to three years of age and between 25 to 35 per cent of calories for children and adolescents four to 18 years of age.
- Serve salty and processed foods only in moderation.
The fine details
Parents also don't realise that they have to brush their children's teeth from the moment the first tooth appears. They usually believe primary teeth - even if decayed - will fall out and will be replaced by permanent teeth. Fact is, healthy primary teeth are essential for the growth of healthy permanent ones.
The permanent teeth replacements develop from the same tooth bud as the primary (milk) teeth; this provides a guide for permanent tooth eruption. Also the muscles of the jaw and the formation of the jaw bones depend on the primary teeth in order to maintain the proper space for permanent teeth and healthiness of the gum. (Teeth aid a child's speech and food chewing activities.)
If your baby's primary teeth break or decay, and are not properly treated by a dentist, problems can occur with permanent teeth, which may contribute to other health problems. The end result can be costly orthodontics and other treatments.
As the baby grows
Not many women realise that the best insurance for a healthy baby is a mother who not only brushes well, but also eats a nutritious diet before and during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
The baby's teeth start to develop around the sixth week of pregnancy and calcium is therefore essential in a pregnant woman's diet and while breastfeeding.
Saliva contains components that can directly attack bacteria, which cause decay, and this can easily be transmitted to babies at the early stages of their teeth formation, which would eventually lead to caries at a very early stage.
Care should be taken not to expose the infant to bacterial exposure from these sources and most importantly, mothers need to ensure that their baby's teeth have enough fluoride supplements in their diets. In fact, as soon as teeth appear, babies are at risk for decay and need to be brushed twice daily with a soft-bristled brush.
As the child grows
It's fine for a child to brush twice a day to maintain healthy teeth provided he or she sticks to a healthy eating regimen. Care should be taken to clean the tongue too, as sulphur-producing bacteria can lead to bad breath. Use a mouth rinse to round off the dental routine.
After the first visit to the dentist, children should have repeat visits every six months for a standard check-up (whether there is a problem or not). Signs of tooth decay, discolouration and any abnormal tooth growth should be looked into in the early stages.
Consult your dentist on the child's progress and the kind of toothbrush he should use. A lifetime of good oral health can be a reality for children if parents get them on the right track early.
The role of parents is to keep their children motivated by setting a good example, and to create a consistent and fun environment for tooth brushing.
Remember, starting early and starting right will ensure that your child's smile stays healthy as well as bright.
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