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Feature article
How many parents in this part of the world really realize the impact of poor oral hygiene on their children and in fact, on their children’s self esteem as they move from childhood to later stages in life? Although there is no concrete data that answers this question, non-profit organizations, public sector health officials, dentists, as well as vendors of oral care products point to this direction: few parents are really aware of the outcome of poor oral hygiene habits among children, and even fewer take a preventive approach to ensure their children face less oral care problems and most importantly, teeth, as they grow older.
In a 2003 report published by the World Health Organization, dental cavities is still a major oral health problem in most industrialized countries, affecting 60-90% of schoolchildren and the vast majority of adults.
Another survey conducted by the Ministry of Health in the UAE earlier in 2002, points that the majority of children in the UAE experience cavities in their primary dentition, more than half of 12 years old have cavities experience in their permanent dentition; by the age of 15, more than 60% experience dental decay.
LK Gupta, the regional business manager for Oral-B, a brand used by more dentists around the world said: ” Our estimates suggest that brushes for children constitute only 5-7% of all brushes sold in the Middle East, whereas if every child has a toothbrushes, and maintains a consistent and appropriate use of it throughout his or her childhood by changing the toothbrush every three or four months to achieve the desired results, then the children toothbrush size of the market should be 2-3 times as much as it is today.”
Dr. M. F. Talass, a leading Dubai based orthodontist in the Middle East says that the oral hygiene, compared to other health issues, does not top the agenda of parents in this part of the world. “There is of course the element of education as primary reason and I can state few of many examples. Not many women realize that the best insurance for a healthy baby is a mother who is not only, well, but also eats a nutritious diet before and during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. The baby’s teeth in fact start to develop around the sixth week of pregnancy and therefore, Calcium is essential in a pregnant women’s diet and while breastfeeding. Even fewer women know that 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 carries at a very early stage.”
Dr. Talass continues:” Primary teeth are the foundation of a healthy mouth, including the positioning of permanent teeth and the healthiness of the gum. If your baby’s primary teeth become broken or decayed and are not properly treated, problems can occur with permanent teeth, which may contribute to other health problems. The result can be costly orthodontics and other treatments.”
Babies are exposed to decay 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, sharing a cup, or sucking on the baby's fingers. Frequent, long-term exposure of a child's teeth to sugary liquids (including breast milk, formula, and milk) causes baby bottle tooth decay. The sugars in these liquids pool around the teeth and feed the bacteria in plaque.
Dr Talass advises: ”Care should be taken not to expose the infant to bacterial exposure from these sources and most importantly, mothers need to ensure that their babies teeth have enough fluoride supplements in their diets. In fact, as soon as teeth appear, babies are risk for decay and need to be brushed twice daily with a soft-bristled brush.
Doctors and health officials advise that preventive steps against dental disease among children is the best approach that parents can take to maintain good oral health. Dr Talass said: ”Parents need to ensure that good oral health habits are established early. When the child is one year old, parents should also serve as a role model for their children by practicing good oral heath habits themselves in front of their children. Children’s toothbrush should be changed before the bristles become splayed and frayed. Old toothbrushes are ineffective and may contain harmful bacteria that can cause infections such as gingivitis and periodontitis. Every three to four months, parents should change their children’s toothbrush. Because the mouth is home to millions of microorganisms, and a toothbrush can become contaminated with bacteria, blood, saliva, oral debris and toothpaste it is recommended parents teach their children to rinse their toothbrush with tap water after brushing.”
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. Soon, children will realize that tooth brushing is part of their daily routine. A message to parents: remember, starting early and starting right will endure that your child’s smile stays healthy as well as bright.
Start early, start right— a quick guide provided by Oral-B
Your child’s first dental visit should be between the eruption of the first tooth and his or her first birthday.
Brush your children’s teeth until they are around three years old, and then start encouraging them to join in. Supervise their brushing until age eight.
Children under age four should use a simple brushing technique—such as a small, circular brushing motion.
Choose a children’s toothbrush with a small brushhead and soft bristles.
Use only a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. Teach your child to rinse and spit out any toothpaste left after brushing.
Flossing should start when two teeth touch and supervision is needed until at least the age of 10. |
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