Durban - Sadly, the greatest disease among children under the age of five is tooth decay, and, say dental experts, if good oral hygiene isn’t practiced from a young age, there will be little to no interest from Fairyville as to what is hidden under your child’s pillow.
September is National Oral Health Month and, in an effort to raise awareness over tooth decay (also called dental caries), Intercare Dental has bitten down hard on the roll-out of a dental campaign to not only get parents excited about establishing good brushing habits in their children, but children too.
“Some parents believe it’s not important to look after baby teeth as they will eventually fall out, but oral hygiene is imperative from the moment the first tooth makes its rewarding debut,” says Professor Johan Hartshorne, a dental surgeon at Intercare Tyger Valley Dental Centre of Excellence.
“Tooth decay can cause pain and infection, and even affect your child’s growth. Severe decay – even in baby teeth – can have serious consequences for your child’s speech and jaw development.
“The longer tooth decay is left untreated, the more your child will experience pain and discomfort, and a higher risk of new decay in other baby and adult teeth.”
The child might also face more complicated and expensive treatment, as well as anxiety when he or she does visit a dentist – because he or she might start to associate dentists with pain. This could also lead to loss of time at school.
Hartshorne explains that oral hygiene is the practice of keeping the mouth and teeth clean to prevent dental problems, most commonly dental cavities, gingivitis and bad breath.
A child’s mouth can be kept clean and healthy by brushing and flossing twice a day and by seeing a dentist every six months.
“Your baby’s gums are the ‘lifeline’ for their teeth, so gum health is just as important as caring for the actual tooth itself,” adds Hartshorne.
“Begin cleaning your baby’s mouth during the first few days after birth by wiping the gums with a clean, moist gauze pad or washcloth.
“As soon as teeth appear, decay can occur.
“A baby’s front four teeth usually push through the gums at about six months of age, although some children don’t have their first tooth until 12 or 14 months.”
Children younger than three should have their teeth brushed as soon as they begin to appear in the mouth, by using fluoride toothpaste in an amount no more than the size of a grain of rice, Hartshorne advises.
“For children aged three to six years, use a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. Brush teeth thoroughly twice a day (morning and night).
“When your child has two teeth that touch, you should begin flossing their teeth daily. Supervise children’s brushing and remind them not to swallow the toothpaste.”
Children are naturally against regular “mouth inspections”, especially little ones, so early tooth decay and developmental problems can be pretty hard to spot.
“That is where a dentist is needed,” says Hartshorne.
“We recommend children have their first dentist visit before their first birthday, as taking your child to the dentist at a young age is the best way to prevent tooth decay. This can also help parents learn how to clean their child’s teeth.
“Many first visits are nothing more than informal ‘introductory icebreakers’ to acquaint your child with the dentist and the practice, and these visits are generally only 15 to 30 minutes”.
The Mercury