Do you know that mouth monsters damage your child’s dental health if you are not helping them with routine cleaning, flossing, and follow-ups? Not sure about when you should take them to dentists?
Dental Health In Children
Dental hygiene is the most commonly neglected part of the overall health of any age group. Dental decay is the most prevalent dental disease in children worldwide. From childhood to old age, dental decay can start from age 1 year onwards.
It is important to know how to help build a hygiene routine that will eventually help children maintain their dental health, which would in turn help them with their overall growth and development.
This article will assist you to go through the most common questions that you have in mind and to understand how to address the dental issues of children.
How To Recognize Tooth Decay In Children?
It is difficult to recognize tooth decay unless parents check on their dental cleaning routine, food habits, etc., Few symptoms that we can look at are,
- Sharp sensitivity in any tooth when cold or hot food or drinks are consumed.
- Bad breath.
- Pain in teeth.
- Appearance of grey, brown and black spots on the tooth surfaces.
- Visible holes in the tooth.
- Not being able to eat foods due to pain, can lead to malnutrition and weight loss.
What Are Cavities?
Tooth decay is also referred to as ‘cavities or caries’. A cavity (a hole) is chronic damage that occurs in the tooth due to the build-up of plaque, damaging the enamel. This can occur even in children who have milk or wisdom teeth.
Plaque is a sticky formation on the tooth that accumulates when food is mixed with saliva. If children don’t brush their teeth properly or give them a miss, over-time plaque builds up, and the surface (enamel) of the tooth is broken down by the oral-bacterial acids leading to cavities.
The type of foods that children consume is also another reason for the development of cavities. The best way to avoid tooth decay is to follow few but regular good dental hygiene practices.
Dental Hygiene Practices And Recommendations In Children
- Don’t put infants to bed with a bottle.
- Clean the infant’s gums (even before the tooth erupts) to avoid the accumulation of bacteria.
- Clean or let your child brush their teeth twice daily.
- Use fluoridated toothpaste.
- Flossing is recommended, particularly when two teeth are touching each other, so any food remnants can be removed and cleaned.
- Children 5 years and below could have adult supervision while brushing their teeth until they learn the proper way of cleaning.
- Include healthy, nutrient-rich foods and limit high-sugar foods such as chocolates, pastries, candies, ice cream, and sugary drinks.
- Check for the added sugars in packaged foods, which is the most common reason for tooth decays in children. (Chi et al. 2019)
- Avoid frequent snacking.
- Avoid using the cutlery of other children or family members, as it can transmit germs easily.
- Avoid eating food after brushing their teeth, before bedtime.
- Change toothbrushes once every 3 months, or earlier if required.
- Keep a follow-up schedule with the dentist from early age onward to monitor any issues.
Treatments For Tooth Decay
Treatment is usually based on the age of the child, the extent of the decay, and other symptoms. The primary treatment for early decay is usually by cleaning the tooth with the application of fluoride gel to prevent plaque formation.
When cavities are present, they are first addressed by cleaning the decayed substances, filling the holes, or placing a cap on the tooth. The next line of treatment is when the decay goes to the depth of the tooth, a root canal treatment is done with the help of anaesthesia at the area. A tooth that is damaged beyond root canal treatment should be completely extracted and removed.
This space can be maintained if the tooth is a milk tooth using a space-maintaining appliance or has to be replaced with a bridge or implant if the tooth is an adult tooth.
Takeaway
It is extremely important to take good care of your child’s teeth and gums from early age onwards to avoid decay that can save them from unpleasant and painful dental treatments. It is in the parent’s best interest to help children form a daily dental ritual, from consuming proper foods to cleaning teeth properly.
References
Chi, D. L., & Scott, J. M. (2019). Added Sugar and Dental Caries in Children: A Scientific Update and Future Steps. Dental clinics of North America, 63(1), 17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cden.2018.08.003
Selwitz, R. H., Ismail, A. I., & Pitts, N. B. (2007). Dental caries. The Lancet, 369(9555), 51–59. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(07)60031-2
Author: Praveena Kuchipudi (INFS Faculty)
