Taking care of one’s teeth and gums should be a daily practice. Unfortunately, many fail to see that poor oral health has far-reaching consequences.
Studies show that children who have cavities at a young age are three times more likely to have them as adults. According to the Malaysian National Oral Health Survey of Preschool Children, 71.3% of five-year-olds already have cavities.
Most of these cases start from parents’ belief that milk teeth don’t have to be looked after with as much diligence as permanent teeth. But the truth is, cultivating good oral healthcare habits from a young age will ensure children continue to safeguard their mouth, teeth and gums well into adulthood.
In conjunction with World Oral Health Day today, Dr Yogeswari Sivapragasam from the School of Dentistry at International Medical University offers some advice.
1. Start them young
It is easy to overlook oral care in babies – after all, they won’t have teeth until months later! However, babies should still have their gums cleaned at least twice a day. This helps to set the foundation for a lifetime of daily oral cleaning routines.
Parents should seek advice from their paediatrician on how to care for their child’s oral health from birth, including what to do when teeth first appear.
2. Say no to salt and sugar
As children – and their teeth – grow, exposure to new foods is natural as their diet expands in accordance with their changing nutritional needs.
However, it is important to introduce new foods gradually and mindfully. Yogeswari advises parents to delay the introduction of added salt and sugar into their child’s diet, so they do not develop a liking for these flavours early in life.
A lifelong preference for sweet foods can lead to higher risk of dental problems, as well as chronic health conditions such as obesity and diabetes.
3. Make dental visits fun and regular
It is common for adults to have an aversion to visiting the dentist, and this may have developed from their own negative experiences. It is important that parents put aside their personal fears and create a positive experience for their child.
Children should receive their first dental checkup when they are a year old. Thereafter, a checkup is advisable every six months.
As it is unlikely that they will have any dental problems at this young age, these early visits will help young children have a positive experience rather than associate the dentist with pain and fear. Regular checkups will help normalise the experience and will go a long way towards preventive care.
Early dental visits will also allow potential problems to be detected early and prevented from progressing, Yogeswari explained.
4. Be alert to behavioural changes
A child with cavities or gum disease may experience discomfort or pain, causing them to avoid foods that require chewing. This may lead them to avoid whole foods such as apples and chicken, and choose softer foods instead – many of which are processed and contain higher levels of salt, sugar and fat.
Long-term pain can also cause irritability, or affect their ability to concentrate during lessons in preschool. In addition, poor oral health can affect a child’s self-esteem if they are teased owing to the appearance of their stained or rotten teeth. This may cause them to avoid social activities or become withdrawn.
As such, Yogeswari asks for parents to be alert and check for possible dental problems if their child suddenly appears to be unwilling to chew, is reluctant to brush their teeth, or becomes irritable without any apparent cause.
Parents can help support their child’s oral health through different stages of development by being observant of any visible signs such as bleeding gums, ulcers, or discolouration of the teeth.
5. Different ages, different oral health needs
Yogeswari cautions against the common misconception that milk teeth are not important as they will drop out anyway. Here’s her advice for oral care at different ages:
- After birth, before baby’s teeth develop
Use a clean, damp cloth wrapped around a finger to gently wipe the gums in the morning and at night.
- After the first teeth appear
Use a baby-friendly toothbrush with a toothpaste that contains fluoride to gently brush the teeth and gums at least twice a day. Establish a routine.
- Preschool age
At this age, children are able to hold a toothbrush but will need their parents to manually guide them on how to brush their teeth thoroughly.
- School age
By this time, children should be able to brush their teeth independently, with supervision from parents.