Insure Your Child's Smile

Insure Your Child's Smile

 When your child eats, food passes through the mouth and it meets the germs or bacteria that live in the mouth. These bacteria have sugars and starches found in many foods. If you do not clean your child's teeth after eating, plaque bacteria use the sugars and starches to produce acid that destroys the hard surface of the tooth. After a while tooth begins to decay.

 

 

Tooth decay is a common problem among children, worldwide. The mouth is the pathway to the body and it is also his vehicle of communication. If he has bad teeth, it can effect his social life. Children with unsightly teeth avoid smiling or speaking and gradually become introverted. So it is very important to be careful about your child's dental health.

One of the serious dental problems that occurs in childhood and is completely preventable is caries. Make sure that your child gets enough fluoride, eats right and is regularly checked by a dentist.


What is flouride and why is it important?
Fluoride is a natural chemical that can be added to drinking water. It is important because: -
It strengthens the enamel, the hard outer coating of the teeth.

•  It prevents tooth decay.

•  It helps repair early damage to the teeth.

•  Sufficient fluoride ingestion promotes optimal tooth development.

The fluoride content in the municipal water supply varies from place to place. Water with low levels of fluoride can be a problem for infants. But, remember to consult your paediatrician before you start with any remedy.


Eating Right

Diet and nutrition play an important role in delaying tooth decay. The child's diet during tooth formation can contribute to the resistance or susceptibility of teeth to acid destruction. Children with a teeth-unfriendly diet are more susceptible to dental problems. For good dental health, keep the following tips in mind: -

•  Give a balanced diet to your child. Choose foods from all the five major food groups -- cereals, fruits, vegetables, meat and meat products, and milk and milk products.

•  Limit the number of snacks your child eats. Each time he eats food, acids attack teeth for 20 minutes or more. For snacks, use nutritious foods, such as cheese, raw vegetables or yoghurt. Ideally, set regular snack times to avoid constant exposure to cavity causing foods.

•  Sweets like candy or cookies can lead to tooth decay as they tend to stick to the teeth for a long time and are therefore harmful. Plaque thrives on sugar, turning it into acids that eat away at the enamel. Avoid these as much as possible.

•  Sugar from fruits and fruit juices are equally harmful if they are allowed to stay in the mouth for long. Starches and fruits, however, are a necessary part of a child's diet, so, to avoid tooth decay, give them to your child only at meal time. During a meal, more saliva is released which helps in washing food from the mouth, thus reducing the effect of acid.

•  Inculcate the habit of washing the mouth after every meal or snack. The natural fluoride in water will help your child's teeth.

•  Calcium is a must for your child's teeth and bones. He gets his recommended daily dose from foods like milk, orange juice and leafy greens (spinach, broccoli, mustard greens, yogurt, cheese, cottage cheese). Make sure his calcium requirement is met at all costs.

•  Teach him to brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. Make him use dental floss to clean in between the teeth.


Preventive Dentistry

Your child should get regular dental checkups after all his 20 baby teeth have appeared. The sooner you visit a dentist the better the chance of preventing dental diseases. Visit a dentist every six months or at least annually. Some children, however, need more frequent visits because of increased risk of tooth decay or malformed teeth.

Children with a healthy mouth chew more easily and gain more nutrients from food. They have a better chance of general health, because disease in the mouth can endanger the rest of the body. It also gives them confidence in their appearance. Taking care of this aspect of your child's development is your responsibility and one that requires only some commitment and basic knowledge.