Kids Dentistry Special: Take care of your Child’s Teeth
Johnny Johnny!
Yes, Papa
Eating sugar?
No, Papa
Telling lies?
No, Papa
Open your mouth!
Ha! Ha! Ha!
While growing up, we have heard this rhyme countless times. We have even used the same rhyme, replaced the words appropriately (or inappropriately – pun intended) for our own entertainment. However, have we ever stopped to think why is Johnny’s Papa so adamant on finding out if little Johnny was eating sugar? Kids are always attracted towards sugary goodies and why kids even the adults indulge in guilty pleasures by savouring sugary eatables every now and then or maybe all the time. Kids especially have an extra dose of sweet cravings and always tend to enjoy indulging in chocolates, savouries and other food items which have high content of sugar. Adults or parents usually tend to fuel this weakness of kids’ towards sugary food by indulging them in consuming sweet-meats and why not, because adults/parents usually think kids are immune from the harmful effects of such indulges. WRONG! Over consumption of food products with high content of sugar is not only bad for the internal health of the body, especially for kids whose internal system is constantly developing up till a certain age, but high sugar intake is equally harmful for the oral health as it accelerates the decaying of teeth and causes gum diseases while destroying the enamel content of teeth. Enamel is one of the four major tissues of the teeth and acts as a protective cover for the teeth; however, it can be easily destroyed due to lack of care. SUGAR is one of the main evils when it comes to destroying enamel content. Now, you know why Johnny’s Papa was concerned!
Another habitual effect on the oral health of kids especially in the 5-10 years age bracket is faced from the upshot of ‘thumb-sucking’ in infants. Infants tend follow it routinely in order to gain emotional security and comfort; however this can have a negative effect if it continues beyond the age of 5. The development of permanent denture begins after the age of 5 and if the infant continues the habit of thumb-sucking, then in most cases it is seen that there is deformity of the teeth and the teeth tends to jut and pushed out of alignment. In order to curb this habit post-infancy, parent must act as anchors and provide the psychological comfort of security and self-confidence to stop this completely. In case of existing deformity in teeth and alignment, braces can be used. There is no specific age limit when it comes to putting braces in kids, typically any time after the age of 5 is advisable to use braces. Also, the development of invisible braces can help kids shed their cynicism and peer pressure towards using regular metal braces.
The best ways to maintain the oral health of infants and kids are to provide a proper diet which not only nourishes the body but the mouth as well. Kids tend to have snacking habits, it is advisable to give them raw fruits and vegetables (like carrot sticks or cucumber) to complement their oral health. Not only will this help in maintaining oral health but also help develop a healthy snacking habit devoid of junk food. Dried fruits must be avoided as a snack due to its sugar content, it can be consumed occasionally. Milk and water are the best drinks for a child as both nourishes the body and milk is a healthy source of calcium which helps in bone development and healthy teeth. Fizzy drinks and also their ‘diet’ versions are harmful due to its sugar content and acids which can cause decay and eat into the protective layer of teeth. Tooth decay is the most common ailment seen in kids; it can be avoided by following a healthy diet as mentioned above. A regular habit of taking care of one’s dentures must be practiced from an early age. Parents must advise their kids on the importance of brushing twice daily, flossing, tongue cleaning and rinsing with water, amongst other hacks to inculcate a healthy habit of maintaining oral health. Also, the first signs of tooth decay must be treated immediately. Kids dentistry are a special wing in the field of dentistry and most dental clinics in Mumbai offer kids dentistry. If treated early, painless dental treatments can help kids recover from oral problems.