One of the main causes of tooth decay in
children is poor oral hygiene, more specifically inefficient brushing of teeth.
What happens when we let our children do the brushing on their own? Find out
from Dr. Chantal today.
You see a lot of children and parents every
day. What do most parents say when it comes to brushing their children's teeth?
During consultation, parents would often say "My
child knows how to do it", "My child does not want me to brush
his/her teeth" or "I want my child to be independent." Most
parents allow their children to brush their teeth by themselves. What happens
then? The child does a very poor job of cleaning his teeth, and ultimately, the
end result is cavities.
What do you recommend parents when it comes to
their children's oral hygiene?
Every child is different but in general parents
should brush their child's teeth until they are about 5 to 8 years old. Remember
that it is very important that parents continue to supervise their children's brushing
until the age 10 to 12. This is to make sure that they're doing it thoroughly.
Brushing should be done for two minutes minimum twice a day.
What if the child insists on brushing on his
own?
Brushing is a skill. Like many skills, it take
years to learn it and be good at it. Young children usually do not have the
manual dexterity to brush or floss properly. If your child wants to do it by
himself, let him! It's a great way for him to practice but ALWAYS make sure
that you brush his teeth before or after he's done it for himself. For older
children aged 10 to 12 years, make sure that you supervise them. Be there when your
child brushes his teeth and make sure that your child is doing it well.
Reinforce whenever necessary.
Do you still see many cases of tooth decay in
children?
I see a lot of cases. In fact, although tooth decay
is preventable, the World Health Organization reports that around 60 – 90% of
children around the world have tooth decay.
What other advice can you give parents?
Aside from proper oral hygiene and regular
checkups, one other main thing that parents should focus on is their children's
diet. I suggest a diet with very minimal intake of sugar to help protect your
child from cavities. If you must give your child some sweets, give a small
serving along with a main meal, or have a “Sweet Day”, one day in the week
where your child can enjoy some sweets. Parents should also be wary about
juices. Juices, even those labelled fresh
or sugar-free, are loaded with
sugar and acids. Limit juices and encourage your child to drink more water
instead.
