If I could turn back the clock and return to childhood to improve the state of my health now, one thing I’d do is take better care of my teeth. It’s crucial to establish good dental habits early on, and encourage your kids to visit the dentist regularly. As I’ve found to my cost, it’s a good idea to sort out small problems before they become big, expensive, unsightly, painful ones!
Things you and your child need to know about tooth decay
It’s caused by bacteria that live in the mouth and feed on what you eat.
These types of bacteria thrive on sugars, including those found in fruit and fruit juice, and starch from carbohydrates (ie bread, potatoes, rice and pasta). Within a few minutes of you eating or drinking, the bacteria spring into action, producing acids as they digest your food.
These acids can penetrate the hard enamel of your tooth, dissolving the minerals (calcium and phosphate) in it.
These acids can be neutralised by your saliva, which can also supply the minerals that may be lost from your tooth when it’s under attack. But if you have too many bacteria and not enough saliva, or you eat too many foods that generate bacteria too often, your saliva can’t do its job properly and you can suffer from tooth decay.
WAYS To PREVENT TooTH DECAY
Reduce the amount of sugary, starchy foods your kids eat. Also cut down on sugary drinks, including fruit juice.
Make sure they’re getting adequate fluoride, which makes teeth more resistant to tooth decay. Sources include drinking water, toothpaste, mouthwashes and gels.
Teach them to clean their teeth properly. For younger kids this means doing it for them until they get the hang of it. Continue to supervise them until you’re sure they’re doing it right. Floss their teeth for them – with toothpaste on the floss to protect between the teeth – until they have the dexterity to do it themselves.
Get older kids to chew sugar-free gum after eating a snack. It will stimulate their saliva to help neutralise acids and return lost minerals to teeth.
Buy antibacterial mouthwashes specially designed for children. They can kill bacteria that cause tooth decay.
Take your kids to the dentist regularly. Don’t wait until they complain about sore teeth.
Check their teeth regularly yourself. White spots on teeth are signs of potential problems and brown spots mean they’ve already got decay. Take them to the dentist straightaway.
Ask your dentist about sealants. These are plastic coatings applied to teeth to protect them from decay. Sometimes children have such deep grooves in their back teeth that it can be difficult to avoid decay, even with vigilant cleaning.
ToP TIPS
Teach your kids to spit out the toothpaste after brushing but not rinse their mouths with water. Leaving a small amount of toothpaste around the teeth will continue to protect them from acid attacks.
Make sweet drinks a treat, not an everyday occurrence (this includes cordials and juices as well as fizzy drinks).
When they do have them, get them to use a straw as this reduces the amount of sugary liquid that comes into contact with their teeth.
If your child is still bottle-feeding, never let them go to bed with milk or juice in the bottle. only water is good for their teeth. Children in New Zealand are entitled to free basic oral health services from birth until they turn 18.
You should get their teeth looked at as soon as t hey start appearing – that’s usually between their first and second birthdays. Phone 0800 TALK TEETH ( 0800 825 583) to enrol them.
ABoUT BRACES
Your child may take great care of their teeth but there’s one thing they can have little control over – whether they need orthodontic treatment. orthodontics specialises in managing abnormalities of the teeth, jaw and face. Treatment not only improves the way teeth look, but helps them to work better and reduces the risk of getting a dental disease.
oost orthodontic problems are inherited but they can also be due to injuries, dental disease or sucking your thumb or a dummy as a child. Typical problems include crowding of teeth, protruding teeth, too much space between teeth, an underbite and an overbite.
orthodontic appliances are usually used to correct problems. They work by forcing the teeth to move so that they are eventually correctly aligned.
When should children start orthodontic treatment?
If you or their dentist suspect they may need braces, they should have an orthodontic screening by the age of nine. Some problems are easier to correct if treated early on, while waiting until all the permanent teeth have come in may make it harder to correct some issues. However, in other cases treatment is not carried out until all the permanent teeth are through (anywhere between 10 and 14).
How long will my child need braces?
It depends on how bad their teeth are. If the problem is caught early enough, it may only take a few months. However, most people generally have braces for between 18 months and two years.
Are metal braces the only options?
No, there are a range of braces available, including clear ones which are less visible.
Do braces hurt?
Your child’s teeth will ache to start with. This usually goes away after five days but some children can experience discomfort for a couple of weeks.
How much does it cost?
It varies, depending on how much work needs to be done and how long they need to wear them, but in most cases prices start at around $5000.
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