|
In January 2006, Dr. Malkemus began writing dental health articles for The Community
Voice newspaper. He wanted to give back to the community and share his passion for
health, as well as his observations of the remarkable planet around us. Current
and past articles are provided here. To view his articles as they appear, see the
Health, Beauty, and Fitness Section at www.thecommunityvoice.com.
Other Resources
Preventing Decay at a Young Age
Preventing Decay at a Young Age
by
George A Malkemus DDS
For children, a decay free mouth is critical to a long healthy life. Establishing good eating and good dental hygiene habits at an early age is the key to preventing decay throughout one’s life. Another factor that is important in establishing life long health is having a good experience at the dental office at a young age
Baby's Toothless Grin
Having the smile of a lifetime starts at an early age. A baby's toothless grin warms the cockles of our hearts. By the time that baby enters kindergarten, that grin could still be toothless due to decay - not a pretty site!
To launch a baby on the trip to good oral health, the baby should not be put to bed with a bottle containing a sugary liquid or a liquid with a high concentration of carbohydrates, which includes breast milk and formula. These liquids continually bathe the mouth and teeth with sugar that oral bacteria feed on and ultimately cause tooth decay. Exposure to sugary liquids can result in a condition called "baby bottle syndrome." The acids produced by the bacteria feeding on the sugary liquids attack a baby’s first teeth, and the teeth literally rot away. One trick to ween a baby off the bottle is to slowly dilute the juice in the bottle while providing a more concentrated juice in a cup.
A baby's mouth and gums should be cleaned after every feeding. Use a soft, clean, wet washcloth or gauze to gently wipe the gums. This helps to remove decay-causing bacteria. A wet washcloth gently rubbed on the gums when baby is teething will also feel good.
Begin baby's brushing routine as early as six months of age, just before the teeth appear. Use a soft-bristle brush to gently massage (brush along) baby's gums during teething. Not only will this help to soothe the baby from teething pain, but will allow the baby to become accustomed to the toothbrush, a positive reinforcement for using the brush when older.
The Importance of Maintaining Healthy Baby Teeth
I often hear “they are just baby teeth; let’s pull them.” The permanent teeth need to follow the baby teeth into normal position. If the baby teeth are taken out too soon then the adult teeth will become crooked, making them more difficult to clean and increasing the possibility of decay and gum disease. Orthodontic braces become necessary to correct the misalignment of the teeth.
Baby teeth have thinner enamel than permanent teeth, so they are more vulnerable to decay. Unchecked decay can even progress to periodontal disease—in a young child! If a child takes medications for special needs or a systemic condition such as diabetes, there is an even greater chance of having periodontal disease because the medications can decrease saliva production. Saliva helps to protect a youngster's teeth by washing destructive bacterial plaque off the teeth.
The Stats Aren't Good
The Surgeon General of the U.S. published a study in 2000 about oral health care in America. One of the alarming facts it uncovered was that children who live in lower economic conditions have double the number of cavities that affluent children have. They don't have access to dental insurance. They don't have regular dental check-ups. Twenty-five percent of economically disadvantaged kindergarten children have never been to a dentist!
Tooth decay is the number one chronic childhood disease. In fact, more than half of children as old as nine have at least one cavity or filling.
According to the Surgeon General, over 51 million school hours are lost every year because of dental-related illness. Economically disadvantaged children suffer almost twelve times more ill days than their more fortunate classmates.
Clearly, drastic measures need to be taken to help children with their oral care through those formative years. Fluoride has been shown to strengthen the tooth enamel’s resistance to decay. Over half the public drinking water in the United States has fluoride added for it’s decay resistant qualities. Rohnert Park-Cotati’s water supply does not have any fluoride additive. Children here need added vigilance against decay; including fluoride supplements, regular dental visits with fluoride treatment, and good oral hygiene using fluoride toothpaste.
Caries-risk Assessment Tool
Fluoride supplements help prevent childhood decay but are only one part of the solution. One measure is a new movement to identify children who are at high risk for tooth decay. It is called the Caries-risk Assessment Tool, or CAT for short. Using the CAT method, dentists hope to identify at-risk children before caries (tooth decay) becomes a problem.
The CAT factors to identify children at high risk for cavities include children who:
· Have had minimal fluoride exposure or treatments
· Frequently snack between meals
· Live in low socioeconomic conditions
· Have no dentist
· Mother has tooth decay
· Have visible plaque on their front teeth
· A higher than normal amount of bacteria in their mouths
· Have special healthcare needs
· Take medications, which as a side effect decrease saliva
· Wear orthodontic devices
· Already have caries
CAT promotes a thorough examination to look for gingivitis (inflammation of the gum tissue around the teeth) and white spot lesions, which are cavities boring into the tooth's enamel covering.
Beginning this school year, California law mandates that every kindergarten-aged child must have a dental check-up before entering school. This is a positive beginning to reduce the dental disease problems in children in California, where one study showed that almost 66 percent of children have cavities by the time they enter the third grade.
Brushing, flossing, fluoride, sealants and regular dental check-ups all help to promote healthy teeth. A healthy smile can put a child on the right track toward a bright future.
ENJOY LIFE AND KEEP SMILING!
George Malkemus has had a Family and Cosmetic Dental Practice in Rohnert Park for over 22 years at 2 Padre Parkway, Suite 200. Call 585-8595, or email info@ malkemusdds.com. Visit Dr. Malkemus’ Web site at http://www.malkemusdds.com
|