Growing up
Love Your Teeth
Good toothcare in childhood will pay benefits in later life. So what do we need to do to keep our kids’ pearly whites in good order?
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recent report shows that by the age of five, over a quarter of children in London are suffering from tooth decay. In fact, research shows that there is an association between oral health and overall health, and experts consider oral health problems to be a global health burden. So, what are the best practices for keeping your kids’ teeth and gums healthy? We’re taught from childhood that brushing twice a day and regular visits to the dentist are important—but what else do you need to know about your teeth and how they relate to your overall health?
benefits that can greatly improve the quality of their brushing, and one with a built-in timer will make sure they complete the brushing routine. The bristles of electric toothbrushes vibrate or rotate to help them remove plaque build-up, and is a more effective control against plaque and gingivitis. Older kids should be encouraged to floss using string floss, soft plastic picks or a water pick. And finally, but most importantly, get the kids in to the dentist for regular check-ups—apart from looking for cavities and tooth decay, they can also check for gum disease and other health issues. hc
London Assembly Health Committee plans include: ●
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Making all schools in London sugar-free by 2022 Supervised brushing in schools Ensuring that every child in London sees a dentist by age one Appointing a specialist in children’s dental health to the Child Obesity Task Force
Images: Shutterstock
BRUSHING BASICS By far the best thing you can teach your kids do for their teeth is to brush them twice a day (or more) after meals. It is a good idea for parents to brush pre-schooler’s teeth and supervise the brushing and flossing skills of schoolage children until they are seven to eight years of age. Teach them the best technique, which is to use small circular motions, taking care to brush the front, back and top of every tooth. This process should take between two and three minutes. Make sure to teach them to avoid sawing, backand-forth motions. Brushing too hard or using a hardbristled toothbrush can damage tooth enamel and their gums, which can lead to tooth sensitivity, permanent damage to the protective enamel of your teeth and gum erosion. It’s best to give kids a toothbrush that has soft bristles and change it roughly every three months. An electric toothbrush has many celebrityangels.co.uk
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Healthy Child with Dr Ranj Singh | 91
06/09/2019 16:59