With the heavy load of sugary and refined foods in our kids’ diets these days, is it any wonder that tooth decay is the single most common chronic childhood disease? HEALTH learns more…
The Facts
A report by YouGov last year found that 28 percent of UAE residents only brush their teeth a single time a day. Furthermore, World Health
Organization (WHO) statistics revealed that more than 50 percent of five-year-old children in the UAE had four or more decayed, missing,
or filled teeth. Only 17 percent were decay free. “The first step in parents taking measures in the prevention of tooth decay starts by dispelling
myths associated with dental care,” tells Dr. Sandeep Malhotra, Specialist Pediatric Dentist in Dubai.
Common Myths Associated with Dental Care in Children
Fruit Juice is Healthy: It is not uncommon to see children sipping on little boxes of fruit juice during recess at school or at the mall. Parents are quick to give these to their children instead of fizzy drinks. However, they are just as unhealthy as a can of cola due to their high sugar and acid content. Some packaged orange juices contain as much as 6 teaspoons of sugar per 250 milliliters which results in tooth decay. The acids erode the enamel resulting in weaker teeth. Milk and water are the best drinks to give your child. If you are to give them a fruit juice, dilute it with a cup or two of water and make sure your child drinks it quickly rather taking a few sips every hour with a sippy cup. This minimizes the contact time the unhealthy juice has with their teeth.
Dried Fruits are Better than Chocolate: Raisins, dried apricots, dried figs, and prunes are popular snack options for parents looking to give their kids healthier alternatives to chocolate. However, these dried fruits have an adverse effect on teeth as they are high in sugar and since they are sticky, they sit on the teeth eroding the enamel. This ultimately leads to a cavity. As a better, healthier alternative for the teeth, opt for nuts, seeds, breadsticks, or croutons.
Brushing Teeth Right after a Meal is Good: Most parents encourage their children to brush their teeth right after a meal to ensure food debris is cleared from the mouth. Most foods or drinks including milk contain some acid which acts on the tooth and demineralizes it right after eating. This leads to softer enamel and if someone brushes their teeth right after a meal, chances are they are brushing away the enamel.
Encourage your child to brush their teeth before breakfast rather than after and if they are older than age eight give them sugarfree chewing gum. The chewing action results in the production of saliva which helps fight decay as it neutralizes the acid.
Toothpaste Should Be Rinsed Out after Brushing: It is a very common misconception in dental care where adults and children alike rinse out the toothpaste after brushing their teeth. However, the fluoride present in toothpaste acts on the teeth for a period of 30 minutes following the brushing of the teeth. As uncomfortable as it may be, it is advised that adults and children do not rinse their mouth immediately after. Also make sure that children above age three use adult toothpaste as toothpastes meant for children have lower fluoride content.
(Credit: Dr. Sandeep Malhotra)
