About 40% of children in New Zealand suffer from tooth decay by the time they enter kindergarten, according to the Ministry of Health and a popular dentist has said that dental care is important for all and infants need as much attention as adults.
According to Dr Priya Prabhu of Fern Dental Clinic based in the East Auckland suburb of Flatbush, taking care of children’s teeth is essential because it promotes chewing, facilitates speech development, and aids proper face and jaw growth.
Children’ Teeth – A National Crisis?
It is critical that you take your child for frequent check-ups and do not wait for issues to occur. All youngsters, regardless of their dental condition, must visit the dentist at least once a year,”
Dr Prabhu told Indian Newslink during an interview.
According to experts, effective dental hygiene should begin even before the child begins teething.
The Kids Health website states that teeth begin to develop throughout the second trimester of pregnancy. At birth, the infant has 20 primary teeth, some of which are fully developed in the jaw.
Dr Priya said that parents should massage the gums with a clean, soft cloth to eliminate harmful germs.
“They should brush the baby’s first teeth with an infant toothbrush. Children aged one and above should only use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste. Children under the age of five must be constantly supervised when brushing since they are more likely to swallow toothpaste,” she said.
According to the New Zealand Ministry of Health website, fluoride toothpaste is effective in preventing dental decay.
Most fluoridated toothpaste sold in New Zealand contains 1000 ppm fluoride.
Based on the findings of many years of research, this is the recommended strength for adults and children. Toothpaste should not be swallowed or consumed.
Tooth decay among babies
Tooth decay may affect even babies.
Making babies sleep with a bottle can cause tooth decay, while sugars from juice, formula, or milk that remain on their teeth for several hours can erode the enamel. Cavities may occur, and in extreme situations, the decayed tooth may need to be extracted.
Dr Priya said that children’s pain thresholds are surprisingly high.
“If your child is not eating properly, please examine their mouths and ask questions to rule out decay. Usually, parents bring their children for a check-up when they see a visible swelling on the child’s face, or when the child stays up all night and cries in pain. This is a bit too late because the success rate of saving the tooth becomes low by then,” she said.
Early loss of teeth can lead to crooked formation in later years, necessitating orthodontic treatment such as braces, she said.
Free basic dental care
Basic dental treatment is provided free of charge to children in New Zealand from birth until the age of 18. The services include routine treatments like checking teeth for decay, screening the gums and mouth for any problems and X-rays to identify tooth decay and other problems.
The free service covers fluoride treatment, which helps to make the tooth surface more resistant to decay. One can also avail fissure sealants, which are a thin coating of white filling that is applied to teeth at risk of decay.
Cleaning of plaque, discolouration, and tartar from teeth, fillings to repair teeth caused by tooth decay, and extraction of teeth are also a part of the free services.
Dr Priya said that children up to the age of five may obtain dental care through Plunket or call 0800- 825583) to register with the local Community Oral Health Service.
Children from ages 6 to 12 will require a referral letter from their school’s dental services. Those aged 13 to 18 may visit any dentist and enrol themselves.
“Only when a child reaches the age of 18, they are liable to pay for dental care,” Dr Priya said and explained that children under 13 years of age cannot visit a dentist during school hours unless it is an emergency. Emphasising the importance of regular visits, she said, “When a child comes in for a routine check-up and is not in pain or has any problems, it becomes a pleasant experience for the parent, the child and the dentist. When children are brought in when in pain, they come with anxiety and fear, which might establish a negative association about dentists and may cause them to avoid visiting a dentist even when they are older,” she said.
According to the Health New Zealand website, there are five things you can do to safeguard your child’s smile. They are (1) brush their teeth twice a day using toothpaste (2) maintain regular dental check-ups (3) lift the lip once a month to check for signs of tooth decay (holes) (4) choose wholesome snacks and (5) drink water or milk.
Malini Yugendran is an Indian Newslink reporter based in Auckland.
