JEDDAH, 21 January 2004 — A major concern of every mother is the care and health of her children’s teeth. When young or old visit the dentist, negligence or ignorance in taking care of our teeth fuels the fear that treatment will be needed.
Although basic dental care is known to most people, sometimes it helps to be reminded. Dr. Jamila Farsi, associate professor and head of oral surgery at the faculty of dentistry at King Abdul Aziz University, recommends a program for daily dental care which should produce good results.
“Teeth should be brushed carefully and properly at least twice a day,” she said. “When a child eats sweets or consumes any food or drink with sugar during the day, he should brush his teeth immediately after he finishes eating or drinking. If teeth are left un-brushed, it normally takes about 24 hours before cavities can begin.”
She points out that it is not how many sweets a child eats that is important but rather how often the child eats them. “We can allow our children to consume reasonable amounts of sweets and beverages, on condition that they are taken at one time during the day and that they brush their teeth afterward.”
Dr. Farsi explained other important factors to help achieve a healthy set of teeth and a brilliant smile. “Many children and some adults do not brush their teeth effectively. Teeth should be brushed for at least two minutes. Electric brushes are very useful because they help your child get used to the recommended time,” she said. “The brushes emit bleep signals after two minutes of brushing and help to brush for the recommended time.” When brushing the teeth, what is important is the physical act of scrubbing in any way possible, particularly in a vertical motion, and that the brush should touch both the gum and the base of the tooth.
“Mothers should try to take advantage of the protective layer that can be placed on the mastication surfaces of the permanent teeth. The mastication surfaces are the areas most vulnerable to cavities. This layer of protective material can prevent cavities. It is a simple process and can only be done by a dentist.”
Dr. Farsi underlined the importance of visiting the dentist every six months, especially since nearly all teeth problems and diseases start and spread without the patient feeling any pain. As they will not be discovered without dental checkups, regular visits are very important. Early intervention by the dentist prevents serious deterioration and decay of teeth.
Other tips by Dr. Farsi for children and adults include using dental floss once a day, gargling with fluoride daily for children over six years old and brushing the base of the tongue to prevent mouth odor. She also recommends not eating much between meals, because everything we eat will create an acid medium in the mouth which promotes tooth decay. Exceptions to this are cheese and nuts. We should also avoid smoking. In addition to its health risks, smoking causes yellow teeth and leads to disintegration of the gum and bone surrounding the teeth.
