your Children's teeth Healthy and White
-- contributed by Dr
Ong Yean Sze. The pediatric
dentist in Singapore with Practice
Restricted to Pediatric Dentisty, in
simple term, she treats kids ONLY.
Most of your child’s dental care
can be done by you and your child at home. Together
with regular 6 monthly check ups by your dentist you
can ensure your child’s teeth remain healthy and
white. Whilst it is true that there is individual variation
in susceptibility to dental decay, there are proven
ways that you can do a lot to prevent dental decay.
Being aware of what you can do to strengthen
teeth and what causes dental decay will go a long way
in preventing problems.
Dental decay is a multifactorial disease.
This means that a combination of several factors is
required for dental decay to begin, namely: condusive
bacteria and a diet that encourages bacterial growth,
susceptible tooth structure and surfaces, availability
of fluoride and etc.
Fluoride works in two ways. Firstly,
on the unerupted developing adult teeth in your child
and secondly, on the teeth that have already erupted
into the mouth.
Your child’s adult teeth start
to form at birth. Fluoride, when incorporated will
help in the formation of strong healthy teeth. In
Singapore the water is fluoridated and toothpastes
are also a good source of fluoride for children. Be
sure however that your child is able to expectorate
(spit) before starting to use fluoride toothpastes
because excess fluoride when ingested can cause discolouration
or fluorosis of the adult teeth during development.
The crowns ofthe adult teeth are especially vulnerable
when being formed in the first 3 years of life. Less
than a pea-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste
is all you need. Children who are very susceptible
to decay may need additional applications of topical
fluoride by the dentist.
It is important to
keep the amount of sugar in your child’s diet
low. Sugar can be found in most foods and drinks and
limiting the number of times a day your child has
sugar for example at meal times only, means less chance
of decay. Sugar in between meals in the form of candy,
fruit juices, sweetened milk and soft drinks as well
as snacks like cakes, biscuits and ice cream should
be avoided.Sweets and candy cannot be avoided completely
but should be occasional and if possible taken at
meal times only. Try to make in between snacks sugar
free. Sandwiches, carrots, cheese and water instead
of juice as soft drinks is best. Even diet drinks,
which do not contain sugar, are detrimental as the
carbonation as gas makes the drink bubbly will erode
the tooth enamel.
Brushing and flossing
Thorough tooth brushing is essential
before your child goes to bed at night. The parent
should do this until the child has developed enough
dexterity to clean properly by themselves. Supervision
is advised until 7 or 8 of age to ensure good cleaning.
Use of plaque disclosing dyes is a fun way to show
up areas that havebeen missed. Most young children
are not very good at flossing however a primary site
for decay is between “baby” molars. Parents
need to help the child floss between all baby teeth
that contact tightly together. If your child has natural
spacing between their teeth then simple brushing will
suffice. If your can’t manage to floss every
night try at least once or twice a week- it’s
better than not at all.
On chewing surfaces of the back teeth
are deep pits and grooves called fissures. These are
so narrow that even toothbrush bristles cannot clean
them. Bacteria can live in large quantities in these
pits and fissures. As a result tooth decay often begins
here. The application of fissure sealants prevents
decay starting in these deep pits and grooves. For
this procedure the dentist uses special white coloured
material to fill in the deep fissures forming a protective
coating over the tooth. Sealants are most effective
when applied as soon as practical after eruption of
the tooth. They are bonded directly to the tooth enamel
and do not require drilling or a local anaesthetic.
-- Contributed by Dr Ong Yean Sze, specialist
dentist with practice restricted to Pediatric Dentistry.
Dr Ong Yean Sze
MSc Paediatric Dentistry (London)
Who is Dr Ong?
Dr Ong completed her dental degree at the University
of Wales U.K. Having worked in the hospitals and general
practice there she then went on and attained a Masters
Degree in Children’s Dentistry at the Eastman
Dental Institute, London with Distinction. She was also
awarded the postgraduate prize for her academic and
clinical excellence. She is on the Specialist Register
in the U.K. She treats her children of all ages and
is particularly good with anxious children and those
who require complex treatment.
Dr Ong is currently pactising
in Smilefocus located at #14-02 Camden Medical Centre.
Her contact number is 6834 0877 and can also be reached
by email at email@example.com
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