Health and Wellbeing

Health & Wellbeing - Advice from the Dental Health Foundation and the NDC


The Dental Health Foundation (DHF) is involved in promoting oral health in Ireland through the provision of resources and interventions and by influencing policy through a multisectoral, partnership approach. Their 2008-2012 Strategy identifies a number of priority action areas including a project aimed at raising awareness among parents and carers on the importance of baby teeth. More information on the DHF is available on www.dentalhealth.ie

Prevalence of dental caries

Dental caries (tooth decay) is the single most chronic disease of childhood with 37% of 5-year-olds in fluoridated areas of the Republic of Ireland experiencing decay. Over half (55%) of 5-year-olds in nonfluoridated areas have experienced decay i.e. they have one or more teeth that is decayed, filled or extracted.

Fluoride is very effective in improving the oral health of the Irish population, especially children. Some houses in rural areas which are not connected to public water supply schemes will not have fluoridated water; those people need to take particular care to ensure that their oral health is maintained in the absence of the protective factors offered by fluoride.

The experience of decay or extraction for a young child can be painful and traumatic and it is an unpleasant experience for the parent also. Prevalence of decay in the primary dentition can predict not only future dental problems but also growth and cognitive development by interfering with nutrition, concentration and school participation. The extraction of a primary tooth due to decay can result in insufficient space being maintained for the secondary tooth to come into the mouth. The good news however, is that this can be prevented.

How can I prevent my child from suffering from dental decay?

The following can assist the prevention of dental decay;

• Twice daily tooth brushing (please see guidelines below)
• Reducing the frequency of snacking on sugary foods and drinks between meals.

In order to prevent dental decay and to set habits from an early age, it is important to establish a twice daily tooth brushing routine for preschoolers. Games, songs, charts and novelty oral hygiene products can encourage your preschool child to have their teeth brushed with your assistance. Research indicates that the most important time to brush a child’s teeth is last thing at night with one other time during the day being recommended.

After consuming sugar, acid in the mouth is generated which quickly results in the teeth being attacked. It can take 20 minutes to 2 hours for saliva to return to a neutral state after consuming sugar so it is important that any sugary foods and drinks that are given to a child are given at meal times.

Guidelines for children aged under 2 years

• Parents/carers are encouraged to clean their child’s first teeth by wrapping a piece of gauze around a finger and rubbing the teeth and gums gently. As more teeth appear, brush with a soft toothbrush and water only.
• Do not use toothpaste.

Guidelines for children aged 2-7 years

Parents / carers are encouraged to brush their child’s teeth, or help them to brush with

  • with fluoride toothpaste containing at least 1,000ppm fluoride
  • twice a day
  • at bedtime and at one other time during the day
  • using a small pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste

Children should be encouraged to spit out toothpaste and not rinse after brushing. It is also recommended that children are taken to the dentist from the age of one.

The role of dairy

It is clear that diet plays a significant role in dental and oral health. Indeed, a number of nutrients in dairy foods (milk, cheese and yogurt), namely calcium and phosphorous, can contribute to the maintenance of teeth. More specifically, research regarding the role of cheese in dental health is proving very positive due to its nutrient content and its effect on saliva flow.1 It is recommended that children and adults consume three servings of dairy each day, and that teenagers and pregnant and breastfeeding women consume five servings per day.

1. Moynihan P. Quintessence International 2007: 39; 320-323

Dental health throughout the life-cycle

  • The best drinks for your teeth are tap water and milk.
  • Saliva provides a natural defence against caries by diluting and neutralising acids in the mouth.
  • By age two and a half years, most children have all their primary teeth.
  • Lower teeth tend to appear about two months before the upper teeth.
  • A child has 20 primary teeth, all primary teeth fall out.
  • As a child grows, their jaws also grow and spaces may being to appear between the primary teeth.
  • Primary teeth loosen and fall out from approximately age 6-12 years.
  • An adult has 32 permanent teeth including four wisdom teeth.
  • Not every adult has wisdom teeth and there is considerable variation in the age at which they erupt.

Did you know?

A gentle scrub technique is recommended for brushing teeth, this involves very short horizontal movements to dislodge plaque at the gum margins.

Nutri-Myth of the month

Myth: Calcium can benefit bone health, but has little impact on teeth.

Fact: It is thought that 99% of the calcium in the body is found in the skeleton and the teeth. Calcium is needed for the maintenance of teeth and
dairy foods are an important source of calcium in the Irish diet.

 

If you have any suggestions or ideas, we would be delighted to hear from you via email at feelinggood@ndc.ie or write to us at The National Dairy Council, Innovation House, 3 Arkle Road, Sandyford Industrial Estate, Dublin 18.

Don't miss our June feature ‘The Fresh Milk Club’ - available online from Monday 21 June, 2010

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