As hard as it may be to believe, a child's visit to the dentist can now be an easy experience! The major reason for this turnabout is that tooth decay, formerly the most common of human diseases, is fast becoming a thing of the past.
The
cavity
rate for youngsters ages 5-17 has decreased 67% compared to 35 years ago. The majority of today's children are cavity-free, which is a huge success story in modern preventive healthcare.
Basically, we have fluoride and preventive dentistry to thank. According to the American Dental Association, fluoride is "the single most effective public health measure we have to prevent tooth decay and improve oral health for a lifetime." Fluoride is available in toothpastes, mouth rinses, gels applied in the dental office, and tablets prescribed by dentists. In many communities, fluoride is also found in drinking water, a topic that is often debated.
Because excess fluoride can stain the teeth, pay close attention as small children brush. Children should be taught to use only a little fluoridated toothpaste, about the size of a pencil eraser. Stress the importance of spitting out toothpaste and mouthwash and
not
swallowing them after use.
In American children, cavities between teeth are quickly becoming a thing of the past, states the National Institute for Dental Research. Most decay is now found in baby teeth and in chewing surfaces of permanent back teeth (molars).
Common sources for cavities are natural defects in molars known as pits and fissures. These defects can extend far into the enamel. They cannot be cleaned by brushing or flossing. Bacteria, the cause of cavities, easily multiply in pits and fissures and produce decay.
The answer to these enamel problems is placement of sealants by the dentist. A painless procedure, sealants are applied to teeth in a process known as "bonding." The sealant covers the defect and prevents bacteria from entering. This protects teeth from decay.
Because of their softer enamel, baby teeth are more prone to cavities than adult teeth. In addition, small children may neglect or do a poor job with brushing. The result is that kids aged 5-9 have about eight times more cavities in baby teeth than adult teeth.
While all areas of the US show improvement in oral health, there are still important regional differences in cavity rates. The highest incidence of decay is found in the New England states. Close behind are the Middle Atlantic and the California-Pacific Northwest regions. The Southwest (Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and Colorado) reports the nation's lowest cavity rate. The cause for these differences is not quite understood, although natural fluoridation of water supplies may be one reason.
As today's kids grow to adulthood, no cavities now means fewer dental problems later. These future adults will need fewer root canal treatments, extractions, crowns (caps), bridges, and dentures than the prior generation. Other types of dental treatment not related to decay, including periodontal (gum) care and orthodontics (braces), will continue to thrive.
Tooth decay is a bacterial disease. Cavity-causing germs love to feed on all sugars and cooked starches. The longer carbohydrates keep in contact with teeth, the greater the chance that bacteria will munch them and produce decay-causing acids. Constantly bathing the teeth in sugars and cooked starches is especially harmful. This problem is most acutely observed in small children who are bottle-fed fruit juice or milk between regular feedings and while in bed at night. What commonly results is "baby bottle tooth decay." To avoid this problem, bottle-fed children should be given only plain water as a beverage between meals and at bedtime.
The practice of pediatric dentistry today really has changed. As a parent, you should speak to your children in positive terms about seeing the dentist. If you are positive, it is likely the child will be positive, too. This will hopefully lay the groundwork for a lifetime of positive dental health experiences.
