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Prevention is better than Cure
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We realize, today, that most common dental problems can be prevented. All that is required is timely information be made available to parents, teachers, and medical practitioners, people most likely to interact with the general population, especially children, on a daily basis.
Mothers-to-be can prevent future decay in their unborn children by eating a balanced diet, looking after their health, and avoiding medication.
The most important thing parents can do to ensure their baby's oral health is to mind their own oral hygiene. Bacteria are readily transmitted to infants from parents through close interproximal contact.
Older children and adults can prevent tooth decay by following the 5 preventive steps:-
| Brush thoroughly twice daily: Brushing removes the plaque that has formed on the surfaces of the teeth through mechanical disruption, thus reducing bacterial activity in the mouth. Children should use a junior brush and follow a circular method of brushing. The movement of the bristles should include the gums as well as the teeth |
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| Flossing is an adjunct to brushing. Floss is like a tape, made of multiple fibres, used to clean the spaces in-between the teeth. These are areas where the toothbrush generally cannot reach. |
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| Take about 18 inches of floss and wrap it around one finger of each hand and gently ease it between the teeth with the aid of the fore-finger and thumb. Curve floss around each tooth and use an up-and-down motion to remove plaque. |
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Fluoride: We need sufficient fluoride to prevent decay. This chemical combines with enamel of the teeth and makes it less soluble to acid attack from bacteria. The incidence of decay is thus reduced. Our water supply is not fluoridated. Hence, our only sources of fluoride are toothpastes and mouthwashes.
| Sealants: The chewing surfaces of the back teeth contain deep pits and fissures, where decay usually begins. These pits cannot be reached by your toothbrush bristles, as shown in the diagram. These pits and fissuers can be sealed by your dentist. A sealant is a plastic material that is applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth. It prevents food from getting stuck in these areas, thus reducing the incidence of decay. |
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Dietary control: You may eat sweets if you like them, but with or immediately after meals. And then brush soon thereafter. Limit the number of times you eat in a day. The more often you eat, the more decay you will have. And do not allow food to remain in the mouth for a long time by brushing soon after eating.
Regular dental checkups: Too much emphasis cannot be placed on this step. Most dental problems can be identified in the early stages and treated quickly and painlessly. Future complications are thus avoided. Most people do not visit a dentist regularly because they feel that they have no problem. It should be emphasized that there is no pain in the early stages of tooth decay. By the time pain occurs, it may be already too late.
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