Children are
intuitive, curious, have a strong hunger and a sweet tooth for everything from
sweets to chocolates. That is because; at that age they need the right
nutrition to help their little bodies to grow. As parents, we are inclined to
give them what they want because we love them and want them to have the very
best of what we can provide.
But here comes
the question – where do we draw the
line?
Surely it is
our duty to monitor what they consume so as to ensure that they are gaining the
right nutrition, but there is more to it than what seems on the surface.
Tooth Decay is a major problem that is on the
constant rise with children and teenagers alike. Control on sugar based foods
is a given, but some foods have ‘hidden sugars’ - Sucrose, Fructose, Lactose and Glucose that
can lead the bacteria in the plaque to formulate acids that start eating away
on the teeth enamel.
Eventually
this can lead to cavities forming within the teeth causing immense pain,
inflammation, tooth sensitivity, pain during biting.
Tooth
Decay is hard to discover, painful to treat and overall a major inconvenience
to you and your child. But with the right prevention methods you can keep this
inconvenience at bay.
At Small Bites we are believers of
the fact that prevention is always better than the cure.
But with right
prevention measures it can be avoided:
Track your child's eating habits |
1) Diet Analysis – Track the frequency at which they
consume sugar based foods, it is more important than the total amount of sugars
they consume. Keep a
daily note of their foods and eating habits. Dentists can analyze this
information and change patterns that reduce risk.
2) Fissure Sealants – A fissure sealant is a plastic
coating layered upon the pits and grooves on the tooth’s chewing surface. This
layer acts as a barrier, protecting them from acids and plaques. The smooth
surface created by this layer also ensures protection to teeth from other forms
of bacteria as well.
2) Fluoride - Fluoride is a naturally occurring element that prevents tooth decay when ingested systemically or applied to teeth topically. It not only helps prevent but also remineralizes teeth, if applied in the right amount. Check if your toothpaste has the right fluoride content for children and brush twice a day to stay healthy.
Take your children for regular dental checkups |