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KIDS: ORAL HYGIENE INSTRUCTIONS

DENTAL PLAQUE

  • Dental plaque is a sticky biofilm on the surface of the teeth. In combination with sugar → acid attacks enamel = CARIES = holes in teeth

  • Dental plaque can be removed with 2 ways:

  1. At home → Everyday → Teeth-brushing + Flossing + Mouth-wash

  2. At the dentist → Every 3-6 months → Professional Teeth Cleaning

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BRUSHING

  • Toothbrush + toothpaste = Must start using after the eruption of the first tooth! (approx. 6-7 months old)

  • Brushing: All surfaces should be reached; brushing should last for at least 1 minute, this also applies for preschool children

  • Parents must supervise children while brushing teeth until they are approx. 8 years old (when children can lace their shoes = dexterity!)

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MANUAL TOOTHBRUSH

  • Use soft bristles

  • Should be replaced every 3-4 months

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ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSH

  • It's more fun than the manual one

  • Could have light, music or cartoon characters and this makes it more enjoyable for the kids!

  • Easy to use and sometimes more effective than manual toothbrush (small children, people with special needs)

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TOOTHPASTE

  • Use a toothpaste with fluoride as this prevents / arrests caries

  • Choose the child's favorite flavour e.g. strawberry (avoid mint in small children)

  • Size and concentration must be according to child’s age

  • Children should avoid rinsing with a lot of water after brushing their teeth

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FLOSSING

  • Use floss at night, before brushing your child's teeth

  • Flossing diminishes the risk of inter-proximal caries (80%) if used on a daily basis

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MOUTHWASH

  • From 6 years old

  • Use mouthwash with fluoride (0.05%-0.2%) → prevents/arrests caries,

  • In case of gum disease, use mouthwash with chlorhexidine (0.12%-0.2%) but should only be used occasionally

  • Avoid mouthwash with alcohol

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WHAT HAPPENS IF WE LEAVE TOOTH DECAY UNTREATED?

  • Oral infections, chewing difficulty, even malnutrition

  • Bacteria may spread in child’s organism

  • Cardiovascular, respiratory, renal diseases

 

SEVERE EARLY CHILDHOOD CARIES = baby bottle-fed tooth decay/nursing caries

  • Could appear from when the child is 1 year old

  • Night-time bottle feeding (milk / tea / juice)

  • Frequent and/or prolonged breastfeeding

  • Sharing the same food with the child (also using same dishes, cutlery etc.)

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Importance of early treatment:

  • Primary teeth infections that are left untreated could affect the development of permanent teeth

  • Early extraction of primary teeth due to caries may affect the position of the permanent teeth → complicated orthodontic treatment

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DIETARY RECOMMENDATIONS

 

High-Risk for caries:

  • Carbohydrates like those in processed sweets, flour-based food

  • Low consistency of food: gummy bears, marshmallows, chewing gum with sugar

  • Frequent intake of sweets during the day: it’s better to eat a of sweets a during the day than eating many times small portions

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Low-Risk for caries

  • Dairy products → Ca+, proteins=protection

  • Fruits and vegetables with high consistency (carrot, apple) → vigorous chewing → stimulation of saliva  = Natural toothbrush

  • Sugar-free chewing gum

 

FLUORIDATION AND FISSURE SEALING

Sealants + Fluoridation + Daily oral hygiene + Dietary habits = CARIES PREVENTION

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FLUORIDATION

  • Caries prevention, therapeutic agent: inactivation/arrest of caries, reduces teeth sensibility

1. At home → Toothpaste (1000-1450 ppm F concentration), mouthwashes (0.05%-0.2%)

2. At the clinic → Gels, varnishes with higher concentrations of F

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FISSURE SEALING

  • Simple, easy to apply, no pain

  • Risk of caries is reduced by over 90%

  • Protects the tooth and prevents tooth decay

  • Flow-able material is applied on the chewing surface of teeth→ smooth and easy-to-clean surface

  • On primary and permanent molars, premolars with retentive surfaces, oral surfaces of incisors

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