Journalism of Courage
If the rows of toothpastes and toothbrushes leave you befuddled,then here are some tips to ease your child’s journey towards better oral hygiene
Sparkling teeth and healthy gums don’t stay on naturally amongst kids any longer. With the glut of chocolates and sweets in the market,maintaining dental hygiene is becoming quite a challenge for parents. When perusing through the toiletries section of any super-market,it is an understandable state of stupor that one experiences looking at the array of dental hygiene products on show. So,if you are a troubled parent squinting your eyes at your kid’s teeth fenced out by braces or sweating over those mean looking cavities,then it’s time to heed some basic,everyday tips to make sure your young one has a healthy mouth.
Changing food habits have altered the teeth structure of most kids today. The most common complaints are of tooth decay in the form of cavities. The over-exposure to sweetened food items,especially amongst kids below the age of 10,erodes the milk teeth faster than they should. Being of a softer character,milk teeth need to be carefully handled, says Dr Santosh Dixit,a prosthodontist. Mal-aligned teeth is another problem of epidemic proportions amongst school-going children. To add a bit more heartburn for the parents here,this trouble has a very strong hereditary strain. Wayward teeth can also be traced back to tooth decay. The pulling out of the rotten milk teeth as a cure for decay results in their death before their natural exfoliation period. This leads to adult teeth cropping up in an un-organised fashion. Braces are the only answer then, Dr Dixit continues.
Eating calcium rich food,like leafy vegetables and milk,is an old kitchen tale repeated at every dining table. Before the age of four,till the teeth are just developing,calcium intake needs to be high and regular. Once the teeth have grown fully,calcium absorption in them is minimal. A habit that is often found missing in the morning routine of Indian kids and adults alike is the use of tongue cleaners. These modest scrapers are important instruments to take out bad-breath causing plaque on the tongue. Teeth plaque can be effectively shunted out by flossing once every morning. These simple lifestyle habits can ensure a healthy smile right from a young age,thereby ensuring a trouble-free set of 32 pearls during adulthood.
Toothy Tips
* Though not a fun idea,brushing twice a day is essential
* Apart from brushing,floss your teeth once a day and use a tongue cleaner both times
* Use a soft bristle brush and change it every three to four months
* Use a well- fluoridated (1000 ppm) toothpaste. Brands are subjective
