Kids corner

Systematic healing of the milky teeth and young permanent teeth.

Take care for you child’s teeth They will be grateful

Caries is the disease manifested by local destruction of the tooth tissue.All developed countries in the world have managed to minimize the percentage of caries to such proportions that it is almost not existent. Although, this is not the case in Macedonia, we can protect our children by taking the necessary preventive actions.

In order to prevent caries, the following must be done:

• Brush your teeth properly

It is sufficient to brush your teeth twice per day (in the morning and at night before bed time), provided that you do it properly. Your toothbrush should be made out of plastic fibers, and you should use toothpastes containing fluoride. It is very important that the toothbrush is not wet prior to brushing the teeth. The toothpaste is always applied on a dry toothbrush, because water softens the strong fibers of the toothbrush, and affects the quality of tooth brushing. Teeth are brushed with strokes starting from the gums, towards the tip of the teeth.

Teeth on the upper jaw are brushed with up-down movements, while those on the lower jaw are brushed with opposite movements, i.e. down-up movements.These movements should be repeated at least six times or the entire activity of tooth brushing should last 2 – 5 minutes. Since it is hard to brush the area in-between the teeth, you should use dental floss. Children often find it hard to brush their teeth, thus parents should help them and teach them how to brush their teeth properly. Children are ready to bush their teeth by themselves, without the supervision of their parents, around the age of 12.

PROPER TOOTH BRUSHING

Incorrect

Correct

• Proper diet
  
  You should eat less sugar, i.e. avoid snacks, since this is how you feed bacteria in your mouth. By feeding the bacteria, you allow them to grow and multiply, thus it can cause caries. Most parents give their children milk or bottles of milk before putting them to sleep. This is a certain way to increase the risk of the caries known by the name of circular caries. This is the reason why nothing should be eaten at night, after you have brushed your teeth.

• Children should consume more fluoride
  
  Fluoride prevents caries in several manners:
  
  1) Caries is demineralization of dental tissue (loss of minerals in the tooth enamel). Fluoride not only prevents demineralization, but it also activates re-mineralization, i.e. accumulation of new minerals into the teeth. This means that caries in early stages may be treated by application of fluoride.
  2) Fluoride instills itself into the tooth tissue, and makes the tooth stronger and more immune to bacteria.
3) Bacteria damage teeth by decomposing sugars and creating acid environment, which results in demineralization of tooth tissue. Fluoride deactivates the enolase enzyme, which bacteria need in order to decompose sugars.

QUANTITY AND MANNER OF FLUORIDE CONSUMPTION

It is best to give fluoride to children in the shape of tablets. This is the manner to reach 80% reduction of caries

WHO recommends the following dosages of fluoride for children:

Pregnant women should increase the dosage of fluoride intake to 1 mg per day after  the fourth pregnancy month.

Fluoride is applied locally by pastes containing high percentage of fluoride (2% NaF and 8% stanofluoride). The 2% NaF is applied once per week in a duration of three minutes, four weeks in a row, on the age of 3, 7, 14 and 17 years. Stanofluoride is used once in a period of six months, and it is applied in a duration of 4 minutes at the same age as the NaF. This is the manner to reach 30% reduction of caries.

Fluoride may be consumed in the shape of mouth rinsing water.You may rinse your mouth twice per week with a 0.3% NaF solution in the duration of several minutes. Provided you use a 0.05% NaF solution, than you should rinse your mouth every day. Both cases reduce caries by 30 – 40%.

CLOSING THE FISSURES

The first permanent teeth grows between the age of 6 and 7 years old. The percentage of caries in these teeth is very high within the entire population. Various researches proved that if caries does not appear on permanent molars within the first two years since they grow out, it is very likely that it will never appear provided the teeth are properly cared after.
In order to prevent caries and maintain the teeth, children should be taken to regular checks to the dentist in order to have their fissures closed.
Fissures are openings on the chewing surface of the tooth. They are most suitable for caries development. In order to prevent this from happening, fissures are closed with special materials based on fluoride.

Fluor

Fluoride is a natural element that can be found in many things, like the water we drink and the food we eat. Decades ago, scientists began to notice that children who lived in places where fluoride occurred naturally in the water, had fewer dental cavities.

Fluoride that is absorbed by your body is used by the cells that build your teeth to make stronger enamel. Topical fluoride - fluoride that is applied to the outside of the enamel - makes the crystals that form enamel more durable. Tooth enamel crystals that have fluoride are much more resistant to acid. They are less likely to breakdown and cause the tooth surface to become porous.

If your dentist recommends a fluoride treatment during your next dental visit, you'll be receiving topical protection. The fluoride your dentist puts in your mouth will help make the crystals in your tooth enamel stronger. Always use a toothpaste with fluoride.

What is a pit & fissure sealant?
How is it applied? 

The top surfaces of your teeth - where the chewing takes place - aren't smooth and flat. They are cris-crossed with tiny hills and valleys - called pits and fissures. These are places where plaque can build up safe from your toothbrush and dental floss. Some of the pits and fissures are so narrow that even a single bristle from your toothbrush can't get deep enough to clean them out.

One method of preventing cavities from developing in the pits and fissures is to seal them off with a special varnish called a pit and fissure sealant. If your dentist determines that you need a pit and fissure sealant to help protect your teeth from decay, some special steps are taken to prepare the teeth first. Your dentist will clean the tooth first, then apply a mild acid solution to 'etch' the surface and make it easier for the pit and fissure sealant to stick. The whole procedure is quick and painless. Keeping the area dry and away from your saliva during the application is very important. If the tooth gets wet, the sealant might not stick properly. Once everything is ready, your dentist 'paints' the sealant right over the pits and fissures on the tooth surface. A special kind of light cures the sealant and makes it ready for use.

What's dental floss made of?
How does it work?

Brushing alone isn't enough to clean all of the plaque from the surface of your teeth. Interproximal areas (those places in between your teeth) and below the gumline are two spots where the toothbrush can't reach and plaque can build up. These are areas that are more susceptible to cavities. Daily flossing and regular visits to your dentist are the only effective ways to remove this plaque.

Dental fact:

Did you know that failing to floss means up to 35% of your tooth surface goes uncleaned?
Dental floss is a man-made fibre (usually made of nylon) that comes on a spool. Ask your parents or your dentist how to correctly use dental floss if you're not sure.

5 STEPS TO HEALTHY SMILE