BREAK THOSE BAD HABITS
Another key to keeping your child’s dental health in check is breaking any bad oral habits before they cause damage. Orthodontist DR BRYCE LEE and pedodontist DR JA INTRASOOT manage the Junior Dental Team at Atria-city Dental Group and work together to provide a wide range of specialist dental treatment for children and teens. There are three main habits to break for better teeth, they say.
#1 Thumb sucking
According to the American Dental Association (ADA), thumb or finger sucking is a natural reflex for an infant that can often be seen in the womb during development. Hence, thumb sucking, along with pacifier use, is acceptable for infants, according to the Atria-city team. However, such a habit in an older child is not only seen as inappropriate but will also affect the child’s oral (lips, palate and jaw bone development) and dental development (teeth).
The ADA recommends breaking the habit of thumb sucking by age four. By this time, the prolonged pressure and sucking motion will begin to make changes to the mouth, including the developing jaw and teeth, which can cause a child’s permanent teeth to be misaligned.
“If your child passively sucks his thumb, the habit may be easier to discourage, but vigorous sucking can lead to changes in the palate that affect the permanent bite, and are usually more difficult to stop without intervention.”
According to Dr Lee and Dr Ja, the best strategy is often to simply ignore the behaviour, as most children will figure out on their own when it isn’t acceptable. However, if the habit persists beyond age four, it should be discouraged by: establishing a chart or reward system to track your child’s progress for quitting; encouraging and praising your child when he or she attempts to stop; and visiting your child’s dentist to learn about the positive effects of stopping the habit. If a child is unable to kick the habit beyond age four, Dr Lee says that wearing an orthodontic appliance or plate can help stop the habit.
#2 Bottle in bed
“Baby bottle tooth decay” (or “bottle caries”) happens when sweetened liquids or those with natural sugars ( including breast milk, formula milk, and fruit juice) cling to an infant’s teeth for a long time. The most common cause of this is when infants suckle on the milk bottle to fall asleep. Bacteria in the mouth thrive on the sugar, creating acids that attack the teeth. This also applies to breastfed babies who have a habit of comfort-sucking while sleeping.
In addition to implementing good oral hygiene at an early age, here are a few simple steps that can help stave off bottle caries: If you let your baby hold their own bottle, take it from them before they fall asleep and clean their teeth and gums to prevent decay. Try slowly replacing the milk with water until the bottle is filled with just pure water. While this will help with tooth decay, a total weaning from having a bottle in bed is best in order to prevent bottle caries. Wipe the baby’s gums with a clean gauze pad or washcloth after each feeding. Clean and massage gums in areas without teeth. Schedule regular dental visits by your child’s first birthday. Dentists can offer special sealant coatings that can help prevent decay in susceptible children.
#3 Frequent consumption of sugary and carbonated drinks
Regularly drinking sugary beverages, soda, sports drinks and fruit juices can result in cavities and the erosion of tooth enamel. Though the obvious solution would be to stop consuming these drinks, it’s not necessarily realistic. Here’s what Atria- City’s Junior Dental Team suggests: Drink in moderation. Don’t have more than one soft drink each day – just one will do damage enough. Use a straw. This will help keep the damaging acids and sugars away from your teeth, minimising contact with the teeth. Rinse your mouth with water afterwards to help wash away any remaining sugars and acids. Avoid soft drinks after brushing your teeth before bedtime. The reduced salivary flow while sleeping increases the contact time of the sugars to the teeth. Go for regular dental check-ups. Atria-city Dental Group #08-08 Ngee Ann City Tower B 391B Orchard Road 6737 2777 | atria-city.com