TREATMENT

Seeking treatment in good time can help avoid gum disease and early tooth loss, says Dr Lee, not to mention jaw and facial pain associated with malocclusion (a bad bite).

Early treatment is advantageous, so it’s vital to take your child for orthodontic assessment no later than the age of seven. “Early treatment allows the orthodontist to work with the child’s growth in a complementary way,” she says.

An example of this is when the upper front teeth protrude ahead of the lower ones, often due to the lower jaw being shorter than the upper jaw. “While the upper and lower jaws are still growing, orthodontic appliances can be used to help the growth of the lower jaw catch up to that of the upper jaw.

“We can treat a severe discrepancy in jaw length quite well in a growing child,” Dr Lee explains. “But if left untreated until the jaws have stopped growing, or are growing only slowly, he or she might very well require corrective surgery. Children who may have problems with the width or length of their jaws should be evaluated for treatment no later than age 10 for girls and age 12 for boys.”

did the same. “Here at FDC Dental Group, we strongly promote flossing as part of routine oral hygiene,” she says.

Still not sure? If you’re a daily flosser, try not flossing for a week, and then giving it a go – the bad smell should convince you!

Scaling and Polishing

Unless it’s removed, plaque will become hard and stick to your teeth and roots. The germs will also damage the gum and the surrounding bone, resulting in shaky teeth which can cause pain and infection and may need to be extracted, says Dr Lam. “What’s more, dental decay can cause infection of the tooth, leading to toothache and the requirement for long, intricate treatments such as root canal treatment.”

Again on a personal note, my own family dentist works very closely with his resident oral health therapist (OHT); she generally gives me a thorough cleaning, including plaque removal, before I even see him.

Dr Lam agrees that this is a good thing: “We commonly advise cleaning (scaling and polishing) every six months to remove any hardened deposits of tartar from your teeth and beneath the gum,” she says. “It can also help remove any extrinsic staining and lift the colour of the teeth.” She notes, however, that as an OHT works within “the prescribed scope of dentistry”, a dentist must first prescribe cleaning to be done.

Removing all the plaque and tartar from the teeth and gums enables my dentist to provide a more thorough examination, she explains. What’s more, OHTS have been specially trained to help maintain gum health and provide routine gum treatment to patients.

“At FDC, our OHTS work closely alongside the dentists to provide a comprehensive treatment for our patients. They are all well versed in providing oral hygiene instruction, gum treatments and preventative treatments such as fluoride treatment or fissure sealants.”

Don’t Procrastinate

Good oral health is achievable, Dr Lam reminds us. Try to see your dentist every six months, and if you have any dental concerns, don’t put it off in the hope that the problem will go away of its own accord. It won’t, so make an appointment as soon as possible.

Even if you haven’t seen a dentist for years, making an appointment is the first step towards a healthy mouth. “Urge your friends and family to visit their dentist if they haven’t for a while. It’s never too late.”