There is another pandemic in the making. But this one can be
prevented. The oral health factsheet issued by the World Health
Organisation indicates that more than 530 million children suffer from
dental caries of primary teeth.
Dental caries or tooth decay in layman
terms is the most common health condition, according to the Global
Burden of Disease Index 2017. A significant lack of information on the
subject and improper access to dental health care have led to an
increase in children suffering from cavities, rotting, bacteria and loss
of teeth at an early age.A diet with high sugar and starchy food
intake is the primary cause of dental caries. “It begins soon after
birth. Prolonged night-time bottle feeding, honey or sweet pacifiers and
on-demand breast feeding can lead to the first signs of gum decay in
babies. The mother’s oral and general health also contribute as genetic
factors,” says Dr Brij Sabharwal, orthodontist and implantologist, and
past president of the Indian Dental Association, Delhi.
Unfortunately, most parents ignore minor
dental problems in their children’s teeth. As primary teeth eventually
fall out, no serious value is assigned to their decay. This practice
proves harmful in the long run, as children have primary teeth for at
least six years – a long time to live with a rotten tooth.
Often, children are unable to express
themselves or the exact cause of their pain, leading to further delay in
appropriate treatment. Even the more enlightened and proactive parents
are loath to seek treatment for their little ones, it being a
time-consuming, painfully arduous and expensive procedure.
According to Dr Gargi Basu Kandhari,
principal dentist at Dr Kandhari’s Skin and Dental Clinic Delhi, the
food consumed these days is more processed and requires less chewing,
leading to younger and younger children suffering from extensive caries
and tooth decay.
Dr Punam Puri, a dental practitioner
with an independent practice in Delhi, asserts that dental decay is the
culmination of three factors sugary food, acid and bacteria in saliva.
“Bacteria along with acid causes erosion of teeth and further damage
occurs when food is left behind. Initially, one notices white spots,
which represent the decalcification of the tooth surface. Later these
spots turn yellow and brown and eventually dissolve the teeth. The worst
part is that children may remain free from discomfort till it is too
late,” she says with concern.
Puri believes that dental caries is more
prevalent in developed countries where fast and unhealthy food is
easily available, being less prominent in developing nations. However,
Dr Tanvi Ghonkrokta, dental practitioner based in New Zealand, thinks
that the causative factors are largely socio-economic rather than
country-specific.
She strongly believes that tooth decay
in children and adults alike is a global phenomenon. High net-worth
companies with vested interests continue to push for sales of high sugar
foods, making the problem worse by the day. “The hidden sugars in our
foods are often unaccounted for, whether in India or New Zealand, it’s
all the same,” she says emphatically.
Significantly, New Zealand is one of the
few countries in the world, to offer free universal dental care. This
tends to overwhelm the system, preventing it from adequately addressing
the problem of dental caries in children.
A link between dental decay and
socio-economic status has been established in a definitive study on the
subject of ‘Epidemiology of Dental Pain and Dental Caries Among Children
and Adolescents’, published in the prestigious scientific platform
Europe-PMC. Data collected by them shows that lower socio-economic
groups suffer more because of reduced access to health care.
Interestingly, Ghonkrokta points out
that dental issues are more prevalent in the indigenous Maori community
of New Zealand. Belonging to a lower economic stratum, they prefer fast
and unhealthy processed foods as a more affordable option.
On the other hand, the Pakeha New
Zealanders of European descent, from more affluent backgrounds, make
educated decisions on the consumption of food and take early action on
dental issues. The problem may be of exponential proportions, but it is
easily preventable through simple measures.
“In India, we do not emphasise the
brushing of teeth enough, especially for children. This is detrimental
to oral health,” says Dr Kandhari, lauding the age-old twice-a-day teeth
brushing routine, as the ideal solution to dental problems.
A healthy diet, regular dental check-ups
and in more serious cases, application of a fluoride sealant are easy
ways to nip the problem in the bud. “Children with braces/retainers need
to be extra careful about tooth decay as debris and plaque tend to
accumulate if the area is not cleaned properly. The right brushing
techniques have to be followed, in addition to interdental cleaning
aides,” says Dr Ajay Raj Bhagat, Orthodontist and Dental Surgeon,
Dentotal Clinic, Delhi
Tips to prevent dental caries in children
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Night bottle feeds or snacks must be avoided after brushing. If
necessary, the mouth should be rinsed with water before sleeping. -
Brushing should be started in the first year of a child’s life with just a rice grain amount of paste used twice daily
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Brushing should be done under the supervision of parents
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Children who are prone to dental problems must visit the dentist every three months
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For those with braces or retainers, modified strokes using orthodontic brushes should be demonstrated by the dentist