Dr. Aman Kumar
Dental caries among children is one of the major public health problems, placing a significant burden on the health care system of the country. As per various studies conducted in different parts of the country, around 31.5% to 89% of the children suffer from dental caries. Poor brushing habits are one of the major factors leading to dental caries.
As per a study, around 10% of the children (1-10 years) in the Baramulla District of Jammu and Kashmir have never/rarely brushed their teeth, while only 1.6% of children brush their teeth twice daily. A similar trend is being found in children visiting the Dental OPD of All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jammu, which is alarming in nature.
Awareness among the general public regarding the tooth brushing habit is important for the interception of this alarming trend and to prevent the serious consequences of dental caries. Twice-daily brushing of teeth is recommended to prevent dental caries and other oral health problems.
One of the major reasons for poor brushing habits in children is the lack of awareness among parents regarding the importance of tooth brushing. The habit of maintaining oral hygiene needs to be established from birth. Even before the first tooth erupts in the oral cavity, the gum pads of the child should be cleaned with a clean, damp cloth. This habit also helps both the parents and the child to become accustomed to oral hygiene practices by the time the first tooth erupts.
Brushing should start as soon as the first tooth erupts into the oral cavity. A small-headed soft-bristle brush or finger brush should be used for cleaning a child’s teeth. A grain-of-rice-sized amount of toothpaste should be used in children aged 6 months to 3 years; this can be increased to a pea-sized amount for children older than 3 years. If the caregiver finds it difficult to dispense a grain-of-rice-sized amount of toothpaste, then non-fluoridated toothpaste like CPP-ACP, hydroxyapatite, etc. should be used in children younger than 2 years of age.
One of the common problems faced by the parents is that the child doesn’t allow them to put a brush in their mouth. In such cases, the knee-to-knee technique is recommended. Two adults should sit facing each other with their knees touching. The child should be positioned such that his/her legs are on one adult’s lap, while the head rests on the other adult’s lap. The adult should stabilize the child’s head with one hand and lift the lips with the other hand to expose the teeth for brushing.
It is also beneficial to make brushing an enjoyable activity for the child by playing some music or telling some stories during brushing. It is important to involve the child in tooth brushing – the caregiver should brush the child’s teeth before/after the child brushes on their own. The caregiver must observe the child while they brush independently. Using different colored toothbrushes and allowing the child to choose one fosters a sense of autonomy and makes the brushing more enjoyable.
A dental visit is recommended at the age of 6-12 months to receive proper guidance regarding oral hygiene and anticipatory care.
Tooth brushing habit is vital for good oral health. If not practiced properly, it can lead to severe consequences such as dental caries, abscess, loss of teeth, altered speech and altered growth and development of the jaw. One of the early warning signs is the presence of black stains on the teeth. Parents should visit a dentist immediately upon noticing any black stains. In the early stages, dental caries can be stopped or reversed with simple, painless procedures. If delayed, the condition may progress and require complex, sometimes painful, dental treatments for the child.
Wishing you all a happy and healthy tooth brushing journey!
(The writer is Assistant Professor, Unit of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Department of Dentistry, AIIMS Jammu)
