Do you like magic numbers and do you think that there is something in them worth taking a look? I know that in marketing terms adding a number like 7 to the mix can work wonders on getting folk to tune into something. The little-known seven rules for paediatric dentistry to make your child’s teeth stronger and healthier is the perfect example of this. Remember effective marketing need not detract from the core value of what is being put forward. The wellbeing of your kid’s teeth and gums is pretty darn important.
What Are The 7 Rules Of Paediatric Dental Care For Kids?
Oh boy and girl! Here we go folks! Do you remember that famous saying from Aristotle – “give me the child until he is 7 and I will give you the man.” Of course, back in the day sexist attitudes prevailed and girls were grossly neglected and misrepresented. This statement is also attributed to the Jesuit St Ignatius Loyola but many of us know that early Christians were shameless stealers of ancient wisdom from pre-Christian times. OK, beyond the caveats, the crux of the matter is the age 7. This is a defining point in the life cycle of a child, recognised by teachers and thinkers over the journey. Therefore, it makes sense that ‘seven’ plays a prominent role in our presentation here.
Children’s Oral Care & The Seven Points To Remember
Seven months of age is when, on average, that children start getting their first set of teeth. At age 7 years is, most often, when kids receive their first permanent molars. Thus, you can see magic number 7 is doing its thing in paediatric oral development and parents and carers would be well advised to pay attention on this basis also. Seven years of age is when a child should first see the dentist for a check-up. This is based on the requirement to check whether any intervention is required on an orthodontic level. If things are not coming along naturally, then, modern dentistry can lend a hand. Leaving things later, in this regard, can be asking for trouble.
Seizing The Critical Milestone In Dental Terms
As a kid I personally went to the local dentist around this time and was confronted with the need, according to the expert in the white outfit, to remove 4 teeth in order to avoid overcrowding. This was no fun at the time, let me tell you, as this was well before the days of sophisticated pain management. I remember the hairy forearms of my hirsute dentist flexing under tensile pressure with the gripping of pliers. I got a ring side seat for this feat of brute strength in the pulling out of my teeth. Subsequent visits to the dentist were not up there on my list of favourite things to do, as you can well imagine. Thankfully, for today’s children and their parents things are much better in this regard these days. The intervention, did, however, create much needed space for my arch of teeth or dentition.
More Seven Stuff For Healthy Kids Oral Hygiene
Should there be only seven rules for paediatric dentistry to make your child’s teeth stronger and healthier? At the definitively formative age of 7 it is time for kids to be introduced to the vital importance of self-oral care. Yes, encourage your child to develop agency in taking care of her or his oral hygiene. Most parents are overseeing the cleaning of teeth prior to this and helping their kids with brushing. Now, it is important to emphasise their own volition in oral hygiene matters. Greater autonomy breeds self-reliance. Children are getting their set of teeth that needs to last the distance of their lifetime. No more second chances. We live in a crazy world where the supermarket shelves are stacked with sugary foodstuffs and complex carbohydrates. The airwaves are filled with ads for unhealthy drinks and fast foods specifically aimed at kids. One would think any civilised society would make this a crime or at the very least include warnings about the dangers. No, not when profits are king and CEOs are only interested in shareholder returns and their own inflated renumeration. Kids can go and pig out on refined sugar and carbs all day long for all they care.
“The average Australian 5 to 8-year-old is exposed to at least 827 unhealthy food advertisements on television each year. Australian adolescents are exposed to almost 100 promotions per week from online sources. Children aged 4 to 6 years believe a product tastes better if it has a cartoon character on the pack”
– Obesity Evidence Club
Paediatric Dental Care & Parental Responsibilities
Therefore, in this world, where vulnerable children are targeted by unscrupulous advertisers it is left up to parents to inculcate their kids re-oral hygiene. The brushing of teeth with a suitable soft bristled brush and a reputable fluoride tooth paste twice a day – morning and last thing at night. This becomes absolutely vital if the child, who will grow into an adult, has any chance of maintaining the health of their teeth and gums over the decades. Flossing is another recommended dental hygiene measure which can aid in the removal of harmful detritus between teeth. Bad bacteria feeds on foodstuff, especially sugars and carbohydrates, that remain in the mouth around the teeth and gums.
“Dental caries is caused by the release of organic acids from fermentative bacteria, which results in the dissolution of hydroxyapatite matrices of enamel and dentine. While low environmental pH is proposed to cause a shift in the consortium of oral bacteria, favouring the development of caries”
– Kianoush N, Adler CJ, Nguyen KA, Browne GV, Simonian M, Hunter N. Bacterial profile of dentine caries and the impact of pH on bacterial population diversity. PLoS One. 2014 Mar 27;9(3):e92940. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0092940. PMID: 24675997; PMCID: PMC3968045.
Encouraging your seven year old to frequently sip pure water throughout the day and gargle with it is another recommended activity to ensure healthy teeth and gums persist. By pure water I mean unadulterated by any other flavouring – tap water is fine in most instances around Australia. This is a habit that should be encouraged as a lifetime one. Water is a great aid to good health across the board. Swishing it around inside our mouth is good for our oral hygiene.
Tooth Brushing Technique Tips
Similarly, a pea sized amount of fluoride toothpaste should be used on the toothbrush and after an initial cleaning and rinse it is best advised to leave a secondary light coating of toothpaste in the mouth and on the teeth. Don’t rinse the toothbrush until after the secondary application upon teeth. This offers an ongoing protection factor, especially when done last thing before going to bed and sleep. Our mouths need this help in a world chock full of complex carbohydrates and refined sugars.
Younger Australians Getting Cancer
If you want to do one huge good turn for your kids it is to steer them away from soft drinks and other sugary drinks. Reports in Australia are showing a dramatic increase in cancers affecting younger adults – diet is at the core of this. Poor diets and ineffective parenting failing to establish a ground zero when it comes to nutrition and dietary requirements for healthy human beings. Governments and corporate Australia have failed in this regard and we are all paying the price. The American influence in business cannot be underestimated down-under – the ruthless push for profits was seen during our cost of living crises. Companies declaring record profits while ordinary Australians cannot afford to live in their own cities. Where is the corporate responsibility in this? Who is a good citizen and what does that actually entail in the 21st century? We need an ‘all in this together’ thing happening.
Note: All content and media on the Bacchus Marsh Dental House website and social media channels are created and published online for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice and should not be relied on as health or personal advice.
