Health Dept: February Is ‘Oral Health Month’

The Oral Health Section of the Department of Health said they would like to invite the public to join them in recognizing February as Oral Health Month.

Senior Dental Officer Dr. Celia Nzabalinda explained that the Department of Health will highlight the month through the topic, ‘the family’.

“It is a little known fact that the bacteria that causes dental decay and periodontal disease are passed from person to person,” explained Dr. Nzabalinda. “Through normal everyday activities, such as sharing utensils or cups or kissing, family members pass bacteria to one another.

“While we advocate using separate eating utensils, we do not tell people to avoid normal every day expressions of affection. What we are saying is that the best way to reduce your bacterial count is by proper brushing (twice a day for two minutes) and flossing, using a tongue scraper and rinsing with an antibacterial mouth rinse. By taking care of your own teeth you are also taking care of your child’s.”

A Ministry spokesperson said, “It is not the bacteria themselves that cause decay so much as the acid which they produce. When bacteria are exposed to food, they produce acid for a brief period as a by-product of their digestion of sugars in the diet. It is this acid which causes demineralization of the enamel.

“This issue becomes particularly critical in the case of young children, as the enamel on ‘baby teeth’ is half as thick as the enamel on permanent teeth, and growing babies eat more often than adults. Therefore, when these bacteria inhabit the mouths of young children, those children are more prone to decay than the adults who care for them.

“When young children have a buildup of bacteria and are frequently exposed to food or beverages they are more likely to develop Early Childhood Caries (or decay). A child with this problem may experience pain and infection and may require costly fillings and extractions under general anesthesia.

“By far the most common cause of decay is the combination of bacteria in dental plaque, poor oral hygiene and frequent exposure to foods containing natural or refined sugars. Diseases such as diabetes can contribute to periodontal disease, especially in combination with poor oral hygiene.

“To assure good oral health for your child you should:

• Brush your child’s teeth twice daily from the time the first tooth erupts.
• Don’t put your child to sleep with a bottle of milk or juice.
• Don’t let them carry a bottle or sippy cup around to sip at will, unless it contains only water.
• Delay juice beverages until the child can use a regular cup without assistance.

“International authorities recommend that a child’s first dental visit should be six months after the first tooth erupts (about one year of age). The Oral Health Section of the Department of Health advocates early dental visits as Early Childhood Caries can be well underway by two years old and an earlier visit provides opportunity for prevention of this condition.

“The Oral Health Section also advocates that parents and care-givers visit their own dentist for regular oral health care.’

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