Protecting Children’s Oral Health

Link: http://www.perio.org/consumer/children.htm#3………26

I  found the following article in Google when searching for ” children’s oral disease saviours”.

If only the dental profession would listen to my recommendations: NEVER advise patients

with the instruction Brush Your Teeth because it is a cause of oral diseases. ALWAYS advise

patients with the instruction Treat Your Whole Mouth. What a lot of oral disease patients they

would have. But that, I assume, is the dental profession’s reason for their reluctance.

Ginivitis (the first stage of gum disease) is nearly a universal finding in children and adolescents…

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Protecting Children’s Oral Health

Gingivitis (the first stage of periodontal disease) is nearly universal in children and adolescents. Gum diseases in children Signs of gum disease Adolescent oral care Advice for parents

Many people think of periodontal disease as an adult problem. However, studies indicate that nearly all children and adolescents have gingivitis, the first stage of periodontal disease. Advanced forms of periodontal disease are more rare in children than adults, but can occur.

Types of periodontal diseases in children

Chronic gingivitis is common in children. It usually causes gum tissue to swell, turn red and bleed easily. Gingivitis is both preventable and treatable with a regular routine of brushing, flossing and professional dental care. However, left untreated, it can eventually advance to more serious forms of periodontal disease.

Aggressive periodontitis can affect young people who are otherwise healthy. Localized aggressive periodontitis is found in teenagers and young adults and mainly affects the first molars and incisors. It is characterized by the severe loss of alveolar bone, and ironically, patients generally form very little dental plaque or calculus.

Generalized aggressive periodontitis may begin around puberty and involve the entire mouth. It is marked by inflammation of the gums and heavy accumulations of plaque and calculus. Eventually it can cause the teeth to become loose.

Periodontitis associated with systemic disease occurs in children and adolescents as it does in adults. Conditions that make children more susceptible to periodontal disease include:

• Type I diabetes
• Down syndrome
• Kindler syndrome
• Papillon-Lefevre syndrome

For example, in a survey of 263 Type I diabetics, 11 to 18 years of age, 10 percent had overt periodontitis.

Signs of periodontal disease

Four basic signs will alert you to periodontal disease in your child:

Bleeding Bleeding gums during tooth brushing, flossing or any other time	Puffiness Swollen and bright red gums	Recession Gums that have receded away from the teeth, sometimes exposing the roots
Bad breath Constant bad breath that does not clear up with brushing and flossing

Periodontal Disease Runs in the Family

Periodontal disease may be passed from parents to children and between couples. Researchers suggest that the bacteria which causes periodontal disease may be passed from one person to another though saliva. This means that the common contact of saliva in families puts children and couples at risk for contracting the periodontal disease of another family member.

Genetics may also play a major role in the onset and severity of periodontal disease. Researchers found that Up to 30% of the population may be genetically susceptible to developing severe periodontal disease. Therefore, if one family member has periodontal disease, it is a good idea for all family members to see a dental professional for a periodontal disease screening.

Adolescence and oral care

Evidence shows that periodontal disease may increase during adolescence due to lack of motivation to practice oral hygiene. Children who maintain good oral health habits up until the teen years are more likely to continue brushing and flossing than children who were not taught proper oral care.

Hormonal changes related to puberty can put teens at greater risk for getting periodontal disease. During puberty, an increased level of sex hormones, such as progesterone and possibly estrogen, cause increased blood circulation to the gums. This may cause an increase in the gum’s sensitivity and lead to a greater reaction to any irritation, including food particles and plaque. During this time, the gums may become swollen, turn red and feel tender.

As a teen progresses through puberty, the tendency for the gums to swell in response to irritants will lessen. However, during puberty, it is very important to follow a good at-home oral hygiene regimen, including regular brushing and flossing, and regular dental care. In some cases, a dental professional may recommend periodontal therapy to help prevent damage to the tissues and bone surrounding the teeth.

Advice for parents

Early diagnosis is important for successful treatment of periodontal diseases. Therefore, it is important that children receive a periodontal examination as part of their routine dental visits. Be aware that if your child has an advanced form of periodontal disease, this may be an early sign of systemic disease. A general medical evaluation should be considered for children who exhibit severe periodontitis, especially if it appears resistant to therapy.

Many medications can dry out the mouth or pose other threats to oral health. Be sure to tell your dental professional about any medications your family members are taking.

Monitor your family to see if anyone has the habit of teeth grinding. Grinding can increase the risk of developing periodontal disease, in addition to causing cracked or chipped teeth. Dentists can make custom-fitted night bite guards to prevent teeth grinding at night.

Researchers suggest periodontal disease can pass through saliva. This means that the common contact of saliva in families may put children and couples at risk for contracting the periodontal disease of another family member. If one family member has periodontal disease, all family members should see a dental professional for a periodontal evaluation.

The most important preventive step against periodontal disease is to establish good oral health habits with your child. There are basic preventive steps to help your child maintain good oral health:

• Establish good oral health habits early. When your child is 12 months old, you can begin using toothpaste when brushing his or her teeth. However, only use a pea-sized portion on the brush and press it into the bristles so your child won’t eat it. And, when the gaps between your child’s teeth close, it’s important to start flossing.
• Serve as a good role model by practicing good oral health care habits yourself.
• Schedule regular dental visits for family checkups, periodontal evaluations and cleanings.
• Check your child’s mouth for the signs of periodontal disease, including bleeding gums, swollen and bright red gums, gums that are receding away from the teeth and bad breath.

If your child currently has poor oral health habits, work with your child to change these now. It’s much easier to modify these habits in a child than in an adult. Since your child models behavior after you, it follows that you should serve as a positive role model in your oral hygiene habits. A healthy smile, good breath and strong teeth all contribute to a young person’s sense of personal appearance, as well as confidence and self-esteem.

Find Out More

 

• Consult a periodontist: Periodontists are experts in the diagnosis and treatment of gum disease and can help you protect your family’s oral health.
• Don’t Brush Off Importance of Children’s Oral Health provides parents with tips in taking care of their children’s mouth.
• Children’s Dental Health is an AAP Video News Release featuring Drs. Michael McGuire and David Woolweaver.
• View an AAP brochure on Periodontal Diseases in Children and Adolescents that includes step-by-step instructions on proper brushing and flossing methods.
• Get oral care tips: The AAP press release “Tips to Help Families Achieve Optimal Oral Health” suggests ways to avoid or treat periodontal disease.
• Read abstracts from the Journal of Periodontology reporting the latest research on children’s oral health issues.
• Read a scientific paper : The Academy’s position paper “Periodontal Diseases of Children and Adolescents” provides a brief summary of clinical knowledge in this area.
• Visit the AAPD website: The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry’s website has extensive parent information as well as kids-only features.
• Oral Health Animations and Games: The American Dental Association’s website includes fun activities on dental health for children.

© American Academy of Peri

USA Dental  Statistics

USA Dental  Statistics – looks like “C” grade states could do with some extra “preventative” support!

February 23, 2010

By Alison Young, USA TODAY

At least one in five U.S. children go without annual dental care and most states lack key policies to ensure access to cost-saving preventive treatments, according to a study released Tuesday by the Pew Center on the States.

Six states received an “A” grade from the non-profit policy analysis group for their dental health policies. But even children in those states have problems accessing care, the report said.

“Americans will be spending $106 billion on dental care this year,” said Shelly Gehshan, director of the Pew Children’s Dental Campaign. Much of that care pays for costly treatments such as fillings and root canals, which have their origins in poor childhood dental care, she said.

GRADING THE STATES: How does your state fare in dental care?

Among eight policy solutions it graded states on:

• School-based dental sealant programs. Just 17 states have programs to apply cavity-preventing sealants to children’s molars in at least 25% of schools with low-income children.

• Fluoridated water. Only 26 states have at least 75% of their citizens on community water supplies with adequate fluoride to prevent tooth decay.

• Medicaid payments. Many dentists aren’t willing to accept Medicaid reimbursement rates set below the actual cost of treatment. Only 25 states pay dentists at least 60.5% of retail fees. Medicaid is a joint state-federal program serving low-income patients, and state policies vary.

“That is a huge issue,” American Dental Association President Ron Tankersley said. In states covering actual costs, “dentists will step up to the plate and take care of these kids.”

In Rhode Island, which received an “A,” the number of dentists treating Medicaid children increased from 27 to 217 — nearly half of dentists statewide — after the state increased payments and made other program changes in 2006.

South Carolina, which ranked best in the study, has in place seven of the eight dental policies.

“The policies have definitely impacted children’s dental health,” said Christine Veschusio, South Carolina’s oral health director. “But we still have more children than we would like that are in school with untreated tooth decay.”

New Jersey ranked last with only one of eight benchmark policies. Suzanne Esterman, a state Medicaid spokeswoman, said the agency questions some measures in the report. “New Jersey has made great strides … to improve the number of children who receive care,” she said.

Grading the States

The Pew Center on the States scored states on eight policy benchmarks it considers critical to children having access to and receiving dental care. These benchmarks include cost-effective ways to prevent costly dental problems, Medicaid improvements and gathering data to improve performance. The full report is available at www.pewcenteronthestates.org/costofdelay.

“A” states: Met at least six of the eight policy benchmarks and had policies needed to improve dental care

• Connecticut
• Iowa
• Maryland
• New Mexico
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina

“D” states: Met three of the policy benchmarks

• Alabama
• District of Columbia
• Indiana
• Mississippi
• Montana
• Nevada
• Utah

“B” states: Met five of the policy benchmarks

• Alaska
• Colorado
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Maine
• New Hampshire
• Ohio
• Texas
• Washington

“F” states: Met only one or two policy benchmarks

• Arkansas
• Delaware
• Florida
• Hawaii
• Louisiana
• New Jersey
• Pennsylvania
• West Virginia
• Wyoming

“C” states: Met four of the policy benchmarks

• Arizona
• California
• Georgia
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Missouri
• Nebraska
• New York
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Wisconsin

Pre-Schools Add Brush-and-Spit to Day

Dr. David Samuels – periodontist, Andover, Massachusetts, U.S.A. Sherri Killins – commissioner, Department of Early Education and Care.

January 29, 2010

New York Times: By KATIE ZEZIMA

Preschools Add Brush-and-Spit to Day

HAVERHILL, Mass. — The twelve 4-year-olds sat in a corner, small hands clasping toothbrushes. Isaac and Aaron brandished them like swords, stabbing each other in the side. Jacky rubbed his into the carpet. Abigail squirmed, and Chayleece jumped up and down.

“You ready? Start brushing!” said Massiel Diaz, their teacher at the Basic Beginnings day care center. “Brush, brush your teeth — at least two times a day. Clean, clean, clean — fighting tooth decay,” Ms. Diaz sang out, as the children moved the brushes up, down and around, connecting with teeth occasionally but also with their face and nose.

And then they swallowed the pea-size dots of toothpaste — bubblegum-flavored “Dora the Explorer” Colgate.

Massachusetts is the first state to add toothbrush time to the color-nap-snack-and-play routine of preschools, requiring that all children who eat a meal at day care, or attend for more than four hours, brush their teeth during class and be educated about oral health.

The regulations, which went into effect last week, are being praised by some parents and caregivers while causing a tempest in a toothbrush for others, according to schools and chat rooms.

“I don’t want someone’s hand in my child’s mouth,” said Sarah Brodsky, a teacher at First Path Day Care in Watertown and mother of 4-month-old Noah. “It’s a little too much” government intervention, Ms. Brodsky added.

“JG,” posting on Boston.com’s blog Moms Nation, agreed that the government might have overstepped its bounds: “We don’t need the state mandating every little thing in our lives. Let parents be parents,” adding, “The kids can’t even reach a sink.”

Parents who feel strongly about the regulation can opt out, said Sherri Killins, commissioner of the Department of Early Education and Care, which oversees day care centers and established the regulations to help stem dental disease. According to a 2003 state study, one in four Massachusetts kindergartners have dental disease.

“Poor dental care is the most common, chronic childhood ailment, and if untreated can result in pain, infection and other devastating impacts on a child’s health,” Ms. Killins said.

At the Basic Beginnings Learning and Development Center here, about 40 miles north of Boston, the director, Deborah Ramos, started training her charges in early January, so glitches would be worked out by the time the regulations went into effect.

Staff members use a soft bristle to swab the gums of infants. Like other day care centers statewide, Basic Beginnings is choosing to apply so little toothpaste that it is safe for children to swallow, a practice used in Head Start programs, which mandated tooth brushing in 2006.

Ms. Ramos said there was some apprehension, but teachers quickly worked brushing into the postlunch routine.

Dr. David S. Samuels, a periodontist in Andover and president of the Massachusetts Dental Society, which supports the rule, said in order for the program to be effective, teachers need to help children without the motor skills do it correctly. He is also worried about the spread of germs through toothbrushes and spitting.

Alexandra Picus, director of the First Path Day Care in Watertown, said she was still working out the details of how they will herd 60 preschoolers into position. “We need to start early,” Ms. Picus said. “We’re supposed to have rest time, and now we have to eat a little earlier so there’s enough time for the children to brush their teeth. It’s not the happiest moment

Get The Word Out Press Release 30 March 2010

This Easter, chew on a new oral health idea.

For the last 500 years you’ve been taught to fight tooth decay by brushing your teeth. The technique is simple; a toothbrush for brushing and toothpaste for cleaning. However, according to dentist, Dr Garth Pettit, this isn’t enough. To prevent oral diseases such as tooth decay, gum diseases, bad breath, stained teeth and ruined smiles, you should, ‘Treat Your Whole Mouth’.

This new concept, created by Dr Garth Pettit after researching the age-old idea of simply brushing teeth, is simple, logical and actually works. Dr Pettit has now set up a website (www.drgarthpettit.com/stop-the-rot-videos/) to explain to children, parents, teachers and health educators how this new idea works.

Dr Pettit is clearly passionate about oral health care. After graduating from the School of Dentistry at Adelaide University in 1953 he had private practices in Australia, the UK and then back in Australia until retiring in 1991 for what he thought would be a quiet retirement.

“In January 1997, I returned to work to become a government dentist as the District Dental Officer for East Arnhem Land,” says Dr Pettit. “It was in Numbulwar that I discovered that the simple ‘Brush Your Teeth’ concept was a bad oral hygiene instruction so I set about creating the new concept ‘Treat Your Whole Mouth’.”

Dr Pettit hopes parents, teachers and health educators will encourage children to visit the website (www.drgarthpettit.com/stop-the-rot-videos/) immediately. Because, of course, what better time to learn about total mouth hygiene than at Easter time?

For more information contact Garth Pettit

Director

4 Your Smile 2 Shine Pt Ltd

Telephone: 08 8971 7005

Mobile: 0410 505 496

Email: admin@4yoursmile2shine.biz

Web: www.drgarthpettit.com

Get The Word Out Press Releases

Morgan James Publishing Press Releases

PRWeb Press Releases

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2010/03/prweb3604314.htm

To view the entire PRWeb Press Release, 15 Free Videos, Kids Visit GarGar The Dentist, Promote Children’s Oral Health Education – MouthWise Web Adventures 4 Kids..click the link above.

The following is just the text of this PRWeb Press Release, 15 Free Videos, Kids Visit GarGar The Dentist, Promote Children’s Oral Health Education – MouthWise Web Adventures 4 Kids

15 Free Videos, Kids Visit GarGar The Dentist, Promote Children’s Oral Health Education – MouthWise Web Adventures 4 Kids

SUMMARY

MouthWise Oral HealthCare announces the opening of the oral health education program MouthWise Web Adventures 4 Kids. A web-based oral healthcare education resource for children aged 5 to 11 years, their parents, their schools and their teachers – or anyone wanting to help children prevent oral diseases.

Promoting MouthWise Web Adventures 4 Kids is a series of 15 videos titled Kids Visit GarGar The Dentist each featuring the characters GarGar The Dentist and his animal friends. Kids Visit GarGar The Dentist videos have been uploaded to the company website where the DVD version will be available soon. Videos are also being uploaded to TheVideoDentist at You Tube and to similar web sites.

Two recent press releases highlight the continuing high and unacceptable incidence of oral diseases in pre-school aged children. They indicate that the approach taken by authorities to prevent the occurrence of easily preventable oral diseases (tooth decay, gum diseases, bad breath, stained teeth, and bad smiles) continues to be based on the ancient instruction Brush Your Teeth.

BODY  (more…)

Katherine N.T. Australia. Monday 12 October 2009. Today I received notice of the following press release appearing in a Chinese registered web domain. How good news flies!

http://rio.zmdschool.com.cn/aone/35304

Instruction Brush Your

Teeth

Causes Stained Teeth

DATING THE INSTRUCTION “BRUSH YOUR TEETH”

The  instruction “Brush Your Teeth” has been a cause of the easily preventable oral diseases such as tooth decay, gum disease, bad breath and stained teeth since the year 1498, the year a Chinese Emperor invented the first manufactured tooth cleaning implement which he named  ‘tooth brush’.

At that point of time tooth paste had not been invented.

Assuming the proposed purpose of inventing a ‘tooth brush’ was to brush your teeth with a tooth brush I also assume the instruction would have been “Brush Your Teeth”……. with a tooth brush.

I therefore claim the instruction “Brush Your Teeth” has been an instruction since at least 1498. (more…)