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They dont brush their teeth at night!
Experienced and professional experts answer questions relating to all round family health in Canada.
Q - Just curious. I am a mother of 2 children aged 3 and 5 years. It may sound ridiculous but is it better to brush ones teeth only in the morning as so many people I know say their kids don’t brush their teeth at night and they hardly ever have to visit a dentist, in fact, never. Why?! Also is there is better brand of toothpaste for my kids to use?"
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Dr. Reza Nouri is a certified specialistin pediatric dentistry practicing in Delta and Vancouver. He is also Assistant Clinical Professor in the faculty of Dentistry at UBC. Contact: PDG Paediatric Dental Group (604) 599 9038 |
Preventive dentistry is the cornerstone of sound oral health and strong dentition that could last you a lifetime.
Teeth start to form shortly after conception and are affected by genetic and environmental factors such as the expecting mother’s diet, overall health, and oral health.
It is important for the parents to understand that a number of factors contribute to one’s dental health and differs from individual to individual.
Simply because the next door neighbour’s child never gets cavities despite the lack of brushing does not mean that your child will not get any cavities if the same habit is adopted.
A lack of toothache too is no proof that the teeth are healthy. A toothache develops only when the cavity is getting close to the nerve inside the tooth.
As one consumes different consistencies of food, the left over particles mix with the bacteria that is present in everyone’s mouth and form a thick film on the teeth known as dental plaque.
Plaque that is left behind for a long time eventually hardens into tartar and results in breakdown of the gums and the teeth. In some individuals this may take years to show itself in a significant form, whereas in others the devastating signs of gum disease and cavities appear rather quickly.
It is strongly recommended for children to have their teeth brushed with a smear of fluoride toothpaste at least two times a day as soon as the first teeth appear.
The mouth tends to dry up at night time and the left over food between the teeth cannot be cleared by the saliva. It is therefore important to floss and brush one’s teeth at night before bedtime.
A healthy diet low in acidic and sweet food products too is recommended.
The most important component of toothpaste is the fluoride present in it. When teeth get exposed to fluoride the surfaces of the teeth become harder, making them more resistant to breakdown as a result of exposure to acidic or sweet food products.
Regardless of what flavor or brand of toothpaste is used it is important to ensure that the toothpaste is fluoridated.
Excess fluoride as well is not good for the teeth either as it would result in mottling (chalky effect) of the teeth. Children should be encouraged to spit the toothpaste out after brushing, though a small amount swallowed is not harmful.
Experienced and professional experts answer questions relating to all round family health in Canada. Send in your queries to [email protected]
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