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Dental Tribune Middle East & Africa No. 2, 2017

PUBLISHED IN DUBAI www.dental-tribune.me March-April 2017 | No. 2, Vol. 7 Interview: “Around 50 per cent of children have cavities by 6 years of age” By Brendan Day, DTI With recent studies showing that more than four out of ten Australian children aged 5–10 have caries affect- ing their primary dentition, it is clear that good oral health habits need to be practised from a very early age. Given that oral disease can cause potentially permanent damage, a preventative approach is essential. Dental Tribune Online spoke with Prof. David Manton, Chairman of the Australian Dental Association’s Oral Health Committee, about the importance of dental check-ups for children and why recent legislative changes in Australia may negatively affect this. Dental Tribune Online: Prof. Manton, how many times should children be visiting the dentist each year? Prof. David Manton: The regu- larity of visiting the dentist for chil- dren depends on their oral health. To start with, a child should visit a dentist within six months of the eruption of the first tooth, so around 12 months of age. This is to allow the dentist to examine the child’s mouth and discuss with the parents how to maintain their child’s oral health. This would include issues such as diet and oral hygiene. After that, the time between visits usually varies between six and 12 months, although some children may visit more frequently, such as a child at high risk of dental caries. What are some of the main contributors to the poor oral health of Australian children? The main factor affecting oral heath in children is dental caries. Around 50 per cent of children have cavities by 6 years of age. The main causa- tive factor is diet—primarily the regular consumption of sugars in the diet. These sugars can be obvi- ous, like sugary sweets and lollies, but can also be hidden in food and drinks, such as soft drinks, dried and processed fruits, soy drinks and fla- voured milk. The sugars encourage the overgrowth of decay-causing bacteria in the plaque on the teeth, and these produce acids that weaken the teeth and lead to caries. Brushing teeth with fluoridated toothpaste decreases the amount of decay that occurs and improves gingival health, so a lack of brush- ing can lead to the opposite. Around one sixth of children will have teeth affected by developmental defects that may lead to an increased risk of decay, so early detection of these defects can help prevent caries de- veloping. ÿPage C2

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