Oral Health Care for Children aged 7 or above

BACK TO HOME

There is often a layer of dental plaque on the surfaces of our teeth, which is filled with bacteria. Every time we eat and drink, acid attacks our tooth surfaces. Saliva can reduce acid attack towards our teeth but it must have enough time to work. If we are eating and drinking frequently, saliva will not have enough time to work. Therefore, the chances for acidic attacks are increased, and dental caries can occur.

Early dental caries
The cavity will start from enamel. At this stage, you will not feel any pain; therefore it is difficult to notice caries. If you have regular dental check-up, the dentist can detect the caries and treat it at an early stage.

Caries spreads into the dentine
Pain will be felt when eating cold, hot, sour, and sweet food. Cavity may also be found.

Caries extends into pulp
Severe pain will be felt that may affect sleep at night. An obvious cavity may appear on tooth. Pulp may also be infected by bacteria and the tooth becomes necrotic, which can even result in an abscess.

What can we do?
Go to a dentist immediately to receive the following treatments:

At an early stage of dental caries without obvious cavitations, the dentist will apply topical fluoride to repair the early caries, or give other preventive treatments according to need.
Restore the tooth by a filling when the carious lesion is still small, and the tooth is still restorable.
Restore the tooth by a crown when the carious lesion is relatively big, and the remaining tooth structure is weak.
Carry out pulp treatment (root canal treatment) when the caries have extended into the pulp.
Extraction is needed if pulp treatment is not appropriated.

Carious lesions will emit foul odour causing bad breath.
Severe caries will cause intense pain that can affect eating, sleeping, studying, or even your general health.
Severe caries will lead to inflammation of periapical tissue and formation of abscess.
If the tooth has to be extracted due to dental caries, neighbouring teeth will drift into its space and affect the alignment of the teeth.

Good dietary habits

Have regular breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Only snack once in between meals.
Only drink plain water to quench thirst.

Minimize the eating frequency in order to reduce the chances of getting dental caries.

Brush with fluoride toothpaste
Fluoride can strengthen our teeth, and can help prevent dental caries. Therefore, remember to brush every morning and before bed at night with a pea sized blob of fluoride toothpaste.

Regular dental check-up
Ask your parents to take you to a dentist for a check-up every year to prevent dental problems.

Oral Health Care for Children aged 7 or above	BACK TO HOME

Common oral diseases of children

Why is there dental caries?
There is often a layer of dental plaque on the surfaces of our teeth, which is filled with bacteria. Every time we eat and drink, acid attacks our tooth surfaces. Saliva can reduce acid attack towards our teeth but it must have enough time to work. If we are eating and drinking frequently, saliva will not have enough time to work. Therefore, the chances for acidic attacks are increased, and dental caries can occur.

Process of dental caries
Early dental caries The cavity will start from enamel. At this stage, you will not feel any pain; therefore it is difficult to notice caries. If you have regular dental check-up, the dentist can detect the caries and treat it at an early stage. Caries spreads into the dentine Pain will be felt when eating cold, hot, sour, and sweet food. Cavity may also be found. Caries extends into pulp Severe pain will be felt that may affect sleep at night. An obvious cavity may appear on tooth. Pulp may also be infected by bacteria and the tooth becomes necrotic, which can even result in an abscess. What can we do? Go to a dentist immediately to receive the following treatments: At an early stage of dental caries without obvious cavitations, the dentist will apply topical fluoride to repair the early caries, or give other preventive treatments according to need. Restore the tooth by a filling when the carious lesion is still small, and the tooth is still restorable. Restore the tooth by a crown when the carious lesion is relatively big, and the remaining tooth structure is weak. Carry out pulp treatment (root canal treatment) when the caries have extended into the pulp. Extraction is needed if pulp treatment is not appropriated.

What are the consequences of dental caries?
Carious lesions will emit foul odour causing bad breath. Severe caries will cause intense pain that can affect eating, sleeping, studying, or even your general health. Severe caries will lead to inflammation of periapical tissue and formation of abscess. If the tooth has to be extracted due to dental caries, neighbouring teeth will drift into its space and affect the alignment of the teeth.

Ways to keep dental caries away
Good dietary habits Have regular breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Only snack once in between meals. Only drink plain water to quench thirst. Minimize the eating frequency in order to reduce the chances of getting dental caries. Brush with fluoride toothpaste Fluoride can strengthen our teeth, and can help prevent dental caries. Therefore, remember to brush every morning and before bed at night with a pea sized blob of fluoride toothpaste. Regular dental check-up Ask your parents to take you to a dentist for a check-up every year to prevent dental problems.
BACK TO TOP

繁體純文字 \| 簡體純文字 \| ENG \| 繁體 \| 簡體 \| Quick Search \| Site Map \| Contact Us