Vitaldent and the University of Murcia have presented the results of V annual study on oral habits in children, according to which 86.2% of Spanish children between the ages of six and 12 have come to the dentist's office sometime.
The research explores how the smallest of the house take care of their teeth and what are your oral hygiene habits. Among the most striking data that he throws, we find that only 59% of children go to the dentist for annual preventive checkups, and that only 60.6% brush their teeth before going to bed (although This is a requirement to maintain a healthy mouth.
The importance of night brushing lies in the decrease of saliva in our mouth, a basic agent that helps us cleanse our mouth of bacteria
Caries Incidence
Caries is a very widespread infectious disease, and according to the Vitaldent study, 12.7% of children currently have an affected part. It is a pathology that occurs especially at 10 years (in 15.1% on average). The influence of sweets and goodies has been observed, since 24.4% of children who eat them every day have a tooth or tooth grinding, decreasing the figure to 8.5% in those who eat sweets very occasionally.
And as for the pain that children present as a result of pathologies not yet diagnosed, it is the children of six, eight and nine years, who suffer it in higher percentages (11.7% claim to have had pain). On the other hand, the age group that least complains of being bothered is that of children 12 years old (only 7.1%).
Brushes and brushes
The most positive data provided by this study is that 99.6% of children have a toothbrush at home, although 10.9% do not brush daily. The age at which they brush the most every day is eight years, even more than at six, and - of course - than at 12.
Personally I am surprised that they brush less at six because I think they still need direct supervision of parents, and instead I consider a symptom of preadolescence to neglect, although in this sense we must continue to remember healthy habits, right?
Of all those who brush daily (which are many) only 60.6% do so before going to bed.
Those sweets that children like so much ...
And both favor the appearance of the bacteria S. mutans that damages our teeth. Although it does not make much sense to separate them from the most widespread customs among children, it is an exercise in responsible parenthood limit your consumption, and have children brush their teeth after eating any candy.
Vitaldent's study tells us that 9.4% of children drink sweets every day, and only 34.7% never eat this type of food. In between, 31.1% do it two or three times a week, and 24.8% once a week or very occasionally.
Chocolate is the one you like the most, even many prefer it in front of sweets, gum or pastries
Curiously among children who eat sweets two or three times a week, 42.7% went to the dentist to perform some type of dental treatment (which are essentially 66% fillings).
It follows from this study the need to become aware of annual reviews, night brushing, and avoidance of daily candy and candy intake. Now, although they are data and advice that comes in handy to remember. I believe that it is necessary to advance in the investigations that relate caries with other factors (besides hygiene or unbalanced diet) such as genetics or stress.
I say it because many people can shed a lot of light, and I say it as a patient with tooth decay in all molars since childhood (healthy eating, zero goodies, poor hygiene), and mother of a child also with tooth decay in all molars (limited sweets , daily hygiene and balanced diet). Personally I take it as a duty to continue inquiring, without neglecting preventive measures.
Images | Zdenko Zivkovic, surlygirl Source | Vitaldent In Peques and More | Prevention of tooth decay and risk factors in its appearance, Children must learn to take care of their teeth and mouth
