290. Teething children: dental injuries suffered during childhood and youth have an impact on the rest of life

The rates of tooth decay in our country are frightening. The target suggested by the World Health Organization for 2000 was that Portugal reached an index of decayed, missing and filled (DMF) of two in each child. This means that if they had been taking the appropriate measures, oral health, we should already be down to two, instead of the current three to four bad teeth. The situation is even more serious when it rises in the age group. "Then, the index is so high that not even worth quoting him. The number of teeth in a state already passed the barrier that is behaving in terms of prevention," said Professor Jorge Acacio, President of the Portuguese Health Oral (APSO)." The teeth do not heal injured. You can replace the texture of materials for dental fillings, but its strength and durability are very limited. This is why dental injuries sustained during childhood and youth have an impact on the rest of life. The fewer problems with their teeth have a teenager at the end of compulsory schooling and much less treated teeth, the lower the costs of maintaining the good condition of your teeth for the rest of their lives, "notes one expert in Preventive Dentistry .

The problem seems to be the fact that practice in Portugal, "an oral health level of bad." That is, continues to fight to disease, instead of investing in prevention. "Countries like Norway, Denmark, Switzerland, Canada or Japan take us 40 years of progress," added Jorge Acacio.

The oral health problems are, in general, perfectly avoidable. Children are not able to assess the consequences of inappropriate behavior, both with regard to food as to oral hygiene. The attitude of the smaller dependent on the goodwill of the adults who must take responsibility for what remains to children. It is known that parents and educators play an important role in raising children for dental care, but that's not enough to alter the scenario "catastrophic" that lives in our country.

The industry would be to create oral health programs is wrong. "It is well known in many cities in Europe and beyond, the high success of oral health programs of municipal responsibility. Compared with the organs of central power - the Health Ministry or the Directorate General of Health - the local authority, with closer to the individual, can respond more appropriately and effectively to their needs."

One form of action could be the local teams of oral health to undertake the screening of dental caries and diseases of the mouth of the population covered, in a systematic and regular, and well forwarding treatment needs. A task that can be done by dentists at the local level, health centers, hospitals and private clinics. "Such actions should not be confused with marketing campaigns often developed by manufacturers of toothpaste or other products in the field of dentistry", emphasizes Acacio Jorge.

According to the President of APSO, the Ministry of Health has, over the years, "neglected and forgotten" that the health sector. "There is no justification to continue to do so, since there are 4300 dentists in Portugal and colleges continue to train more." The Dental Association has created a working group to study and develop a program of oral health is wrong. One of the proposals involves the voluntary enrollment of school-age children in the Oral Health Program. When you enroll, the child is automatically covered by any preventive measures, including any dental care they need, but must meet a number of rules, such as regular visits to the dentist and the application of certain preventive treatments indicated.

These visits and these treatments will be recorded in a dental newsletter (which may be contained in the Health Card), the update will be mandatory for each child can remain enrolled in the program. Each round of screening, monitoring or treatment will be paid at the time by parents, which will be repaid immediately in the treasuries of the respective City Council. These programs begin for children, but will gradually cover all other population groups. For each group, the Oral Health Program will have the strategy and methodology.

Some teeth are halfway to a beautiful smile and pleasant. The first rule is simple and has to do with hygiene. The teeth should be brushed after meals, gently, on all internal and external surfaces, with movements to and fro along the gumline. The brush should be replaced every three months. We also recommend regular use of dental floss, which allows you to remove the brush can not reach. A healthy habit that you can practice before bedtime.

Food is another important factor in dental health. Avoid excess sugar (as we all know are harmful to the teeth) and increase their daily intake of vegetables, fish and dairy products.

And as in prevention is what is the gain, we must give special attention to children. If the baby like pacifier, do not pass the sugar, honey or jam, as leverage cavities. Use only orthodontic dummies and age appropriate. Avoid hanging cords or cloth diapers pacifier in, because the weight deforms the dental arch. Wash and boil the pacifier often, since the mouth is the largest port of entry of infection in the human body. Finally, when choosing a pacifier, keep in mind that the ring should follow the curvature of the baby's face for a more adequate lip closure, and must have side holes for ventilation. It is also known that prolonged use of pacifier may influence the development of the dental arch. There is the risk of babies cut their teeth crooked and projected forward or the upper and lower teeth do not fit. Therefore, physicians have established the age of two as the limit for the use of the pacifier, saying that it is withdrawn, no later than this age.

Maria do Rosário Lopes
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