A healthy life starts with oral and dental health. Oral and dental health play an important
role on general health, vital functions and quality of life.
Since the symptoms of some diseases firstly appear in the mouth, oral and
dental examinations should be done at regular intervals.
Today, there are many preventive applications such as fluorides, antimicrobials, probiotics, saliva tampons, synthetic saliva that
have been proven by research, which can reduce the occurrence of diseases related to oral tissues and teeth by nearly 80%.
There are preventive dentistry programs for the patients who receive orthodontic treatment, those in the high caries
risk group, who carry implants and prostheses over implants, diabetics, cancer patients, and mentally disabled patients.
Children are the most important candidates for preventive dentistry. In the period starting from the age of one,
to the end of adolescence, conditions such as dental caries, tooth crowding, gingival and eruption problems are
solved with preventive dentistry and precautions are taken in the early period of the childhood.
It is possible to eliminate the negative effects of oral health on general health with
preventative programs applied in all dental branches.
What should be done for carious foods?
Foods with high carbohydrate content (sugar, chocolate, biscuits, cakes, cakes, potato chips, etc.) that can stick to teeth (caramels, Turkish delights, sugary chewing gum, etc.) are one of the most decaying foods, especially in children. When these foods are consumed in snacks and if the teeth are not brushed afterwards, their carious effects are inevitable.
While the ideal is not to use these foods at all, it is not possible to keep children away from them. If it is to be consumed, it will be correct to consume such products immediately after the main meals and to brush the teeth afterwards.
How can I make my child adopt a toothbrushing habit?
It constitutes the basis of preventive dentistry practices. Mechanical cleaning of teeth should start shortly after eruption of the first milk teeth. This is an action that the mother should do. The mother can clean the baby’s milk teeth by dipping the sterile gauze cloth on her finger by dipping the sterile gauze in cooled sterile water. Children can use a toothbrush from the age of 2.5 to 3 when their manual skills develop. Toothpaste should be used in the form of a swab from the age of 5 when children can learn not to swallow the paste. School-age children can switch to normal brushing with a pea-sized children’s toothpaste. The important point to teach in this period is to place the toothbrush at an angle of 45 degrees from the gum towards the tooth direction, and brushing from the gums to the teeth with circular sweeping movements. Chewing surfaces should be brushed by moving the brush in a front and back motion, the surface of the tongue and the inside of the cheek should be cleaned by brushing as well. Brushing should be done after meals, 3 times a day for two minutes.
What is topical fluoride application?
Nowadays, topical fluoride applications are considered to be a successful method in preventing caries development and this view is the gold standard. Topical fluoride applications are made in two different ways, individual and professional. Topical applications applied individually are methods given by the dentist and applied by the individual. These are fluoride mouthwashes and toothpastes that contain between 0.2 and 1 mg of fluoride per milliliter and have a low fluoride concentration in the range of 200 to 1500 ppm. It is recommended to use mouthwashes in 15 ml for adults and 7-10 ml for children. 30 minutes after application. It is recommended not to consume any food or liquid during this time. Gargles are not used for children under 6 years old. The anti-decay feature of toothpaste depends on the concentration of fluoride it contains, the amount of paste put on the brush, the duration of brushing, the amount of fluoride in the water and the mouthwashing habit after brushing.
Due to the risk of dental fluorosis, ie tooth staining in children, the fluoride concentration in toothpastes should not exceed 0.10mg / kg. Fluoride toothpaste is not recommended for children under 5 years old.
What are fissure sealants applications?
This application is to fill the decay-prone areas on the chewing surfaces of the posterior molars with a protective substance. Generally, in children, the first molars erupt between the ages of 5 to 7 and the second molars between the ages of 11 to 14. Studies have shown that 90% of dental caries start from small and deep indentations and pits on the chewing surfaces of molars. The best time to apply fissure sealants is the first months of these teeth. Milk molars can also be protected against caries with these dressings. If the caries has advanced to the dentin layer under the enamel, it is more appropriate to perform PRR, which is also a protective restoration.
Fissure sealant applications are painless and extremely easy. With these practices, children’s fear of dentists is significantly reduced. After the application, the child can eat and drink immediately if they choose to do so. Fissure sealants can wear out over time. Despite this, studies have proven that 85-90% of the teeth remain on the teeth for years. These applications, which have a very important place among the measures regarding the protection from caries, should be checked regularly by the dentist every 6 months.
What are the protective applications?
These preventive applications are the treatments and practices applied in order to prevent encountering an orthodontic problem in the future and to ensure that precautions are taken in a timely manner in order not to need a treatment for as long as possible. It can be listed as follows:
• Controlling and stopping habits such as finger sucking, lip sucking, etc.
• Closing the gaps and openings in the front teeth.
• Early treatment of cross bite problems.
• Short-term treatments with simple removable orthodontic appliances.
• Correction of jaw anomalies with functional appliances.
• In early deciduous tooth extractions, preserving the extraction cavity with placeholders until permanent tooth eruption.
