Teeth protection should start early

Dentist Alaa Hawi, advises a periodic checkup of children's teeth every 6 months, to be able to treat problems in the simplest way and save the child bad dental experiences. 'Arabstoday' met with Dr. Alaa Hawi for this interview: * When to start teeth protection in children? - Protection starts before dentition, even before the birth of the infant. A pregnant woman should maintain a proper diet that is rich in vitamins. She can also ask her doctor to prescribe fluoride because of its positive effect on the teeth of a new baby, as it reduces tooth decay to a great deal. She must not, however, have it without consulting her doctor The second phase starts after birth, also by having fluoride. This can be in many ways including pills or drops. * When to start brushing children teeth? - We start with the emergence of the first teeth. Certainly parents have to perform this process, using a brush especially made for children, or by a damp cloth. if you want to use toothpaste there is a special kind for children that does not contain fluoride and can be swallowed. * What are the methods of protection that can be carried out by a doctor? - With the emergence of the first teeth, we can apply fluoride to the teeth in the clinic, every 6 months. The dentist determines the time and quantity according to the child. *Are primary teeth important? What is their function? - They are very important. Their natural presence leads to the formation of strong proper permanent teeth. It is wrong to consider them unimportant and pull them out at any pain. They are equally important as permanent teeth are, because, in addition to their function for chewing and speaking, they help marking the space for permanent teeth to emerge without causing jamming. The presence of these teeth also helps with the growth of the jaw. * What is caries in children and what is it caused by? When the child sleeps while sucking on a milk bottle, that leads to keeping the milk in the mouth for the night. Milk, sugar, and bacteria in the mouth lead to the emergence of decay in teeth.