Education on oral health care for children is getting away
from "don't do this" messages because they do not work,
paediatric dentist Alison Meldrum says.
Under the revamped oral health programme for children there
is an emphasis on collaboration between dental therapists and
parents early in the child's life.
But Mrs Meldrum, who is the convener of the programme which
trains dental therapists and hygienists at the University of
Otago, said this was not about lecturing parents.
It was a "two way" discussion about what they were doing and
exploring practical ways to help their children's oral
health.
Often parents did not realise that teeth "need a rest" and
that "grazing" on food throughout the day meant saliva was
always slightly acidic, putting teeth at risk of decay.
Leaving two hours between exposures to food meant teeth had
the chance to remineralise and strengthen.
Finding alternatives to putting a baby to bed with a bottle
could also be discussed.
Ms Meldrum said the message was not about banning sweet
treats, but limiting exposure to them.
She agreed that it could take some parents time to adjust to
the new style of dental service where they were required to
be more involved, but she likened it to visiting a general
practitioner.
"You would never send a child to the doctor by themselves."
It was considered that greater involvement by parents and
caregivers would lead to a reduction in tooth decay because
prevention would be more effective.
The restorative model of dental care which involved fixing
holes but not changing the behaviour which led to the decay
did not really work, she said.
elspeth.mclean@odt.co.nz
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