April 08, 2004

By: Humera Khandal
Website: http://www.teeth-whitening-smiles.com

Healthy Smiles – Great Smiles Begin At A Young Age

One of the biggest myths parents believe when it comes to their children’s health is that their baby teeth aren’t important and don’t need to be cared for.

Dental experts, including Ganiat A. Lawal, D.M.D., of FirstHealth’s Dental Care Centers, want parents to think otherwise.

According to the Surgeon General’s 2000 report, 51 million school hours are lost each year because of dental-related illnesses. This year, nearly half of all children who entered kindergarten already had some form of tooth decay. By the time they graduate from high school, nearly 80 percent will have experienced some form of dental decay.

Because dental decay can begin as soon as the first tooth appears in the mouth, Dr. Lawal says, professional dental care providers at the FirstHealth Dental Care Centers have one goal in mind – to help parents help their children learn good dental habits at an early age.

Bringing children to the dentist as soon as the first tooth erupts is important, because it enables trained dental professionals to identify possible problems with children’s first teeth and/or oral hygiene, she says.

According to Dr. Lawal, an early visit to the dentist provides parents with access to information about preventing their child’s future oral problems. It also introduces children to dental care.

Introducing children to preventive dental care at an early age can eliminate some of the anxiety that’s associated with visiting the dentist in the future, she says.

Many parents don’t realize that cleaning their infant’s mouth daily is just as important as it is for older children to use a soft-bristled, children’s toothbrush with a small drop of fluoride toothpaste and to have their parents help them floss.

As children age and gain more independence, their nutritional habits tend to change and their bodies change, too. FirstHealth Dental Care Center professionals are especially trained in children’s oral health, says Dr. Lawal. We can help parents identify foods that contain a lot of sugar and cooked starches that can cause tooth decay and cavities, as well as identify their oral needs and problems.

Children typically develop their first four baby teeth by the time they turn a year old, and they have all their baby teeth by the time they reach age 3.

Children at high risk for developing dental decay should have their primary molars sealed as soon as possible after these teeth erupt. All children should have their permanent molars and premolars sealed as soon as possible.

Dr. Lawal and other dental professionals at the FirstHealth Dental Care Centers provide sealants, as well as routine and emergency dental care, to medically underserved children and children on Medicaid or Health Choice. Dr. Lawal has been providing dental care to children at FirstHealth Dental Care Centers in Southern Pines, Troy and Raeford since 2001.

Before joining FirstHealth, Dr. Lawal was a clinical instructor with the University of Rochester Eastman Dental Center in Rochester, N.Y. While there, she provided care to underserved individuals through community outreach clinics and school-based dental programs.

In 1995, she received the Colgate Palmolive Bright Smile, Bright Futures Award and earned her Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from the University of Medicine & Dentistry in Newark, N.J. She later completed a general practice residency at the VA Medical Center in New York City.

Dr. Lawal is a member of the American Dental and National Dental associations, North Carolina and Old North State societies and the Academy of General Dentistry.

Author Notes:

Humera Khandal contributes and publishes news editorial to http://www.teeth-whitening-smiles.com.  Everything you need to know to get a whiter, brighter smile!