The Tribune

By DR SPARKMAN FERGUSON

Registrar, Bahamas Dental Council

IF ONE were asked about priorities in life, “being in good health” is almost always on the short list for most people. Press a little further and ask about dental health, and one would usually not find it to be a priority.

Oral health is simply on the “back burner” for most people and as a direct result of this, dental disease exists in epidemic proportions in our land. The only reason that we don’t hear much about this rests with the fact that although epidemic in proportion, the diseases are not usually life-threatening.

How do we get people to change their minds and their behaviour about dentistry? There is no simple answer.

However, it is generally accepted that educating oneself in health care matters can be of help.

The following is a short list of locally held dental misconceptions for many:

1. If there is no mouth pain, there is no need to visit the dentist.

2. Absence of mouth pain means perfect mouth health.

3. One gets a professional cleaning for a special occasion.

4. There is no need to follow through with recommended dental treatments because they are not life threatening.

5. The teeth of children are not so important.

6. There is no need to replace missing teeth

7. Dentistry is expensive.

All these misconceptions are incorrect, except for the fact that dentistry can become expensive if we have allowed the mouth to deteriorate and now wish to have it restored. It is noteworthy that persons who care for their mouths regularly almost never encounter exorbitant dental expense.

People need to know that the teeth (because of sugary diets/dental caries) are at risk for dental disease up to the age of 30, and both teeth and gums are at greater risk thereafter.

People need professional dental cleaning twice each year. Why? Answer: early detection. How many times have we all heard it? A person who is 25 and who has never visited the dentist has technically missed 40 dental checkups. How could such a person be in good dental health?

The professional cleaning is the most important thing that any person can do for their mouth. This is also the only way to help stave off dental caries up to the age of 30 and prevent gum diseases thereafter.

People need to know that dental home care is equally as important as professional dental care. Persons must adopt the good habit of daily brushing and flossing.

Parents need to know that poor dental health habits begin at home, continue through the teen years and eventually also into adulthood. Like adults, children are equally in need of professional dental care for many reasons. With over 70,000 school-aged youth in our system, it is alarming that with all the current information available how few children actually see a dentist. Incidentally, these children are from all strata and all economic backgrounds of our society.

So what’s wrong? Simply put, it’s a matter of cause and effect. We know the causes of dental diseases, and we also see the many negative effects. The good news is that dental diseases are preventable, and if we did not manage to prevent them, they are treatable.

Dental professionals all prefer to see dental diseases prevented or intercepted and neutralised. However, it ultimately rests with adults to first own their present dental health status, and realise that they need a dental professional who can then guide them back to good health. Children need informed and concerned parents/guardians who will see to the health needs of a child ... something a child just cannot ever do.