The most common problem we see with children's teeth in the UAE is tooth decay. A 2015 study showed that 80 per cent of 12-15 year olds had bleeding gums. Exposure to this level of gum inflammation is linked with diabetes, heart disease and stroke later in life and is an undeniable evidence of an oral-systemic link. It doesn't look any better with younger children.
The Decayed, Missing and Filled teeth index (DMF), used worldwide to assess dental health, showed that children aged 5-7 in Dubai had a DMF of 3.8. This is double the average DMF score for the MENA region (1.9) and over six times that of the UK (0.6). It also showed that only 17 percent of children between the ages of 5-12 in Dubai were totally decay free! A more recent investigation by the Hamdan bin Mohammed College of Dental Medicine has shown that 82 percent of 5-year-olds in the UAE have dental decay, much of this untreated.
What is most heartbreaking about these statistics is that dental decay is very preventable and easily treatable in its early stages. Much of the decay we see, sadly, is advanced and even fillings won't solve it; it needs extraction and that often means a general anaesthetic.
• Sugary snacks between meals are the biggest cause of tooth decay. If your child eats sugars, it will take the saliva a minimum of 30 minutes to neutralize the acid that is created by decay-producing bacteria. This level of exposure to sugar over a long period of time can be devastating.
• Childproof your home. Research has shown that over half of dental injuries to kids under 7 happens in close proximity to furniture. In a region where hard flooring is common, think about the areas your child could trip and fall.
Non-skid rug pads are a brilliant invention. Move coffee tables with unprotected hard edges out of harm's way, or get corner protectors, or buy more child-friendly stuff.
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