Defective teeth wreck a child’s self-esteem

Orthodontic surgery aligns crooked teeth and enables them  function properly, writes JOHN MUTURI

We nick named her mang’ethia, literally translated as one who stares with her teeth because her teeth protruded. I shared the desk with her in our lower primary school. Like everyone else, I was insensitive to her feelings. Her other nickname was ‘dracula’, which means a blood-sucking monster.

All these traumatised and totally eroded her self-confidence until she underwent a series of dental surgeries to correct the defect. I met her recently during a conference in Nairobi and chatted over old times.

After the specialised dental correction called orthodontic work, ‘dracula’s’ teeth became perfect. She didn’t have to hold her hand over her mouth when smiling.

She is an example of a child whose self-confidence was undermined by an unfortunate defect. Thanks to technology, a child doesn’t have to permanently suffer for what is not their fault.

Apart from aligning the teeth, orthodontic work is also carried out to enable the teeth function properly. Overcrowded teeth are difficult to clean, which may cause decaying.

Many children are born with teeth that are less than perfectly placed and shaped. This, however, is not necessarily a problem and only a few of them need a brace to correct the defect. Gaps between teeth usually close up without any specialised dental work.

What causes the problems?

A child inherits most of his or her physical features from both parents, but others are caused by certain factors.

Milk teeth act as a guide for the permanent ones. If milk teeth are lost through an accident or decay, the second set of teeth may be crooked, over-crowded or bunched together.

Equally, if the milk teeth don’t come out when they should, they may obstruct the permanent teeth, which may end up jutting out unproportionally.

Certain habits, such as lip biting, persistent thumb sucking and pressing the tongue against the top teeth, can also affect the growth and position of the teeth, especially if they already have a tendency to stick out.

 

What you can do

It is important to teach your child to care for their teeth from a young age.

Milk teeth are susceptible to decaying and should be brushed with a soft baby toothbrush and a toothpaste containing fluoride to strengthen the teeth against decay.

Minimise sugary foods and drinks and remember that even some children’s medicines contain sugar. Take your child to the dentist regularly.

From the ages of five to seven, when the first permanent teeth appear, be meticulous about teeth brushing. Regular visits to the dentist will ensure early detection of defects and timely correction.