[The importance of health education in prevention of oral health in children].

UNLABELLED

HEALTH EDUCATION: The aim of education is to impart knowledge on the causes of disease and decay of the teeth and periodontium, on the ways and possibilities of disease prevention and adequate treatment; to point out to the necessity of proper nutrition, regular and proper oral hygiene, proper use of fluoride products as well as to the significance of regular check-ups with a dentist.

NUTRITION

Frequent intake of carbohydrates leads to a higher prevalence of caries. Taking into consideration that it is neither obtainable nor recommendable to completely eliminate glucoses from the nutrition components, it is necessary to advice parents and children to take glucose (if possible) only along with the regular meal when the saliva flow is increased.

ORAL HYGIENE

In order to establish oral hygiene as an important prophylactic measure influencing successful protection of oral health of the whole population, it is necessary to inform as many people as possible about oral hygiene effectiveness and its necessity in preventing oral and dental diseases; to develop the habits of regular oral hygiene maintenance in the youngest children as well as to refer them to the use of most adequate paraphernalia and agents for performing the daily oral hygiene procedures.

FLUORIDE PROPHYLAXIS

Undoubtedly, fluoride is currently the most efficient agent for the prevention of dental pathology. The anticaries efficacy of fluoride is a consequence of the cumulative effect of several different mechanisms. They can occur on the dental surface or directly influence the mineral phase in the enamel. Each dental hygiene preventive program must include the content about the use of fluoride as the basic prophylactic measure. It is recommended to be the sum of the combined effect of systemic (endogenic) and local (exogenic) application.

CONCLUSION

Regarding high prevalence of caries in children, the issue of prophylaxis is of great significance and current interest. In that respect, health education should point out to the significance of proper nutrition, regular oral hygiene and fluoride prophylaxis, all aimed at preventing dental diseases. It is certain that parents must take an active part in these activities both as educators and controllers of the proposed measures.