Most people are aware they should get their teeth checked at least once a year, but how many actually do? “If it doesn’t hurt, there’s no need to do anything” is a common misconception. Unfortunately, this only allows small problems to escalate into bigger issues.

By the time most adults drag their feet to the dentist, they are in considerable pain or have functional issues. The problem requires more extensive corrective action, which usually results in more pain and higher costs.

“Many adults pass on their dental phobia to their children, which sets the stage for the pattern to repeat itself. This can be detrimental to oral health among people of all ages,” said Dr Seow Liang Lin from the school of dentistry at a university in Kuala Lumpur.

Early childhood caries – or tooth decay of the baby teeth – is common among infants and young children. Tooth decay is also prevalent in older children and teens, who are more likely to consume processed foods, sugary snacks and drinks.

Indeed, early childhood caries remains a major challenge among five- to six-year-olds in Malaysia: in the 2015 national oral health survey of preschool children, prevalence was at 71.3%. Another study showed that 63.4% of pre-schoolers had at least one decayed tooth in their primary teeth.

Here’s how to turn things around.

Get an early start

As children start to develop teeth from around six months of age, parents should familiarise them with dental visits by the time they turn one.

“Young children are unable to communicate if they are experiencing tooth or gum aches. When they fuss and cry, the more common thought is that they are hungry or colicky. Therefore, parents may not relate this behaviour with tooth or gum pain, and would not think to check inside their mouths,” Seow noted.

This, she said, could lead to unnecessary suffering for the child and allow the problem to worsen.

Regular visits allow dentists to detect early signs of tooth problems, which could spare the child a lot of pain, discomfort, or related problems. It also allows the dentist to reinforce in parents their role in ensuring children’s teeth are looked after.

Seow further advises parents to make use of dental services available at schools for regular checks on their child’s oral health.

When it comes to adults, it is never too late to begin the journey to better oral health. “If you have always shied away from dental checkups, try bringing a friend along for support, or plan for a small treat afterward to help turn a dental visit into something you can look forward to,” Seow advised.

She further cautions grown-ups to be more proactive with checkups, as lifestyle habits, chronic conditions and other factors can have an impact on oral health. These include:

• Smoking, which reduces blood supply to the gums, aggravating gum problems and making tooth loss more common among smokers.
• Diabetes, which impacts healing ability. As a result, individuals with diabetes are more likely to have poor gum health. Meanwhile, good gum health has been linked with better sugar control in diabetic patients.
• Cardiovascular disease: epidemiological studies indicate an association between gum disease (periodontitis) and coronary heart disease. Other research shows a close link between gum inflammatory reactions and significantly higher risks of adverse cardiovascular events.
• Taking calcium channel blockers – a common drug for hypertension – carries a risk of developing overgrowth of gums, aka gingival hyperplasia. This can make it harder to floss and brush effectively, allowing food particles to get trapped that can contribute to tooth decay and gum disease.
• Radiotherapy treatment, when used to treat cancers of the head and neck, affects the salivary glands. Saliva contains calcium and calcium carbonate to buffer the effects of acids produced by bacteria. With reduced saliva production, there is less protection against erosion, making teeth more prone to decay.

Invest in the relationship

Seow has personally encountered a range of patients in her practice. One of them was so terrified that he needed his whole family to accompany him for emotional support. Another had teeth that showed signs of erosion owing to the self-induced vomiting characteristic of bulimia.

In such cases, a good dentist-patient relationship goes a long way. This can make the overall experience more pleasant to encourage patients to go for regular checkups.

However, it takes time for trust to develop, Seow pointed out. At the end of the day, it is important to find a dentist you can trust and are comfortable with.

Finally, Seow advises parents to act as role models for their children, and work to overcome any personal trauma that prevents you – and your child – from getting regular dental checkups.