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INUVIK
Taking care of a child's first set of teeth can help prevent dental issues such as rotting and crooked teeth later in life.

Crystal Navratil, community health representative in Inuvik, shows the damage done to teeth of toddlers when they don't have proper dental care. Public Health will offer free fluoride treatments for children under five until Dec. 15. - Samantha Stokell/NNSL photo

Fluoride treatments for children under the age of five can protect their first teeth from acid attacks and give them a healthy smile early in life. Fluoride protects the enamel on teeth, which prevents decay and cavities.

"I want everyone to know that teeth are an important part of the body," said Simon Jozzy, dental therapist at Sir Alexander Mackenzie School. "The same way you take care of your body should apply to your mouth and teeth."

Jozzy looks after the teeth of students in school, but has concerns for the teeth of preschoolers. The health of the first set of teeth determines the health of the adult teeth that grow in their place. If baby teeth rot, fall out or are extracted prematurely, this could lead to problems in the new teeth.

"If teeth are pre-extracted, they're going to drift. Teeth want to close the gap and will tip or drift over," Jozzy said. "This means the big tooth will have a problem coming up. Healthy teeth are very important to have a normal life, without pain and infection."

While Jozzy looks after the teeth of students, it's the the teeth of preschoolers that has drawn the Inuvik Public Health department's attention. A common cause for rotting teeth is baby bottle tooth decay, which happens when parents put children to bed with a bottle that contains a liquid with sugar, such as milk, juice or formula. The extended time with the bottle means sugar has time to build up and start an "acid attack" on the teeth, breaking down the enamel and allowing rot to take root.

To help prevent tooth decay, Public Health is offering free fluoride treatments for children under five years old. The treatment has a sodium-fluoride varnish applied by a Q-Tip to the front and back of children's teeth and protects the teeth for up to six months, when they can come back for another treatment. The varnish is absorbed by the tooth.

"Kids are more susceptible to rotting teeth because their teeth are new," said Crystal Navratil, community health representative for Inuvik Public Health. "Most parents are good at introducing juice to older children, or to give half juice and half water."

Most children don't see a dentist until they're two years old – well after healthy teeth could have started to decay. Parents should lift their child's lip to see if there is white lines along the gum-line, which could mean the beginning of tooth decay. Brown areas along the gum line are a sign decay has already started.

For children younger than one year old, parents can clean the child's mouth and gums with a damp cloth or infant toothbrush.

Once children are two, parents can start flossing for them. Try to dilute milk, juice or formula with water to reduce the amount of sugar, which causes decay.

"Please don't let your kids go through the pain abd suffering of infection by not helping them brush their teeth," Jozzy said. "Good oral hygiene and healthy food can improve a lot of the health in our children. If we can do those two things, then kids will be free of pain and infection."

Public Health will offer the fluoride clinics until Dec. 15. Parents who bring their children will be entered into a draw to win an iPod Touch and docking station.

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