You yourself are usually the one to blame for dental problems: a dentist shared some very surprising facts

According to statistics from various sources, the condition of teeth among Lithuanians is poor compared to other countries, with experts particularly highlighting problems among children. According to data from the Chamber of Dentists, the percentage of children with healthy teeth that are completely free of tooth decay remains similar: just 15 to 20 per cent. DELFI discussed the main dental problems and the condition of teeth in the Lithuanian population with Dentist Rūta Zykutė.

The most important thing is the patient’s awareness

According to the dentist, our body is not divided into separate compartments, and whatever is in the mouth affects the whole body. Oral hygiene is therefore extremely important and requires a great deal of attention.

“We need to raise awareness about it, talk about it a thousand times, do it in schools using information technology. Not only dentists but also general practitioners must constantly remind people about this problem. This is especially true for ENT (ear, nose and throat) doctors, who can see how many teeth are decayed when they look at the throat. After all, the bacterial background is common to all of us. When considering teeth, one cannot have such a narrow and exclusive approach. From the moment the patient walks through the door, the dentist must look at them holistically,” asserts Rūta Zykutė.

When discussing the development of proper habits, the specialist emphasises the importance of personal attitude. “To be honest, I think it’s just a matter of human awareness. If you accept the information, understand that it is valuable, and use it in your daily practice, teaching your children as well, then it can work and prove itself. But much of the information simply goes in one ear and out the other due to lack of time, certain excuses such as “my child won’t let me brush their teeth”. I don’t understand that. After all, children won’t let us dress them, but we don’t take them outside naked. It’s the same with teeth. Motivate your child, play with them, do everything you can to make it a routine, and it will be easier in the future,” says Rūta Zykutė.

Oral health begins in the womb

The dentist emphasises that it is time to start talking about oral health in a broader sense. Not just in terms of caries, decay or cavities, which, according to the specialist, are already the result of a major process that we have overlooked.

“Oral health begins when the baby is still in the womb. All the structures of the face and jaw are formed in the first trimester, and the sixth and twelfth weeks are very important for the development of these structures. If a woman has bacterial or viral infections, consumes nicotine or alcohol during this period or does not get certain nutrients, all of this has a huge impact,” says Rūta Zykutė. 

However, according to her, the formation process does not end when the baby is born. It is important to monitor the baby’s diet.

“Breastfeeding is recommended not only because of the beneficial properties of mother’s milk, but also because breastfeeding plays a role in the formation of the jaw. The breast adapts to the growing jaw every day. Baby bottle teats come in standard sizes and need to be replaced over time, while the breast gets bigger every day and encourages the jaw to grow. It has also been observed that children who were fed formula milk are more prone to harmful habits such as tongue thrusting, lip biting and sucking, thumb sucking and other habits,” says the dentist.

According to Rūta Zykutė, when solid foods appear in a child’s diet and bone structure begins to form, it is not advisable to stick to purees.

“You have to give your child a product as it really is. If it’s a carrot, then it should be a carrot so that the child can get to know what this product looks like, how it holds together, what its structure and hardness are. They begin to learn to chew and swallow properly, rather than in an infantile manner (with the breast between their teeth),” says the professional.

Harmful habits are acquired, not inherited

Although there is a widespread belief that many harmful habits are inherited, the expert is quick to dispel this myth.

“Of course, certain pathologies are inherited, but most are not. In my opinion, the main harmful habit is breathing through the mouth. A child should breathe through their nose, and if they cannot do so, there is something wrong with their nose, it is blocked. The airway must be cleared so that the child can breathe through the nose, and then the child will close their mouth,” says Rūta Zykutė, adding that in such cases, the open mouth should simply be closed and this should be done consistently.

“If a child sleeps with their mouth open, their tongue drops down so as not to obstruct the flow of air, their cheeks press against their jaws from the sides, forming an elongated face, the upper jaw narrows and the nose does not develop. Over time, the child gets used to breathing this way, and the air passage through the nose simply does not develop. Then you need to see an orthodontist,” says the dentist.

The specialist urges parents to visit an orthodontist and seek advice at the slightest sign that something is wrong. “It really doesn’t cost much. You need to observe, monitor and identify harmful habits. This is about monitoring your child as they grow up; we can’t just let them go,” urges Rūta Zykutė.

Do you grind your teeth? This is how your nervous system responds to stress

According to the specialist, teeth grinding is no longer considered a pathology.

“It is the body’s natural response to stress. This is how our nervous system heals itself when we sleep. Imagine what you do when you have a blood test. You clench your teeth, don’t you? This is a natural chemical process that occurs in the jaw, during which certain chemicals are released into the blood, causing spontaneous pain relief. By clenching our teeth, we naturally trigger painkillers in our body. The same thing happens at night: we get tired, our nervous system wears out. We don’t call it pain in the nervous system, but that’s what it is. Teeth grinding is a way of healing and calming it,” says Rūta Zykutė.

According to the dentist, it is not the grinding that should be emphasised but rather its causes and consequences, and consideration should be given to the ways to reduce them.