(ANSA) - ROME, MARCH 12 - One in five Italian children has at least one cavity.
Cases of periodontitis are very rare, but lagingivitis, a disorder that is a bit of a forerunner to periodontal disease, has a very high prevalence among children, about 70% and more between the ages of 6 and eleven.
The prevention of teeth and gum problems starts from an early age and is a growth path that accompanies that of boys.
It starts from when in the first months of life, identini erupt and you have to make sure that they are properly cleansed to avoid an accumulation of plaque, which is then the trigger of the pathologies of the mouth, and then continue supporting the little ones in oral hygiene and having their regular visits to the dentist and finally, as regards adolescents, following them in the path linked to peri-dental appliances, which can make correct cleaning of the oral cavity more difficult, putting them at greater risk of caries and gingivitis.
A highlight is the Sidp, Italian Society of Periodontology and Implantology, with Dr. Chiara Galano.
In this process, according to the expert, we must not make the mistake of thinking that the care of milk teeth, which will have to be changed, is less important, and a particular eye is reserved for children who have a parent with periodontal disease, because they could potentially have a predisposition to develop the disease in turn.
"Prevention and communication are the two keystones for the little ones - Dr. Galano points out - the golden rules in this phase of life are linked to an education in correct behavior, which also passes for a good example. '' importance of oral hygiene, at least twice a day, a diet with a lot of fruit and hard and low in sugars to prevent tooth decay, and the habit of going to the dentist regularly for periodic checks (in a pandemic, consultations and other forms can also be useful cellular communication). Usually the advantage is that these acquired behaviors carry forward in growth ".
The signs to watch out for in children are gum bleeding, edema, i.e. a gum that becomes swollen, and a change in color from light pink to red.
"In particular cases in which you are the children of parents who have periodontal disease - adds Galano - there could potentially be a predisposition, a propensity to develop the disease right away. To date, there are no genetic tests that allow us to diagnose a future problem; which instead can be worked on is prevention, which passes precisely through hygiene, healthy nutrition, controls and in late adolescence and adulthood from avoiding that the patient starts smoking ".
Teenagers are an important category to invest in for prevention.
"Even in this age group we record an important prevalence of caries and gingivitis - concludes Galano -: the particular period experienced by boys also from a hormonal point of view can have a significant impact on the inflammatory response of the organism to the accumulation of plaque. Today there are many systems. as an app and other nice inventions that make it 'smarter' and easier to dedicate oneself to oral hygiene when this unfortunately still does not constitute a priority ".
(HANDLE).