Even today, dental caries represents the most widespread form of oral disease, affecting 486 million children in the world; in our country, around 70% of children have tooth decay or lesions in their enamel. Furthermore, a recent study shows that in the world population aged between 12 and 65, the annual expenditure for the treatment of tooth decay is approximately 357 billion dollars, equal to 4.9% of global health expenditure. The loss of productivity linked to the onset of tooth decay, severe periodontitis and tooth loss is estimated at 188 billion dollars per year. Prevention is therefore fundamental, as reiterated during a press conference held in recent days at Palazzo Montecitorio and during which the National Association of Italian Dentists Andi and Mentadent launched the XLIV Dental Prevention Month 2024which this year also the Italian Federation of Pediatric Doctors Fimp.
The first was born from the collaboration between Dentists and Paediatricians of free choice, with the support of Mentadent Children’s Oral Health Manifesto: 10 golden rules with the aim of raising families’ awareness of the importance of establishing a relationship of trust with the dentist, organizing the child’s first visit within 2 years of age, much earlier than is customary, and proposing concrete suggestions for teaching children good daily oral hygiene practices.
“The Prevention Month has represented for over forty years the only example in Italy of a dental prevention project open to all, by virtue of which, over time, over a million families have been able to verify the state of health of their own mouth and the correctness of one’s oral hygiene routine”, declares Carlo Ghirlanda, Andi national president. “A result possible thanks to the historic collaboration with Mentadent and thanks to the commitment of the over 10 thousand Andi dentists who open their practices every year to all those who wish to have their mouth checked. Each edition has seen the project evolve, enriched with new initiatives and the use of innovative and engaging languages and tools. To obtain the best results – he continues – it is necessary to instill a culture of prevention starting from the youngest, therefore, what better new allies than, this year, the Fimp free choice paediatricians, in daily contact with the young patients and their families . A collaboration that has already borne fruit in the first Manifesto for Children’s Oral Health, which we presented together with the Chamber today, also with the aim of raising awareness among institutions on this crucial issue.”
“Pediatricians represent parents’ first point of reference when it comes to the health of their children,” says Antonio D’Avino, national president of Fimp. “In our daily commitment we observe some erroneous beliefs. One of these is the fallacious belief that we shouldn’t worry too much about baby teeth because they ‘fall out’. It is precisely for this reason that we decided to join forces with Andi and Mentadent for the XLIV Dental Prevention Month, helping to develop the first Manifesto for children’s oral health. We firmly believe that, only together with dentists, will we be able to convey the message that prevention in terms of oral hygiene represents a concrete investment in the future health of children. This prevention must begin even before the first milk teeth appear. We must promote a holistic approach to health – he continues – in line with the vision of one health, which connects human, animal and environmental health, and whereby every organ of the body is considered as part of a unique and integrated system. The mouth and teeth are no exception. Helping children’s smiles grow healthily therefore becomes a fundamental duty for parents and a multidisciplinary educational commitment for professionals and institutions. Prevention and treatment of children’s oral health are an essential part of their well-being. A child’s smile is not just a sign of joy, but an indicator of his overall health. Together, as a community of experts, we have a responsibility to educate families about the importance of good oral hygiene from early childhood. In the future the dream is to treat diseases less, including cavities, thanks to increasingly present and effective prevention. Every child – states D’Avino – is born as an individual but grows up as a citizen, part of a network of relationships that contributes to the health of the person, of the community and, ultimately, of the entire society in its evolution.”
“Dental Prevention Month is the most widespread and long-lived expression of the value of prevention in Italy which has seen Andi and Mentadent committed and united for over 40 years”, declares Cristiano Gallotta, head of Marketing Oral Care Italia Unilever. “Together we are committed to raising awareness among Italians and spreading the culture of oral hygiene because oral hygiene, in addition to being the first preventive action that accompanies us throughout our lives, is also an investment in the health of our organism. Together with Andi, this year, I want to thank Fimp for its fundamental contribution which will allow us to involve, through paediatricians, parents, grandparents and, in general, all the children’s points of reference, to convey a strong and clear message : prevention is learned from a very young age, and we adults are called to set a good example. With the How Your Smile Grows test – he continues – we are certainly addressing families, to provide them with concrete help, a first step towards prevention for the little ones, but also to create information and awareness on the importance of the health of milk teeth: through a simple online test, we can create moments of attention and awareness by encouraging people to inform themselves and motivating them to establish a relationship of trust with their dentist. In this way, each of us contributes to maintaining high attention on good oral hygiene practices, making the advantages of prevention concrete, because prevention prolongs the life of our teeth.”
THE 10 GOLDEN RULES OF THE MANIFESTO FOR CHILDREN’S ORAL HEALTH
- “Healthy eating: follow a balanced diet rich in fruit, vegetables and dairy products. Avoid sugary drinks, candy and sweets;
- Good habits from an early age: correct oral hygiene is essential to remove bacterial plaque from the teeth and gums. The golden rule? Clean the oral cavity of newborns with a damp gauze after feeding. For older children, brush their teeth at least 2 times a day for 2 minutes;
- Oral health education: learning correct oral hygiene practices from a very young age is essential for developing and consolidating positive habits for life. The earlier you start the better, without forgetting that every age has its own toothbrush;
- Regular visits to the dentist: the first visit must take place no later than 2 years, or even earlier if necessary, favoring a imprinting positive that will consolidate the habit for life;
- Fluoroprophylaxis: the scientific community is unanimous in recommending, from an early age, the use of a toothpaste with fluoride (at least 1,000 ppm), to counteract the onset of tooth decay. Please remember that the suggested quantity of toothpaste is approximately equal to 1 grain of rice up to 2 years old and a pea seed up to 6 years old;
- Dental sealants. Dental sealants create a physical barrier against bacteria: they can reduce the risk of tooth decay by up to 80%;
- Avoid harmful habits: thumb sucking, pacifier or nail biting can negatively affect the health of your teeth and oral cavity;
- Pay attention to any anomalies: regular visits to the dentist serve to monitor the regular dental development in children and to identify any anomalies early;
- Protection during sports: making children wear a mouthguard during sports reduces the risk of injuries to the teeth, gums and jaw;
- Set a good example: it is important that parents and caregivers are the first to follow a correct oral hygiene routine, otherwise children are unlikely to do the same.”
