Pediatric Orthodontic Archives - Utah Pediatric Dentists

Cultural Approaches to Children’s Dental Care Around the World

Miranda Booher — Tue, 03 Jun 2025 18:22:36 +0000

Cultural Approaches to Children’s Dental Care Around the World

We live in a world of thousands of diverse cultures and different languages. Manmade borders separate our lands. Most importantly, we have differing forms of governance, ways of life, and healthcare that, although practiced in an array of ways around the world, universally aim to help cure the sick and improve our overall well-being.

When it comes to children’s dental care, we may see some practices that pass down from generation to generation, such as some rural communities that rely on using twigs from specific trees to pick their children’s teeth, to those more modern who have adopted electrical toothbrushes to achieve their glimmering smile.

This article explores the different cultural practices and beliefs surrounding children’s dental health and hygiene globally, beginning with Asia, Africa, South America, and North America, and ending with Europe.

Asia

In Southeast Asia, we can see the tradition of ‘oil pulling’. This is a traditional folk remedy practiced in ancient India. When practiced regularly, this ancient practice is believed to cure more than thirty systemic diseases. For those who experience side effects from modern medicines and oral hygiene products, oil pulling is an attractive substitute. It can also have positive effects on overall health.

How to apply oil pulling in children?

In children, a teaspoon of oil is ‘pulled’ and forced between all the teeth by swishing it all around the mouth before breakfast on an empty stomach. Parents need to ensure that the child does not swallow the oil or spit it down the drain, where it will clog the pipes.

For some areas where children suffer from oral ulcers and brushing is difficult, oil pulling may be an advantageous substitute. Traditionally, sesame oil is the preferred oil.

Would you try oil pulling as part of your child’s daily dental routine?

Miswak Stick

A Miswak stick is also a cleaning method in Asian, African, Islamic, and Arabian cultures. The end is often chewed on to remove plaque, bacteria, and food debris from the teeth. Dental professionals consider these sticks to be of interest as they contain properties positive for oral health. However, most dentists consider them a supplement and not a replacement for modern oral care methods.

Africa

Africa also applies the Miswak stick. This method is popular for cleaning plaque and improving overall oral hygiene, particularly in North and East Africa. Most people know it for its natural fluoride content and antimicrobial properties. However, oral health is a major public health issue in West Africa, with almost no solutions provided by the government.

How are adolescents affected in Africa?

In most African countries, adolescence, a key period marked by biological, emotional, and social evolution and development, represents a critical period to influence adult oral health.

In West Africa, the adolescent population is disproportionately affected by oral disorders such as gum disease and tooth decay compared to the rest of the world. These issues manifest from the lack of available services, treatment availability, insurance coverage, and oral health knowledge and practices. To combat this, the local regions must improve oral health knowledge, early childhood nutrition, and better social and cultural conditions.

The phrase “it takes a village to raise a child” stems from Africa, where community-led child rearing is a known practice. In some African cultures, groups gather together to brush their teeth. This not only promotes good dental hygiene but also strengthens community bonds.

The next time you want your child to brush their teeth, maybe you can make it a family activity and gather together in front of the bathroom mirror before bed! This may combine your family’s overall oral health and social well-being.

Americas

We see a different approach from South America and North America, given the different cultural approaches each part of the continent has.

South America

In South America, we can see a rich history of health practices derived from indigenous tradition and Western dentistry. Indigenous communities often look to natural resources such as the coca leaf, which can numb the gums and offer pain relief. However, due to its stimulating effect, the coca leaf is not appropriate for children’s oral and overall health. Chamomile tea and guava leaves can produce tea that can alleviate toothaches, which could be a healthy and natural substitute for over-the-counter medicine for your child.

North America

In North America, Western dentistry practices are the most popular form of treatment. However, there has been an uptake in more natural remedies and oral healthcare treatments in recent years. For example, many orthodontic centres have started offering therapy dogs as a company for kids and young patients who suffer from anxiety when visiting the dentist. Perhaps the next time you visit your family dentist, you can settle your child’s nerves with a fluffy friend to make sure that you are all smiling from the moment your child sits in the dental chair, to the moment you leave.

Europe

In modern dental practices across Europe, one can find the latest in dental treatments and technologies, from 3D imaging for precision diagnostics to advanced materials for fillings and prosthetics. However, due to the high costs of European practitioners, many Europeans from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the UK travel to Serbia and Spain for treatments that would otherwise cost two to three times more in their home countries. As dentists are often trained in Germany, the UK, and the US, Serbia and Spain can offer high international standards of orthodontic care while offering lower costs.

Similarly, Poland is a favourite among UK and Scandinavian patients, offering 50-70% off home prices. High treatment and poorly implemented health coverage for the child population mean that large swathes of the European population are at risk of long-lasting negative impacts on oral and overall health. As a result, dental tourism has become more popular in recent years.

Natural remedies in Europe

Natural remedies are also present in Europe, particularly in Eastern European countries, where herbal rinses such as sage and mint have been passed down from generation to generation. In Europe, dental professionals advocate for a balanced approach between modern and traditional practices.

Different approaches affect the way we care for kids’ teeth

Despite the tremendous differences in ways of life across the globe, the universal objective of all forms of healthcare is to alleviate sickness and improve overall quality of life. Methods used in Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Europe can be incorporated into your child’s dental routine to ensure they keep smiling for years to come. However, never forget to brush their teeth!

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Orthodontists: When should I take my child?

Miranda Booher — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 19:04:13 +0000

When should I take my child for a first orthodontic evaluation? Surely, you have wondered what the experts recommend in this regard.

There are many reasons for early evaluation, for example:

Preventive care
Guided growth for teeth, jaw, and palate
Early detection of orthodontic problems

The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends that children have their first orthodontic evaluation at seven years old. But why at the age of seven? When is it necessary to take children before? What to expect on the first visit? What types of orthodontic treatments are available for children? If you are looking for answers, this article is for you. Continue reading and stay informed.

Why would my kid need to go to a pediatric orthodontist?

Orthodontics is a specialty of dentistry focused on the treatment and prevention of irregularities of the teeth and jaws. In children, orthodontists seek to improve dentition to align the teeth and improve eating while at the same time improving aesthetics. Orthodontics may also help with breathing or pronunciation.

As mentioned earlier, orthodontists recommend that children have a first orthodontic evaluation at age seven. Although there are many reasons to go early for an orthodontist visit, this age is precisely when permanent teeth begin to erupt. Orthodontists can detect problems early at this age.

Benefits of going early

Some reasons to have an early evaluation include the following:

To assess dental development: Typically, children at age seven have a mixture of permanent and baby teeth. Because of this, an orthodontist can evaluate if there are problems with erupting teeth, jaw alignment, or space for the new teeth to erupt.

To guide the kid’s jaw growth: Starting early with guides at this age can influence how the jaw grows to fit all the teeth. Because this is a developmental age, it may be only during childhood and adolescence that these bones can be modified, and thus, surgery can be avoided later in life.

To identify potentially damaging oral habits: Habits such as thumb sucking or tongue thrusting can hinder proper tooth growth. Early visits to an orthodontist can help correct these behaviors early.

To prevent possible complications: Orthodontists mitigate and eliminate respiratory, speech, and other problems with early detection.

The orthodontist earlier than age seven

In some cases, children may need an orthodontist before age seven. Parents should be aware of signs or issues that may appear early and could affect the function of their child’s teeth in the future.

Potential early issues that might appear

Let’s discuss some of the early issues that may indicate a problem that needs orthodontic correction:

Bad habits such as thumb sucking, which can cause misalignment of the teeth.
Jaw problems, such as crossbites, underbites, or overbites that occur when the upper teeth do not fit the lower teeth as they should.
Problems chewing, or difficulty eating food normally.
Specific respiratory problems such as mouth breathing and even snoring.
Speech problems and impediments in pronouncing some sounds.
Visibly misaligned teeth.

Of course, these issues do not always indicate orthodontic problems, but it is always good to rule them out with a specialist. For example, respiratory problems could be signs of other complications, which are different from orthodontic issues.

What to expect on the first orthodontic evaluation?

Generally, on a first visit, you can expect the orthodontist to:

Ask you for your child’s detailed dental history.
Perform a complete orthodontic examination, which may include x-rays.
Make a diagnosis and explain your options.
Make a personalized plan for your child.

It is crucial to explain and prepare your child for the visit. It is important to see it in a positive light to have a better experience. Additionally, you can plan a fun activity for your child at the end of the visit to make it enjoyable. Remember to congratulate your child for everything that went well during the visit.

Can my regular dentist make an orthodontic evaluation?

Yes, a regular dentist can perform an initial evaluation for your child. However, if your dentist detects any potential issues, experts recommend that you also visit an orthodontist.

Dentists can do basic screenings and X-rays to detect common general problems.

A specialist should perform a comprehensive evaluation with advanced imaging and bite analysis to develop a specialized, tailored treatment plan for your child.

What kinds of orthodontic treatments are available for children?

Orthodontic treatments for children vary widely depending on the need. There are common treatments for children, such as:

Braces: Braces can be metal or ceramic. Kids use them to accommodate teeth in overcrowding or misalignments of the bite.
Invisalign: These aligners, usually made of plastic, are widely used for mild crowding or spacing issues.
Retainers: Retainers are custom-made aligners used after removing braces to keep teeth in the correct position.
Headgear: These devices are external and help accommodate the jaw.
Palate expanders: These devices open and expand the palate to improve crossbite or crowding problems.

More specialized treatments include space maintainers and bionators. All of these treatments may cause discomfort in children.

Additionally, some of these gears are not very attractive. However, when a family makes a choice, it is essential to stick to it to correct the problem.

Aesthetic vs. functional considerations

While it is true that our children may need orthodontic treatments to improve certain health conditions, we may also opt for dental alignment treatments for aesthetic reasons. There are several reasons to consider an aesthetic orthodontic treatment as necessary.

The orthodontic issue is not only aesthetic for the sake of looking good; it also helps children boost their confidence. Childhood is a crucial moment in developing self-esteem. Having crooked teeth or protruding jaws can have consequences for future self-esteem.

One important thing to remember about orthodontic treatments is that they benefit our children. Their importance lies in their overall well-being. Whether to prevent future damage or to improve their self-esteem, the bottom line is that childhood and adolescence are the best age for orthodontic treatments.

These orthodontic decisions should be made during bone development since correcting them will be more difficult when children become adults.

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