BABY
BABY ORAL HEALTH
By Aaron Carlisle
NEW PARENTS CAN FIND THEMSELVES LANDED WITH A SIGNIFICANT LEARNING CURVE IN DEALING WITH ASPECTS OF CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND COMING TO TERMS WITH THEIR NEWFOUND RESPONSIBILITIES.
rom someone who had the pleasure of baby sitting at the weekend just past – it is a steep learning trajectory! One of the challenges that carers will be faced with is maintaining the oral health of their young child or baby. This is an aspect of healthcare that can begin with the laying down of good foundations in oral health, long before any teeth actually appear on the scene.
F
As pharmacy staff, knowing and understanding oral health products available for children and babies, can help to point carers in the right direction. As a community pharmacist, one of the biggest aspects of the managerial role is keeping track of stock and sales – knowing which
40 - SCOTTISH PHARMACIST
products are clinically appropriate to sell is key to ethical and fi nancial success.
This article will aim to outline some good practices that can be adopted when caring for a young child’s oral health, highlighting specifi c areas where pharmacy can provide guidance regarding the many dental products available. It will explain some of the concepts involved in oral health of babies from birth to 3 years old, and why this area of health in particular is worth spending time on to establish routines which will ultimately last a lifetime.
Oral health is defi ned by the World Health Organization as a state of being free from chronic mouth and
facial pain, oral and throat cancer, oral sores, birth defects such as cleft lip and palate, periodontal (gum) disease, tooth decay and tooth loss, and other diseases and disorders that affect the oral cavity1
. This
defi nition is all encompassing and so it is important for pharmacists to be aware that oral health does not just refer to tooth care, but is much more holistic referring to the overall health of the child’s oral cavity – i.e. not just toothbrushes and toothpaste. Oral health is a billion-pound market in the UK, and pharmacy is a key player in tapping into that market.
Oral health of babies and young children is a global issue, with Scotland being no exception. Government statistics suggest that
although dental decay is almost totally preventable, it is the single most common reason for a child to be admitted to hospital in Scotland. Children in Scotland have substantially higher levels of recorded decay than other European counties2
.
The most recent fi gures published by Information Services Division Scotland, in 2014 have shown that approximately one third of Scottish children in Primary 1 have recorded dental decay – for which simple fl uoride containing toothpastes and mouthwashes are easily available. It is for pharmacy to stay ahead of corporate retail as “the medicine experts”, as only pharmacy can provide the necessary advice and guidance to accompany the sale of such products.
BABY’S FIRST DRINK Firstly, one of the biggest infl uences on a baby’s health is their source of nutrition. It is well known that breast milk is the best option for a new baby. Breast-fed babies do not require any other drinks in the fi rst six months of life, as the milk contains all the
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