A chat with a Paediatric Dentist Dr Shelly Dedhia
How many of you are scared of dentists? I am :-p I am petrified of that chair. So when it came to my daughter having tooth troubles, I got really worried. I started looking for a Paediatric Dentist and that is when I came across Dr Shelly Dedhia. She has been taking care of my daughter’s teeth right through her milk teeth till now (she is 13). With her reassuring smile, you don’t have to worry at all for your kid. And all the kids just love her.
I remember once, my daughter was around 7 and was having tooth pain. Dr Shelly was out of town and hence I took her to another dentist. My daughter did not open her mouth and refused to allow him to even see her teeth. We came back and had to see Dr Shelly as soon as she was back! Phew!
I am very happy to have her with us today for a lovely chat. So here goes……
Me: Hello Dr Shelly. Please tell us about the oral hygiene of the children today.
Dr Shelly: Oral hygiene of children nowadays is not fair. Oral awareness, discipline, and education of parents play an important role in oral hygiene measures.
Me: Doctor, we see many kids going for root canals. Please comment.
Dr Shelly: Yes, root canal treatments have increased due to increased incidence of dental cavities, awareness amongst parents and advanced technology in the field of Dentistry.
Me: How does junk food affect the dental health of children?
Dr Shelly: Junk food definitely affects overall health wherein dental health is not spared. Softer foods and foods with a refined texture are more retentive on tooth surface causing increased dental cavities. Oral clearance of food is important for prevention of cavities.
Me: So how does eating fruits and vegetables result in healthier teeth and gums?
Dr Shelly: Eating healthy fruits and vegetables helps in 2 ways:
- Cleansing of the teeth as fresh fruits and vegetables fibrous. Raw vegetables as a salad are also great for cleansing the teeth.
- They are rich in vitamins/nutrients which improves overall gum health, teeth health and saliva composition.
Me: Dr Shelly, inspite of the increasing awareness, what are the myths that you see around dental care?
Dr Shelly: Yes, there are quite a few myth s like:
- The milk teeth will eventually exfoliate.
- You need to have a problem to see a dentist. Parents wait for any symptom like pain/ swelling to appear before seeing a dentist.
- Cleaning will loosen teeth.
- Extraction could affect eyes/brain development. The teeth are connected via nerves to many other organs but any kind of treatment doesn’t damage any nerve or another organ.
Me: Doctor, what are your tips for children to have healthy teeth and gums.
Dr Shelly: Here are my top tips:
- A healthy, nutritious and balanced diet will help the proper development of gums, teeth and saliva.
- Reduce frequency of sticky and refined food.
- Brushing twice a day.
- Frequent rinsing after every meal.
- Regular flossing
- Regular Dental check-up.
Me: Thanks a lot, Dr Shelly.
It was lovely talking to Dr Shelly. I am sure you all will go for the regular dental check-up. Even I will have to go, though I am petrified…
See it all comes down to healthy eating. Quite simple and doable right? Ok…. with kids not that easy…..but like I always say, “Moms are the most creative people on the planet” I am sure you will come up with something 🙂
Dr Shelly Dedhia is a consulting Paediatric Dentist practising in the western suburbs of Mumbai.
