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Saving Inishowen kids from bad
teeth
23.03.09
by Simon McGeady, Inishowen Independent
TEENAGERS should worry less about hair-gel and make
up and concentrate on keeping their teeth in good
condition. That is the message from Donegal HSE Oral
health education official Pat McDwyer, who is
currently visiting schools in Inishowen to warn
young teens about the importance of good oral
hygiene. Recently, she visited Greencastle and
Whitecastle national schools.
“I talk to 5th and 6th class national school
children and first years in secondary school,
because that’s about the age when the last of your
adult teeth have erupted. It’s important to get the
message through to kids this stage, because in terms
of teeth, there are no second chances from then on,”
said Mrs McDwyer, who is on the HSE’s first schools’
dental education drive in Inishowen for almost three
years. |
The HSE official is
concerned that young teens are unaware of just how
quickly teeth erode due to consuming fizzy drinks
[including diet drinks], eating sugary foods and not
brushing teeth.
This is also a vulnerable age group because these
young teens are becoming |
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independent from their
parents, making their own choice, including about
what they eat and drink, she added.
“They are at an age where pocket money is available
and they can get access to more rubbish food. They
need a level of discipline, a point that I drummed
into them. In my experience a lot of boys will gel
their hair and forget their teeth and the same goes
for girls and makeup.”
To hammer home the message, Mrs McDwyer passed
photos of badly decayed teeth around the class. She
also demonstrated good brushing technique with a
fake set of teeth and a toothbrush.
The HSE official also informed children of the
adverse psychological impact bad teeth can have on
your self esteem, warning that people with bad teeth
are afraid to smile and may even struggle in social
situations later in life. The cost of cosmetic
surgery later in life could run into many thousands,
she also warned.
“Children are not aware of the acid erosion caused
by drinks like orange and apple juice. They should
only be drinking water or milk. Sugary snacks should
be eaten in one go, not munched over a long period
of time.”
She praised Whitecastle N.S. for their policy of not
allowing the children to bring in bars of chocolate
to eat at school and said that the kids she saw
eating lunch mostly drank water. She was also
impressed at how inquisitive the children were.
Mrs McDwyer visit school in Carndonagh and Buncrana
in coming weeks. |
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