PETALING JAYA: Parents have called for consistent teeth brushing and dental supervision programmes in schools to improve the oral health of young children, especially those from underprivileged backgrounds.
Foreign embassy staff member Fatimah Zainal, 32, said it would be beneficial if there are supervised dental programmes for underprivileged children whose parents are unable to provide a certain standard of care for their dental health.
She added that she has made brushing teeth a fun activity for her young daughter.
“Her brushing routine is done twice in a day – after waking up and before sleeping by making it a fun activity.
“I check for cavities regularly and take her for annual dental check-ups. Apart from that, I let her choose the toothbrush and toothpaste,” Fatimah said.
Teacher Nabishah Gulamnabi, 28, from Ampang, has made brushing a daily habit that must be carried out without fail.
“I talk to my daughter about why it is important to have clean teeth, and I try to make brushing fun so she doesn’t skip it.
“I also supervise the brushing, especially at night, to ensure it is done properly and she is not rushing through it,” she said, calling for supervised brushing programmes in schools.
Homemaker Diana Ariffin, 41, from Kuala Lumpur, ensures her two children get dental check-ups every two months, limits their sugary snacks and makes sure they drink milk for calcium intake.
Engineer R. Nandhini, 32, from Shah Alam, said she brushes her teeth with her children daily for better supervision.
“I make sure they brush their teeth twice a day. I usually show them how to brush their teeth or watch while they are brushing so it is done thoroughly.
“A brushing supervision programme in school is a good idea to ensure children have healthy teeth,” she said.
Office administrator Ezwan Zulkifli, 34, from Kajang, said he and his wife brush twice with their children, once after waking up and before going to bed.
“We supervised the whole brushing process when he was learning how to brush at two years old.
“Now we just make sure he brushes his teeth, but we don’t supervise the entire brushing. The routine now is just to remind him to brush his teeth when he wakes up and before going to sleep at night,” he added.
