Cleft Palate Predisposes to Tooth Decay

A child with cleft lip/palate faces predisposing factors to acquiring dental tooth decay, according to researchers at the University of Sydney.

Patients with cleft conditions generally display poorer oral hygiene and high susceptibility to caries, or tooth decay, because of the difficulty in achieving adequate plaque control associated with dental anomalies and defects, according to study leader Lam L. Cheng.

It is crucial that parents and their children with clefts learn and practice effective oral hygiene, and the researchers suggest:

– Assess a mother’s oral health and dietary habits before the birth of the child.

– Make contact with the dentist of the cleft lip/palate team who can encourage good feeding habits and general oral health.

– Use chemotherapeutic products to clean intraoral appliances when removed from mouth.

– Avoid kissing the baby’s lips and sharing food and utensils.

– Brush teeth at least once a day.

– Have regular dental examinations every six months.

– Reassess oral hygiene, sugar intake, frequency of snacking and consumption of acidic drinks before beginning orthodontic treatment and modify as needed.

The study is published in Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal.