Recent findings suggest that dental health issues are emerging early in Malaysia, with tooth decay increasingly observed in children as young as five. According to the Ministry of Health’s National Health and Morbidity Survey: Maternal and Child Health 2022, 60% of five-year-olds have already developed cavities, and most have never visited a dental clinic. The survey also reported that one in four mothers had never cleaned their child’s gums.
Overall, 60.8% of Malaysian children under the age of five had not received a dental examination or treatment at the time of the survey. Researchers noted that early childhood caries can affect overall health and quality of life later on.
Among the reasons cited by 8,315 mothers for the lack of dental care were perceptions that their children were too young for treatment, fear of dental visits, the distance to dental clinics, and the belief that treating primary (milk) teeth was unnecessary.
Assoc Prof Dr Mas Suryalis Ahmad, dean of the faculty of dentistry at Universiti Teknologi MARA, said that although awareness of dental hygiene appears to be increasing, this has not yet translated into improved outcomes among children. She highlighted inconsistent oral hygiene practices, limited parental guidance and reduced access to dental care as contributing factors.
She added that family routines strongly influence children’s oral health, noting that dietary habits and parental behaviour often shape a child’s approach to oral care. Frequent consumption of sweet snacks or drinks, particularly those high in refined carbohydrates, was identified as a significant risk factor for tooth decay.
Dr Mas Suryalis also emphasised that children are more likely to adopt regular brushing and flossing habits when these behaviours are modelled at home. Conversely, when oral care is not prioritised, children may view it as optional. She noted that broader lifestyle habits observed within families, including smoking, vaping, chewing betel nut and alcohol consumption, can also affect attitudes towards health.
Poor oral health, she said, may contribute to wider systemic conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes. In children, untreated dental infections can affect nutrition, speech development and school performance, underscoring the importance of early and consistent dental care.
She also stressed the need to consider the oral health of individuals with physical or developmental disabilities, who may experience greater difficulty maintaining oral hygiene and accessing professional care. Incorporating dental care into routine preventive health services, she suggested, could improve outcomes and reduce long-term healthcare costs.
Introducing children to dental check-ups from an early age and ensuring that clinics are equipped to accommodate those with special needs were among the recommendations she highlighted.
Dr Ong Lei Hun, a dentist with more than two decades of experience, noted that some parents may not realise that baby teeth require proper care. She explained that neglected primary teeth can lead to complications involving permanent molars, sometimes requiring extraction or root canal treatment.
She advised parents to supervise tooth brushing until children are around seven or eight years old, as younger children may struggle to clean their molars effectively.
Dr Gavin Quek, a dentist based in Tasmania and chair of the Australian Dental Association’s National Oral Health Committee, recommended implementing supervised brushing programmes in schools. He noted that similar initiatives in parts of Australia involve teachers guiding pupils through daily brushing routines, which can help establish lasting habits and reduce the likelihood of more complex dental problems in later life.
He also emphasised limiting sugar intake and using fluoride toothpaste as key measures for maintaining oral health, noting that the recommended maximum daily sugar intake for children is 24g, or approximately six teaspoons.
Source: The Star
