Starchild: Why Malaysian kids think dental care is important

Kathleen Cheong Wei Yen, 8

Did you know that taking care of your teeth is like an extremely important mission that you have to complete?

Imagine your teeth as brave knights guarding a special castle. Just like knights need armour, your teeth need protection too. Brushing your teeth daily keeps them strong and healthy. Say goodbye to those sneaky sugar bugs trying to sneak into your castle.

But wait, there’s more fun stuff to know! Meet Captain Floss, the amazing tooth hero who can save your teeth from tricky food bits that get into the crevices between your teeth. Using floss is like a secret mission to keep your teeth sparkling clean. Think of flossing as a way you can outsmart the sneaky bits of grub!

Now, let’s talk about the power of power foods. Munch on crunchy fruits and super snacks like cheese and yoghurt to strengthen your teeth. These foods are like magic potions that keep your smile shining bright.

Ever met a dentist? They’re like friendly explorers who work hard to keep your teeth healthy. Going to the dentist can be an exciting adventure as they investigate your teeth and ensure everything is in tip-top form.

Don’t forget the magic of water. Water is like a special drink that washes away yucky food bits. So remember to sip water and keep your teeth happy.

Before you drift off to dreamland, give your teeth a nighttime brush. Brushing your teeth before you sleep is very important to keep the plaque from forming and make sure your teeth and gums stay healthy. Did you know that bacteria breeds best when you’re asleep as you don’t produce as much saliva when you are sleeping?

Now you know why dental care is super important. So, gather your toothbrush, floss, toothpaste and power snacks, and be the champion of your teeth.

Recently Starchild asked readers to send in their letters on the topic, Dental Care. Here’s what they had to say.

Asher Wang Qi Chuen, 5

“I brush my teeth every morning and night to remove plaque and keep gum diseases away. Although I love carbonated drinks, chocolates and candies, I try to take them less frequently because too many sugary treats are bad for my teeth,” says Asher Wang Qi Chuen, five.

Bethany Wang Qi Syuen, 8

Older sibling Bethany Wang Qi Syuen, eight, brushes her teeth thrice a day - in the morning, before going to school and at night.

“It is my routine to brush my teeth with children’s fluoride toothpaste. I use a toothbrush that is suitable for my age so that the size is just right for my mouth. I also drink milk to give my teeth enough calcium.”

Chuah Seng Koon, 7

We need to take excellent care of our teeth so that we won’t be shy to show our teeth if they have cavities, says Chuah Seng Koon, seven. “We must not eat lots of sweet stuff like candies and cakes as they can cause tooth decay. We must brush our teeth twice a day – morning and night. Spend at least three minutes brushing your teeth. Visit the dentist at least two times a year for your check-up.”

Lim Sheng Hao, 10“All the dental clinics have dentists to check, extract and clean our dirty teeth. I usually visit my dentist Dr Ryan for my annual check up. He is gentle and skilful that I don’t feel any pain when he performs scaling on my teeth,” says Lim Sheng Hao, 10.

“Mummy tells me that I can eat candy but not too much because candy is bad for my teeth. I brush my teeth every night before bedtime so that there will be no bacteria on my teeth,” says Kathleen Cheong Wei Yen, eight.

“Today, I am going to write about my imaginary dental health. The dentist has a shrinking super power and if you ever need your teeth to be cleaned, he can shrink himself while wearing a pair of toothbrush shoes to spin around the dirty teeth.

Amberly Wong, 11"If your decayed tooth needs to be removed, the dentist can shrink himself to go into your mouth and kick out the rotten tooth.

To straighten a crooked set of teeth, the dentist would arrange all the teeth within a split second,” writes Amberly Wong, 11.

“Dental health is important to us. We need our teeth to chew food and smile confidently. However, it is very bad if we don’t protect our teeth. We can have yellowish teeth and suffer from painful toothaches. If we continue to neglect our teeth, we will be toothless. And our breath could stink. To prevent toothaches, avoid eating sugary items, brush your teeth every day and visit the dentist yearly,” says Low Ying Xi, 11.

Low Ying Xi, 11

ITEM: Are you an early riser? How early do you get up and what time do you sleep at night? Who wakes you up every morning? Do you rely on an alarm clock or the alarm on your handphone? Do you set the alarm on weekends when you do not need to get up early?

Tell us if the alarm clock is annoying or useful. Can you do without an alarm clock? Do you have suggestions on how you can get up early?

Tell us what you like about the morning. Is it breakfast? The sunshine? Flowers blooming? Or perhaps you look forward to morning class?

Draw your alarm clock or the wonderful morning scenes that you like. You can even draw yourself enjoying breakfast!

Email your contributions to [e-mail] by Sept 8. Please put “STARCHILD: Good Morning” in the subject line of your email.

Scanned drawings should be in jpeg format, with a resolution of 200dpi. Your contributions must carry your full name, age (open to children aged 12 and below only), gender, phone contact and address.