CBC Health Books
A visit to the
Dentist
A Visit to the Dentist
Published in 2018 by Queenex Publishers Ltd
P.O. Box 56049-00200, Nairobi, Kenya.
Phone: 0727 794 498, 0715 808 200
Email: info@queenexpublishers.co.ke
queenexbooks@gmail.com
Web: www.queenexpublishers.co.ke
©Queenex Publishers Ltd, 2018
All rights reserved. Do not reproduce, store in a retrieval
system, transmit in any form or by any means: graphic,
electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording or otherwise
any part and/or this entire book without the prior
written permission of Queenex Publishers Limited.
ISBN: 978-9966-075-92-5
Revised in 2022
1
Sandra was afraid. She was going to see Dr Meno. It was not
her first visit to a dental clinic, but this time she was scared.
She had been to Dr Meno’s clinic several times, but for normal
check-ups. The last time she had visited was five months ago.
Sandra could remember the day very well. On the eve of
her visit, she had been very excited. Visiting the dentist was
always fun. Dr Meno was a charming person and kept her
patients happy throughout with her never-ending jokes.
She would go to have her teeth counted, cleaned and
checked. She would also be advised on how to keep her
teeth and mouth healthy. That is what Dr Meno always did.
After the examination, every patient was given a surprise
gift. Last time Sandra had received a storybook while her
brother, Ken was given a toy. One time she had been given
a tube of toothpaste.
Meeting Dr Meno had always been an exciting moment for
her, but not this time round.
Now she was visiting because her tooth was aching. She
did not know what would happen. The thought of it being
removed almost made her cry.
2
During her last visit, Dr Meno had advised her to avoid lots of
sweets and sugary things, but she had not. The temptation
to eat ice cream, sweets, cakes, biscuits and cookies was
too much especially when almost everyone else was eating
them. Whenever opportunity to eat sugary things arose at
school, at home or during parties, she just ate and prayed
all would be well.
She wondered whether her tooth was aching because of
eating the things she had been told not to eat. Her brother,
Ken and her friends had been eating sweets and their teeth
were not aching. Why only hers?
It had started as a little painful sensation when she took cold
or hot things. She did not tell anyone, thinking it would stop
on its own. What if Mum ordered her to stop eating sweets,
candy, cake or chewing gum? She had thought about it and
prayed the pain would go away on its own.
It had not. Instead, it had persisted, until one night she
could not bear it any more. She had to tell someone about it.
“Don’t worry, Sandra,” her mother had comforted her.
“Tomorrow we will go and see the dentist. Luckily, it is a
Saturday so you will not miss school. I will call Dr Meno
first thing tomorrow morning and book an appointment.”
The following day they woke up early in the morning.
3
After breakfast, they started the journey to Dr Meno’s clinic
with her mum and her brother, Ken. Ken was excited to take
his sister to hospital.
At the clinic they were ushered in by a nurse. She had a
nice smile that exposed her white, shining teeth. Maybe
she wanted to show off, Sandra thought and wished she
had such teeth.
The nurse took her details and ushered them into a waiting
area. There were many patients waiting to see the dentist,
both children and adults.
Ken saw one boy who had wires all over his teeth and told
his mum about it.
“Those are called braces,” said Mum.
“Can you buy me braces, Mum? I like them,” Ken said.
“Braces are used to align and strengthen teeth. Yours are
fine. You do not need braces,” Mum replied.
Ken looked around and saw a nice toy lying at the corner
of the waiting room.
“Can I play with that toy over there, Mum?” he asked.
4
“Yes, but seek permission from the nurse. You can play with
any toy you see in this room provided you don’t spoil or
carry it home.”
5
Ken remembered the last time he embarrassed his mother
by hiding a toy in her bag. They had gone to eat out at a
hotel with family friends. He and other children had gone
to play in a room that had several toys. He liked a small
one and decided to hide it in his mother’s bag so that he
could show his friends at school. But as they were getting
out of the door of the restaurant, the alarm had rung out.
The security man told his mother that she had something
that belonged to the hotel in her bag. When she opened the
bag she had found a toy hidden inside.
Ken had started crying but the security man had forgiven
him.
“Next time you feel you want something ask someone for
it,” he had said kindly.
“Toys placed in public places are for all people and no one
should take them home,” his mother had added. “Taking
other people’s things without their permission is stealing
and if caught one can be taken to jail or punished severely.
It is also a sin before God.”
From that day, Ken always asked for permission when he
wanted something that did not belong to him.
Sandra did not feel like playing. Although the tooth was not
aching, she was anxious and afraid of meeting the dentist.
She did not know whether she would be given an injection
6
or have the tooth removed. She feared injections. She feared
to have her tooth removed even more.
She trembled at the thought of blood gushing out of her
mouth. Suppose the tooth was removed and another one
did not grow? Her friends would laugh at her. She may not
be able to chew food well, she thought as she sat down
with her arms folded.
Another thought came to her mind and made her even
more nervous. Her teacher had told them that teeth were
important speech organs. Some teeth, especially the front
ones, helped people to speak and pronounce some words
well.
She remembered a certain grandmother in the neighbourhood
who did not have teeth. When she spoke people struggled
to understand her. She pronounced some words funnily,
saying ‘thith’ instead of ‘this’ and ‘thooth’ instead of ‘tooth’.
The thought of speaking like her, should she lose her tooth,
made Sandra very sad.
Her mother sat quietly on a chair reading a flyer she had
picked from the reception. It was about how to have strong
teeth and a healthy mouth. She turned to Sandra and said,
“Let’s read this together.”
7
As they were reading, Sandra’s name was called out. Her
mother immediately folded the yer and put it in her bag.
They rose to go and see the dentist, Dr Meno. Ken was at
the far end playing with other boys.
Strong teeth and a healthy mouth
Get a dental checkup for your child.
Brush your child’s teeth twice
daily with a pea-size amount
of fluoride toothpaste.
Ask about fluoride varnish
treatments to protect your
child’s teeth from cavities.
8
“Let him continue playing,” Mum said when Sandra tried
to call Ken.
The dentist’s office was quite spacious. It had charts of
teeth and the human mouth on the walls. It also had a
chart showing the steps to follow when brushing teeth,
among other things.
At the centre of the office was a big machine and several
other items that made Sandra shake a bit. It was not the
first time to see them, but today she was really afraid the
doctor might use them on her.
Her mother sat on an empty chair opposite Dr Meno.
Sandra sat next to her while a nurse stood next to the big
machine.
“Welcome, Sandra,” said Dr Meno in her usual playful tone.
“Today you are not jovial. What is the matter, my girl?
Smile at me so that I can see your nice teeth. How is your
brother? Where did you leave him today?”
Sandra tried to smile, but could not.
“He is playing with toys in the waiting room,” she said,
feeling her heart beat faster.
“What can I do for you? How is your mouth today?” Dr
Meno asked.
“I was feeling pain but now I have recovered. I am fine,”
Sandra replied. Both the doctor and her mother smiled at
9
the answer.
“That is good, Sandra,” Dr Meno said. “I am happy you
have recovered. But then may I know what the problem
was?”
“I felt pain when I took cold or hot things but now I am
fine. I took hot tea this morning and I did not feel pain.”
“That is good. Now I will have a look at the tooth that had
a problem. Kindly take a seat,” the doctor said, pointing at
the big dental chair across.
Sandra was assisted by a nurse to climb onto the high,
reclining seat. The nurse adjusted it to a sleeping position.
She pressed somewhere and Sandra’s head was raised
gradually until she was in the right position. She then
pressed a switch and bright, dazzling light beamed above
Sandra. She immediately closed her eyes.
“I will insert a tube inside your mouth to suck saliva,”
Dr Meno explained. “It is painless. I will check your teeth
gently. If you feel pain or want to say or ask anything you
will lift your hand and I will stop at once. Is that clear?”
“Yes, doctor,” Sandra replied.
“That’s good. Now I am ready to start. Open your mouth
wide, please,” Dr Meno said. She inserted a tube inside
Sandra’s mouth and started checking her teeth.
10
Sandra felt the dentist hit some of her teeth with something,
but it was not painful. She then poured some cold liquid
on them and Sandra felt some sensation in the mouth. She
11
pressed one tooth and Sandra felt a slight pain. She tried
to raise her hand.
“This is the one,” she heard Dr Meno say. The nurse added
something but Sandra could not quite get what she said.
“Mama Sandra, can you please get out briefly so that we
can take an X-ray of the tooth?” the nurse requested.
After a few minutes the doctor told the nurse to call
Sandra’s mother back into the room.
“You can now sit down and rinse your mouth,” Dr Meno
told Sandra as her mother was getting in. They both sat
and waited for the doctor to tell them what to do next.
Dr Meno pulled some film from a big machine. It was an
X-ray of Sandra’s teeth.
“There is nothing to worry about,” she explained, holding
the film against the light. “It was just a small cavity that
was developing over here,” she added, pointing at a black
spot on the picture. “We will do a bit of cleaning then we
fill it. It is a short procedure that will take about fifteen
minutes. And it is painless.”
Sandra sighed with joy. She was glad her tooth would not
be removed. She was happy that the filling procedure would
not be painful.
12
“Do you have any question?” Dr Meno asked kindly, looking
Sandra in the face.
“Yes, doctor. What is a cavity?” Sandra asked.
“A cavity is simply a hole that develops in a tooth and grows
bigger and deeper over time. It is caused by the action of
acids on the enamel surface. Enamel is the outer surface
of our teeth that is smooth and usually white in colour.
Normally a plaque is formed on the teeth after we drink
or eat food. The plaque contains bacteria which, if not
removed regularly through brushing and ossing, causes
tooth decay or cavities.”
“What is plaque?” Sandra asked.
“It is a soft, sticky film that builds up on your teeth. It
contains millions of bacteria. Have you ever forgotten to
brush your teeth after meals at night? How was your mouth
like in the morning?”
Sandra smiled. Yes, she had once forgotten to brush her
teeth after supper. She had not liked the smell coming out
of her mouth in the morning.
“It tastes bad, smells bad and your teeth feel sticky,” Dr
Meno continued. “This is what we call plaque. Plaque forms
all the time, especially at night when there is less activity
in the mouth. It is a sticky thin film that is sometimes hard
to notice. It smells depending on the type of food eaten. It
13
contains millions of bad bacteria that erode or eat up the
enamel of your teeth and cause cavities.”
“How can I avoid plaque from forming on my teeth?”
Sandra asked.
“You cannot prevent plaque from forming,” Dr Meno replied.
“It builds naturally, all the time. You can only remove it by
brushing. That is why you should brush your teeth at least
twice a day, in the morning and at night, before going to
bed. Drinking and eating healthy foods is also important for
your dental health. Eating a balanced diet is good for your
overall wellness. You must eat a healthy breakfast, lunch and
dinner to keep both your body and teeth in good health.”
“I read in another book that some foods, such as French
fries, noodles, sausages, burgers and ice cream are not good
for our health,” Sandra said. “The book claimed they make
one obese and sick.”
“That’s right, Sandra. Do you eat them?”
Sandra looked down. She did not want to say yes or no. She
avoided looking at her mother because she knew how Sandra
liked pizza, ice cream and cheese burger with cold soda.
14
“You should avoid junk food as much as you can for your
dental health,” Dr Meno continued. “If you need a snack,
choose healthy foods like fruit, milk, porridge, cereals, nuts,
15
low-fat yoghurt and home-made juices.”
“And why are they called junk food?”
“That’s a good question, Sandra,” the doctor replied. “They
are called junk because they have little or no nutritional
value. They consist of more sugar, fat and salt than your
body needs. They have very little or no fiber, proteins,
vitamins and minerals which are good for your health.
They are therefore better avoided. In addition, you should
avoid drinking too much sugary drinks like soda, juices
that have added sugar or sweeteners, sports drinks, sugar-
sweetened teas and coffees, as well as sugar-sweetened
waters and energy drinks. Avoid sweets and candies. If
you have some sweets eat them with your meals and brush
your teeth afterwards.”
“Doctor, I always brush my teeth twice a day,” Sandra
said. “Why then did my tooth develop a cavity? My brother
sometimes forgets to brush his teeth but he does not have
any cavities. Why me?”
“Our teeth are different, Sandra,” the doctor replied.
“Sometimes it takes longer before the tooth decays. I will
check on your brother later, but for now both of you should
learn how to prevent tooth decay. He may develop a cavity
too if he continues being forgetful about dental hygiene.
You need to do more than just brushing and flossing your
16
teeth. You need to brush and clean your tongue, use the
right toothbrush and tooth paste, and brush the right way.”
She then moved to the pictures of teeth on the wall.
“First, you need the right toothbrush for your age,” she
said, pointing at a picture of a brush. “Your toothbrush
should fit comfortably in your mouth and be easy to hold
and use. Use a toothbrush with soft bristles to avoid hurting
your gum.”
She pointed at a second diagram. It had a holder that had
several toothbrushes in it.
“Second, rinse your toothbrush well after brushing,” he
continued. “Store it in an upright position in an open and
airy place. Good air flow around the bristles keeps your
toothbrush dry and prevents micro-organisms and bacteria
from growing. Bacteria thrive in a moist environment.”
“What should one do if a toothbrush gets dirty or colored
at the base?” Sandra asked.
“That’s a good question, Sandra,” Dr Meno replied. “If
your toothbrush shows dirt at the bottom of the bristles,
it means you don’t clean it well, or that it is old and needs
to be replaced. You should replace your toothbrush every
three to four months, or sooner. If bristles are frayed,
17
coloured or worn out, replace immediately.”
Sandra looked at her mother, who looked back at her
with a smile. She knew what that meant. Her brother’s
toothbrush and hers needed to be replaced. They were
getting to five months old.
“Let’s go to the third point, Sandra,” she heard Dr Meno
say, and she paid immediate attention. “Brush your teeth
well to ensure bacteria do not accumulate in the mouth
and cause tooth decay. Brush your tongue as well. Some
food particles stick to your tongue and if not cleaned help
bacteria to accumulate. It is also the cause of bad breath.”
“Sometimes I use mouthwash to avoid bad breath,” Sandra
said.
“That is good,” the doctor said, nodding. “Mouth wash is
good but should not be used as a substitute for brushing. I
also need to add that the health of your teeth and mouth
is mostly determined by what you drink. Soft drinks and
sugary juices cause tooth decay. Drinking less soda and
more water, milk and fresh juices can help protect your
teeth.”
“What if I brush immediately after drinking them?” asked
Sandra.
18
“Well,” said the doctor, laughing, “that helps a bit but
again remember such drinks are not good for your health
as well.”
“Oh yes, I remember,” said Sandra.
“Now, one last point,” the doctor went on. “Do not use
your teeth to open, tear or break anything. Some people
use their teeth to break off a tag on clothing, rip open a
plastic package or even unscrew bottle tops. This is bad
and very dangerous to your teeth. Use your teeth only
for biting and chewing food. They are not bottle openers,
pliers, hooks, scissors or any other tool. Using your teeth
as a tool is a threat to dental health and can damage your
gums or enamel and cause your teeth to crack.”
“Thanks, Dr Meno for the advice,” Sandra said. She had
learnt a lot. “I will share what I have learned with my
friends.”
“Welcome, Sandra. Before you leave, here are some posters
that I recommend you hang on your bedroom wall. They
will remind you of key tips to keep your teeth healthy.”
Dr Meno walked to her desk, opened a drawer and pulled
out two posters.
19
Brush your teeth correctly
1
Place toothbrush at a
45-degree angle to the
gums.
2
Brush the outer surfaces,
the inner surfaces and the
chewing surfaces of teeth.
3
Use the tip of the brush to
clean the inside surfaces
of the front teeth, using
a gentle up-and-down
stroke.
Brush your tongue to
remove bacteria and
freshen breath.
4
20
Dental Health
1 2
3
4
5 6
Get your teeth checked
twice yearly.
Brush your teeth each
morning.
Brush your teeth each
night before going to
bed.
Do not forget to floss
your teeth.
Brush your teeth for 2 -
3 minutes.
Remember to use
toothpaste.
21
“Thanks, doctor,” Sandra said with a broad smile as she
took the posters. “Please give me another one for my
brother and one more for my dad. If you don’t mind I can
pick two more for my best friends.”
“No problem,” Dr Meno said, smiling too. “I will give you
several of them. You can share some with your friends at
school. I will also give you this other one that shows the
correct procedure for brushing teeth.”
Sandra was happy to receive the posters. They would
remind her of what she needed to do daily for healthy
teeth. She would be able to avoid cavities and the fear of
her teeth being pulled out. She thanked Dr Meno again.
Dr Meno patted her on the shoulder as she escorted her
and her mother to the door.
“Bye, Sandra,” she said with a smile. “Be a good teacher
to the others. They all need their teeth and mouths to be
healthy.”
22
Sandra and Ken were now seated at the dinner table
with their father and mother. They had arrived from the
hospital in the afternoon. Sandra had talked to children
in the neighbourhood about what Dr Meno had taught
her. Ken had also listened attentively and promised not to
forget to brush his teeth.
Now it was time for dinner. Mum had prepared rice, minced
meat and some traditional vegetables. It was very tasty.
“Thanks Mum for preparing such a tasty meal,” said Sandra.
“Thanks Mum,” Ken added. He always followed the good
things his elder sister said.
“How come no one is thanking me for bringing the minced
meat?” Dad asked with a smile.
“Thanks Dad,” Ken and Sandra said in chorus. Everyone
burst out laughing.
It was always joyous for the family to share dinner. Their
father was sometimes too busy to join them. After meals they
would eat some fruit salad. Sandra and Ken were expected to
brush their teeth before watching television.
23
Sandra was happy her tooth was no longer sensitive. Mum
was also happy that her girl was now able to eat well. She
prepared soft food just in case Sandra’s tooth would be
sensitive after filling. Dr Meno had done a good job. The
24
filling had been so good that she was not even feeling it.
“From today we will be eating healthy. We must say no to
junk food,” father said.
“We will only eat good things during birthday parties or
when we go out to eat,” said Ken.
“What do you mean by good things?” Mum asked. “You
mean chips, sausages, pizza and hot dogs? That is junk! If
we choose to eat healthy, we must do it at all times. We
should choose healthy and tasty food even when we go out
or during parties.”
“That is not fair Mum,” Ken protested. “How can we eat
githeri, yams or beans in a hotel? How can we have a party
without cake, ice cream and sodas?”
“Well,” Dad put in. “Maybe we can eat a little of what you
prefer. Nothing is really bad when taken in moderation.
However, remember that we can choose to have healthy
juices, healthy cakes and healthy desserts. Not that sugary
and fatty stuff all the time.”
“I doubt if there are healthy sodas and cookies,” Sandra said.
“Well, we can substitute sodas for juices,” Dad said. “But
as I have said, there is little harm in occasionally taking a
soda, ice cream, French fries or a burger. We eat everything
25
in moderation, then brush our teeth soon after.”
“Sandra, you are talking too much and not eating your
food,” Mum said. “Everyone except you is about to finish
theirs. Finish your food fast so that you can brush your teeth.
Today we have to sleep early. I remember Dr Meno saying
that any food particles left in the mouth attract bacteria
and cause tooth decay even if the food is healthy.”
“Mum, I forgot to ask Dr Meno why some people have
discoloured teeth. Are they sick?” Sandra asked.
“I said eat first then I will answer your questions,” said
Mum firmly.
Sandra took a mouthful of food and looked at Mum as if to
say, ‘I have done it’.
“Being discoloured does not necessarily mean a person’s
teeth are sick or decayed,” Mum said after she was satisfied
Sandra had taken enough. “The most common cause of tooth
discolouration is a chemical called fluoride found in either
environmental sources, such as water, or from excessive use
of fluoride in toothpaste, food supplements or mouthwash.
Flouride is good for healthy teeth but when taken in excess
it causes discolouration. Other causes include taking too
much coffee, tea, some soft drinks, wines, certain fruits
and vegetables, as well as smoking or chewing tobacco.”
26
“Poor brushing, flossing, and rinsing with an antibacterial
mouthwash to remove plaque and stain-producing substances
like coffee and tobacco can also cause tooth discolouration,”
Dad added. “There are other causes, such as diseases that
affect the enamel and some types of drugs. What one
inherited from parents, as well as age, may also contribute
to discoloured teeth.”
“I know of a boy in my class who has discoloured teeth, and
he is a very good singer,” said Ken. “He is called Norman.”
“That is good,” Dad said as he reached for a dish to help
himself to a little more food. “Norman is not sick. May be
he comes from a place where water has excess flouride.”
27
Facts about dental health
1.
Not taking care of your teeth and mouth in general can
lead to serious problems ranging from bad breath, gum
disease, cavities, and sensitivity to tooth loss.
2.
Your lifestyle affects your dental health. Regular exercise
and a healthy diet decreases the chances of developing
gum disease while inactivity, junk and sugary foods and
liquids lead to dental cavities.
3. Plaque, the sticky film of bacteria constantly forming
at the gum line and on the surfaces of your teeth, forms
all the time and must be removed by proper brushing
and flossing.
4. It is recommended that you brush your teeth at least
twice a day for two to three minutes using toothpaste.
5. Using mouth wash after brushing your teeth can go a
long way in improving your dental health but is not a
substitute for brushing.
6. It is recommended to have thorough medical checkups
and have professional teeth cleaning by a dentist once
every six months.
7. It is important to choose the right toothbrush that fits
in your mouth comfortably. Use one with soft bristles
to avoid hurting your gum.
28
8.
For effective brushing place your toothbrush at a
45-degree angle toward your gum line and gently move
the bristles back and forth in short strokes. Brush the
outer, inner and biting surfaces of all your teeth as well
as the tongue.
9. Accumulation of plaque under and along the gum line
leads to various infections that can harm the bone
which secures the teeth in place as well as the gums.
For instance, it can lead to periodontal disease which
makes the bone deteriorate and may result in tooth loss.
10.
Poor oral health impacts negatively on a person’s social
life. For example unpleasant breath is caused by tiny
food particles that are trapped between the teeth and
which accumulate bacteria and give off chemicals like
hydrogen sulfide with a foul smell akin to that of rotten
eggs.
29
New Words
anxious eager to do something
balanced diet a combination of the correct types
and amounts of food
braces a set of wires attached to a person’s
teeth to move them gradually in
order to straighten them
enamel a thin outer covering of the tooth
oss to clean between your teeth using
dental floss
yer a small piece of paper advertising a
product or event
micro-organism a living thing which on its own is too
small to be seen without a
microscope
mouthwash a liquid used for keeping the
mouth clean and smelling fresh
obese extremely fat in a way that is
dangerous for health
periodontal relating to or affecting the
structures surrounding and
supporting the teeth
thrive to grow or develop
30
Questions
1. Why was Sandra afraid of going to see the dentist?
2. Explain the causes of tooth decay.
3. Why was Sandra’s tooth aching?
4. Write a list of foods that are not good for your teeth.
5.
How can poor oral health impact negatively on a person’s
social life? Explain.
6.
Why do you think your lifestyle affects your dental
health?
7. Explain the steps of effective brushing of your teeth.
8. Explain why it is important to wash your mouth after
brushing your teeth.
9. How many times do you brush your teeth daily? Why
do you do so?
10.
Why do you think it is recommended to have thorough
medical checkups and have professional teeth cleaning
by a dentist once every six months?