Each February, the American Health Association sponsors National Children’s Health Month to raise awareness about the importance of oral health, something that Dr. Damaris Arriola Zarate does every day as a dentist at Clínica Romero.
Born in El Salvador, Dr. Arriola Zarate identifies and shares the background of many of her patients.
She came to the U.S. at age 15 first and learned the language of her new home in the English as a Second Language (ESL) program. After her bachelor’s degree, she worked at Clínica Romero as a Community Organizer for two years before going back to UCLA School of Dentistry.
“Working for Clínica Romero really helped me define my path forward,” she says.
“I always wanted to come back to Clínica because I believe in the mission of the Clinic and this community,” she adds.
She’s been helping that community as a dentist at Clínica Romero for over two years now.
She treats adults and children, from their first checkup to ongoing visits.
“Children should come see the dentist whenever the first tooth comes out (at around six months),” she recommends.
If not, a child should see a dentist by the age of one.
In that first visit, she checks the child’s teeth and gums. She also brushes their teeth, applies fluoride to the teeth, which helps prevent cavities, and provides oral health education to the parents.
“It’s good for parents to help their kids have healthy teeth,” she notes.
Based on a series of questions, she also assesses whether the child is at low or high risk for cavities. “It’s something we keep assessing every time they come for a dental checkup,” Dr. Arriola Zarate says.
A dentist will also tell the parents how often a child should come for a visit based on their personal oral health status. At a minimum, it’s recommended that they visit the dentist every six months.
BRUSHING AND TOOTHPASTE
She also notes that brushing should begin from the moment the first tooth comes out, as any tooth is vulnerable to cavities.
Parents will need to keep brushing children’s teeth until about 7 or 8-years-old.
“Children don’t have the motor skills to do it themselves,” she says. “If it’s a small kid or a baby or they cry or don’t like it, just make the process fun; sing a song.
“After they reach 7 or 8-years-old, they might start showing they can brush on their own.”
Because kids have small mouths, she recommends using any brush that is soft with a small head, preferably one specifically designed for children.
Once the child is 9 or 10-years-old, they already have a lot of their adult teeth and they can use an adult toothbrush.
At a minimum, brushing should happen two times a day, for at least two minutes every time.
If a child is less than 3-years-old, “just a smear (of toothpaste), no longer than the size of a rice” should be enough.
After that, they can use a pea size of toothpaste.
Dr. Arriola Zarate stresses that parents should start teaching the child to spit out the toothpaste as soon as they can, though “if a little bit is consumed, it’s OK.”
She recommends using toothpaste with fluoride, which helps prevent children from having cavities.
Fluoride is also applied every time a child comes for a dental checkup. Cavities erode the minerals that protect the teeth. Fluoride helps put minerals back on the teeth.
FOOD AND TOOTHACHES
To help keep childrens’ teeth healthy, Dr. Arriola Zarate also recommends parents limit any foods or drinks high on sugar (such as juice, candy, and cookies), as sugar creates bacteria that cause tooth decay.
The best way to prevent tooth decay is If children eat healthy food, practice good oral hygiene, and visit the dentist regularly.
“Toothache is a often sign of a dental emergency,” Dr. Arriola Zarate says. If it happens, “go see a dentist as soon as possible to evaluate and determine the best treatment.”
Tooth decay is the most common problem Dr. Arriola Zarate treats in the patients that come to Clínica Romero.
“Tooth decay is universal. It’s one of the biggest issues affecting kids in the U.S.,” she says. “Many children don’t go to school because of toothaches.”
Tooth decay is partly caused by not brushing enough, or not knowing how to brush properly.
“Some patients attempt to brush, but haven’t really been taught how to properly brush,” she says.
Similarly, she stresses the importance of flossing, which is only needed once teeth are touching.
“Baby teeth should be flossed whenever they are touching each other,” she explains. “You should also floss once there’s no way to go in between them with a toothbrush.”
Floss as much as possible; “two times a day is ideal,” she notes.
CLÍNICA ROMERO
All of these recommendations and suggestions are part of what Dr. Arriola Zarate and the other dentists at Clínica Romero offer their patients during their treatments and visits.
At Clínica Romero, patients young and old will get basic dental work and oral health; if someone needs more advanced work, they provide referrals to specialists.
She welcomes parents and little ones from the first time they enter her room.
“If it’s the first time they come to the dentist, I congratulate them for coming to a dentist and help their children have a healthy smile and healthy teeth,” she says.
It’s all meant to put them at ease and part of Clínica Romero’s difference when it comes to treating patients.
“Everybody in the staff, the dentists, we’re all very passionate about serving the community,” Dr. Arriola Zarate says. “We all work really hard to make everybody feel welcome and understand and meet our patients where they are.
“I’m here to support them in their health journey and help them as much as I can. I help them accomplish their oral health goals.”
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