Screen addiction and tooth decay - Important things to know!!
In those days, when so many electronic gadgets etc were not available, the kids used to go out and play games with their friends. Kids also play some indoor games like ludo, carom, chess etc.
Now, in this digital generation, kids don`t go outside to play but stay at home and play games on their electronic gadgets. As a result of this, the kids get exposed to the blue light etc from the digital screen. Bitter fact is that screen time has become an integral part of the lives of the kids now.
It is really shocking to note that by constantly watching the digital screens the kids would not only get eye issues but back issues and oral issues also.
That leads to an important question: Is there any link between screen addiction and tooth decay etc? The answer is yes.
It was explained by a famous doctor belonging to Avana Healthcare in Delhi that excess screen time would have a huge impact on dental health. The two important reasons for this are dietary habits and poor oral practices.
It must be taken into account that the kids while being absorbed into the digital screen would eat more junk and sugary items etc. By this, the kids are prone to issues like plaque formation and tooth decay etc. More screen time also is associated with a more sedentary lifestyle where the kids do not drink enough water resulting in oral infections etc. It is known that dry mouth would provide an ideal environment for the bacteria to thrive.
What is the impact of screen time on teeth health?
It is worthy to note that while being busy on the smart phones etc many kids would not brush their teeth also. Moreover, there is huge stress now in this modern digital world. The kids try their best to keep up with the latest trends in the social media, increase the number of followers etc and these would lead to mental issues for the kids. Point is that it would lead to conditions like teeth grinding, gum disease, clenching etc in them. Continuous exposure to the screen time would lead to jaw pain, TMJ disorders also. The kids might keep their mouths open while watching the screen and this could result in mouth breathing etc.
Prioritising oral hygiene:
The kids and adults can enjoy the technology benefits while protecting their dental health by giving importance to their oral hygiene and by making mindful choices regarding their screen time. Balancing screen time with healthy eating habits, regular dental checkups etc must be guided by the parents to their kids.
