Importance of Baby teeth
Primary teeth or baby teeth are essential to infants or small kids as healthy permanent teeth are to older children and adults. Baby teeth not only help children speak clearly and chew naturally, they also aid in growth of jaws and forms a path that permanent teeth can follow when they are ready to erupt.
So in order to to keep your child's teeth healthy without cavities and any other oral health problems , here are few things your dentist want you to know and follow.
1. Clean the gums
Starting from birth, wipe your baby's gum with a clean damp cloth or gauze pad everyday.
2. Ease the pain of teething
Children's baby teeth usually begin to come through the first 3
years of life.The discomfort associated with the teeth breaking through the gums can be relieved
by giving your child a cold teething ring.Massaging the gums with a clean finger is also helpful.
3. First dental visit
It is advised to have your child s first dental visit as soon the first tooth
appear in the mouth and no later than first birthday. The pediatric dentist can guide you on how
to take proper care of your child's dental health and avoid lot of future problems.
4. Brush twice daily
When your baby has her first tooth start to brush two times daily.Your
child will need your help to brush till she or he has fully grasped the right brushing
technique.When your child is little older maybe 7 or 8 years you can monitor them as they brush
5. Use of fluoridated tooth paste
Fluoride is a powerful tool for combatting decay of teeth but
it also has associated risks. Fluoride toothpastes(size of a rice grain till 3 years) should be used
only after your child's dentist has determined that the tooth is at a high risk of decay. If the child
is not at risk for cavites the teeth should be brushed using a soft bristled tooth brush moistened
with water upto 3 years.The child should be introduced to toothpaste (green pea size) after 3
years of age.
6. Floss daily
As soon as the the child has teeth in contact with each other they can get food and
germs stuck in between them and dental flossing is the best method to remove it out.
7. Early Childhood decay
Allowing the child to fall asleep while nursing or sucking on bottle
of milk or juice allows sugary drinks to pool around the teeth and may lead to extensive
decay.The last thing child can have before going to bed at night is a glass or bottle of water
unless you are ready to brush their teeth before they sleep off.
8.Avoid sticky food
Eating sticky food like chips and candies should not be encouraged as it
sticks on the grooves of the teeth and promote decay.Even proper brushing and rinsing may not
remove it completely.So sticky food should be allowed only for special occasions.
9.Restrict sugary drinks
Do not allow your child to have sugary drinks frequently.More than
the quantity , it is frequency of sugar intake which causes cavity.
10.Transmission of bacteria from mouth to mouth
The bacteria that cause tooth decay can
spread from mouth to mouth .So do not pass food ,tooth brush,pacifier or spoon from your mouth
to your baby's mouth.
11.Encourage to eat fruits and vegetables
Healthy teeth depends a lot on healthy diet. So
encourage your child to eat lot of fresh veggies,fruits ,whole grain and diary products.
12.Dental sealants as barriers against cavities
Sealants are thin plastic coatings applied in
the dental office onto the chewing surface of back teeth , usually molars which is a prime spot
for caries. They act as a barrier to prevent bacteria and food from collecting in the grooves and
pits of the teeth.
13.Use of pacifiers
Even though there are good reasons to allow your child to use a pacifier, but
in the long term it can cause misalligned teeth ,change in shape of jaws,ear infections etc. If your
child is using pacifier beyond 2 years ,the dentist should be informed about this
14.Thumbsucking habit
This is common in children and it is a way of soothing themselves
which is considered normal. But this habit overtime ie-beyond 3 years can alter the structure of
jaw and teeth.So it will be necessary to consult a dentist to correct this habit.
15. Misalligned teeth and the need for braces
Majority of kids have crooked teeth and the treatment varies.The ideal time for putting braces or any other orthodontic appliances is between
7 and 14 years of age when the head and mouth are still growing and teeth can be easily
straightened.This problems can be detected by routine checkup with the dentist
16. Use of mouth guards
Risk of teeth to injuries from contact sports are reduced a lot by using
mouth guard.They should be worn whenever your child is participating in sports and recreational
activities.You should talk to the dentist about selecting the mouthguard for your child that will
provide the best protection.
17. Regular checkups
It is best to visit a dentist every 6 months to get a professional opinion
on your child's dental health. Detecting and tackling problems can avoid costly and painful
procedures in future.
18. Lead by example
As a model for child to follow, brush twice a day,floss once a day and eat
a healthy diet.Your children admire you and they learn most of their behaviours from their
parents.
