Give Your Children a Healthy Start on Their Smile

Many people do not understand how important baby teeth are. Not only do they serve and help in eating but they also maintain space for the permanent teeth. Early decay and loss of milk teeth leads to loss of space for permanent teeth leading to poor alignment and crowding of teeth. Milk teeth help in speech and improve aesthetics and self confidence.

A child’s first visit to the dentist should be at the age of 1.

PREVENTION IS THE KEY, BETTER START AT AN EARLY AGE – Children with a healthy mouths have a better chance of general health. Poor oral conditions can interfere with eating and adequate nutritional intake, speaking, self-esteem, and daily activities. Severe decay can affect growth and development. Children with dental pain may be unable to concentrate in school. A healthy mouth is more attractive, giving children confidence in their appearance. Finally, preventive dentistry can result in less extensive and less expensive treatment for your child.

INFANTS –

Keep baby’s gums clean and healthy. Massage gums with a damp cloth or gauze after each feeding to keep gums and mouth clean and healthy.

 Never let your child go to bed with a bottle or breast at will during the night.

 During the early stages of tooth development, be especially gentle with your baby’s teeth and gums. Use a soft – bristled baby toothbrush or finger brush with a light touch when cleaning your baby’s new teeth. You only need to use water at this stage – no toothpaste necessary, as the child may swallow it.

Once teeth come in, switch from bottle to Sippy cup for a few months. Discourage the use of pacifiers and Sippy cups for an extended period of time and children should start drinking from a regular cup by the time they cross the age of one.

Try offering your baby something cool like a cold teething ring or wet wash cloth to ease soreness due to teething.

 Stop the spread of germs and cavity causing bacteria by not sharing cups, silverware, etc with your baby and ensuring that the teethers, pacifiers, etc are cleaned frequently.

TODDLERS & PRESCHOOLERS –

Brush with toothpaste around the age of 2. Begin using a pea-size amount of non-fluoride toothpaste. Wait until at least 3, before introducing the fluoride kind, when your child is old enough not to swallow the toothpaste.

 Limiting sugary foods & drinks will help prevent tooth decay. Choose milk or water instead of sugary drinks.

Thumb sucking should gradually be stopped. The child should be encouraged not to suck the thumb or bottle feed or use a pacifier.

 There is an increased tendency, for your child to fall or accidentally injure his/her teeth and lips at this age. Take necessary precautions by keeping all sharp objects away from the baby, provide barriers around. The lips get pierced by the teeth and may bleed. Put ice for a little while initially, and apply antiseptic like Betadine with a cotton swab/ clean wash cloth or ear bud. If teeth seem loose contact your dentist immediately.

Babies just love to put anything and everything into their mouths, which means you need to be on the lookout for choking hazards in every room. Keep the floor very clean, coz whatever the baby finds will be put in the mouth !

 Visit your dentist every six months. The dentist will check if everything is normal and will look for anything unusual.

SCHOOL YEARS –

– A healthy school lunch is important – Fruits, vegetables and protein. Avoid sports drinks, soft drinks, soda’s, carbonated drinks. Water is best.

 Brush twice a day. Brushing before sleeping is very important.

 Let your child develop a habit of flossing, especially at night before sleeping

 Avoid snacking between meals. Avoid sticky chocolates.

Protect your child’s teeth. Kids who play sports should wear mouth guards

 Consult your dentist for teeth lost early. Your child may require an appliance called space maintainers

Your child should have his first visit to an Orthodontist at the age of 7.

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR CHILDREN’S TEETH

 The first milk tooth appears around 6 to 8 months of age (usually the lower front tooth).

 There are in all 20 milk teeth (10 in the upper jaw and 10 in the lower jaw). The last milk tooth comes around 2½ to 3 years of age.

 The first permanent tooth comes around the age of 6 years.

 Kids usually start loosing their milk teeth from 6 years to about 12 years of age.

 Up to the age of 12 to 13 years of age 28 adult teeth (14 in the upper jaw and 14 in the lower jaw), are seen in the mouth.

 Between 18 to 25 years 4 wisdom teeth (third molars) begin to appear in the mouth.

 There are many variations that can occur in the growth of teeth, like missing, deformed, wrongly placed teeth.

 In case of any concern, consult your dentist. Your dentist will usually identify any such problems during your routine visits