Dental Care For Children - Is Your Child Ready For A Healthy Smile?
It is important to help your child maintain strong healthy teeth so that they can enjoy their daily life without complications
. Children live vivacious lives. Take care of your child's teeth to keep them active and smiling. Infants should be seen by your dentist after the first six months of age, and at least by the child's first birthday. By this time, the baby's first teeth, or primary teeth, are beginning to erupt and it is a critical time to spot any problems before they become big concerns.
Every child grows 20 primary teeth, typically by age 3. These primary teeth are gradually replaced by the age of 12 with a full set of 28 permanent teeth, and later on, four molars called wisdom teeth. It is important to maintain healthy teeth for your child, because their development sets the stage for their permanent teeth.
Teething, Pacifiers and Thumb-Sucking - is it ok?
If your child is teething, it is a sign that their gums are sore, which is perfectly normal. You can help relieve your child's sore gums while they are teething by allowing them to suck on a teething ring, or gently rubbing your baby's gums with the back of a small spoon, a piece of wet gauze, or even your finger.
For children under the age of 4, teething rings and pacifiers can be safely used to facilitate the child's oral needs for relieving gum pain and for suckling. After the age of 4, pacifiers are generally discouraged because they may interfere with the development of your child's teeth. Even more so, thumb sucking should be strongly discouraged because it can lead to malformed teeth that become crooked and crowded.
Watch out for Baby Bottle Tooth Decay
Sugary substances in breast milk and some juices, which combine with saliva to form pools inside the baby's mouth, cause baby bottle tooth decay. If left untreated, this can lead to premature tooth decay of your baby's future primary teeth, which can later hamper the proper formation of permanent teeth.
One of the best ways to avoid baby bottle tooth decay is to not allow your baby to nurse on a bottle while going to sleep. Additionally, avoid dipping pacifiers in sweet substances such as honey, because this only encourages early decay in the baby's mouth. Encouraging your child to drink from a cup as early as possible will also help stave off the problems associated with baby bottle tooth decay.
Brushing Your Baby's Teeth
Your baby's gums and teeth can be gently cleaned with special infant toothbrushes that fit over your finger. Water is suitable in the replacement of toothpaste because the baby may swallow the toothpaste. Parents are advised to avoid fluoride toothpastes on children under the age of two. Primary teeth can be cleansed with child-sized, soft-bristled toothbrushes. Remember to use small portions of toothpaste, and teach your child to spit out, not swallow, the toothpaste when finished.
Talk to your Hastings dentist for more information on how to properly care for your child's gums and teeth. Be sure to schedule your baby's first dental appointment by the age of one, as well.
by: Gen Wright
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