Educating children about taking care of their teeth can be a tricky mission for parents, but it should be done, since the mouth health begins to be affect by how we treat our teeth since we are only babies. Bear with us to learn more about children’s dentistry, teeth problems babies and children can have and ways to prevent it.
Baby bottle tooth decay
It is also known as “Early Childhood Caries”. To prevent it, start by cleaning your baby’s mouth by wiping the gums with a clean gauze pad – this will help in removing the plaque that can harm erupting teeth. When the teeth are finally born, brush them with a small toothpaste (there are special ones, for babies), and with a small amount of fluoride toothpaste.
Thumbsucking
Most children stop sucking thumbs by age 4. It is important that they do so, because if they continue with this habit after the permanent teeth have come in, it can cause problems with tooth alignment and your child’s bite. The frequency will say how harmful it’ll be to your child. Dentists and pediatricians can help reducing this habit – consult them to plan what to do.
Sealants
If you want a quick, easy way to protect your child’s teeth, you might want to try sealants. They are applied to the chewing surfaces of back teeth. As long as they are well applied, they’ll protect the child’s teeth from cavities. It can be used on both primary and permanent teeth.
Malocclusion
Also known as “bad bite”, this condition makes the teeth crowded, crooked or out of alignment. The jaws might also don’t meet properly. This can become noticeable between the ages of 6 and 12, when child’s permanent teeth are coming in. If not treated early, a bad bite can make it difficult to keep teeth and gums clean where teeth are crooked or crowded, increasing the risk for cavities and gum disease.
Dental emergencies
Knowing how to properly deal with dental emergencies can mean the difference between saving and losing your child’s permanent tooth. In case of a dental emergency, try to follow the tips bellow as much as possible:
- For a knocked-out tooth, keep it moist at all times. If you can, try placing the tooth back in the socket without touching the root. If that’s not possible, place it in between your child’s cheek and gum, or in milk. Call your dentist right away.
- For a cracked tooth, immediately rinse the mouth with warm water to clean the area. Put cold compresses on the face to keep any swelling down.
- If your child bites his tongue or lip, clean the area gently and apply a cold compress.
- For toothaches, rinse the mouth with warm water to clean it out. Gently use dental floss to remove any food caught between the teeth. Do not put aspirin on the aching tooth or gum tissues.
- For objects stuck in the mouth, try to gently remove with floss but do not try to remove it with sharp or pointed instruments.
At City Dental you can find all the support you need to prevent problems on your child’s mouth. Contact us to schedule an appointment!
This post was based on this article from MouthHealthy.org.
