Pedodontics: Child Early Age Dental Care
Healthy teeth start from the very childhood because healthy baby teeth effect a lot on your permanent teeth which source are already in the bone when the child is born. Just because you can't see the teeth doesn't mean they aren't there. Teeth actually begin to form in the second trimester of pregnancy. At birth your baby has 20 primary teeth, some of which are fully developed in the jaw.
Milk teeth play an important role in the alignment and spacing of permanent teeth. They support the upper and lower jaws to fit each other. Constant chewing with deciduous dentition is an essential for the correct development of the jaws. If milk teeth are lost too early on, the position of the other teeth may be affected and this can lead to a bad bite and jaw pain in later life, which is why it is important that milk teeth should remain intact until they are replaced by permanent teeth.
Good dental health is established early in life.
Oral care should begin soon after the baby's birth. Gums should be cleaned after each feeding to prevent buildup of damaging bacteria. You can begin brushing your child's teeth as soon as they appear, using a super soft toothbrush or rub them with gauze at the end of the day. Milk teeth are like babies - they need special care. And special protection, because the enamel of milk teeth and new permanent teeth is still soft and not yet fully mature.
Here is a piece of advice how to maintain your child’s oral health:
-A balanced diet is important for healthy teeth and gums. Children especially need calcium to help build strong teeth (milk, cheese, etc.)
-Discourage sugary or starchy snacks.
-Snack in moderation and include beverages to wash the mouth of food particles.
-Set regular snack-times to avoid constant exposure to cavity-causing foods.
-Seek early dental care for your young one. Begin oral hygiene when an infant's first tooth emerges.
-Encourage good oral health and hygiene habits early. Have youngsters brush frequently with fluoride toothpastes.
Teaching your child to maintain good dental habits is the beginning of good dental health. Proper personal care and regular visits to the dentist can keep dental problems to a minimum.
Habits such as thumb sucking, mouth breathing and tongue thrusting are very often observed in growing children. They are usually due to a variety of reasons, including psychological. These habits can cause mal-alignment of teeth. Attempts must be made to pin-point the cause and treat it to break the habit, certain habit-breaking appliances can be constructed by the dentist to be worn by the child to get rid of the habit.
Cut down drastically on sweet, sugary foods, especially the sticky kind. Avoid them between meals and before going to bed. Instead, include fresh fruit, raw vegetables, cheese, peanut butter, milk and unsweetened fruit juices in your child’s nutrition.
Early Age Dental care
Beginning at age three or four, regular examinations and cleanings are necessary and very important for children.
As soon as teeth appear in the mouth, decay can occur. One serious form of decay among young children is Baby Bottle Tooth Decay. Babies shouldn't fall asleep with bottles in their mouths - the sugar in juices or milk formulas can cause tooth decay, leading to cavities and even tooth loss. Plain water is usually best.
Decay in baby teeth can occur very quickly due to the characteristics of milk teeth tissues. Cavities can reach the nerve space very fast, and no one likes to see youngsters suffer with tooth pains. And that is also dangerous that a permanent tooth source can be infected and this influence it structure and eruption too.
Injuries to teeth are very often seen in kids indulging in sporting activities. In case a tooth is fractured or is knocked out of its socket, the child should be immediately taken to the dentist. A knocked out tooth may be preserved and transported to the dental clinic in a wet medium, or milk. The dentist may be able to put the tooth back into its original place, making it possible for the tooth to last its intended life-span.
Your child's first dental visit should be by the first birthday or earlier. Your Dentist will check for decay and other problems, teach you how to clean your child's teeth and identify your child's fluoride needs. By starting dental visits early, you'll help your child build a lifetime of good dental habits.
Sealants and fluoride treatment.
As a child's permanent teeth erupt, your dentist can prevent cavities from forming with the help of sealants and fluoride treatment.
-Sealants are a safe, painless and low-cost way to help protect your child's teeth from decay. The sealant is bonded to the chewing surfaces of the molars and premolars, and thus prevents these teeth from decay.
-Fluoride application is a single sitting procedure done once every six months to make the tooth structure stronger and prevents cavities. Children not living in low-fluoridated water areas should have supplemental fluoride prescribed by their dentist, since significantly fewer cavities are found among those living where the water is fluoridated.
The earlier the first dental visit, the better chance of preventing dental problems. Children with healthy teeth can chew food well, speak clearly and share precious smiles. Start your child on a lifetime of good dental habits now!
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