Dental care should start from the beginning your baby is born and not before your baby’s first tooth appears. Even though your baby’s teeth are not visible it does not mean that they are not there. Usually, teeth start to form during the second trimester of the pregnancy. When your baby is born, a total of 20 primary teeth is hidden in their jaws. To prevent the accumulation of dangerous damaging bacteria, running a damp clean washcloth on the baby’s gums after ever feeding is recommended. When you see teeth already on your baby, rubbing the teeth with a clean gauge or brushing them with a soft children toothbrush would be good. Dental decay can occur to anybody including babies. That is why parents should practice good feeding habits. Do not leave a bottle on his mouth when you put him to sleep. Although, you may think it’s convenient when it fact it slowly destroys your baby’s teeth. The sugar from the milk that remains on your baby’s teeth will eat their way the enamel which causes a condition called bottle mouth. Symptoms of a bottle mouth are usually pitted, pocked and discolored teeth. Parents should set specific hours for their babies to drink to avoid cavities during their baby months.
If you have any questions regarding your child’s dental care, you can consult a pediatric dentist. They are specialized kids dentists who have been trained to handle dental issues. Their primary objective is to prevent dental problems and maintain healthy dental health. It would be better that your child have their first dentist visit a few days after their first birthday. The dentist will elaborately explain the importance of dental health of your child and perform a dental check up. These visits will ensure that your child grows up with great dental health. At the age of 2, your child might already have all their primary teeth. During this time, your dentists would encourage the use of topical fluoride on your child’s teeth. Fluoride is a substance that improves the hardness of tooth enamel and provides protection against dental diseases and cavities. Cavities generally occur because of the buildup of bacteria inside the mouth. Typically, towns have their tap water fluoridate but not all. If your town does not have a fluoridated water supply or you drink purified water, then you should ask your dentist for some fluoride supplements or recommend good fluoride rich toothpastes. But be careful though, too much fluoride could cause teeth discoloration.
Dentists suggest that your kids ought to brush twice a day and floss after every brush. Kids can start using toothpaste at an early age of 2 and 3. Just make sure parents supervise their kids to avoid kids ingesting large amounts of toothpaste. Parents should be vigilant that their kids spit out the toothpaste instead of ingesting them. As parents you need to be wary if your kid complains about tooth pain. Do not ignore this and immediately go to your pediatric dentist and let him perform an examination. Dentists have breakthrough technologies such as fillings and other repair options. There are also composite resins bond with the teeth to avoid the filling to pop out.
As your child matures, issues regarding the straightness of their teeth and their bite might surface. Although considered as major symbol preteen embarrassment, orthodontic treatments are becoming the new symbol of perfect straight healthy teeth. Braces are now becoming a hit among children and adults alike who want to have perfect straight teeth.
Do not hesitate to ask your dentist some dental questions. Give your child an early head start on dental checkups and teach them good dental hygiene. If your kids are active in sports, encourage them to use a mouth guard to protect their mouth from serious dental injuries. Every 2-3 months, go to your dentist and have your kid’s teeth examined for any dental problems. Tell your kids to avoid consuming too many sweets as this contributes in dental decay. Your kid’s dental health is part and parcel of having a happy healthy life. With healthy teeth comes a beautiful smile. Take care of your kid’s dental health and see them grow into happy healthy individuals.
