HEALTHY BABY TEETH
Did You Know…?
Dental care for your kids actually starts when they are still in their mother’s womb.This makes it more important for pregnant mothers to take special care of their health.It’s especially important for pregnant women to make sure they are getting a healthy, balanced diet. It is also very important that pregnant women to have a complete dental exam and have any cavities or gum disease treated as soon as possible. In the UK pregnant woman are eligible to receive free dental care on the NHS. If you are lucky enough to have a good dental insurance plan then it is likely that you have already been advised that a visit to the dental surgery during your pregnancy would be a good idea.
The Childs Developing Teeth
Your child’s first teeth usually begin to break through the gums from the age of about 6 months old.Every child is different and this age will vary – don’t worry if your child gets his or her first teeth before or after this. Every child has 20 primary teeth making their appearance between the age of 6 months and 3 years old. These first teeth are not around for long; usually children start losing his or her milk teeth between the ages of 6 and 11 years old.At around six years old your child’s molars should come through. The last of a person’s permanent teeth usually come out somewhere between the ages of twelve and twenty-one.
By the time your child reaches the age of eight months or so, it should be possible for your dentist to spot any potential early problems. While only a short term view it’s good to be made aware of any initial concerns should there be any in your child’s near future. They are not physicians but thanks to their knowledge and expertise in the dental surgery field they are often able to make helpful suggestions. Familiarisation is one of the most important reasons for taking your child with you when you visit your dentist. Your child will become familiar with the dentist surgery and this reinforcement will foster a relationship built on trust not fear of your dentist.
When Should Your Child’s Dental Care Begin?
Parents should schedule their child’s dental visits for every six months.You should be thinking proactively about dental care by the time your child turns one. A new mother can do a lot, beginning from the appearance of the very first tooth. You can’t use a toothbrush or toothpaste on a baby’s very first teeth. The bristles of a toothbrush are far too hard for a small baby’s gums, and the fluoride found in adult toothpastes is not good for them. Whatever the pros and cons of putting fluoride into toothpaste it is a subject which will no doubt continue to be debated, but probably the best idea is to avoid it when your baby is still very young. Toothpaste is essentially just the lubricant at this stage, and the best thing is to use a soft cloth to simply wipe your baby’s teeth and gums. This will be enough to remove the sugars from breast milk, formula or other drinks containing sugars. It’s the sugars in the foods which cause tooth decay at such a young age. Simply wipe their teeth and gums after each feed and this will go a long way. It’s easier for parents to introduce a low fluoride toothpaste once the child has reached about two years old. You can ask your dentist for advice on choosing your child’s first toothbrush and toothpaste.
A pediatric dentist should see babies with dental problems caused by injury, disease, or a developmental problem as soon as a parent is made aware of a problem. If there are dental problems which are caused by underlying issues such as poor circulation your pediatrician will make you aware of any additional treatments for you to look into.
Helpful Tips
1. Try Not to Share a Spoon.- It is normal for parents and carers to share utensils with their children. The saliva you may leave on the utensil contains bacteria that can cause tooth decay. By practising good oral health habits within your family you can help reduce the risk of early tooth decay in your children.If you do use your baby’s spoon or test the milk from the teat of their bottle, make sure that you wipe it before giving it to them. Keeping your own teeth and gums healthy reduces the risk of transferring tooth decay bacteria to your child.
2. Avoid Giving a Bottle to Send Baby to Sleep.- Do not put your infant or small child to bed with a bottle of milk, formula, juice, or other drink that has sugar in it, because the sugar and acids in these liquids can cause tooth decay. This one is a lot easier to say than to do!
3. Help Your Teeth With a Healthy Diet. - All the nutrients needed for the development of healthy gums and strong teeth should be provided for in your child’s diet. These include whole grains, vegetables, and fruits. Try to avoid too many foods that are high in sugar and processed carbohydrates, such as pastries, white pasta, and white bread. Even the fruits that are so good for your growing child contain sugars which cause rapid tooth decay, so so you will simply need to find the best balance you can.
4. How to Clean the Teeth. - You can gently clean around the gums and first teeth with a soft cloth as soon as you see them beginning to break through. As more teeth come in you can clean them with a soft toothbrush, using only water rather than toothpaste for the first few months.
5. Use a Fluoride Toothpaste For Healthy Teeth. - A small amount of fluoride toothpaste can be used by around one year of age.
6. Flossing Time – You should begin flossing your child’s teeth as soon as you notice their teeth beginning to touch each other.
7. On Their Own – Your child can learn how to brush his or her own teeth at about 3 years of age. By the time they are four years of age, children should be brushing their own teeth twice a day – in the morning and before bedtime.They may be capable of brushing by themselves, but you should supervise to make sure they are doing it correctly.
They are getting older and now it is the time to teach them how important it is to take care of their teeth because if they do not learn now then they never will learn the importance of good dental hygiene. Dencover dental insurance have dedicated an entire web site to helping you maintain beautiful healthy teeth and offering tips and advice on the best ways that you can insure your smile.
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