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Children's Oral Health
| Care Of Primary Teeth
Primary teeth are important for several reasons. They allow the child to chew properly, maintain space for the later eruption of the permanent teeth, and are needed for proper speech development. Early loss of primary teeth can lead to future space crowding problems as the permanent teeth erupt. Orthodontic correction may be required. In addition early loss of primary teeth may cause some psychosocial issues for the child due to speech or appearance problems.
Prior to eruption of the child's first tooth, parents should wipe the child's mouth and gums with a clean damp cloth or gauze pad. Parents need to begin brushing a child's teeth at approximately six months or when the first primary teeth begin to appear. The child's first visit to the dentist should be 6 months after the first tooth erupts, but no later than 12 months of age.
"Baby bottle tooth decay" can be prevented by giving plain water at bedtime or during the night. Milk, sugar water, apple juice, or any liquid containing sugar should not be given to the child at bedtime as they can cause tooth decay if left on the teeth for extended periods of time.
Fluoride, whether in the drinking water or in the form of tablets or vitamins, has been proven to be up to 70 percent effective in the prevention of tooth decay. Parents should check with their dental or medical health care providers for instructions on when and how to get this protection.
Child's First Visit To The Dentist
Unless a problem is suspected, your dentist would like to see your child 6 months after the first tooth erupts, but no later than 12 months of age. The most important goals of this first visit are to introduce your child to the office surroundings and to develop a trust in the dentist and staff. The dentist views this visit as an icebreaker. If your child is too frightened, uncomfortable or uncooperative, the dentist's staff may have to re-schedule several short visits.
Do not try to explain the first visit yourself. Avoid phrases like "Be brave!" or "Don't be afraid." Don't bribe the child with special treats to get him or her to the office. Instead, be positive and reassuring that the visit will be fun. Present it as something to which the child can look forward.
The appointment should last 15-30 minutes and may include x-rays, a gentle, comprehensive examination of the teeth, gums, jaws, bite and oral tissues. The purpose of the examination is both to observe any problems and to establish a baseline so that the dentist can monitor the child's growth and development. Depending on your child's age and degree of cooperation, the dentist or staff member may also clean and polish his or her teeth and apply a topical fluoride.
Parents should bring any of the child's medical records to the first appointment. The staff will discuss and answer any questions you may have at that time. The dentist's objective is to be gentle and patient so that the child develops a positive attitude toward the dental office and his or her own oral health. The long-term goals are prevention and minimizing any dental problems as the child matures.
Dental Health From Birth To Age Three
Baby Bottle Nipples
Usually, your dentist would like to see your child 6 months after the first tooth erupts, but no later than 12 months of age. Prior to the child's first visit, there are many measures that parents can take to ensure good oral health.
To begin, if mom is not going to breast feed, the type of nipple used on the bottle can have a definite effect on the growth of the jaws and development of muscles and swallowing patterns. Some nipples are better than others for not promoting certain orthodontic conditions. Talk to your dentist about which type of nipple he or she recommends.
Fluoride
Perhaps the most predictable and consistent preventive measure in dentistry is the application of systemic fluoride. If your water district doesn't add fluoride to the water supply, your baby should be receiving drops of a fluoride/vitamin combination as soon as possible after birth. The first permanent molars are already calcifying by the age of three months. In this formative stage, the tooth will incorporate the greatest amount of fluoride. Studies have shown that fluoride will not cross the placental barrier, so pregnant women no longer receive fluoride preparations. Systemic fluoride is a safe and effective way to dramatically reduce dental decay, along with the cost of dental treatment. Call your dentist's office to learn if your water is fluoridated; and if it is not, he or she will be able to prescribe the proper dosage.
"Teething"
On the average, a baby will start to get its first teeth at about six months. Tooth eruption (teething) can cause discomfort for your baby, as well as many sleepless nights for you. During teething periods, your baby may exhibit excess drooling, a runny nose and/or overall crankiness. To help this situation, you may purchase some two-by-two-inch gauze pads at your pharmacy and lightly rub your baby's gums with them several times a day. This will remove a thin layer of plaque that forms on the gums, thus lessening eruption pain. Most babies will find this massaging very soothing, and some will derive pleasure from sucking on the gauze or your finger.
Baby Bottle Tooth Decay
Many parents give their babies a bottle in bed to pacify them and enable them to fall asleep. Most people mistakenly fill the bottle with milk, fruit juice or water mixed with a sweetening agent such as Karo syrup. Unfortunately, as your baby falls asleep, the tongue and nipple on the bottle pool the liquid around certain teeth. The acidic and/or sugar content of these liquids can cause severe tooth decay. This is called baby bottle tooth decay. If you must give the baby a bottle at bedtime, fill the bottle with plain tap water.
Eating Right for Your Dental Health
What we eat is significant to our overall health. General guidelines should include balance and moderation and should involve choices from the five major food groups.
1. Dairy (milk, yogurt, cheese)
2. Meat (poultry, fish)
3. Fruits
4. Vegetables
5. Whole grains (breads, cereals)
Depending on your lifestyle, vitamin and mineral supplements may be necessary.
A major cause of cavities (tooth decay) is the breakdown of refined sugars by bacteria, turning the sugars to acid, which then dissolves the tooth enamel. That's why plaque (a sticky mixture of bacteria, food and debris) removal is so important. Studies have shown that the nature and frequency of sugar intake is more important than the amount. If the sugary food is very sticky, like caramel, gummy bears or jam, it will remain on the teeth for a longer period of time. If you or your children are constantly snacking on sugary foods or sipping soda pop, you should be aware that your teeth are under continuous acid attack.
How can you prevent this problem? Avoid having sugar in the mouth for long periods of time. Stay away from sucking candies and chewing gum containing sugar and refrain from drinking soft drinks regularly (unless sugar-free). Try to cut down on the number of snacks per day. If snacking is necessary, substitute foods that most people like but that don't promote tooth decay. Examples are popcorn, pretzels, fruits, nuts, cheese and vegetables.
Consuming sugary foods with a meal or for dessert has a less detrimental effect, because increased saliva flow during meals helps to wash the food away. Also, most people brush their teeth after meals. Keeping this in mind, it is better for children to eat sweets at a time and place that allows them to brush soon afterwards.
A balanced diet is also important to keep bones and gums healthy. Foods rich in vitamin C (citrus fruits and juices, leafy vegetable, potatoes), vitamin B12 (dairy, meat) and folic acid (spinach, broccoli) will help strengthen gums and supporting soft tissue. Of course calcium from dairy foods and dark green leafy vegetables are important too as they necessary for the development and maintenance of strong teeth and bones. For those who are lactose intolerant, calcium supplements are readily available. | | Send this story to a friend | Printer Friendly |
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