When should I schedule my child's first trip to the dentist? If my 3 year old be flossing? How do I know if my child needs braces?
Many parents have a hard time judging how much dental care their children need. You know they want to prevent cavities, but they do not always know the best way to do this.
When should dental care start?
Proper dental care begins before a baby first tooth appears. Just because you can not see the teeth does not mean they are not there. Teeth actually begin in the second trimester of pregnancy form. At birth your baby has 20 primary teeth, some of which are fully developed in the jaw.
Running a damp washcloth over a baby's gums daily will help clear away harmful bacteria. Parents, children can brush their teeth as they come with a baby toothbrush with water with only a smear of toothpaste up to 2 years.
Around 2 years old, most children can spit when brushing your teeth. Use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste, with supervision until about 5 years.
Even babies can develop tooth decay, when good eating habits are not practiced. Putting a baby with a bottle could sleep comfortably, but the baby can damage the teeth. When the sugars from juice or milk remain on a baby's teeth for hours, they can eat away at the enamel, creating a condition known as bottle mouth. Pocked are pitted, or discolored front teeth signs of bottle mouth. Severe cases result in cavities and pull the necessity of all the front teeth until the permanent grow in.
Parents and childcare providers should help young children drink set specific times for each day because sucking on a bottle during the day can be just as damaging to young teeth.
Pediatric Dentists
Consider taking your child to a dentist who specializes in the treatment of children. Pediatric dentists are trained to treat associated issues related to the dental health of children, the wide range. They also know if you are referring to correct any other type of specialist such as an orthodontist overbite or an oral surgeon for jaw realignment.
A pediatric dentist primary goals are prevention (heading off potential problems before they occur) and maintenance (with checkups and proper daily care to keep teeth and gums healthy).
Prevent cavities
The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that a child's first visit to the dentist take place by the first birthday. During this visit, the dentist will explain proper brushing and flossing techniques (you need to floss once your baby has two teeth that touch) and conduct a modified exam while your baby sits on your lap.
Such visits may be in the early detection of potential problems to help and assist, children are used to, so they can go to visit the dentist less anxiety when they have to be older.
If a child appears to be at risk for tooth decay or other problems, the dentist may start applying topical fluoride, even before all the teeth (this can also be done in the pediatrician's office) may occur. Fluoride hardens the tooth enamel, helping to ward off the most common childhood diseases, oral disease - tooth decay (also called dental caries).
Cavities are formed when bacteria and food debris not wiped left on the teeth after eating. Acid collects on a tooth, softening its enamel until a hole - or cavity - forms. Regular use of fluoride hardens the tooth enamel, making it harder for the acid to penetrate.
Although many cities are fluoridated tap water demand, others do not. If your water supply is not fluoridated or if your family uses purified water, ask your dentist for fluoride supplements. Most toothpastes contain fluoride toothpaste alone but not fully protect a child's teeth. However, be careful, because too much fluoride can cause tooth discoloration. Check with your dentist before supplementing.
Discoloration may occur with prolonged use of antibiotics, and some children medications that contain a large amount of sugar. Parents should brush their children after they take their medicine, especially if the recipe for a long time use.
Brushing your teeth at least twice a day and flossing routine will help maintain a healthy mouth. Kids aged 2 years or 3 can begin toothpaste when brushing your teeth, under supervision. Children should not use a lot of toothpaste - a pea-sized amount for toddlers is just right. Parents should always make sure that children swallow instead of spit out the toothpaste.
As your child's permanent teeth grow in, the dentist can help the penetration of decay by applying a thin wash of resin to the back teeth, where most chewing occurs. Known as a sealant, this protective coating keeps bacteria to. In the hard-to-reach back teeth of columns
Dental research has improved preventative techniques, including fillings and sealants that seep fluoride led, but to see a dentist is only part of good dental care. Home care is just as important. For example, sealants on the teeth is not that a child eat many sweets or skip daily brushing and flossing - parents need to work with the kids to teach good oral health habits.
If your child has a problem
If you are prone to tooth decay or gum disease, your child may be at higher risk as well. Therefore, sometimes not even prevent the most diligent brushing and flossing that a cavity. Make sure you call your dentist if your child complains of a toothache, which could be a sign of a cavity, the treatment needs.
New materials mean pediatric dentists have more filling and repair options than ever before. Silver remains the drug of choice for the majority of fillings in permanent teeth, although other materials such as composite resins, are increasingly popular. These resins can, so that the filling does not jump out binding to the teeth and are used to damage the teeth caused by injury or diseases such as cleft palate rebuild. Tooth-colored resins are also more attractive.
But in cases of fracture, extensive decay, or malformation of baby teeth, dentists often opt for stainless steel crowns. Crowns maintain the tooth and prevent the spread of decay.
Orthodontics
As children get older, their bite and the straightness of their teeth can be a problem. Orthodontic treatment begins earlier than they used to, but what was once a symbol of youthful embarrassment - a mouth filled with metal wires and braces - is a relic of the past. Kids as young as 7 years now sport corrective appliances and efficient, plastic materials have replaced old-fashioned metal.
Dentists know that manipulation of teeth at a younger age can be easier and more effective in the long run. Younger children's teeth with relatively little orthodontia be positioned so that large orthodontia later.
In some rare instances, usually when a complicated dental procedure to be performed, a dentist will recommend general anesthesia may be used. Parents should make sure that the professional who administers the medicine is a trained anesthesiologist or oral surgeon before agreeing to the procedure.
Do not be afraid to consult a dentist. Give your child an early start on checkups and good dental hygiene is an effective way to prevent this kind of extensive dental work. Encouraging children may also prevent use a mouth guard during sports that severe tooth damage.
As children grow, schedule routine dentist visits once every 3 months once a year, depending on the dentist's recommendations. Limit intake of sugary foods and regular brushing and flossing all contribute to a child's dental health. Their partnership with the dentist helps to ensure healthy teeth and a beautiful smile.