The most important measure that will guarantee adequate oral health can be summed up in one piece of advice - visit your dentist regularly. You shouldn’t just go to the dentist when a problem comes up, you notice decay or the child is in pain; the most important thing is to see the dentist before there is a problem, to prevent them or to correct anything that may cause a problem.
Parents must make an effort to transmit trust and safety when taking a child to the dentist. It will be easier for the child to visit the dentist regularly if they do.
At what age do milk teeth begin to erupt and when do the permanent teeth begin to grow in?
Milk teeth begin to erupt at between 6 and 24 months of age, beginning with the lower, middle teeth.
At age 6, the milk teeth begin to be replaced by the permanent teeth and will be complete at age 12.
When the teeth come in, the child may experience some pain and discomfort.
Groove and space sealants
From the moment the first permanent molars come through at age 6, it is important to evaluate the need to apply a tooth decay prevention treatment. Given the shape of molars, there are grooves between them where, due to the depth of these grooves, in new teeth, the likelihood of plaque forming and of decay starting is greater.
To avoid this, whenever necessary a protective coating is applied to seal the grooves, helping to prevent plaque building up. We must not forget that this kind of protection is just a help in preventing decay, but is not a substitute for daily brushing.
How should to brush?
As soon as the first milk teeth come through, they should be cleaned using gauze dampened in water or saline solution.
Little by little, the tooth brush and toothpaste should be introduced and, until age 3, the parents should brush the child’s teeth.
The parents must supervise the child brushing their teeth until the child has enough ability to handle the brush correctly (age 6-8). Brushing will be done three times a day. At night, after cleaning their teeth, the child should not eat or drink anything except water.
Controlling our child’s diet is fundamental.
The child’s diet must always be supervised by the pediatrician. The consumption of refined sugar and cakes should be kept to a minimum and soft, sticky foods (chocolates, sweets,..) should be avoided. Acidic and/or sugary drinks (soft drinks, sodas, juices,..) should also be avoided as they attack the teeth.
Habits that are harmful to a child’s oral health.
- Pacifier: never spread a pacifier with honey, condensed milk or any other sugary products. The child should be weaned from the pacifier by 2-2.5 years to avoid misalignment of the teeth..
- Thumb sucking: should be stopped as soon as possible because it also leads to serious problems in the growth pattern of the face..
- Breathing through the mouth: if you notice that your child breathes through their mouth, consult your pediatrician.
What to do if your child breaks a tooth or a tooth is knocked out?
A blow to the milk teeth can affect the permanent teeth that are still forming.
It is important to take the child to the dentist as soon as possible. If the tooth is broken or knocked out of place, the tooth or piece of tooth should be kept in saline solution, milk or cold water and taken to the dentist as soon as possible, taking care not to wrap the tooth in paper serviettes, nor clean or scrub it.
When to take a child on the first dental appointment?
At age 4, if the parents and the pediatrician have not noticed anything untoward, it is recommended to take the child to the pediatric dentist who will supervise the child brushing their teeth and make any relevant recommendations. At age 6, a first visit to the dentist is recommended to evaluate the correct growth pattern of the face of the child and bite of the first permanent molars.
Regular visits to the dentist will be every 6 months or once a year depending on the child’s oral health and development.