Healthy
teeth and gums are very important to children’s general health. Baby teeth are vital
to your child’s health and development.
Good
healthy baby teeth will cover the way for good healthy adult teeth. And by helping
children to take good care of their teeth, you are starting habits that will final
them all their lives. Good dental care should start even before those first
baby teeth appear.
These
baby milk teeth are vital for chewing, speaking and smiling. They also keep
spaces for the adult teeth. They grip space in the jaws for permanent teeth
that are growing under the gums.
When a
baby tooth is missing too early, the permanent teeth can drift into the empty
space and make it difficult for other adult teeth to find room when they come
in. This can make teeth crooked or crowded. That’s why starting infants off
with good oral care can help guard their teeth for decades to come.
It’s
important to take good care of them now and to establish the habits that will guide
your child toward a lifetime of dental health.
Unfortunately,
not every baby loves having her teeth cleaned and when baby is teething and her
gums are sore and tender, she/he might be especially unwilling.
Teething
As each
baby tooth gets to the surface of the gum, the gum opens up to show the tooth.
Many
people think that ‘teething’ babies:
Cry lots
or seem extra cranky
Don’t
feed as well as usual
Suck on stuff
such as toys, dummies and bibs
Have
more dirty nappies more often
Pull the
ear on the similar side as the tooth coming through.
These
signs might be caused by teething – or they might just be a normal part of
development or outcome of minor infections and illnesses.
Babies
sometimes polish their gums together when new teeth are starting to come
through the gum. This isn’t usually a problem.
Things to try for teething
If
baby’s gums seem sore when they are teething or baby seems cranky and dribbles
a lot, there are some things that you can do to help-
Smoothly
rubbing your baby’s gums with a clean finger. Make sure to wash your hands
first
Giving
your baby incredible to bite on, such as a cold (but not frozen) teething ring,
toothbrush or dummy
Cooking
mushier foods, which need less chewing
Giving
your baby a little firm, like a sugar-free Rusk, to suck on.
When should I begin taking my baby to the
dentist?
A dental
appointment at an early age is a “well-baby checkup” for the teeth. Take your
child to the dentist surrounded by six months after her first tooth erupts.
Risk factors include a family the past of cavities and poor dental health in
the mother during pregnancy.
Be sure
to speak what fluoride treatments your baby has already received at the
doctor’s office.
Do I need to clean my baby’s gums before his
teeth come in and when should I start brushing my baby’s teeth?
It’s essential
to care for your baby’s teeth from the start. It’s a good thought to get into
the habit of wiping your baby’s gums with gauze or a soft wet washcloth
Use simply
water on the toothbrush until your baby is 18 months old. Don’t utilize
toothpaste with babies less than 18 months of age.
For
children 3 to 6 years of age, use a pea-sized quantity of fluoride toothpaste.
Brush teeth thoroughly two times per day (morning and night).
The best way to clean your baby’s teeth
The
easiest method to brush a baby’s teeth is to sit them on your knee, with their
head resting against your chest. With an older child, stand at the back them
and tilt their head backwards.
Place
your baby in a position where you can see his mouth, and he feels safe.
Cup your
baby’s chin in your hands, with his skull resting against your body.
Clean
his teeth using soft, circular motions.
Lift his
lips to brush the frontage and back of the teeth and at the gum line.
To really give your child the superlative
chance of healthy teeth, you should also:
Only suggest
breast-milk, formula milk, or cooled, boiled water as drinks for your baby. The
best drinks for childish children are their usual milk and water.
Stay
away from sugar-sweetened drinks and fizzy drinks. These usually hold lots of
sugar and cause tooth decay.
Once
he’s a year old, try to put off him from using a bottle, and only give him milk
or water to drink at night.
Provide
your baby with a healthy, balanced diet. Give confidence him to enjoy savory
foods and drinks such as vegetables, and don’t add sugar to his food.
If you
use prepared baby foods, make sure that they are sugar-free or have no added
sugars or sweeteners.