Proper oral health care practices should begin in childhood and a pediatric dentist office can be a good place to start. The earlier the care taken the better would be the condition for the patients’ lifetime. Here are some tidbits about children’s dental needs.
During the first six months of life, a baby will need mouth care even before the teeth erupt through the gums. Parents should wipe the gums off after feeding and should refrain from putting the infant to sleep with a bottle.
The most common eruption is usually the two on the bottom (incisors), followed by the two on the top (incisors). Teething timetables vary but the most common time slot for those first couple is between three and nine months of age.
Pacifier or thumb sucking is a normal occurrence in early childhood. If it stops by age four or five, there will be no problem. If, however, the habit goes on when the permanent teeth are coming in, there may be problems with tooth positioning that may require orthodontic attention.
Young children should begin to practice brushing on their own during toddlerhood. Brushing and flossing adequately is difficult, however, so parents will need to help until the child is seven or eight years old and mature enough to take over the hygiene task themselves.
Toothpaste should contain fluoride by the time a baby is six months old. Only a dab of toothpaste is necessary, though. Too much is not a good thing and can cause spots called fluorosis on the enamel. Parents or caregivers should make certain that the toothpaste hasn’t passed its expiration date, as well. Fluoride makes developing ones stronger and curtails decay. Some say that the toothpaste’s fluoride is more advantageous than the brushing itself.
Healthy snacks contribute to a healthy mouth. Starch filled or sugary foods are the biggest culprits when it comes to tooth decay. These snacks break down into an acid that eats away at the enamel. If these sweet treats are chosen, proper brushing and flossing should be performed after the meal.
Early orthodontics in the form of preventative intervention can mean straighter teeth that need less time spent in braces later on. Some children as young as seven years old can benefit from preventative orthodontia.
Braces have become hip. So many adolescents have their teeth straightened these days that braces have become a rite of passage for youth. Braces come in all sorts of colors and styles to make the young teens happy to smile and show off their mouths.
Proper dental care from babyhood to adolescence can create strong and straight teeth, healthy gums and mouths. A pediatric dentist is a knowledgeable professional that can be just the gentle start that your child needs.
Tags: common time, dentist office, health care practices, healthy snacks, oral health care, pediatric dentist, pediatric dentists, permanent teeth, thumb sucking, tooth decay