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| Keeping Your Child Teeth Healthy |
When Should I Start Caring for My Child's Teeth?
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Proper dental care begins even before
a baby's first tooth appears. Remember that just because you can't
see the teeth doesn't mean they aren't there. Teeth actually begin
to form in the second trimester of pregnancy. At birth your baby
has 20 primary teeth, some of which are fully developed in the jaw.
Running a damp washcloth over your
baby's gums following feedings can prevent buildup of damaging bacteria.
Once your child has a few teeth showing, you can brush them with
a soft child's toothbrush or rub them with gauze at the end of the
day.
Even babies can have problems
with dental decay when parents do not practice good feeding habits
at home. Putting your baby to sleep with a bottle in his or her
mouth may be convenient in the short term - but it can be harmful
to the baby's teeth. When the sugars from juice or milk remain on
a baby's teeth for hours, they may eat away at the enamel, creating
a condition known as bottle mouth. Pocked, pitted, or discolored
front teeth are signs of bottle mouth. Severe cases result in cavities
and the need to pull all the front teeth until the permanent ones
grow in. Parents and child care providers should also help young
children develop set times for drinking during the day as well because
sucking on a bottle throughout the day can be equally damaging to
young teeth.
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What Kind of Dentist Should My Child See?
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You may want to take your child
to a dentist who specializes in treating children. Pediatric dentists
are trained to handle the wide range of issues associated with your
child's dental health. They also know when to refer you to a different
type of specialist such as an orthodontist to correct an overbite
or an oral surgeon for jaw realignment.
A pediatric dentist's primary
goals are prevention, heading off potential oral health problems
before they occur, and maintenance, ensuring through routine checkups
and proper daily care that teeth and gums stay healthy.
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How Can I Prevent Cavities?
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The American Dental Association recommends that your child's first
visit to the dentist take place by his or her first birthday. At
this visit, your child's 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 can help in the early detection of potential
problems. Your child also will become accustomed to visiting the
dentist, which means he or she will have less fear as he or she
grows older.
When
all of your child's primary teeth have come in (usually around age
2 1/2) your dentist may start applying topical fluoride during your
child's visits. Fluoride hardens the tooth enamel, helping to ward
off the most common childhood oral disease, dental caries, or cavities.
Cavities are caused by bacteria and food that are left on the teeth
after eating. When these are not brushed away, acid collects on
a tooth, softening its enamel until a hole - or cavity - forms.
Regular use of fluoride toughens the enamel, making it more difficult
for acid to penetrate.
Although
many municipalities require tap water to be fluoridated, other communities
have no such regulations. If the water supply is not fluoridated,
or if your family uses purified water, ask your dentist for fluoride
supplements. Even though most toothpastes contain fluoride, toothpaste
alone will not fully protect a child's mouth. Be careful, however,
since too much fluoride can cause tooth discoloration. Check with
your dentist before supplementing.
Discoloration
can also occur as a result of prolonged use of antibiotics, as some
children's medications contain a large amount of sugar. Parents
should encourage children to brush after they take their medicine,
particularly if the prescription will be long-term.
Brushing
at least twice a day and routine flossing will help maintain a healthy
mouth. Children as young as age 2 or 3 can begin to use toothpaste
when brushing, as long as they are supervised. Children should not
ingest large amounts of toothpaste - a pea-sized amount for toddlers
is just right. Parents should always make sure the child spits the
toothpaste out, instead of swallowing.
As your
child's permanent teeth grow in, his or her dentist can help seal
out 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 from settling in the hard-to-reach crevices of the
molars.
Although dental research has resulted
in increasingly sophisticated preventative techniques, including
fillings and sealants that seep fluoride, a dentist's care is only
part of the equation. Follow-up at home plays an equally important
role. For example, the sealants on a child's teeth do not mean that
he or she can eat sweets uncontrollably or slack off on the daily
brushing and flossing - parents must work with children to teach
good oral health habits.
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What Should I Do if My Child Has a Problem?
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If you are prone to tooth
decay or gum disease, your child may be at higher risk as well.
Therefore, sometimes even the most diligent brushing and flossing
will not prevent a cavity. Be sure to call your dentist if your
child complains of pain in his or her teeth. The pain could be a
sign of a cavity that needs to be treated.
New materials have given the pediatric
dentist more filling and repair options than ever before. Silver
remains the substance of choice for the majority of fillings in
permanent teeth. Other materials, such as composite resins, also
are gaining popularity. Composite resins bond to the teeth so the
filling won't pop out, and they can be used to rebuild teeth damaged
through injury or conditions such as cleft palate.
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 while preventing the decay from spreading.
As your child grows older, you may
be concerned about his or her bite and the straightness of his or
her teeth. Orthodontic treatment begins earlier now than it once
did. What once was a symbol of preteen anguish - a mouth filled
with metal wires and braces - has become a relic of the past. Kids
as young as age 7 are now sporting corrective appliances. Efficient,
plastic-based materials have replaced old-fashioned metal contraptions.
Dentists now understand that manipulation of teeth at a younger
age can be easier and more effective in the long run. Younger children's
teeth can be positioned with relatively minor orthodontia, thus
preventing major orthodontia later on.
In some rare instances, usually
when a more complicated dental procedure is to be performed, a dentist
will recommend general anesthesia 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. Don't be afraid
to question the dentist. Giving your child an early start on check-ups
and good dental hygiene is an effective way to help prevent this
kind of extensive dental work. Encouraging your child to use a mouth
guard during sports can also prevent serious dental injuries.
As your child grows, plan on routine
dental check-ups anywhere from once every 3 months to once a year,
depending on his or her dentist's recommendations. Limiting intake
of sugary foods and regular brushing and flossing all contribute
to your child's dental health. Your partnership with your child's
dentist will help keep your child's teeth healthy and his or her
smile beautiful.
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