All the new parents( and parents to be) out there here's some stuff that you might find interesting for your toddlers dental health( my dentist friends are already ware of this so this blogpost is not for them).So, in the checklist of your child's regular medical check ups, vaccinations etc have you started with the child's dental check up as well.
If not then let me throw a little light upon how important is your child's PRIMARARY TEETH or commonly known as MILK TEETH.
Baby teeth may be small, but they're important. They act as placeholders for adult teeth. Without a healthy set of baby teeth, your child will have trouble chewing and speaking clearly. That's why caring for baby teeth and keeping them decay-free is so important.
You can start caring for your baby's gums right away sine the time the child is born as the child starts taking milk(rich in natural sugars since then). But at first, the care won't involve a toothbrush and toothpaste..
- Get a soft, moistened washcloth or piece of gauze.
- Gently wipe down your baby's gums at least twice a day.
- Especially wipe your baby's gums after feedings and before bedtime.
This will wash off bacteria and prevent them from
clinging to your baby's gums. Bacteria can leave behind a sticky plaque
that damages infant teeth as they erupt.
The child's first teeth erupts at around 6 months and that is the time the child needs daily cleaning of mouth as adult ,,ofcourse not with an adult tooth brush but with a moist/damp gauge or a small soft baby brush everytime the mother nurses the child or the child takes bottle feed. ( A very important fact here that the mother's milk contains natural sugars hence the child is at equal risk for tooth decay if teeth are not cleaned after every feed).
Keep on the lookout for any signs of baby tooth decay
-- brown or white spots or pits on the teeth. If you or your
pediatrician notices any problems, take your child to a pediatric
dentist for an exam.
Even if there isn't a problem, your child should go
for his or her first pediatric dentist visit by age 1. The dentist can
give you advice about:
- baby tooth care
- teething
- fluoride
When to start Brushing Baby's Teeth
When the first baby teeth start to pop up, you can graduate to a toothbrush. Choose one with a:- soft brush
- small head
- large handle
At first, just wet the toothbrush and gently remove the deposits from and around the teeth. At around age 1,
you can start using a pea-sized amount of a non-fluoridated toothpaste.
Wait to introduce fluoride toothpaste until your child is at least 2
years old.(check for the flouride levels at the back ....ideally should be bel;ow 400ppm---few brands easily available in India are...cherrio gel, pediflor etc)- well my preference is for cherrio gel by Dr Reddy's. Brush gently all around your child's baby teeth -- front and
back.
You should brush your baby's teeth until he or she
is old enough to hold the brush. Continue to supervise the process until
your child can rinse and spit without assistance. That usually happens
at around age 6.
Keep on the lookout for any signs of baby tooth decay
-- brown or white spots or pits on the teeth. If you or your
pediatrician notices any problems, take your child to a pediatric
dentist for an exam.
Even if there isn't a problem, your child should go
for his or her first pediatric dentist visit by age 1. The dentist can
give you advice about:
- baby tooth care
- teething
- fluoride
keep a checkand give your child a healthy cavity free teeth as they play an important role in taking nutrition for the child.
for more details kindly visit
http://www.drchopradentalclinic.com/kids_dentistry.php
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