There is a saying that goes; if you take good care of your body when you are young, you will have less work to do when you grow older. Parents should understand that taking care of a child’s teeth is doing them a huge favor now and in the future. Taking care of your child’s teeth with them will make the teeth healthy and strong, but will also help your child develop useful habits to carry with them into the future.
Teething in babies can begin anywhere between 4 and 6 months. They typically come in pairs and the bottom front two teeth are usually the first to appear. After some time, other teeth will begin to show up.
Children’s teeth are not as durable as those in adults. They are much smaller and weaker. Although the first teeth that grow in a child’s mouth are sharp and reliable, this does not mean they are as functional as adult teeth. Children’s teeth are not permanent, and adult teeth are.
Taking Care of Children’s Teeth
Even though the teeth are not permanent, it is still very important to take care of them. You should still be brushing 2 times a day for your children’s teeth. For new-borns, you are going to want to wipe the gums with a wet pad in order to keep them clean. There is no need for a brush until you see teeth. It is good to be gentle at this point, but make sure you are thoroughly cleaning the gums.
When you start seeing teeth – it is time to upgrade to a brush. At this point, you should brush twice daily and use a fluoride toothpaste. Similar to what you would do for adult teeth. However, you do not need to use more than a grain of rice size for this! Use only a small amount of toothpaste as there is less to clean and they are more sensitive than adult teeth.
For children 3 years and older, you should assist them in brushing their teeth and teach them proper brushing techniques. They will fall into a routine of proper oral hygiene if you do this with them.
Now, when the teeth are touching together and do not have big gaps in the middle of them, you want to begin flossing. This is meant to be done in addition to brushing. Flossing is an effective way to clean in-between teeth, whereas brushing is a good way to clean the surface of the teeth. They work best in combination. Similar to brushing, you should help your child floss at first until you are sure that they can take over and floss thoroughly.
Consequences of Poor Care Of the Teeth
It is not immediately obvious to everyone why children’s teeth are so important if they are just going to fall out anyway. This isn’t the right mind-set to be in! Children’s teeth are extremely important and play a large developmental role in your child’s mouth. The importance of them is more so than just looks.
Baby teeth hold space in the jaw where permanent adult teeth are going to form. You do not want your child to have missing teeth because then you are risking this space being manipulated and not developing properly. You want them to be healthy, and in the correct place.
If your child is to lose a tooth before expected, speak to your dentist immediately to see what the best course of action is for this case.
Teeth are also important for speaking, eating and smiling. Because of this, oral health is pivotal in order to have a happy and healthy baby.