Heading into National Children’s Dental Health Month is a celebration that is held by the American Dental Association throughout the month of February specifically. This month-long national health observance not only helps parents by providing them with advice on how to keep their child’s smile in good shape, but it also serves to emphasize the significance of oral health awareness in youngsters. A number of our dentists and staff members at Children’s Dental Health are making use of this occasion to disseminate information regarding oral health and to bring attention to the significance of providing dental treatment to children at a young age.
An initial tooth, a first birthday, and a first visit to the dentist.
The question “When should my child first see a dentist?” is frequently asked by new parents. There is never a time when it is too early to begin focusing on the dental health of your child! It is recommended by the American Association of Pediatric Dentists that parents establish a dental home for their child by the time the child reaches their first birthday or when they have their first tooth. During this appointment, parents and guardians will have the opportunity to ask questions and address any dental problems that may arise during the primary visit. Additionally, the dentist will use a gentle swab to examine the child’s gums and any teeth that have erupted. The dentist will be able to monitor the child’s progress and take preventative steps for any issues that may arise with your baby’s teeth as the child begins the process of teething.
For the sake of the teeth
Due to the fact that they play a crucial part in preparing room for a child’s permanent teeth, baby teeth are of very high significance. They remain in a child’s mouth for eight to ten years, during which time they have an impact on the child’s ability to speak, chew, and, of course, smile. Additionally, a child’s overall health can be inferred from the color of their baby teeth. Oral infections that enter the bloodstream and lead to other major health problems can be caused by untreated tooth decay. These infections can also allow bacteria to spread to new adult teeth.
In spite of the fact that brushing the teeth on a regular basis is an essential component of a child’s oral hygiene practice, the germs that cause tooth decay can still be found between the teeth, outside of the reach of the toothbrush. With this in mind, it is of utmost significance to assist your children in incorporating flossing into their regular regimen.
Baby bottle teeth decay is a substantial dental health risk for newborns and young children under the age of one. This danger is especially prevalent in the United States. If your child drinks a sweet beverage, bacteria in their mouth will absorb the sugar and make acid. This will happen when your child experiences this. This acid affects the enamel on baby teeth, which can lead to tooth decay if it is exposed to it for an extended period of time. This problem is exacerbated by the consumption of liquids like as milk, formula, fruit juice, soda, and any other beverages that have added sugar. In the event that your child is required to sleep with a bottle, water is the most risk-free and secure choice available.
Parents, Are You Aware of This?
In recent years, tooth decay in children has emerged as the most prevalent chronic disease in children, affecting a greater number of children than asthma. More than forty percent of children have dental decay by the time they reach kindergarten, as stated by the American Dental Association (ADA). In addition, children who have poor oral health are three times more likely to leave school due to dental pain. This is because tooth pain is a common cause of absence.
As part of an effort to combat the oral health crisis that has been plaguing the state of Pennsylvania, the state has mandated that every kid must undergo a dental examination prior to enrolling in school, as well as during the third and seventh grades. On the other hand, if your child does not receive regular checkups every six months and does not begin developing appropriate oral health practices at a young age, even minor cavities can develop into far more serious issues in their mouths.
Advice on How to Keep Your Child’s Oral Health in Good Condition
Serving patients throughout such a crucial period of early development is something that our physicians take great delight in. For the purpose of working specifically with infants and children in the monitoring of early oral development, they have received additional training beyond what is required in dentistry school to become pediatric dentists. In order to get your children started on the path to a lifetime of good smiles, we suggest that you start them off with the following oral health instructions.
Make sure to schedule regular checkups. In the event that it has been more than six months since your child has visited a dentist, it is imperative that you make an appointment as soon as possible.
On a daily basis, clean your baby’s gums. After each feeding, use a damp washcloth to gently wipe the gums over the gums in order to remove any harmful bacteria that may be present until the teeth come in.
Beginning with the first tooth, begin brushing it. If you observe your baby coming in with an infant toothbrush, you should start brushing their teeth as soon as you could. Use a small amount of fluoride toothpaste, around the size of a grain of rice, along with water to clean your teeth.
Two minutes of brushing should be done twice a day. A pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste should be used by children between the ages of 2 and 6. When children younger than six years old are brushing their teeth, be sure to keep a close eye on them because they are more prone to swallow toothpaste.
Let’s start flossing. Begin flossing in between your child’s teeth as soon as they come into contact with one another.
A nutritious snack! The teeth of your child are at risk from a variety of foods and beverages, including fruit juice, sports drinks, fruit snacks, and sticky candies. Serve calcium-rich snacks to children, such as cheese or yogurt with a low sugar content. In the event that you are forced to consume candy, it is recommended that you choose a chocolate bar rather than gummy or sticky sweets, as they might become stuck in between the teeth even after cleaning them.
Make sure they stay hydrated! Instead of drinking sugary beverages, you should stick to drinking plain old water. Sugar and other particles that can cause cavities can be removed from the mouth with the help of water. Fluoride is a substance that is found in a great number of municipal water sources. It is suggested by a number of organizations, including the American Dental Association and the United States Surgeon General, as an effective method of preventing tooth decay. In point of fact, the celebration of a whole seventy-five year period of fluoridation of water is the focus of this year’s National Children’s Dental Health Month.
Every three to four months, you should replace the toothbrush that your child uses.