HEALTHY BABY TEETH
Did You Know…?
It is a little recognised fact that a child’s dental care actually begins in the womb. This is why it is important that mothers take top quality care of themselves during pregnancy. Pregnant women should make sure they eat a well balanced diet full of nutritious foods that contain all the vitamins and minerals that their bodies may need during their pregnancy. It is also very important that pregnant women to have a complete dental exam and have any cavities or gum disease treated as soon as possible. Pregnant women in the UK are still entitled to free NHS dental treatment. If you are lucky enough to have a good dental insurance plan then it is likely that you have already been advised that a visit to the dental surgery during your pregnancy would be a good idea.
The Childs Developing Teeth
Your child’s first teeth usually begin to break through the gums from the age of about 6 months old. As every child is different the age can vary greatly so do not fret if the your child’s first teeth break through a little earlier or later. Each child has twenty “milk” teeth, which come out between the ages of six months and three years. These first teeth are not around for long; usually children start losing his or her milk teeth between the ages of 6 and 11 years old.At around six years old your child’s molars should come through. The last of a person’s permanent teeth usually come out somewhere between the ages of twelve and twenty-one.
By the time your child is around 8 months of age your dentist should be able to tell if the child will have any dental problems with their new developing set of teeth. While only a short term view it’s good to be made aware of any initial concerns should there be any in your child’s near future.While they may not be medical doctors, dentists often have a wide range of knowledge and experience within the dental surgery field which help them advise on a range of related issues. The best reason for taking your child with you when you go to the dentist is familiarisation. Your child will become familiar with the dentist surgery and this reinforcement will foster a relationship built on trust not fear of your dentist.
When Should Your Child’s Dental Care Begin?
Parents should schedule their child’s dental visits for every six months. Starting proactive dental care from around the time your child turns one is a great idea. From the appearance of the very first tooth, there is still a lot that parents can do. There is no need for the use of a toothbrush or toothpaste on baby’s very first teeth. The bristles of a toothbrush are far too hard for a small baby’s gums, and the fluoride found in adult toothpastes is not good for them. Whatever the pros and cons of putting fluoride into toothpaste it is a subject which will no doubt continue to be debated, but probably the best idea is to avoid it when your baby is still very young. The toothpaste is actually only a lubricant in any case and the best way to clean your baby’s teeth is to gently wipe the teeth and gums with a soft damp cloth. This will be enough to remove the sugars from breast milk, formula or other drinks containing sugars. It’s the sugars in the foods which cause tooth decay at such a young age. The rule is simple, a gentle wipe over the teeth and gums each time after feeding and you will be doing a great job. At around two years old it is easier to introduce a low fluoride toothpaste into the cleaning regime. Your dentist will be happy to advise you when choosing a brush and toothpaste for your child.
If your child has any dental problems arising from illness or injury, for example, then they should be seen by a pediatric dental specialist. If there are dental problems which are caused by underlying issues such as poor circulation your pediatrician will make you aware of any additional treatments for you to look into.
Helpful Tips
1. Avoid Sharing Cutlery.- It is normal for parents and carers to share utensils with their children. You may leave saliva on the spoon which may contain tooth decay bacteria. You can help prevent early childhood tooth decay by making sure that your family practices good dental health habits. If you do share a spoon with your baby or test the temperature of the bottled milk by taking a sip from the teat, wipe the teat or wipe your baby’s teeth and gums after they have have been fed. There is less chance that you will transfer tooth decay bacteria to your kids if you keep your own teeth and gums healthy.
2. Avoid Giving a Bottle to Send Baby to Sleep.- Do not put your infant or small child to bed with a bottle of milk, formula, juice, or other drink that has sugar in it, because the sugar and acids in these liquids can cause tooth decay. This one is a lot easier to say than to do!
3. A Healthy Diet Means Happy Teeth. – your kids will need to eat the right balance of foods in order to avoid tooth decay and develop strong, healthy gums and teeth. These include fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Try to avoid too many foods that are high in sugar and processed carbohydrates, such as pastries, white pasta, and white bread. Even the fruits that are so good for your growing child contain sugars which cause rapid tooth decay, so so you will simply need to find the best balance you can.
4. The Teeth Cleaning Process. – A soft cloth is sufficient to clean around your baby’s gums and first teeth as they start to come through.As more teeth push through, use a very soft brush with a little water to clean them.
5. Fluoride Helps Develop Strong Healthy Teeth. – By the time, your baby is 1 year old, begin to use a small amount of fluoride toothpaste while brushing your child’s teeth.
6. Flossing Time – You should begin flossing your child’s teeth as soon as you notice their teeth beginning to touch each other.
7. On Their Own – Your child can learn how to brush his or her own teeth at about 3 years of age. Children should be brushing their teeth in the morning and before bedtime by 4 years old. Even though they are brushing their teeth on their own, you should still watch them and make sure they are brushing their teeth the right way.
Now is the time to teach your children about the importance of looking after their teeth properly; if they don’t learn now it will be much harder for them to understand the importance of dental hygiene in the future. Dencover dental insurance have dedicated an entire web site to helping you maintain beautiful healthy teeth and offering tips and advice on the best ways that you can insure your smile.