CHILDREN'S DENTAL CARE
When Should A Child First Visit The Dentist? In general, it is recommended that a child's first visit to the dentist be at around 3 years of age. This is for two main reasons. Firstly, at this age, children can understand the concept of seeing a doctor who takes care of their teeth. That is not to say that they will be able to sit through a comprehensive examination and cleaning appointment. They may not. However, this is an excellent time to introduce children to the environment of the dental office in a relaxed and non-threatening way. After all, it is their early experiences that will form their opinions of the future. A simple "ride in the chair" or the ability to play with some of the buttons and gadgets can be a fun and stimulating experience for a child. This will also make it very easy to bring the child back 6 months later for a more comprehensive visit. Secondly, at three years of age, the teeth have been in their mouths for some time and may have plaque on them. If they do, and if the child is tolerant, an easy surface cleaning can be performed. Many 3 year olds will accept this procedure. If they do not accept it, no force should occur and one can try again in six months. It is possible for a three year old to have decay in their teeth from the plaque that is left on them.
If There Is A Cavity On My Child's Baby Tooth, Why Should It be Fixed? It's Just Going To Fall Out.
When a tooth gets a cavity, parts of that tooth become infected with bacteria. These bacteria will spread throughout the tooth and eventually infect the underlying bone. At this stage, the child may have mild to severe pain. This infection can then affect the development and eruption of the secondary, adult teeth. A late sign of a severely decayed tooth may be swelling on the side of the face. It is even possible, although not the usual presentation, for the infection to spread throughout the body, making the child quite ill. In order to avoid these problems, the best treatment for a cavity in a child's tooth is early detection and a filling.
Should I Put My Child To Bed With A Bottle? The simple answer to this question is NO! One of the worst dental diseases seen in children is called nursing bottle cavities. In this syndrome, the teeth of the child, usually a very young child, are riddled with decay. Many of the teeth may need to be extracted, or at the very least, be heavily filled. The early loss of teeth may increase the possibility for the child to require orthodontic treatment in the future. Treatment of nursing bottle cavities usually needs to be done while the child is under a general anesthetic since the treatment is difficult, lengthy and the child is usually 2-3 years old and cannot tolerate the appointment while awake. This syndrome occurs because the sugars from the milk or juice are allowed to bathe the child's teeth for the whole night. While the child is sleeping, there is very little salivary flow and the tongue is not moving around to naturally cleanse the teeth. With night after night of being bathed in sugar, the teeth become severely decayed. If you think your child needs a bottle at night, or you are having difficulty taking the bottle away, make sure that the liquid inside the bottle is water. If the child will not accept the water, take the bottle away "cold turkey" and put up with a few nights of crying or slowly dilute the milk or juice with water, adding more and more water each night until it is only water.
When And How Should I Start To Brush My Child's Teeth?
As soon as the first teeth begin to erupt, parents should begin to cleanse these teeth. The lower front teeth are the first teeth to make an appearance and this occurs usually at around 6-8 months. This is the perfect time to begin a routine that at this age, the child is likely to accept. One does not have to use a toothbrush at this stage. In fact, a wash cloth wrapped around your finger may prove to be more gentle and easier to manipulate. The stimulation may even prove to be pleasurable to the tender gums around the newly erupting teeth. The introduction of a toothbrush can occur at anytime. Any toothbrush will do as long as it is small. As an added incentive, a parent can purchase a kid's toothbrush with popular characters or fancy designs. Toothpaste should not be used until the parent is sure that the child understands not to swallow the paste. Learning how to spit out the toothpaste is a skill that may not be mastered until the child is 3-4 years old. When introducing toothpaste, you may choose to begin with a non-fluoride-containing paste just in case the child does swallow some. There is also toothpaste with fancy designs, characters and pleasing tastes such as bubble gum for kids. Brushing should occur at least twice a day; morning and before bed (but after the evening bottle).
When Should I Be Worried If My Child Is A Thumb-Sucker Or Pacifier User? Many children have digit habits and/or use a pacifier. This can become a powerfully addictive habit. It even becomes one which parents come to rely on. When our children are unhappy, we grasp for anything that will quickly make them happy, for example a pacifier. It is easier for a parent to give the child the pacifier than it is to find some creative way to divert their displeasure. A diversion may not even be possible if the habit is strong enough and the child will continue to cry.
Pacifiers today are designed such that they create forces to counteract the sucking forces. They are therefore called orthodontic pacifiers and keep the teeth and jaw bones stable while the sucking is occurring. The thumb or finger is another story. There are no counteracting forces and the long term results of digit sucking include splayed front teeth, abnormal jaw development and the inability for the top and bottom teeth to come together. The treatment for these problems is orthodontics. However, the best outcome is to discontinue the habit well before the adult teeth erupt. This occurs at around six years of age. If the child is unable to stop the digit sucking on his/her own, an appliance can be cemented to the upper teeth. This appliance has an attachment that sits in the roof of the mouth and disallows room for the thumb or finger. It is left in place until the habit is curbed.
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