Oral health is of crucial significance. This is not only because the smile is the first thing that people notice in you and that it helps to create a positive first impression but also because it has great impact on your overall health.
For ensuring that your kid has a lifetime of healthy and happy smiles, you should start taking care of her oral health from a very early stage.
Practicing good oral hygiene and visiting the dentist as soon the child is 1 year old or when her first tooth emerges is not only recommended but is also essential for the child’s improved oral health. Though it is quite difficult to think of children being vulnerable to dental issues, the problems like baby bottle tooth decay and childhood cavities are quite prevalent since a very early age.
Remember that children learn healthy oral care habits from their parents. So apart from taking care of your kids’ oral health, it is essential that you take your kid for oral health check-up with a reputed pediatric dentist regularly so that her oral health is retained in the best way possible.
Here is a list of the oral issues that your little one can develop and a guide for you to deal with the early childhood carries of your kid. Just take a look.
Baby Bottle Tooth Decay – When the kid’s teeth get decayed because of consistent exposure to frequent sugars, this can be a common occurrence. This can be a problem caused by drinks like juice, milk etc. This sugar in the mouth leads to the formation of a sufficient amount of bacteria which can result in tooth decay. The damaged and decayed baby teeth can also create oral problems later in life. If your baby keeps insisting on sleeping with a bottle, you should just offer a little amount of water in the bottle instead of the sugary drinks.
Thumb Sucking – Its quite normal for the young infants to develop the habit of finger and thumb sucking. There are several dental problems that can arise if your child continues to suck their fingers beyond the age of 5 years. The teeth can get misaligned and an overbite can be created because of this. It can also lead to problems with the way the upper and lower jaws are aligned. You should use positive reinforcements to help the older kids get over the habit.
Teething – With the emergence of the teeth, some babies may start to have tender or sore gums. But remember that as opposed to the common belief, fever is not normal for the teething baby. If your baby has a persistent and unusually high fever while teething, you should contact your dentist immediately. Some of the soreness can be removed by rubbing the child’s gums with a finger or wet gauze. A chilled and clean teething ring can also ease the tender gums. You should not dip it in syrup and sugar, honey or other kinds of food. You should consult with the dentist if your child is still uncomfortable and cranky.
Thrusting of Tongue – The occurs when the tongue is pushed forth at the time of swallowing, against the lips. The thrusting can make the front teeth go out of alignment. This cannot only create an overbite but also several developmental issues. A dentist and a speech pathologist can come to the rescue in this case. For controlling the problem, you can teach your tyke a new way of swallowing with the help of your dentist.
Tooth Loss – Injury, teeth decay or inadequate jaw space can all lead to teeth loss. But if the baby teeth are lost too soon, there can be a shift among the neighbouring teeth. As a result of that, the permanent teeth can emerge at different angles. TMJ as well as improper chewing can result from crooked teeth. A space maintainer restores the tooth space until the permanent tooth arrives.
Childhood Cavities - Childhood cavities happen to be a very common phenomenon and a number of factors like decay history of parents, especially the mother, of the siblings, and of the child herself, sugar frequency in the diet, fluoride exposure, timing and frequency of brushing and flossing, quality and flow of saliva, formation of tooth, the presence of bacteria and much more play a distinctive role in her cavity formation. To prevent cavities, after each of the feedings, you can wipe the gums of the baby with a damp and clean gauze pad or washcloth. This will remove the plaque and the food bits that can harm the eruption of the teeth. You should brush with a child-sized toothbrush and water once the teeth of the child start to erupt. You do not need to worry about using the toothpaste right now. Usually around 2-3 years of age when your child can be counted not to swallow the toothpaste, you should start to brush their teeth with a pea-sized amount of toothpaste. You should use a soft child-sized toothbrush and replace it when worn out. You should talk to your dentist regarding the child’s fluoride requirement and also guide her with the right technique of brushing until she is 6 years old.
The above are some of the oral issues that your kid can experience in the initial few years of their life that you may have to deal with. You should never miss an appointment with an experienced dentist at a renowned kids dental care facility who can guide you further regarding these and ensure that your little tyke can retain a beautiful smile for years to come.
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