Dental cavities are one of the primary pediatric health concerns faced in the present-day world. Cavities lead to oral discomfort, severe pain, and sometimes results in absence from school. Teeth should be taken care of from the very first day they are conceived to maintain a healthy lifestyle ahead. Indeed, milk teeth are not permanent ones, but that doesn’t imply that one can neglect to maintain dental hygiene for the temporary ones. These milk teeth make way for the permanent teeth, so the chronology of permanent teeth is affected in turn if the deciduous teeth are not taken care of.
Important Dental Habits to be Practised from Childhood:
- Gum pads should be gently cleaned using a soft moist cloth.
- For kids under 18 months, the use of toothpaste should be avoided.
- Once the milk teeth have started erupting, small baby toothbrushes or finger brushes can be used to clean them twice a day.
- Fluoridated toothpaste should be used starting at the age of 3. Toothpaste should be taken in the size of a pea, and parents can teach the child to start brushing on his/her own.
The Eruption of Primary Teeth
The eruption of primary teeth, also known as Teething, usually starts around the age of 3 months and often described as a burning sensation in the mouth. To comfort your kid from teething discomfort, here are a few things you can do:
- Massage the gums using finger cots.
- Teethers and pacifiers should be kept in the refrigerator.
Healthy Dental Habits
Children should be taught to brush his/her teeth properly by a dental professional or under the supervision of parents. The toothbrush should be replaced every three months or even sooner. An optimum brushing duration should be 2-3 minutes, twice a day.
Prevention of Cavities
Cavities are caused by the decay of hard tooth enamel and corrosive acids formed by the food debris and sugars accumulated on the tooth surfaces. To prevent early cavities in childhood, kids should be taught to maintain good oral hygiene and to reduce consumption of sugars and sticky foods.
Role of a healthy diet
Maintaining a healthy diet from early childhood plays a major role in keeping the teeth free from cavities. Foods with high sugar content or sticky consistency should be avoided. A high intake of fruits and vegetables in the diet is highly recommended for a cavities-free childhood.
Safety Measures
For certain modes of sports, children should be provided with mouthguards to protect their teeth from unwanted trauma from the fall. Various types of mouthguards are readily available in the market to protect your child’s teeth from damage caused by any accident.
Dental Emergencies
- If there is any trauma to the tooth and discolouration is seen, the dentist must be visited immediately.
- In any sort of toothache, aspirin should be avoided and medication should be prescribed by a certified pedodontist.
- In the case of tooth avulsion, the tooth should be preserved carefully and a denist appointment should be booked as soon as possible.
We hope this article is helpful to you and makes you aware of how you should care for your child’s dental hygiene.
