What Every Parent Must Know About Their Children’s Teeth
What Every Parent Must Know About Their Children’s Teeth
As a parent, you will be continuously learning about multiple new situations that are new to you regarding your child care. Furthermore, one of the earliest things you will find out is that deciduous teeth, commonly known as a baby or temporary teeth, are different from permanent teeth. Also, they have particular considerations you must have with them.
Although the same basic principle applies, and you should brush your teeth twice a day, there is more to it if you want to ensure your children's teeth remain healthy.
However, helping your children achieve good oral health is not complicated. As long as you use a FOSOO electric toothbrush and take them to regular dental checkups, your children will continue to have bright smiles.
In this article, we will explain everything a parent must know about their children’s teeth to ensure they stay healthy.
Deciduous Teeth Can Get Caries As Soon As They Erupt
Just because they are only erupting, it does not mean that deciduous teeth are immune to cavities. As soon as the tooth crown has appeared through the gums, the enamel is vulnerable to bacteria attacks that could lead to caries.
Therefore, it is vital to begin brushing your children's teeth using a fluoride toothpaste as soon as they erupt. Even if the crown is only partially erupted.
Just like adults, deciduous teeth should be brushed twice a day. It is recommended to use a toothbrush specially designed for kids.
On one side, their head is smaller to fit inside their mouth comfortably. Moreover, using a soft bristles toothbrush will act gently on their teeth and gums while still being able to remove the biofilm to prevent caries.
Once they are old enough, the toothbrush can be replaced with an electric sonic clean toothbrush designed for kids, like the one's FOSOO offer. This encourages them to brush their teeth while enhancing their oral health.
Eruption Times Can Vary
Deciduous teeth usually begin erupting 6 months after birth, starting with the lower central incisors and followed by the upper ones. Afterward, the rest of the teeth will follow a fixed eruption pattern.
However, these times are only meant to be used as a reference. Although the eruption process is expected to begin at 6 months, every child is different, and the times may vary. In some cases, it can start earlier or later than expected, and still be considered normal. Moreover, the eruption order can also be altered. However, this can be associated with the future development of malocclusion, resulting in the need for orthodontic treatment.
Nonetheless, it is recommended to consult with a dentist if the eruption time delay drastically exceeds the regular schedule.
Fluoride Can Protect Deciduous Teeth But Also Harm Them
Fluoride is a mineral viral to maintain the teeth healthy. It strengthens your children’s teeth and helps them prevent caries.
However, just as with any other mineral or vitamin, fluoride needs to be taken in moderation, and exceeding the recommended intake can cause certain damage.
In time, a condition called fluorosis can be developed if fluoride daily intake exceeds 0.05 – 0.07 F/Kg/Day. Although this condition is usually harmless, manifesting as enamel stains, it can also cause structural defects in some cases. Therefore, creating areas on the enamel that could be harder to clean and easier for cariogenic bacteria to colonize.
However, preventing fluorosis can be simply done by stopping your children from eating toothpaste. This also includes the foam that forms while brushing and using the right amount recommended for their age.
If your children are under 3 years old, add the amount of toothpaste equivalent to a grain of rice to the toothbrush. From 3 to 6, the amount should be equivalent to the size of a pea.
Furthermore, as toddlers cannot usually spit on command, you should make sure to wipe the toothpaste after brushing.
Excessive Use Of Pacifiers And thumb Sucking Can Be Harmful
It may help children relax and feel safe. However, it can also be harmful to their teeth.
As children grow up quickly throughout their first years of life, their bones are more prone to suffer shape modifications due to external stimuli.
Therefore, the constant use of pacifiers and the habit of thumb sucking can slowly pull the frontal teeth outward, resulting in a malocclusion called open frontal bite.
This condition is characterized by the lack of contact between the upper and lower incisors when the jaws are closed, leaving an open hole while biting.
Open bite can be prevented by stopping the habit of thumb sucking and the use of pacifiers by the age of 3. Once the damage is done, it can be corrected with orthodontic treatment only.
Not Protecting Deciduous Teeth Can Be Harmful To Permanent Ones
Teeth in infants tend to be more vulnerable than adults. This could be attributed to having a thinner enamel layer, making them more prone to fractures and caries.
However, it is vital to have special care with them, as their damage could be reflected on permanent teeth. Losing a deciduous tooth prematurely can cause the other teeth to move, closing the space the permanent tooth had to erupt and making it shift into another position. This does not only cause malocclusion but also increases the risk of caries as oral hygiene may be more complicated.
Additionally, learning to care for deciduous teeth is essential to ensure your children grow up with good oral hygiene. Furthermore, although they may be similar to permanent teeth, there are a few aspects to consider.
Brushing your children’s teeth twice a day with the right amount of fluoride toothpaste as soon as the teeth start to erupt is the first step to ensuring their good oral health. However, it is vital to prevent them from swallowing the toothpaste to restrain fluorosis.
Furthermore, the prolonged use of pacifiers can also affect their teeth and oral health by developing malocclusion.
Although children’s teeth are more vulnerable due to their anatomical differences, good care and maintaining them clean will keep them shiny and healthy.
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