Oral health concerns can impact children and infants just as they affect adults. The dietary choices your kids make can significantly influence the health of their teeth. Sugars found in sweets, baked goods, candy, milk, and juice, as well as starches in snacks like pretzels and potato chips, can contribute to tooth decay. Residues from these foods create an environment for the growth of bacteria, making it more challenging to maintain proper oral hygiene in babies and children.
It's important to recognize that healthy baby teeth, also referred to as deciduous or primary teeth, play a vital role in a child's overall health and development, despite being eventually replaced by permanent teeth.
A comprehensive dental checklist for children includes the following:
- Neonatal Teeth: If neonatal teeth, which appear in the first month of life, emerge, they should be addressed through dental hygiene practices or a visit to the dentist. Cleaning the first baby tooth that erupts around six months of age is essential.
- Teething: Children typically start experiencing teething symptoms between six months and two years of age. To alleviate teething discomfort, you can massage their gums, provide a chilled teething ring or a cold, wet washcloth, or seek recommendations for teething ointments from a dentist.
- Tooth Emergence: By the age of three, most baby teeth have emerged, and the spaces for permanent teeth begin to appear around four years of age as the jaw, supporting bone structure, and facial bones continue to grow.
- Mixed Dentition: It's normal for children to have a mix of baby teeth and permanent teeth in their mouth between the ages of six and twelve.
Essential oral health practices for children encompass:
- Tooth Cleaning: Begin cleaning baby teeth as soon as they appear, using a soft washcloth or gauze after each bottle or meal. When more than one tooth has erupted, transition to a small-bristled toothbrush with a pea-sized amount of toothpaste.
- First Dental Visit: Schedule the first dental visit by the age of one to establish a long-term dental hygiene and cleaning plan.
- Dental Sealants: Consider using dental sealants to protect teeth from decay as soon as a tooth emerges.
- Fluoride Treatments: Consult with a dentist to assess the need for fluoride treatments, which play a pivotal role in preventing childhood dental cavities.
- Dental Flossing: Initiate parent-assisted dental flossing when two teeth emerge side by side, and encourage children to floss independently as soon as they are capable.
- Orthodontic Evaluation: Orthodontic evaluations may be appropriate for children as young as seven years old. It's essential to note that these age ranges are approximate and that following the advice of your dentist is crucial.
