Starting Children Early On The Road To Healthy Teeth and Proper Dental Hygiene
One of the most noted milestones in a baby’s life is the appearance of the first tooth, generally when he’s between four and seven months old. By the time of his first birthday, he’ll probably add six or more to his smile, at which time he should be introduced to his pediatric dentist.
According to most family dental services and children’s dentistry specialists, brushing should start as soon as those first little buds pop out. Use a soft brush and a tiny dab of children’s toothpaste and gently clean back and front of the teeth. Surrounding gums should be wiped down with a clean damp washcloth, and the whole process should be approached as a normal, fun custom, just like bath time. It’s a good idea for the little one to watch mom and dad brushing and flossing, too, modeling this behavior to emulate as a lifetime habit. Of course, only special baby brushes, toothpaste and floss should be used on the little ones, but the activity of tooth care can be a family enterprise.
Most dental services for kids recommend a first visit by the first birthday, as part of a complete well-baby checkup. Incipient problems can be diagnosed and treated before they appear while the baby becomes acquainted and comfortable with the dentist. Subsequent visits should occur on a regular basis, at least twice a year, to maintain dental health and to keep problems at a minimum. The development and growth patterns of baby teeth affect the way permanent teeth come in, making it doubly important to ensure their continuing health.
Aside from daily brushing and flossing, other factors can also affect good tooth development. For example, a well-rounded diet that includes a minimum of sugar and starch and includes calcium and other minerals and vitamins essential to tooth and bone growth should become a habit. Babies should never be put to sleep with a bottle of milk, formula or juice, nor should they be breast fed to sleep. If they need to suck on something to fall asleep, a bottle of water or a pacifier should suffice. Thumb sucking can also have a harmful effect on the placement of teeth, but is not a major concern unless it continues after age three.
If done in a casual, matter-of-fact manner, a visit to the dentist should present no traumatic shocks. When a parent displays his own fear of a visit to the dentist, a child may pick up on it and also become afraid to go, so it is imperative that mom’s fear be well hidden. A pediatric dentist will put a child at ease by discussing what he’s going to do, showing the youngster pictures of the procedure and making a fun, painless game of his treatment. An early relationship with a children’s dental specialist is every bit as important as the one with his pediatrician and leads to a lifetime of good dental health.
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