Dental Care for Young Children
Did you know that teeth are being formed in the mouth of a baby whilst he or she is still in the womb? They are usually still concealed beneath the gums, but many babies begin to have visible teeth anywhere between the six month and nine month mark. There is no hard and fast rule for the time of the first teeth.
On average a baby will be boasting about eight teeth by the time they celebrate their first birthday. Since this is just an average, do not worry if your baby has less or more – it is not important.
Regardless of the number of these little white teeth and when they arrive, what does matter is to start a dental hygiene program at the sight of them. They are milk teeth, of course, but just because they will naturally give way to adult teeth does not mean we should neglect them.
In fact, should the baby teeth go bad and fall out before nature demands then they can have knock-on effects on the adult teeth. The positioning of the adult teeth is dependent on the milk tooth – no milk tooth to guide the new teeth can lead to uneven or bad positioning. Even the final, adult, shape of the jawbone is dependent on the healthy development of teeth.
And of course there is the simple idea of teaching kids about caring for their teeth – getting them into good habits. By the age of three, maybe four, kids should be contributing to their own tooth brushing, though it is smart to continue the supervision until they are about seven to ensure they continue to care properly for their teeth.
But when is the right age for you to start brushing their teeth? Using a toothpaste that is specially for babies you can start brushing as soon as the tooth appears. For tiny babies you can use just a small spot of toothpaste on piece of clean gauze which you can cover your finger with – carefully clean their gums and teeth.
Are there any other tips for early dental care?
Even though it is unlikely that toddlers and babies will have serious tooth problems, it is good practice to start the dental visits. It is good for their teeth and also good for them to visit their dental practitioner when they need no work. It is not hard to imagine the negative effect on the mental health of waiting for the first visit until some painful work is needed!
The other smart thing to do that will stand your kids in good stead for later life is to go steady on sugary drinks, candies and treats. It is very important not to put sugary drinks in the baby bottle because this means that the liquid will be constantly in contact with the teeth – like a sugar bath.
Teach your kids some good dental habits when they are young and they will thank you for it as adults.
- Children's healthTeeth health Dental Hygiene for Babies Before they even enter the world a baby will have begun to form teeth. Very few new borns have visib
- Teeth health Tooth discoloration – tips to prevent it To prevent yellow teeth you have to keep a proper dental hygiene. There are some tips how take care
- Teeth health Teeth caring between dentist visits Dental care is a highly personalized health service that varies from patient to patient. As a result
- Teeth health Yellow Teeth Or How to Get Rid of Discoloration Once upon a time I had a bright smile. My teeth were white, I didn’t have bad breath and I felt mo
- Children's health Setting a Bedtime Ritual Any casual glance at child rearing guides will reveal that particular attention is paid to baby sle
- Human body Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy Common understanding and logic would make you believe that because of the physiological changes and
- Children's health Baby Sleep Routine Having a set baby sleep routine may be your best option for helping your baby transition into bedtim
- Skin care Skin Care for Men Have a look in the mirror (if you dare) and what do you see? A few wrinkles, a few laughter lines th
- Children's health Baby Sleep Babies develop consistent sleeping habits gradually. Baby sleep patterns develop by about 3 months o
- Children's health Baby Bath And Bedtime A baby bath time and bedtime can go hand in hand. The key is to make the baby bath time soothing and
- Children's health Baby Sleep Schedule If only getting your baby to sleep was as easy as singing a sweet lullaby. Though that’s not usual
- Children's health Making Your Baby Comfortable Often, it seems fairly random whether or not babies sleep well. New parents will often discuss how t
- Children's health Keeping Your Baby Relaxed Throughout The Day One of the greatest challenges for any new parent is getting their baby to sleep throughout the nigh
- Children's health Feeding During the Day Every parent of a newborn will inevitably deal with many sleepless nights. Babies, of course, have m
- Children's health Children and Exercise Children who exercise regularly are less likely to develop diabetes or become overweight and are bet