Baby Teeth – American Dental Association

If you think your baby’s toothless smile is cute, just wait until their first few teeth make an appearance.

When Do Baby Teeth Come In?

A baby’s 20 primary teeth are already present in the jaws at birth and typically begin to appear when a baby is between 6 months and 1 year.

Most children have a full set of 20 primary teeth by the time they are 3. Check out this baby teeth eruption chart to see the order in which teeth break through and at what ages you can expect specific teeth to appear. Every child is different, but usually the first teeth to come in are located in the top and bottom front of their mouth.

When teeth first come in, some babies may have sore or tender gums. Gently rubbing your child’s gums with a clean finger, a small, cool spoon or a wet gauze pad can be soothing. You can also give the baby a clean teething ring to chew on. If your child is still cranky and in pain, consult your dentist or physician.

Why Baby Teeth Matter

Baby teeth are very important to your child’s health and development. They help him or her chew, speak and smile. They also hold space in the jaws for permanent teeth that are growing under the gums. When a baby tooth is lost too early, the permanent teeth can drift into the empty space and make it difficult for other adult teeth to find room when they come in. This can make teeth crooked or crowded. That’s why starting infants off with good oral care can help protect their teeth for decades to come.

When Should I Start Taking My Child to the Dentist?

After the first tooth comes in and no later than the first birthday. A dental visit at an early age is a “well-baby checkup” for the teeth. Besides checking for cavities and other problems, the dentist can show you how to clean the child’s teeth properly and how to handle habits like thumb sucking. Learn more about how to prepare for this visit.

How to Care for Your Child’s Teeth

It’s important to care for your baby’s teeth from the start. Here’s what to do:

• Begin cleaning your baby’s mouth during the first few days after birth by wiping the gums with a clean, moist gauze pad or washcloth. As soon as teeth appear, decay can occur. A baby’s front four teeth usually push through the gums at about 6 months of age, although some children don’t have their first tooth until 12 or 14 months.
• For children younger than 3 years, start brushing their teeth as soon as they begin to come into the mouth by using fluoride toothpaste in an amount no more than a smear or the size of a grain of rice. Brush teeth thoroughly twice per day (morning and night) or as directed by a dentist or physician. Supervise children’s brushing to ensure that they use of the appropriate amount of toothpaste.
• For children 3 to 6 years of age, use a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. Brush teeth thoroughly twice per day (morning and night) or as directed by a dentist or physician. Supervise children’s brushing and remind them not to swallow the toothpaste.
• Until you’re comfortable that your child can brush on his or her own, continue to brush your child’s teeth twice a day with a child-size toothbrush and a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. When your child has two teeth that touch, you should begin cleaning between their teeth daily.

More from MouthHealthy

“Early baby teeth”: Folklore and facts

Abstract

Variations in the newborns’ oral cavity have been an enduring interest to the pediatric dentist. The occurrence of natal and neonatal teeth is a rare anomaly, which for centuries has been associated with diverse superstitions among many different ethnic groups. Natal teeth are more frequent than neonatal teeth, the ratio being approximately 3:1. The purpose of this case report is to review the literature related to the natal teeth folklore and misconceptions and discuss their possible etiology and treatment.

KEY WORDS: Eruption, natal teeth, neonatal teeth

“Early doing’s and sayings” of a child is always flooded with immense pleasure in day-to-day life. Not all the early happenings in the child’s life are easily appreciated. One such thing that leads to plethora of reactions is the newborn with the new teeth at birth or too early. The folklore and misconceptions surrounding natal and neonatal teeth varies. To complicate matters further, there are various difficulties like pain on suckling, refusal to feed, traumatic ulceration faced by the mother and the child due to the child’s early teeth. These teeth are of enduring interest to both the parents and pediatric dentist because of their clinical characteristics.

Case Report

A 2-day-old male infant was referred with the complaint of two teeth in the lower jaw since birth, continuous crying, and refusal to suck milk. Oral examination revealed two crowns of the teeth in the mandibular anterior region [], whitish opaque in color and exhibiting grade III mobility. The crown size was normal; the gingiva was of normal appearance. A diagnosis of natal tooth was made. Since immediate extraction was the treatment of choice, the pediatrician was consulted and vitamin K was administered intramuscularly as a part of immediate medical care to prevent hemorrhage; and the teeth were extracted under topical local anesthesia [], which the patient tolerated well. The extracted teeth had a crown but were devoid of roots []. The patient was reevaluated after 7 days, and the recovery was found to be uneventful [].

Preoperative view showing mandibular anterior natal teeth

Postoperative view after extraction

Review of Literature

Folklore and fact

The occurrence of natal and neonatal teeth for centuries has been associated with diverse superstitions among many different ethnic groups. In some cultures like Malaysian communities, a natal tooth is believed to herald good fortune. Chinese community considers presence of these teeth as a bad omen and the affected children are considered to be monsters and beavers of misfortune. Shakespeare contributed his thoughts on natal teeth in “King Henry the Sixth” when he refers to Richard the Third in his quotation, “teeth hadst thou in thy head when thou wast born to riguity thou camest to bite the word.”[1] In England, the belief was that this condition would guarantee the conquest of the world.[2]

Massler and Savara (1950)[3] defined these teeth as natal and neonatal teeth, taking only the time of eruption as a reference. This definition has been widely accepted and followed. Natal teeth are those teeth that are present at the time of birth and neonatal teeth are those teeth that erupt within the first 30 days of life. Terms such as congenital teeth, fetal teeth, predeciduous teeth, and precocious dentition, as well as Dentitia praecox and dens cannatalis, have been used to describe these teeth.

Classification

Spoug and Feasby (1966) have suggested that clinically, natal and neonatal teeth are further classified according to their degree of maturity. [2]

1. A mature natal or neonatal tooth is the one which is nearly or fully developed and has relatively good prognosis for maintenance.

2. The term immature natal or neonatal teeth, on the other hand, implies a tooth with incomplete or substandard structure; it also implies a poor prognosis.

3. The appearance of each natal tooth into the oral cavity can be classified into four categories given below, as the teeth emerge into the oral cavity.[2,4]

4. Shell-shaped crown poorly fixed to the alveolus by the gingival tissue and absence of a root.

5. Solid crown poorly fixed to the alveolus by the gingival tissue and little or no root.

6. Eruption of the incisal margin of the crown through the gingival tissues.

7. Edema of the gingival tissue with an unerupted but palpable tooth.

   If the degree of mobility is more than 2 mm, the natal teeth of category (1) or (2) usually need extraction.[4].

Incidence and prevalence

The incidence of natal and neonatal teeth has been estimated to be 1:1000 and 1:30,000[5,6] Reports about significant difference in males and females are conflicting, with females, in general, being more affected. Natal teeth are more frequent, approximately three times more common than neonatal teeth,[1] with the most common localization being the mandibular region of the central incisors (85%), followed by maxillary incisors (11%), mandibular cuspids or molars (3%) and the maxillary cuspids and molars (1%).[3] Natal or neonatal cuspids are extremely rare.[7] As has been noted, the natal and neonatal teeth are more frequently seen in the mandibular incisor regions and are more frequently bilateral. Most commonly, these teeth are precociously erupted from the normal complement of primary teeth (90–99%). Only 1-10% of natal and neonatal teeth are supernumerary.[8,9]

Etiology

The variety of natal and neonatal descriptions suggests the lingering controversy regarding this condition and its etiological aspect. In fine the law in this regard is yet to be resolved.

1. The rate at which baby’s teeth comes through will depend on its “genetic blueprint,”[4] i.e. hereditary transmission of a dominant autosomal gene appears to be an important factor. [2,10]

2. Endocrine disturbances: It is thought to be because of excessive secretion of pituitary, thyroid, or gonads.

3. Eruption of natal and neonatal teeth could be dependant on osteoblastic activity within the area of the tooth germ.[2,10]

4. Infection: For example, congenital syphilis appears to have varying effect. In some cases, the teeth has erupted early, while in others the eruption has been retarded.[10]

5. Nutritional deficiency, for example, hypovitaminosis (which in turn is caused by poor maternal health, endocrine disturbances, febrile episodes, pyelitis during pregnancy, and congenital syphilis).[1,10]

6. Febrile status: Fever and exanthemata during pregnancy tend to accelerate eruption as they do in various other processes.

7. Superficial position of the tooth germ.

8. Environmental factors: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dibenofuran[11] seem to increase the incidence of natal teeth. These children usually show other associated symptoms such as dystrophic finger nails, hyperpigmentation, etc.

9. The most acceptable theory is based upon the result of a superficial localization of the dental follicles, probably related to the hereditary factor.[5,8,12]

Natal teeth and neonatal teeth are frequently found associated with developmental abnormalities and recognized syndromes. These syndromes include Ellis–van Creveld, pachyonychia congenita, Hallerman–Streiff, Rubinstein–Taybi, steatocystoma multiplex, Pierre–Robin, cyclopia, Pallister–Hall, short rib-polydactyly type II, Wiedeman–Rautenstrauch, cleft lip and palate, Pfeiffer, ectodermal dysplasia, craniofacial dysostosis, multiple steacytoma, Sotos, adrenogenital, epidermolysis bullosa simplex including van der Woude and Walker–Warburg syndromes.[1,13]

Complications

1. Potential risk of the infant inhaling the tooth into his/her airway and lungs if the tooth becomes dislodged during nursing, due to its great mobility.

2. Ulceration to ventral surface of the tongue: Coldrallin first described this condition in 1857. Riga and Fede histologically described the lesion, which was then started to be called Riga–Fede disease.[2,14]

3. Difficulty in feeding or refusal to feed due to pain.

4. Ulceration to the nipple of the mother and interference with breast feeding.

Clinical aspects

Clinically, the natal teeth are small, or of normal size, conical, or of normal shape. They may reveal an immature appearance with enamel hypoplasia and small root formation. Natal teeth may exhibit a brown-yellowish/whitish opaque color. They are attached to a pad of soft tissue above the alveolar ridge, occasionally covered by mucosa, and as a result, have an exaggerated mobility, with the reason of being swallowed or aspirated, in most of the cases.[5,15] Bigeard et al. revealed that the dimensions of the crown of these teeth are smaller than those for the primary teeth under normal conditions.

Histological features

In this study, ground section of natal and neonatal teeth demonstrated varying thickness of enamel and almost straight dentino-enamel junction. Dentin demonstrated irregular branching of dentinal tubules and Tomes granular layer [Figures –].

Photomicrograph showing irregular dentin (1), irregular branching of dentinal tubules (2), and thin enamel (3)

Photomicrograph showing irregular dentinal tubules (1) and Tome’s granular layer (2)

Photomicrograph showing irregular branching of dentinal tubules (1), straight dentino-enamel junction (2), and thin enamel (3)

The first report on microscopic observation of natal and neonatal teeth was given by Howkins in 1932. Histological investigations of natal teeth have been well detailed by Boyd and Miles.[16] The histological aspect shows a thin enamel layer, with varying degrees of mineralization and/or hypoplasticity to total absence of enamel in some regions. Friend et al. demonstrated that the alteration in amelogenesis was detected due to premature exposure of the tooth to oral cavity, which resulted in metaplastic alteration of the epithelium of the normally columnar enamel to a stratified squamous configuration. [4] Atubular osteodentin, such as that observed in the occlusal central fossa, is equivalent to the irregular tertiary dentin deposited in response to untoward stimuli such as caries or attrition.[14] This suggests that odontoblasts in the central fossa were exposed to the oral environment before developing a covering enamel and normal tubular dentin and responded by depositing the atubular substance. The dentin may show alterations with atypical deposition of dentinal tubules, chiefly in the cervical third, and occasionally of osteodentin, which is attributed to stimulation by movement of the teeth. It has been further postulated that the mobility may cause degeneration of Hertwig’s sheath, thus preventing root development and stabilization.[2,15,17]

The usually increased mobility causes histological changes in the cervical dentin and cementum.[8] The pulp cavity and radicular canals are wider, although the pulp shows normal development.[1] Weil’s zone and cell-rich zone are missing. [16] Absence of root formation, lack of cementum formation, lack of pulp chamber, and an irregular dentin formation are also observed. In the polarized light and micro-radiographic studies, these teeth showed enamel hypoplasia and dentinal disturbances including the formation of osteodentin and irregular dentin in the cervical portions and interglobular dentin in the coronal region.[18] Natal teeth with no enamel formation are extremely rare; there has been only one case reported, in which cartilage-like teeth erupted prematurely at birth.[17]

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of the teeth is done based on a complete history, physical examination of the infant, and by the clinical and radiographic findings to rule out being the part of normal dentition or supernumerary, so that indiscriminate extractions would be performed. A proper examination can reveal the relationship between a natal/neonatal tooth and adjacent structures, nearby teeth, and presence or absence of a tooth germ in the primary dentition would determine whether or not later belongs to normal dentition. Investigators have observed that most of these teeth are primary teeth of normal dentition and not supernumerary teeth. According to the citations, diagnosis is important to plan treatment, keeping in view the maintenance of the normal dental occlusion.[2]

Treatment and management

In confronting a typical variation in the newborn’s oral cavity, the pediatric dentist must decide between “early treatment” and the other extreme “should never be treated.” If the erupted natal and neonatal tooth is diagnosed as a tooth of normal dentition, the maintenance of these teeth in the mouth is the first treatment option, unless this would cause injury to the baby or mother.[19,20] Spouge and Feasby[21] have pointed out that prematurely erupted teeth are often well formed and normal in all respects except that they may be somewhat mobile.

Grinding or smoothening the incisal edges of the teeth was advocated by Allwright in[22] and Martins et al. in 1998.[23] To prevent the injury to the maternal breast, feeding splint was the option reported by Bjuggren (1973). [24] Goho (1996)[25] reported his treatment of natal teeth by covering the incisal margin with composite resin. Tomizawa et al. (1989)[23] reported two cases of treatment of Riga–Fede disease by covering the incisal margin with photopolymerizable resin, which aided rapid healing of the ulcers. This petty tooth can sometimes become pretty serious. Removal of natal teeth is indicated when they are poorly developed, interfere with feeding, highly mobile, and associated with soft tissue growth.

Kates et al.[23] suggested extraction as a treatment as they thought despite initial space loss, the space was regained and crowding of permanent mandibular incisors was not apparent. If extraction is carried out, it is necessary to ensure that the underlying dental papilla and Hertwig’s epithelial root sheath are removed by gentle curettage as root development can continue if these structures are left in situ. The prophylactic administration of vitamin K (0.5–1.0 mg i. m.) is advocated because of the risk of hemorrhage as the commensal flora of the intestine might not have been established until the child is 10 days old and since vitamin K is essential for the production of prothrombin in the liver.

Why Haven’t All My Child’s Baby Teeth Come In?

Your baby’s first tooth is a major milestone, and sometimes it can feel as though we’re checking compulsively for it for months before we get even a glimpse of pearly white! The age the teeth emerge will vary quite a bit from baby to baby, but waiting month to month in vain can often up the anxiety factor for parents. Children’s Dental Center has good news: your baby won’t be toothless forever!

There are several factors that can cause tooth delay, and although teeth will usually appear in good time without any help on your part, knowing the “how” and “why” behind the delay can help you relax until they do.

Normal tooth eruption

When infants are born, most of their teeth have already developed and lie within their gums. They typically begin to emerge by around six months of age. The two lower front teeth tend to be the first to appear, with the four upper front teeth following. Other teeth generally arrive two at a time – one on each side. By the age of three, almost all kids will have a complete set of 20 baby teeth, which are also called primary, milk, or deciduous teeth.

What is considered a delay in tooth emergence?

As we’ve mentioned above, the age at which babies experience their first tooth eruption will vary widely. There is, however, what we would consider a normal range for the appearance of baby teeth. You can usually expect to see the first tooth between 4-15 months, with your baby having, on average:

• four teeth by 11 months old
• eight teeth at 15 months
• twelve teeth at 19 months
• sixteen teeth at 23 months

Teeth that don’t follow this normal tooth eruption pattern aren’t necessarily a concern, but having no teeth at all may signify a dental issue that needs further examination. If your baby has no teeth by 18 months or so, we recommend a visit to a dentist. Here at Children’s Dental Center, our doctors are all pediatric dental specialists, making them uniquely qualified to treat infants and young children.

Causes of delayed tooth eruption

There are several reasons a child’s teeth may emerge outside of the normal schedule, such as

• premature birth and low birth weight
• genetic abnormalities such as regional odontodysplasia and amelogenesis imperfecta
• vitamin D-resistant rickets
• nutritional deficiency
• cerebral palsy
• certain congenital syndromes
• cysts or tumors in the gums
• anemia

In some cases, late tooth eruption could just be a family trait, so if your mom has a good memory or you have access to your baby books, it might be worth seeing when you or your siblings cut your first tooth to compare!

A note on absent teeth

There is a congenital syndrome called adontia, the absence of any teeth at all, which occurs rarely and will normally affect the permanent teeth rather than the baby ones. Hypodontia is a different dental issue, where between one and six teeth are missing, as well as oligodontia, the absence of six or more teeth, and both are more common than adontia and often genetic.

The importance of baby teeth

A child’s primary teeth are important on multiple levels, from facial appearance to eating and speaking. They can affect things such as:

Speech development: Take the time to talk to a child with two missing front teeth sometime. Notice anything? This is an easy example of how greatly the presence of teeth contributes to a child’s ability to speak clearly. This holds true for properly aligned teeth as well. Even for babies, teeth that are healthy, well spaced, and reasonably aligned can contribute greatly to their ability to form words and speak clearly.

Proper chewing and eating: Proper digestion begins with the mouth, and a baby’s teeth are of huge importance when it comes to overall oral health and wellness. The process of chewing helps to break food down into digestible sizes. A child eating a diet rich in variation and texture stimulates and exercises the gums, and also provides a cleansing action for the teeth.

Development of muscles and jaw bones: Chewing, along with sucking, provides your baby with the opportunity to exercise their facial, tongue, and jaw muscles. Without well-developed jaw muscles, there is a possibility the jawbones won’t form properly. Chewing a wide variety of texture in food is a great opportunity for you little one to develop strong facial muscles and jaws!

Dental care for delayed teeth with Children’s Dental Center

If your baby has an endlessly gummy smile, you can enjoy it for quite a while before questioning a potential delay in tooth eruption. However, for kids who are tooth-free outside of the normal development schedule, setting up a dental visit with a trusted provider like Children’s Dental Center is recommended. A dental evaluation will be able to determine the reason for any delays in tooth emergence, giving your baby a headstart on recognizing and treating any potential problems.

With an office set up specifically for even the youngest patient, Children’s Dental Center is proud to provide comprehensive treatment to children in Midtown Memphis, Germantown, Arlington, and the surrounding areas. If you’re in the Mid-South and worried about the possibility of your baby’s teeth being delayed, or if you just have questions and concerns about their oral health we can help you with, get in touch with us today! Remember, however early or late they erupt, caring for your child’s teeth as soon as they appear is the best gift you can give them for long-lasting oral health.

Dental Hygiene: How to Care for Your Baby’s Teeth

Healthy teeth are important to your baby’s overall health. They help your baby eat and form sounds and words. They also affect the way your baby’s jaw grows. Good oral care helps set good dental habits as your baby grows. Poor oral care can lead to infection, disease, or other teeth problems.

Path to improved well being

In general, baby teeth start to appear between 4 and 7 months old. But each baby is different. The first teeth to come in are usually the 2 bottom front teeth.

The process of your baby getting teeth is called teething. When your baby starts teething, you may notice that they drool more or want to chew on things. For some babies, teething may be painless. For others, their gums may be sore. They may be fussy. Other symptoms of teething are loss of appetite and trouble sleeping.

These tips can help relieve your baby’s discomfort.

• Give your baby a cold teething ring or a cold washcloth to chew or suck on.
• Rub your baby’s gums with a clean finger.
• Ask your doctor if your baby can have infant acetaminophen (one brand name: Tylenol). Do not give your baby aspirin. Aspirin can cause Reye’s syndrome, a serious illness that can lead to death in children under 18 years old.
• Ask your doctor before using teething gels or tablets.

Teething does not have to interfere with breastfeeding. You can continue to breastfeed your baby as usual once they start teething.

Clean your baby’s teeth and gums with a wet washcloth or gauze. Do this at least once a day or after feedings. Once your baby starts to get teeth, clean their teeth and mouth at least twice a day. When your child is 1 to 2 years old, switch to a soft baby toothbrush with water. Add a small dab of toothpaste that does not have fluoride in it. This type of toothpaste is safe for your baby to swallow. Brush your baby’s teeth at least twice a day. You also should start using floss in between your baby’s teeth

Things to consider

• Always hold your baby when you give them a bottle. Do not leave a bottle in the crib. Do not let your baby fall asleep with a bottle. The milk can collect in your baby’s mouth and cause tooth decay.
• Do not give your baby a sippy cup of juice or milk in the crib. Your baby can start using a sippy cup when they are about 6 months old. Stop giving your baby a bottle when they are 1 year old. Do not let your baby walk around with a sippy cup unless it has only water in it.
• Once your child is 1 year old, give them water or plain milk between meals instead of other drinks. Only give them juice or flavored milk with meals. Juice and flavored milk have a lot of sugar in them.
• You can give your baby a pacifier, but only when needed. Try to stop using a pacifier around age 2. The same age applies for babies who suck their thumbs. Prolonged use of a pacifier or thumb sucking can cause problems with teeth alignment. Talk to your doctor about which type of pacifier you should use. Always use a clean pacifier. Do not dip it in honey or another substance that has sugar.

When to see a doctor

Your baby should see a dentist for the first time around their first birthday. This is important if they are at high risk for cavities or other teeth problems. You can choose a dentist that specializes with kids.

Teething should not cause a fever. Call your doctor if your baby has a fever.

Questions to ask your doctor

• What are other ways to sooth my baby during teething?
• How do I know if my baby is at risk for cavities or other teeth problems?
• When can I start using toothpaste with fluoride?
• How can I stop my baby from sucking its thumb or wanting a pacifier?

Resources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Children’s Oral Health

National Institutes of Health, MedlinePlus: Child Dental Health

Copyright © American Academy of Family Physicians

This information provides a general overview and may not apply to everyone. Talk to your family doctor to find out if this information applies to you and to get more information on this subject.

Teeth and Gum Care for Infants and Toddlers

Everyone knows dental care is important for children and adults, but what about baby teeth? Dentists tell us that teeth and gum care should begin even before the first baby tooth appears.

Why Healthy Baby Teeth Are Important

It’s important to keep baby teeth clean and healthy because:

• Baby teeth hold spaces open for the permanent teeth to come in. 

Baby teeth help to:

Form the shape of your child’s face.

• Make it easier for your child to talk more clearly.
• Make chewing and eating easier.
• Tooth decay can result when baby teeth are not cared for. Tooth decay causes:
• Pain and discomfort.
• Infections that can affect the child’s total health.
• Need for costly dental care.
• Damage to the underlying permanent teeth.
• Missing school or needing emergency care.
• Loss of the space needed for permanent teeth to come in.

How Many Teeth and When?

• The first teeth are already present inside your child’s jaws at birth.
• Usually by 6 months, the first tooth will appear in the mouth (Picture 1).
• Your child has 20 teeth by the time he or she is 2 1/2 to 3 years of age.
• The front teeth fall out between 6 and 7 years of age. The back teeth (those used for chewing) don’t fall out until the child is 10 or 12 years of age.
• To keep the teeth healthy, it’s very important to care for the baby’s gums and teeth even before they appear in the mouth.

How to Clean Your Child’s Mouth

Even before the teeth begin to come in, you should clean baby’s mouth at least once a day with a clean gauze pad or soft cloth. This should become a regular habit. To clean the child’s teeth and gums:

1. Sit on a sofa or chair with your child’s head in your lap (Picture 2). Or if someone is helping you, place the child’s head in your lap with his feet toward your helper. It is important your child is comfortable and you can see easily into his mouth.
2. Place a clean gauze pad or soft cloth over your finger. Dip the gauze in water so that it’s damp, but not soaking wet. Wipe your child’s teeth and gums gently.
3. When your child’s teeth start coming in, begin to use a small, soft toothbrush to brush his teeth. Be sure to brush all surfaces of the teeth, including the gums.
4. It is not necessary to use toothpaste, but if you do, use a small amount of fluoride toothpaste (about the size of a small pea).
5. Children should be able to brush their teeth totally unsupervised by age 11. Until then, parents should watch or help, based on their child’s abilities.

Things You Can Do to Prevent Tooth Decay

Tooth decay is caused by bacteria in the plaque (plak) that forms on teeth. When your child eats food or takes medicine that has sugar in it, the bacteria produce acids. These acids destroy the teeth. To prevent tooth decay:

• Clean the baby’s teeth with gauze or a soft cloth after each feeding. When the child is older, you may use a toothbrush.
• A young child is not able to brush every tooth surface in his mouth and does not know how important it is to brush the teeth well. This is why an adult should brush or clean the child’s teeth at least once a day until the child is about 7 or 8 years of age.
• Don’t give the child large amounts of sugary foods or liquids such as juice, Kool-Aid® and soda pop. Offer sweets only as dessert.
• When you start using toothpaste to clean the child’s teeth, be sure it contains fluoride (but use only a small amount – the size of a small pea).

How Fluoride Helps

• Fluoride is one of the best ways to prevent tooth decay. It makes teeth stronger so they can resist the acid and bacteria that cause tooth decay.
• Fluoride should be provided in either the drinking water or as a supplement in the form of drops or tablets, with or without vitamins. Ask your child’s dentist or doctor about providing your child with fluoride if you don’t have fluoride in your water.
• When your child is about 2 years of age, fluoride treatments should begin. Your dentist or dental hygienist applies a fluoride solution on the surface of the child’s teeth to give the teeth added protection.

Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

Severe tooth decay can occur when your baby is allowed to use either the bottle or the breast as a pacifier. When a baby goes to sleep with a sweetened liquid in his mouth (such as cow’s milk, formula, breast milk, soda pop or apple juice), the acid that is formed breaks down the tooth enamel very quickly. Instead of being swallowed and washed away by saliva, the liquid stays around the teeth and causes damage.

• To prevent “baby bottle tooth decay”:
• Avoid bedtime and nap time feedings.
• Avoid long or frequent feedings.
• Wipe your child’s teeth off after feeding.
• Don’t put your baby to bed with a bottle.
• Give baby a small amount of water at the end of the feeding.
• Use the bottle at feeding time only and not as a pacifier.
• Wean the infant from the bottle or breast to a cup by 12 months of age (Picture 3).

Teething

• As teeth appear in the mouth, your baby may have some discomfort. Your baby’s gums will be sore and he may get cranky or fussy.
• It often helps if you gently rub the baby’s gums with a clean finger. Sometimes it’s helpful to give baby a clean, cold object to chew on. Try giving a teething ring that you’ve kept in the refrigerator or a non-sweetened teething biscuit.
• Teething doesn’t make a child ill, just uncomfortable. Often it seems a cold or mild fever goes along with the drooling and chewing. If your child seems ill, call your doctor. Something other than teething may be causing the problem.

Thumb-sucking and Using a Pacifier

It’s natural for all babies to want and need to suck. Usually there’s no damage to the teeth from thumb-sucking or using a natural-shaped pacifier unless this continues beyond 5 years of age. After age 5 the habit could affect the permanent teeth as they come in.

Early Dental Visits

Your child should be seen by a dentist before he or she is 2 years old. After that, he or she should have regular “happy teeth” check-ups to make sure the teeth stay healthy. If you have any questions, be sure to ask your child’s dentist, dental hygienist, or doctor, or call the Dental Clinic at (614) 722-5650 or ___________________.

Dental: Teeth and Gum Care for Infants and Toddlers (PDF)

HH-IV-29 5/89, Rev. 7/10 Copyright 1989-2010, Nationwide Children’s Hospital

Baby Teeth 101: When Do Your Baby’s Teeth Come In?

We’re often asked by our families when their baby’s teeth come in and how early we see babies for dental care. We put together this helpful infographic for you.

When babies reach 3 months of age, they’ll start producing more saliva and exploring the world with their mouth… but that doesn’t mean that they’re teething. A baby’s first tooth usually appears around 6 months of age but may even take a year. Most children have all their baby teeth by age 3.

Here’s the breakdown – take a look at the graphic below for the order each tooth will come in at:

• Ages 6 to 12 months – your baby will start to get their first 4 teeth. At 6 months of age, you can begin using tap water in their bottle – which helps prevent tooth decay.
• Ages 9 to 16 months – your baby may have its first 8 teeth. We accept appointments to see your baby when they turn one year old.
• Ages 13 to 19 months – your baby may have its first 12 teeth.
• Ages 17 to 23 months – your baby may have its first 16 teeth.
• Ages 12 – 33 months – your baby may have its first 20 teeth.

Care for Teething Pain

Parents often notice discomfort and additional saliva as babies get their first tech. You can help ease teething pain by massaging your baby’s gums with clean fingers. You can also provide solid, teething rings or a clean frozen or wet washcloth.

Care For Your Baby’s Teeth

During your well-baby visits, your pediatrician will check your baby’s teeth and gums. They’ll make sure they’re healthy and talk to you about how to keep them that way. They’ll also typically apply fluoride varnish to help protect them.

When your baby gets its first tooth, you can begin brushing them twice a day. We recommend buying a soft-bristle baby toothbrush with a smear of toothpaste about the size of a grain of rice. You also won’t want to put your baby to bed with a bottle as it can lead to tooth decay.

Your Baby’s First Dental Visit

Teeth and teething | Ministry of Health NZ

Title: Your Child: Healthy Teeth. Episode 14 of 15.

Title: Renee & Dez’s Whānau

[Shots of Renee and Dez’s home.]

Debbie (voice-over): It’s really important for your child’s first teeth to be looked after, for their own growth and development. They need them for eating, speaking and generally keeping well.

[Interview with Debbie.]

Title: Debbie Jennings, Dental Therapist

Debbie: My name is Debbie. I am a dental therapist with the school dental service in Wellington. I am here today in Dez and Renee’s home, talking to them about how to look after Aidan’s teeth.

[Interview with Renee and Dez.]

Renee: Hello, I’m Renee.

Dez: Hi, I’m Dez. We have a three-year-old son named Aidan.

[Shots of Aidan playing.]

Title: Aidan, 3 years old

Dez (voice-over): He’s a very lively, very bubbly sort of little guy. He’s just your typical three-year-old that runs around a lot, and really enjoys brushing his teeth now.

[Renee brushes Aidan’s teeth. Aidan resists.]

Debbie (voice-over): Baby will get their first tooth at around six months of age. It’s important that we start brushing those teeth as soon as they come through. They will continue teething until around two-and-a-half to three years of age. They will then have twenty teeth.

Renee (voice-over): Aidan’s first teeth started coming in at seven months, so as soon as they came in we started brushing his teeth. It was quite easy for a while, until he got to about a year-and-a-half. Then it was quite difficult for us to brush his teeth. He was quite resistant to a toothbrush. We tried so many different methods.

Debbie (voice-over): It can be quite challenging when they’re little pre-schoolers. Just remember their mouth is really sensitive, and it’s got to be done gently.

Renee (voice-over): Now at three years old, we’re in a routine where we brush his teeth in the morning after breakfast and at night before he goes to bed.

Debbie (voice-over): It’s really important for an adult to brush their child’s teeth until around eight years of age. We need to be doing it for two minutes after breakfast, and especially at bedtime, and that’s to get rid of all the food and the drink we’ve had during the day, so it’s not sitting on our teeth when we sleep. Otherwise the saliva, which you don’t get at night time, can’t wash all those foods off your teeth, and that’s when the food will eat into your teeth, and you’ll end up with holes.

[Renee prepares fruit.]

Debbie (voice-over): As kids are snackers, it’s important we protect and look after their teeth in between meals. We need to be feeding them fresh fruit and vegetables, and healthy alternatives like dairy products or plain crackers.

[Aidan eats an orange.]

Dez (voice-over): We give him healthy snacks as opposed to sugary treats, because that will help in the long term with his teeth, and also his health.

[Renee leads Aidan to the bathroom and helps him brush his teeth.]

Renee (voice-over): On a typical day, after he’s had his breakfast, I will take him into the bathroom. We keep his toothbrush in a special bag, so I take it out, and put the toothpaste on it for him, and give him the toothbrush, and let him play around with it for a little while. And then when he’s done brushing his teeth, I play a special song, which times out two minutes, and then I do a thorough clean of his teeth, brushing his teeth and his tongue. And then when the two minutes is over, the song will stop. Then he’s finished brushing his teeth for the morning. That’s him done.

[Interview with Debbie.]

Debbie: Just remember, their tooth is like a little box, and we need to make sure we get all those surfaces. The top of the teeth, around the sides, the tongue, and also the gums. It’s also important that we use a full-strength toothpaste, but just a little smear, as soon as their teeth start to come through. We don’t lose our last baby tooth until about eleven or twelve years of age, so it’s important to keep them healthy so they can guide the position of the big teeth coming through. I’d really like to encourage you parents to look after your children’s teeth and help them end up with a lifetime of happy, healthy teeth.

Title: Our thanks to the families and health workers who appeared in this video for the Ministry of Health. Find out more about pregnancy and child health on www.health.govt.nz/yourhealth.

Doctor Ulyanov pediatric dentistry

Pediatric dentistry

Evgeniya Pavlovna Bezobrazova

Why does a child need a pediatric dentist?

A pediatric dentist is a doctor who has received a special dental education after graduating from university and limits his medical practice to working only with children. Pediatric dentists specialize in the treatment of infants, children and adolescents, as well as children with special health problems.

When do I need to show my child to the dentist for the first time?

The first time a child should visit the dentist no later than at the age of 1 year (or better – even earlier, with the appearance of the first teeth). By starting to visit the dentist on time and continuing to do it regularly, you instill in your child a healthy habit that will stay with him for life.

Why so early? What dental problems can a small child have?

During your first visit to the clinic we:

1. We will examine the child for possible dental diseases.

2. We will tell you about early childhood caries, which occurs due to improper nutrition or some children’s habits. We will give advice on how to avoid tooth decay.

3. We will recommend what you need to do to prevent tooth injury.

4. We will tell you all about the correct growth and development of teeth.

5. Imagine a prevention program that will protect your child from future dental problems.

How often does my child need to see a pediatric dentist?

To prevent tooth decay and other diseases of the oral cavity, it is recommended to see your child to the dentist four times a year. Some children need to visit the dentist more often because they are more at risk of various diseases, their teeth do not grow properly, or they do not have good oral hygiene.

Why are baby teeth so important?

Milk teeth are very important for a number of reasons, the main ones being:

1. They allow children to chew normally and get all the necessary nutrients from food.

2. Milk teeth are responsible for articulation and the development of correct speech.

3. They help molar teeth to erupt in a timely and correct manner, keeping space in the mouth for them.

4. A healthy smile helps your child feel confident.

What happens if milk teeth are not treated?

First, the affected teeth can hurt so that the child cannot eat properly.Secondly, the disease can become more complicated and dangerous to your overall health. In the future, this can negatively affect the health of permanent teeth and the formation of bite.

Why is it difficult to treat children?

The complexity of caries treatment in children is due to the fact that not every child will agree to sit in the same position with his mouth open for a long time. This is why dentists, until recently, simply did not try to treat children as well as adults. How the treatment was carried out: the child is put in the arms of the mother, who, as much as she can, keeps him – struggling and screaming – in the desired position.Of course, the quality of such treatment cannot be high – it is not possible to completely remove the infected and affected areas of the tooth. The materials used for such treatment are imperfect and outdated. Their task is to freeze as quickly as possible in order to somehow “close up” carious holes. Unfortunately, this leads to rapid loss of fillings or, even worse, further complications.

Can composite fillings be placed on children?

Modern composite materials – durable, hygienic and aesthetic – until recently were not used at all in Russian pediatric dentistry.It is necessary to thoroughly dry the tooth and wait until the material has completely hardened. And for this, the child must be in the chair for a long time.

Treat or remove carious teeth in children?

Of course – to heal! The goal of our pediatric dentists is to preserve the tooth until it changes naturally. Early extraction of deciduous teeth leads to a number of serious disorders:

• to difficulty in the eruption of the main tooth. Adjacent teeth begin to move out of place, filling the empty space, and a permanent tooth may erupt out of place. Then, in adolescence, the problem of aligning the teeth and correcting the wrong bite will arise.

• The absence of milk teeth negatively affects the normal chewing of food, and in fact the digestion of food begins in the mouth.

• there is a violation of diction.

Start with poor hygiene!

In food debris, not removed, not cleaned from the surface of the teeth, bacteria settle and actively multiply.Pathogenic bacteria feed mainly on sugars and carbohydrates, they begin to multiply rapidly, and then plaque forms. He is the main factor due to which caries develops in deciduous and permanent teeth. This explains the strong recommendation of dentists to thoroughly brush your teeth and rinse your mouth after each meal. Oral hygiene is an urgent task for children.

Plaque

Dental plaque is very viscous and is very firmly attached to the surface of the teeth.It is difficult to remove it with an ordinary brush, and if it is already completely formed, then it is impossible.

In the mouth of each person there is a constant process of self-cleaning of teeth with the help of saliva, because it has bactericidal properties. So saliva is a great help to toothbrushes. But over time, plaque accumulates on hard-to-reach tooth surfaces.

Normally, there is a slightly alkaline medium in the mouth, while in plaque it is acidic. Acid constantly, day after day, acts on the enamel and destroys it.Demineralization of enamel develops, mineral components are gradually washed out of it. The enamel no longer becomes smooth, but porous. Microorganisms (bacteria) penetrate into these pores and continue to destroy the tooth there. All these unpleasant processes are absolutely invisible and proceed without symptoms until a certain point. When bacteria make a hole in the enamel, they get to the dentin – the main tissue of the tooth, and then the first signs of caries appear. The enamel on the surface of deciduous teeth is very thin, especially between the teeth and at the edge of the gums, so that decay of deciduous teeth develops extremely quickly.

Dentin

Dentin is much softer than enamel. It is 75% organic (and the remaining 25% inorganic). This tooth tissue breaks down much faster than enamel, which is the most durable tissue in the human body. This explains why decayed teeth look healthy at first. Indeed, in the enamel you can see only a small hole, but in the dentin, inside the tooth, there can be much more extensive destruction. But the situation is not hopeless, because decay of milk teeth is treatable.If you go to a pediatric dentist in time, the disease will be cured quickly and effectively.

How to take care of your teeth from 0 to 1.5 years old?

The baby has teeth – they need to be cleaned! If your child is too young to brush your teeth, we advise you to clean your teeth and gums with clean gauze moistened with water or special disposable dental wipes sold in pharmacies. At the age of up to a year and a half, they should wipe their teeth twice a day.

Patiently and persistently teach your child to be positive about this procedure. This is a guarantee of the health of his teeth in the future. A child who, from early childhood, has learned to open his mouth on demand, without experiencing negative emotions, is likely to visit the dentist without fear in preschool and primary school age.

What is bottle caries?

Even a very young child with his first teeth already needs oral care. Carbohydrates in mother’s milk have the same negative effect on the fragile enamel of children’s teeth as any other food.Early childhood, the so-called “bottle caries”, is especially common in children. Its main reason is the habit of giving the child a bottle of milk or juice before bedtime (during sleep).

After the evening brushing, the baby should not be fed until the next brushing. If the child eats at night, the teeth should be cleaned with a napkin after each meal. If the child does not have congenital underdevelopment of the enamel, such care guarantees the absence of bottle (early childhood) caries.

How to brush your teeth at 1.5-2 years old?

The child already needs the first toothbrush. She should have:

• Small size of the working part (bristles).

• Soft bristles.

• Comfortable handle.

A child’s brush should please its owner – then he will brush his teeth with great pleasure.

At the age of one and a half to two years, it is necessary to teach the child to brush.This should be done in a playful way, in the bathroom in front of the mirror, standing next to the child. The child can stand on a small ladder or stool. The bathroom should be well lit.

Should I brush my child’s teeth?

A child at this age can concentrate on this process for no more than a minute. And yet, brushing your teeth itself should be complete – teach your child to accept the help of parents. Let him first brush his teeth himself, and then you will help him to do it with your hand. And to complete the procedure that is still too short, you can use a napkin.

What is important in dental hygiene at the age of 2-4 years?

After two years, it is worth giving up napkins and cleaning only with a brush. It is a good idea to have 2 brushes of different shapes and colors. One (without paste) is played by a child, and the other is cleaned by a parent with a small amount of paste (without fluoride).

We recommend holding the baby brush like a ballpoint pen. Since the child does not open his mouth wide, it is necessary to grope the lateral teeth with the index finger, and then move the working part of the brush to the tooth and clean the chewing surface in a circular motion.

The left upper and lower teeth should be brushed while standing to the right of the child and with the right hand, and the right side – standing to the left with the left hand. That way, you can sometimes see the teeth you are brushing. The front upper and lower teeth should be brushed at the very end, remembering to clean the lingual surface.

Correct technique is half the battle!

Your movements should be sweeping, on the upper jaw from the root downward, on the lower jaw – from the root upward. Make longitudinal and circular movements on the chewing surface.Proper brushing of teeth should last at least 2 minutes for the smallest, and 3 minutes for older children. It is worth buying an hourglass or a special clock with music to keep track of the time, which plays while brushing your teeth. Important! Actively monitor and help a child up to 8-9 years old to brush their teeth.

What kind of toothpaste is needed at a certain age?

Children’s toothpaste differs from an adult one, since milk teeth are different from permanent ones.Never brush your child’s teeth with your toothpaste! If for some reason there is no toothpaste for children, it is better to brush the child’s teeth simply with a brush moistened with water. Give preference to brands that produce toothpaste for different children’s ages.

• From 0 to 3 years – with low abrasiveness, fluoride-free, hypoallergenic.

• From 4 to 7 years old – with low abrasiveness and low fluorine content (500 ppm).

• From 7 to 12-14 years old – with reduced abrasiveness and fluoride concentration, as in adult toothpastes (from 1000 ppm).

How to teach a child to brush his teeth willingly?

This task is not easy, but it needs to be done. Continue patiently and consistently in the right direction. Let brushing your teeth be associated with pleasant events for the child (morning walk, reading a book at night, watching the program “Good night, kids”, etc.). Brush your teeth together. Let your child watch you take care of your teeth.

Do you need professional cleaning?

Professional teeth cleaning is not a luxury.From time to time, you need to trust this procedure to a professional. Professional cleaning of teeth will significantly reduce the risk of caries, teach a child to calmly undergo a medical examination, detect problems in time and begin treatment. The first time to show the child to the dentist is after the appearance of the first 1-2 teeth, and then every 3-4 months. These visits will save you a lot of money and nerves in the future.

Why are baby teeth so important?

Your child needs healthy teeth to chew food thoroughly.He must learn to speak correctly, and milk teeth will also help him in this. Healthy temporary teeth reduce the risk of permanent dental problems. After all, a neglected infection can spread not only to neighboring milk teeth, but also to the rudiments of permanent ones! The bacteria that provoke the development of tooth decay are not specific “dental” microbes. Reproducing in the oral cavity, they significantly increase the risk of developing stomatitis, otitis media, tonsillitis, all kinds of tonsillitis and pharyngitis.

What are fissures? What is their sealing for?

Fissure sealing is a way to prevent dental caries. Caries has two favorite areas – the interdental spaces and the fissures of the teeth. It is here that food is retained and bacteria that cause caries easily develop. Fissures are grooved depressions on the chewing surfaces of the teeth. Caries that occurs in these grooves is called fissure caries.

Fissures are filled with special filling materials – sealants.Many sealants contain fluoride, which allows for long-term local fluoridation. This method of caries prevention is very reliable, it does not take much time and protects teeth for many years.

How is the sealing of fissures going?

This is a completely painless procedure, therefore it is performed without anesthesia. The surface of the tooth is thoroughly cleaned, then the fissure is filled with a light-curing sealant. Everything is done in one visit, and your child can eat right after visiting the dentist.

When should a fissure seal be done?

The child has the first permanent chewing teeth, he is not yet able to brush them as thoroughly as adults. Teeth require quality care from the very first days of eruption. It is very important that this procedure takes place in the first year or two after teething. It is at this time that the enamel of the tooth matures, it requires special protection. This occurs at the age of 6-7 years. It is recommended to visit a pediatric dentist every 3 months in order not to miss an important teething moment.It is important to notice the appearance of a permanent tooth in the milk arch.

Sealant is recommended not only for permanent chewing teeth, but also for milk teeth with fissures.

What is special about the “sixth” teeth?

The sixth teeth, the molars, are especially important, and it is for them that the sealing of the fissures is required in the first place. What is the peculiarity of the “sixes? They erupt at the age of 6-7 years. And these are already permanent teeth, they will not change, but will remain with the child for life. Fissures on the sixth teeth must be protected – this is very important!

Which teeth should be sealed?

Normal salivary flow usually does the job of cleaning smooth tooth surfaces, but it can be difficult to clean uneven surfaces.Therefore, the most vulnerable teeth to be covered are the first permanent molars. Sometimes sealants are required for baby teeth as well. Any tooth that has an uneven or rough surface will benefit from a sealant. Talk to your pediatric dentist about this as every child is unique.

Of course, sealants are just the first step in protecting your child’s teeth from decay. Brushing your teeth, using dental floss, eating right, not snacking between meals, and visiting your dentist regularly are essential preventive measures.

A doctor’s consultation is required.

Seven myths about milk teeth

Seven myths about milk teeth

Having a baby’s first tooth is always an exciting event in the family. However, parents tend to underestimate the importance of the first teeth. Of course, baby teeth will fall out sooner or later, but they are not just a temporary phenomenon. Milk teeth lay the foundation for the development of jaws, bones and muscles, and also pave the way for molars.The formation of milk teeth in a child begins in the womb at about the 7-13th week of pregnancy. Usually the first teeth erupt at the age of 6-8 months, they grow in pairs. The first to appear are the central incisors, then the lateral incisors, the first molars (4th teeth of the milk row), canines and, finally, by the age of 2.5-3 years, the second molars erupt (5th teeth of the milk row). A fully formed milk bite (the mutual position of the dentition when the upper and lower jaws are tightly closed) consists of 20 teeth.

Of course, these are approximate dates: teeth can appear both at 1 year and at 3 months, there are children who are already born with them. There is nothing terrible in this, such an increase in milk teeth is due to the individual characteristics of the organism of each child. The reasons for delayed teething can be disorders of calcium-phosphorus metabolism, decreased activity of the endocrine system, various chronic infections. The change in the bite of milk teeth to permanent ones begins at 5.5-6 years.Often, parents do not pay due attention to the baby’s oral cavity or misunderstand and care for the baby’s first teeth. Because of this, some misconceptions about milk teeth appeared and firmly rooted in the minds of adults

Myth 1

Teething of milk teeth is always accompanied by health problems for the baby. The child has a fever, excessive anxiety, upset stools, etc.p.

As a rule, teething is completely invisible for the baby. Sometimes in weakened children, this physiological process is accompanied by general malaise, sleep disturbances, restless behavior, crying, whims, and fever. This is how the infant’s body responds to the stress caused by tooth growth. These symptoms usually last 2-4 days and then go away. An increase in body temperature, upset stools may not be associated with teething, but be the cause of the disease, which coincided with the moment of teething.If fever, upset stools, and other symptoms are severe enough or persist for a long time, the child should be shown to a pediatrician.

Myth 2

The first teeth do not need to be brushed.

You need to take care of your teeth from the moment they erupt. Nowadays, there are various means for cleaning milk teeth: napkins, rubber fingertips, small toothbrushes. All of these devices can be purchased at the pharmacy. When caring for the baby’s oral cavity, special attention should be paid to the base of the teeth near the gums, where plaque accumulates.It must be removed. Babies need to brush their teeth after each feeding. At the age of 1, a baby toothbrush with soft bristles can be purchased for a child to protect delicate gums from injury. Starting from 2 years old, you need to brush your teeth 2 times a day – in the morning and in the evening. In addition, the sooner the baby learns to use the brush independently, the sooner it will become a habit for him and, as he grows up, it will be easier for him to accept the need for daily oral care. Start teaching your child how to brush their teeth correctly at the age of 1.5.At first, parents need to help the baby brush his teeth until he learns to do it on his own. However, it will take a long time to control its actions, since the child himself will be able to properly brush his teeth only closer to 4-5 years. It is important to regularly show your baby by personal example how to brush your teeth correctly. You must first rinse your mouth with warm water. Close your mouth and smile broadly without opening your jaw. Now, in small circular motions, brush the sides of the teeth from the cheek to the front teeth.Then open your mouth and move the brush to the chewing surfaces of your teeth, moving it back and forth. With gentle sweeping movements, sweep over the inner surface of the teeth. Rinse your mouth thoroughly.

Myth 3

The child does not need children’s toothpaste, any will do.

The baby must have his own toothpaste, by age. Children’s toothpastes are designed specifically for milk teeth, and their composition is different from adult toothpastes.All children’s toothpastes are made on a soft gel base and do not contain an abrasive element, i.e. hard, aggressive microparticles that can damage sensitive enamel. Remember that your baby can swallow toothpaste. Manufacturers of pastes take this fact into account, creating a neutral composition that will not irritate the stomach and, if ingested, will not harm the body of the crumbs. And the main thing is that the child likes the taste of the paste: brushing the teeth should bring only positive emotions to the child.You can buy baby toothpaste at the pharmacy. When buying, be guided by the age of the child for whom the paste has been developed: it is indicated on the package or on the tube. If you are in doubt and cannot understand all the variety of proposals, consult your dentist. Your doctor can help you choose the right oral hygiene products.

Myth 4

Milk teeth can be left untreated, as they will fall out anyway.

In the absence of high-quality cleaning of teeth, a white carious spot appears under soft dental plaque.This stage of initial caries is reversible: with proper hygiene, the stain will gradually disappear. The next stage is the appearance of a defect: the integrity of the enamel (outer shell of the tooth) is broken, a cavity appears in the tooth. From this point on, caries develops faster, since dentin (the hard tissue of the tooth located under the enamel) is less dense than enamel, and it becomes more difficult to clean your teeth properly. With the penetration of microorganisms into the cavity of the tooth where the nerve passes, pulpitis occurs – an inflammatory lesion of the pulp of the tooth (the pulp consists of blood vessels and a nerve), which can be accompanied by pain, but, as a rule, is asymptomatic in milk teeth.The pain may appear later, when the nerve completely dies and there is a focus of infection outside the tooth – in the bone. In addition to pain, pulpitis is sometimes accompanied by swelling of the gums, the appearance of a fistula on it (a channel between the focus of infection and the gum), and tooth mobility. The pathological process – from the appearance of a white spot to the development of inflammation outside the tooth root – can be either quick and take several months or last for years, depending on many factors. To avoid dental problems, you should visit your pediatric dentist regularly.The first appointment with a doctor should be scheduled when the child turns 1.5 years old. In the future, you need to make preventive visits to the dentist every 6 months or more often, as directed by the doctor.

Myth 5

Carious teeth in children should not be filled, it is better to remove them immediately so that permanent ones appear in their place.

It is recommended to remove a milk tooth only if it is mobile due to a quick physiological change or if there is a focus of infection under it, during the growth of which the rudiment of a permanent tooth may be affected or damaged.In such situations, you will have to part with the baby tooth. In other cases, dentists recommend treating caries, since the removal of a milk tooth can cause the formation of an irregular permanent bite. When a carious cavity forms in a tooth, the dentist puts a filling on the baby. You should not force events and remove baby teeth from crumbs in the hope that permanent teeth will appear this way faster. Removal should be justified by natural necessity, which can only be determined by a specialist.

Myth 6

It is necessary to treat and remove milk teeth only under anesthesia.

Injection anesthesia (an anesthetic drug is injected into the gum with a syringe) is indicated in cases where manipulations with the tooth cause pain in the child. If the nerve is not affected during the treatment, then it is quite possible to do without anesthesia. Even when removing milk teeth, anesthesia is not always used, since they are often naturally well loosened and the child practically does not feel anything.If the baby is afraid that he will be in pain during dental treatment, consult a doctor – perhaps application anesthesia will be sufficient for dental procedures (when the gums are smeared with a special gel).

Myth 7

The child does not need a pediatric dentist; an “adult” doctor who is visited by mom and dad will also do.

Even if the family dentist has been treating you for many years, your baby needs a pediatrician. First, he will quickly find contact with the child.Secondly, all the equipment, painkillers and medical materials in pediatric dentistry are designed taking into account the characteristics of the child’s body. Even the atmosphere in the children’s department is relaxing: there are bright pictures on the walls, cartoons are broadcast on TV, there is a play area where the baby can play before the dentist’s appointment. Everything to make the child feel comfortable. It is also important that a doctor must have an appropriate license to treat children. It is better to choose a doctor in advance, focusing on the recommendations of friends and the experience of a dentist, so that you do not have to look for a clinic for your baby by trial and error.Try to maintain the correct hygiene of the baby’s milk teeth to prevent the formation of caries. Visit your dentist regularly, who is able to discern the destructive process at an early stage or carry out preventive procedures. Milk teeth are very important for the harmonious development of a child. They help your baby learn to chew, and are also the basis for his future permanent bite. That is why baby teeth require careful handling, care and maintenance of their health.

90,000 Changing milk teeth to permanent ones: terms and scheme Dental Way dentistry in Moscow and the Moscow region

Changing milk teeth to permanent ones is an important period in a child’s life. This is a real step into adulthood!

Controlling the timely change of teeth in children is extremely important for a future smile. During this period, it is necessary to regularly monitor the condition of the teeth at the dentist.

When do baby teeth fall out and change? At what age should you sound the alarm? The answers to these and other questions are in this article.

Terms and scheme of changing milk teeth

As a rule, in the absence of external factors, the loss of milk teeth in children occurs according to a certain pattern. The change of milk teeth to permanent ones begins at the age of 6-7 years. The central incisors fall first, then the lateral incisors, and then the first molars. Canines and second molars are the last to be replaced.

Most often, the teeth on the upper jaw first fall out, followed by their pairs on the lower jaw.

Thus, the scheme of the loss of deciduous teeth looks like this:

Central incisors – 6-7 years

Lateral incisors – 7-8 years

First molars – 9-11 years

Canines and second molars – 10-12 years

Slight deviations from the deadline are acceptable.However, a delay exceeding 2 years is a reason for an urgent visit to the dentist.

When do permanent teeth erupt?

The eruption of permanent teeth begins one week – 1.5 months after the loss of milk teeth. The exception is sixes – they do not have dairy predecessors, and appear at the age of 5-6 years.

The moment of a tooth change is easy to predict: the gaps between the teeth increase significantly.This is a normal developmental process for the jaw.

What to look for during the bite change?

Despite the fact that baby teeth are temporary, you should not neglect them. Milk teeth can and should be treated!

Premature extraction of a milk tooth does not mean that a permanent tooth will erupt immediately. He will wait in the wings, while his “neighbors” will move, closing the vacated space and forming malocclusion.

If a young patient had to part with a tooth ahead of time, it is important to regularly visit a pediatric dentist. To prevent early removal, the doctor may prescribe the installation of children’s crowns.

It is also not worth delaying the removal of milk teeth. If a permanent tooth begins to erupt, and the temporary one does not want to fall out in any way, it should be removed. Otherwise, the tooth will grow incorrectly.

How to pull out a milk tooth? In the minds of many parents, the extraction of a milk tooth is associated with a thread and a doorknob.Despite the fact that most of the older generation went through this procedure, we recommend that you see a professional.

Milk teeth are fragile and may crumble when removed. If you leave a piece of a tooth in the hole, complications are inevitable.

Let the period of changing teeth pass easily and without difficulties! Don’t forget about routine dental appointments.

90,000 Teaching oral hygiene for children. Why it is necessary to monitor the state of the oral cavity in a child

Home / News / Teaching children’s oral hygiene.Why it is necessary to monitor the condition of the child’s oral cavity

09 September 2020

According to the World Health Organization, 92% of people around the world brush their teeth incorrectly, therefore, adults are teaching their children to brush their teeth incorrectly. And in childhood, the likelihood of caries is close to 100%. This is due to the inability of the child’s body to resist bacteria, with the structure and vulnerable structure of the tooth itself, etc.

The most optimal option for parents is to consult with a dental hygienist who will show the baby how to brush his teeth correctly and tell you how often you need to do it.

Basic rules of oral hygiene for children

• You should brush your teeth at least 2 times a day with a special toothpaste and a baby brush: after breakfast and before bed.
• A new toothbrush is washed with soap. Before and after each use, rinse with water, store in a glass with bristles up. The case is used only on the road.
• The toothbrush will wear out over time and must be replaced every 1-3 months.
• Dental floss should become an indispensable tool in oral hygiene.
• In order to prevent tooth decay, the number of snacks during the day, especially the sweeter ones, is best kept to a minimum.
• You should visit the dentist’s office every six months if there are no dental problems. If there are problems, doctor visits should be more frequent.

The first months of life – taking care of the gums

In the first 6 months of life, there is a massive colonization of the oral cavity with microbes, which creates favorable conditions for the occurrence of various diseases.To prevent irreparable from happening, after each feeding, the baby should wipe the gums with special fingertips or special napkins.

It is also important that the child gradually becomes accustomed to daily hygiene procedures. When later it becomes necessary to perform a full cleaning, the baby will not be capricious and refuse such manipulations over the teeth. That is, you not only take care of oral hygiene, but also teach children the skills of personal care.

Learning to brush milk teeth

Babies who have already acquired teeth, with parental help, begin to clean their first milk teeth with a special toothbrush for children. In this case, you need to start with 15-20 seconds for each cleaning, gradually increasing the duration. The main task of the mother at this stage is to awaken the child’s interest in a routine but necessary activity. There are win-win ways:

• Teaching children’s oral hygiene is great if parents offer their child a game.Hearing how a kind “aunt-brush” toothbrush cleans teeth one after another, making them beautiful and expelling harmful microbes, most babies will willingly open their mouths and patiently wait until the process is over.
• Another powerful teaching method is to act like a mom. Often, children copy the behavior of their parents, their speech and facial expressions. In the same way, they will learn how to properly brush their teeth. By doing daily cleaning with the baby, and at the same time, helping him, you will make sure that after a while the child will reach for the toothbrush by itself.The main thing is that the child likes the taste of toothpaste!

Oral hygiene products for children

Essential items for children’s oral hygiene are a toothbrush and toothpaste. Choose a child’s toothbrush with a soft and relatively short 2 cm bristle, a small, narrow head in two rows of tufts and a long handle. For a grown-up kid who starts brushing his teeth himself, a brush with a not long handle, but at the same time voluminous, is best suited to simplify the procedure.The dosage of the paste should not exceed the size of the marigold on the little finger of the child. The kid will be more willing to brush his teeth with a special baby paste with a pleasant taste and aroma.

Oral hygiene wipes are also available. They are intended for children who are too early to use toothbrushes and toothpaste. These wipes are a great way to clean your baby’s teeth and gums. The wipes contain xylitol, which inhibits the growth and reproduction of bacteria that cause tooth decay. They are also irreplaceable during the period of teething.It is advisable to store them in the refrigerator, as cool wipes will help alleviate the pain in the baby’s gums. In addition, they will later help to accustom the child to future daily hygiene procedures.

Another essential hygiene item is dental floss. Use floss to help your baby remove plaque from between teeth and gums.

Professional oral hygiene for children

Professional hygiene is usually understood as a complex of procedures, the purpose of which is to heal the tissues and organs of the oral cavity and to prevent the occurrence of dental ailments.This includes removing soft and hard plaque from teeth, closing fissures, that is, dental dimples, making them less vulnerable, as well as covering the tooth surface with a special varnish. In addition to the preventive procedure, the doctor can conduct an oral hygiene lesson, choose a paste and a brush for the child, based on the individual characteristics of the structure of the oral cavity, and also give useful and competent advice on care.

We draw your attention to the fact that caring for a child’s teeth requires a special attitude in connection with the subsequent formation of permanent teeth.After all, as far as milk teeth are healthy, they will be so strong and permanent.

The material was prepared by the head of the therapeutic department, dentist therapist, pediatric dentist Tatyana Vladimirovna Rosen.

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Extraction of teeth for children – GALA DENT

If we talk about the extraction of teeth in children, then, first of all, we will talk about the removal of milk teeth for dental indications and during the period of physiological change of teeth to permanent ones.

Children have to remove permanent teeth for the same reasons as in adults, and you can read about this in our article on tooth extraction.

How does milk teeth fall out?

Change of milk teeth to permanent ones is a physiological process. By the age of 3, a child’s mouth grows 20 milk teeth, which differ in their structure from permanent ones. They have thinner enamel and walls, and more branched roots. Then, gradually, the roots of milk teeth begin to dissolve.At the age of 5-6, milk teeth begin to wobble and fall out in the order in which they appeared, and in their place, permanent teeth grow from the rudiments. The period of formation of a permanent bite lasts up to 13-14 years and the appearance of 7 teeth – second molars – ends. Healthy baby teeth and a natural, timely change of teeth guarantee the child healthy teeth in a permanent bite. Therefore, it is best if baby teeth fall out on their own and do not require additional medical intervention, but this is not always the case.

Is it possible to remove a milk tooth at home?

The human body is programmed to change teeth independently without complications. If the child does not have dental and general diseases, then the natural loss of a milk tooth is the most desirable scenario. You don’t need to do anything for this. Just when a child’s tooth is loose, pay extra attention to hygiene, because it hurts a child to clean movable teeth on their own. Make sure that the child does not touch the tooth with his hands – it can infect.

How to help a baby tooth fall out on its own?

The easiest and most effective way is to give the child something hard to chew on, such as an apple. It is better to refuse threads and other intricate devices.

If you decide to help the process a little and remove the interfering tooth yourself – clamp it with a sterile napkin, try to twist it around the axis a little and remove it. Do not “twist” the tooth forcibly or press on it, so as not to damage the bone and soft tissues.After removal, let your child bite on a sterile cotton swab for 10-15 minutes. You do not need to rinse your mouth after removal, do not feed your baby for several days with solid food and hot.

If you suspect that the tooth has not been completely removed, the child complains that there is a sharp edge in the place of the hole that “scratches” – contact your dentist as soon as possible.

When should a baby dentist remove a baby tooth?

There are times when a baby tooth needs to be removed without waiting for natural loss.

If the tooth does not wobble, it CANNOT be removed at home, it can ONLY be done by a pediatric dentist. Deciduous teeth have long roots, under them are the rudiments of permanent teeth that can be damaged, and the milk teeth themselves are fragile and easily broken. Tooth extraction is a mini-operation, you need to contact a specialist for this.

When do you need to remove a baby tooth?

• The tooth is damaged by caries by 50% or more and cannot be restored.
• Serious complications of caries have led to the fact that the tooth is a source of infection that cannot be cured – periodontitis, periostitis, phlegmon.
• A fistula has formed on the gum next to the tooth.
• A root cyst was found in a milk tooth.
• The tooth is injured (severely chipped, twisted by a blow, broken and scratching the mucous membrane)
• The tooth staggers for a long time, but it holds on tightly and cannot fall out by itself, while preventing the child from eating.
• The loose tooth was infected and inflammation began.
• A permanent tooth has already erupted next to the milk one, and the milk one is not going to fall out.
• In case the milk tooth should have fallen out for a long time and a permanent one should grow in its place, but nothing happens. This indicates a delay in root resorption. In order to understand how to act, X-ray diagnostics of the presence of the rudiment of a permanent tooth is needed. If there is a rudiment, then it is better to remove the milk tooth in order to cause permanent growth.
• Sometimes a tooth needs to be removed for orthodontic reasons.

What anesthesia is used to remove milk teeth in children?

If we are talking about the removal of a milk, already loose tooth, without complications and signs of inflammation, then such removal does not require anesthesia.

If a problem milk tooth is removed or it sits firmly in the jaw, then local anesthesia is used for children, sometimes with sedation.

Extraction of teeth under anesthesia (general anesthesia) is possible in special clinics, where a team of anesthesiologists works. From a medical point of view, in most cases, there is no need to remove milk teeth under anesthesia. This is usually due to the fear of the child and his parents. The use of anesthesia is justified only in the case of serious mental disorders, or a complex illness, i.e.because there are more dangers from it than the benefits of .

What is the danger of early extraction of milk teeth?

If a temporary tooth is forced to remove more than a year before its natural loss, then we are talking about early extraction. This situation provokes malocclusion and abnormal development of the entire dentoalveolar system, up to a delay in the growth of the jaws.

Neighboring teeth tend to take the place of their removed brother, all are displaced

adjacent teeth and their roots are put forward on the formed free space and teeth-antagonists.As a result, permanent teeth can erupt chaotically and even outside the dentition. In the future, this problem will require long-term orthodontic treatment.

In addition, the earlier removal of the chewing teeth leads to a redistribution of the load on the front teeth, which, in turn, begin to deteriorate.

Therefore, it is so important to strive to keep all milk teeth in their places as long as possible, preferably before the time of their natural replacement.

What to do if a baby has an early extraction of a baby tooth?

If a trouble happened, and one or more milk teeth were removed from the child ahead of time, it is necessary to take measures to restore the dentition and preserve space after the extracted teeth.

For this, special dentures are used – removable plates with artificial teeth or special orthodontic constructions are installed. In any case, after an early removal, it is imperative to take the child to a consultation with an orthodontist – he will prompt the right decision. Read more about the treatment of malocclusion problems in children: “Pediatric Orthodontics – Correction of Malocclusion in Children.”

When shouldn’t a baby tooth be removed?

There are situations when it is IMPOSSIBLE to remove a baby tooth, so as not to aggravate the child’s condition or provoke serious complications.

• If a child suffers from an acute infectious disease, then removal should be postponed until complete recovery.
• If there is an acute inflammatory process in the oral cavity – stomatitis, gingivitis, candidiasis (thrush), then the removal is carried out after the acute stage of the disease subsides.
• If the tooth is located in the area of ​​any tumor, removal is carried out together with the neoplasm and in a hospital.
• Teeth extraction is performed with caution in young patients suffering from diseases of the central nervous system, heart, kidneys, blood.

What to do after a child’s tooth extraction?

• Make sure the baby spits out the tampon after removal after 15-20 minutes.
• After removal, a blood clot should remain in the hole, which protects it from inflammation. There is no need to clean the hole of blood, rinse the mouth, the child should not touch the place of removal with his hands or objects.
• If the child has been given pain relief, explain to the child that he should not bite on the numb side until the feeling of cold and chills has passed.
• For several days, feed your baby only warm, soft food.
• Observe good hygiene, teeth can not only be cleaned, but also necessary, with a soft toothbrush, carefully bypassing the place of removal.
• If the extraction of the tooth was difficult, then try to limit the child’s physical activity so as not to provoke bleeding.

How to properly prepare a child for a tooth extraction in pediatric dentistry?

• A brave child is one who is familiar with the place and the situation, so parents need to try to ensure that the first visit to the dental clinic is not associated with treatment, let alone tooth extraction and pain.Take your child to the dental clinic for preventive examinations, children’s parties, which we regularly hold, take the child with you when you go to have your teeth treated yourself.
• A good cozy clinic is not a dream today, but an accessible reality. Go to the clinic yourself without a child, meet the doctor. The environment should be calm, the space should be thought out for small patients as well. And, of course, no shouting or crying outside the office doors.
• Never scare a child with a dentist and, in general, doctors, and do not be afraid of them yourself – children have a subtle sense of the mood of their parents.
• Ask the doctor what is best: to leave the child alone with him or to be present during the procedure. NEVER leave your child alone in the dentist’s office if this is the first time to see that doctor.
• Do not shame the child in the dentist’s chair, do not blackmail him with a gift or threaten with punishment. Introduce him to the doctor, and help establish contact between them, using the child’s natural curiosity – he should be interested, not scared.

How is the extraction of teeth for children in the clinic “GALA DENT”

• First, the doctor examines the child’s oral cavity and decides whether to remove it.
• If anesthesia is required, anesthetic is administered under application anesthesia.
• The dentist applies the forceps to the crown and attaches them to the tooth without applying strong pressure.
• The tooth is gently dislocated from the socket and extracted.
• Be sure to carry out a study of the onion to make sure that all roots are removed.
• The well is clamped with a cotton swab.

The entire deletion procedure takes up to 5-7 minutes.Our children’s doctor will do everything quickly and will not allow the child to go through unnecessary stress.

Book your child for a consultation with our pediatric dentist and take advantage of all the benefits of treatment at the GALA DENT clinic.

Frequently Asked Questions

When can you remove a baby tooth yourself at home?

Answer:
If the child does not have pronounced dental problems, inflammation in the oral cavity, and he is healthy (see.above, when it is impossible to remove the teeth), and the tooth is already very loose, then the tooth can be helped to fall out. To do this, grab the tooth with a sterile napkin, rotate it around the axis without pressing and carefully remove it from the hole.

The milk tooth is still standing, but a permanent one has already grown behind it – what to do?

Answer:
If the permanent tooth has already erupted, and the milk one has not yet fallen out, then urgent measures must be taken, otherwise the child will form an incorrect bite with dystopic teeth, i.e.That is, those that grow out of place. As soon as you notice such a situation, immediately contact your dentist – he will remove the milk tooth. Most often, it is not necessary to immediately take any special actions to place a permanent tooth in the dentition. After some time, the tooth will fall into place by itself.

What if a child has several milk teeth removed, and permanent teeth appear only after 1.5-2 years?

Answer:
If, for one reason or another, the child has had milk teeth removed more than a year before the eruption of the permanent teeth, it needs to be prosthetic.Contact a pediatric dentist or orthodontist to solve this problem, otherwise the child is threatened with crooked teeth, incommensurability of the upper and lower jaw and other bite problems. A permanent bite will not be able to form correctly due to insufficient chewing load on the jaw and displacement of adjacent teeth to the place of the removed ones.

Cost of tooth extraction for a child in the clinic “GALA DENT”

Milk tooth extraction from 900 ₽

Most important read

• The change of milk teeth to permanent ones begins at the age of 5 and it will be better if it takes place naturally, without outside interference – as nature intended.

• If the physiological process of the loss of milk teeth is disturbed, you do not need to wait for it to “form itself”, you need to seek help from a pediatric dentist.

• A tooth that is a source of infection and cannot be treated must be removed – this is a “time bomb” in the child’s body.

• In all other cases, milk teeth need to be treated and kept in place, as long as possible before changing to permanent ones – which is what our specialists do.

• If a tooth is removed a year or more ahead of schedule, then we are talking about early extraction of a milk tooth.

• If there was an early extraction of milk teeth, then in order to form a correct bite, their place must be preserved with the help of a prosthesis or orthodontic construction.

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Prophylaxis of teeth in children – Smile

Healthy teeth are an integral part of a child’s carefree childhood.Proper care, absence of tooth decay and other diseases will guarantee oral health. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out timely prophylaxis of teeth in children.

What can happen to children’s teeth?

Children can be classified as a special patient group. In pediatric dentistry, they are always at risk. After all, their body is just learning to work. All defense mechanisms are not yet perfect, and the immune system reacts quite violently to aggressive external influences.

Even greater development of caries, as well as its spread and complications will be promoted by: thin enamel, imperfect immunity, only partial mineralization of teeth, anatomical and physiological characteristics of the child.

Caries is one of the sources of chronic infections. It is he who can cause many somatic pathologies. Such as, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, kidney disease, etc. As well as caries can cause complications and even threaten the health of children, not to mention various occlusion pathologies.

An incorrect bite can lead to isolation of children in society, their isolation and poor school performance. Everything in our body is certainly interconnected. Therefore, it is important to start oral hygiene in children on time and visit the dentist on time.

Caries and malocclusion are one of the consequences of poor dental prophylaxis

1. It is possible to prevent the appearance of caries in a child during pregnancy and lactation.

At the stage of planning pregnancy, a woman needs to make sure that the body is filled with the necessary vitamins and minerals for the full development of the child. Perform a complete sanitation of the oral cavity, because caries is a breeding ground for infections, and the laying of organs, including teeth, occurs already in the seventh week of pregnancy. And already at the end of the first half, the baby’s teeth begin to materialize.

Doctors also recommend taking pills that contain only 1 mg of fluoride.This allows you to achieve two effects at once: strong teeth are formed in the fetus, and the woman does not flush out fluoride from the body, which ensures the maintenance of health at the proper level. Also, do not forget about calcium, which both the unborn child and the mother herself need.

Another important factor in the formation of healthy teeth in a baby is a stable visit to the mother’s dental office. The child takes all the missing “building materials” for his body from the woman’s reserves.And this, in turn, can lead to a lack of vitamins and minerals, therefore it can cause caries, its complications and other diseases of the oral cavity.

2. A balanced diet will help to stop the appearance of tooth decay and other diseases.

In the prevention of caries in milk teeth in children, it is important to organize adequate nutrition. Your child’s diet should include calcium from dairy products. For better absorption of calcium, vitamin D is also needed, which can be obtained from fish or exposure to sunlight.Therefore, walk with your child in the fresh air more often – this helps to strengthen the teeth and immunity of the child.

During the period of growing up, adjust the child’s diet. Dentists recommend excluding some dishes altogether, while adding others, on the contrary. Here are some foods that are considered harmful not only for the teeth of a child, but also an adult:

• Any chocolate products;

90,025 sweets, pastries and cakes;

• fruits with high acidity;

90,025 sweet carbonated drinks;

• concentrated juices, as well as homemade compote, due to the high sugar content.

These products also harm the gastrointestinal tract, causing a violation of the acid-base balance. But they can be replaced with more useful ones to avoid dental problems:

• Green tea. It contains natural antioxidants, which slows down the process of caries formation;
• lime. Despite the fact that it is citrus. It is rich in fluoride and calcium;
• carrots. This vegetable is rich in vitamins, and its dense structure allows you to clean the teeth of plaque.

Dentists have their own opinion about snacks between meals. They carry a rather large factor in the development of caries in children, because they do not allow the acid balance to be restored. Therefore, give preference to solid foods such as apples, carrots, pears. They are best at removing plaque that builds up on your teeth throughout the day.

3. It is necessary to practice oral hygiene when the first tooth appears in a child.

It is advisable for the baby to wipe the teeth with a soft cloth or gauze after eating and before going to bed in the direction: from the edge of the gums to the surface of the teeth. As the child gets used to this procedure, a soft bristled toothbrush with a small head should be used. For the prevention of milk teeth, it is also recommended to use special xylitol wipes, which provide protection against microbes.

Also, dentists recommend using toothpastes containing fluoride.Such pastes are especially necessary for children with an increased risk of caries. Until the age of 12, parents should supervise the cleaning process. Do not allow your child to swallow fluoride paste. With the growing up of the baby, you can choose a paste with a higher concentration of fluoride.

Always pay attention to the composition of the toothpaste, its quality and purpose. Give preference to those that contain calcium, fluoride, phosphorus to strengthen the enamel, and also correspond to the age of the child.

4. The next step towards healthy teeth is a brush.

It is very important to train your child to brush his teeth daily. This way he realizes the importance of hygiene much earlier. And he will learn to take responsibility for the health of his teeth himself.

To make the cleaning process pleasant, you need to choose the right toothbrush. At a young age, it is better to give preference to soft bristles so as not to damage the delicate mucous membrane of the gums. Usually in stores they are sold with the mark “soft”.As you get older, you can switch to medium-hard toothbrushes. They will provide a more thorough cleaning of plaque. Label brushes such as “medium”.

Only with the help of a toothpaste and a brush can almost complete cleansing of stuck food and plaque be achieved. But there is one more important point! You need to change the brushes in a timely manner, about once every three months. With prolonged use, bacteria remain on the bristles and multiply, which makes the cleaning process less effective.

5. Take your child to the dental office at least three times a year.

Prophylaxis in pediatric dentistry is not complete without an experienced specialist. Therefore, make it a rule – to see a dentist. Only through a professional examination can the development of caries and other diseases of the oral cavity be detected and prevented in the early stages. If your child still has a beginning caries, he will promptly carry out all the necessary tests and prescribe treatment.Most often, the following procedures are recommended for children.

The doctor covers the child’s teeth with a special innovative compound. It saturates the enamel with all the necessary trace elements. Thanks to this procedure, the teeth will become more resistant to aggressive influences from outside.

• Fissure sealing

This method of treatment and prevention is done both for preschool children with milk teeth and adolescents. It is advisable to do this procedure within a month and a half from the moment the first molars appear.The doctor closes the deep grooves on the chewing surface of the tooth. Thus, it turns out to eliminate the accumulation of pathogenic bacteria in hard-to-reach places. For this, specialists use a fluoropolymer sealant that is resistant to saliva, liquids and acids.

Sealing fissures is one of the necessary methods of prevention

At the first stage, the dentist thoroughly cleanses the teeth using a professional brush and paste. Then he applies an acidic substance to the grooves of the fossa that have formed on the surface of the tooth.After that, a sealant is applied to the tooth, which is distributed by flowing into the enamel micropores and solidifies under the action of a special lamp. Such a sealant not only “seals” the tooth, but also saturates its enamel with magnesium, calcium and fluoride.

As a result of this procedure, after eating, plaque and bacteria will not accumulate on the chewing surface, which destroy the healthy enamel of the child.

6. Pharmacy preparations will also help to improve dental health.

Our diet lacks the necessary substances and minerals. Therefore, in pediatric dentistry, doctors recommend receiving all the necessary vitamins in a concentrated and dosed form. Today, on the shelves of pharmacies, you can find many different complexes of minerals and vitamins. They are divided into different categories: composition, age, indication for use, etc.

To maintain dental health, dentists recommend choosing vitamins with increased concentrations of calcium, phosphorus and fluorides.Be sure to consult your doctor before buying and using any vitamin complex.

7. The correct technique for brushing your teeth will help to ensure their safety.

Children’s teeth cleaning is not much different from adults. When cleaning the inner and outer surfaces of the teeth, the brush should be positioned at an angle of 45 degrees to the tooth. Sweep from the gum to the edge of the tooth. This will thoroughly cleanse the oral cavity from food debris and plaque.Then, when cleaning the chewing surface, place the toothbrush horizontally and move it in a circular motion along the entire dentition from above and below.

If you are still not sure how to properly brush your teeth, then watch the training videos. This will make the task much easier.

Brushing baby teeth in children is enough for 2-3 minutes. However, this is the norm for an adult. So please be patient while cleaning. If it is difficult for your child to endure such a procedure, try to turn cleaning into a game, because simple persuasion, as practice shows, does not always help.

Already at the first brushing of teeth, tell your baby how useful this procedure is for him. If the child’s fear and reluctance do not go away, then you can see special educational and preventive pictures that are specially created for children. The sooner you start brushing your teeth with your child, the sooner he will begin to do it on his own. And the more quickly brushing his teeth will become his daily habit.

8. Do not forget about general hygiene procedures.

High-quality cleaning of the dental surface and interdental space is unthinkable without additional hygiene, which you need to know about. This requires:

• Rinse your mouth after each meal. It is advisable to use special antiseptic solutions, which can be found in any pharmacy, or products containing useful trace elements. But if for some reason there is no possibility of using such funds, then ordinary water will do;
• use floss, dental floss.They help to clean the spaces between the teeth more thoroughly. These threads are round and flat. It is advisable for children to choose flat floss in order to avoid wounds on the gums. It is imperative to clean with threads in the presence of an adult, otherwise the child can harm his teeth;
• to purchase an irrigator. This device is designed for high-quality teeth cleaning at a professional level. This is used by doctors not only in pediatric dentistry, but also in adults. But you can use it at home, if you familiarize yourself with its action in advance.This is the main use of the irrigator:

1. It provides the most effective oral hygiene at home;
2. allows you to prevent the development of other diseases such as periodontitis and gingivitis;
3. is suitable for cleaning not only the surface of the teeth, but also various artificial structures. It is especially recommended to use this cleaning method when your child has braces or platinum;
4. prevents active reproduction of bacteria, and as a result, stops carious formations;
5. increases microcirculation of blood in the gums.The principle of operation of the irrigator is similar to massage therapy;
6. has a positive effect on the proper functioning of the salivary glands, which again has a beneficial effect on the condition and health of the oral cavity.

Remember, prevention is the best treatment for childhood.

About the first teeth | Pioneer

How to take care of your first teeth?

Do not forget that in children under 3 years of age, tooth enamel is not completely mineralized, which means it is more vulnerable to the active effects of bacteria.Therefore, the first teeth already need care. You need to clean the gums and first teeth with clean gauze moistened with water, or special disposable napkins that are sold in pharmacies. The napkin should be wound around the index finger and gently wipe all surfaces of the teeth, as well as the tongue and palate of the child.

If the child eats at night. During the day, he needs to brush his teeth after eating. For a baby who does not have congenital underdevelopment of enamel, such care guarantees the absence of bottle (early childhood) caries.

Remember, the treatment of primary teeth is just as important as the treatment of molars! They need to be examined in a timely manner for caries and be sure to treat milk teeth in children.

Is it harmful to suck a nipple and how to choose a teether?

Until 1 year of age, the constant presence of a pacifier is not critical, although it is better to remove it from the mouth at night. Of course, the nipple must be carefully sterilized, because it is on it that unfavorable flora accumulates, which becomes a catalyst for unpleasant processes.After 2 years, the presence of a nipple in a child’s mouth can provoke an irregular bite (arched shape of the upper row of the front teeth). We recommend choosing a silicone teether for the first teeth, and to eliminate itching and pain in the gums, it should be cooled.

Does caries occur in young children?

And babies who are breastfed have tooth decay.

Undoubtedly, the microelements contained in breast milk are good for the teeth, however, the carbohydrates of mother’s milk negatively affect the fragile enamel of children’s teeth, like any other food.Children with congenital underdevelopment of enamel – enamel hypoplasia are especially susceptible to early caries. The rudiments of the baby’s milk teeth are laid even in the mother’s womb at the 7th week of pregnancy (and the first permanent teeth – at the 5th month). And there can be many reasons for enamel hypoplasia – these are infectious diseases suffered by the mother during pregnancy, and toxicosis, and her malnutrition, and reduced immunity, and – the latest discovery – the composition of the child’s saliva, and, of course, a genetic predisposition to caries.Negatively affects the enamel and supplementary feeding of the sleeping baby, because during sleep, saliva is not produced and natural cleaning of the teeth does not occur. Any drink containing carbohydrates (kefir, milk mixture, compote, juice, etc.) remains on the child’s teeth and forms plaque. Putrid bacteria feed on this plaque, and the products of their vital activity destroy the not yet fully formed tooth enamel. Bottle caries develops on the anterior 4-6 teeth. It manifests itself with a characteristic brownish bloom.Bottle-shaped teeth decay quickly.

But not everything is so hopeless: subject to careful hygiene and attention to teeth, the prospect of caries, even with a predisposition to it, is significantly reduced.

Milk teeth and their problems

It is important for a child from one to three years old to teach oral hygiene and monitor his proper nutrition.

At this age, children still cannot properly brush their teeth, because the motor skills of his hands are not yet sufficiently developed.So let him first brush his teeth himself, and then you help him do it with your hand. And to complete the procedure that is still too short, you can use a napkin.

It is more convenient to hold a baby brush like a ballpoint pen. Since the baby does not open his mouth wide, you need to grope the lateral teeth with your index finger, and then move the working part of the brush to the tooth and clean the chewing surface in a circular motion. This must be done promptly. The left upper and lower teeth should be brushed while standing to the right of the child with the right hand, and the right side – standing to the left with the left hand.The front upper and lower teeth should be brushed at the very end, not forgetting to clean the labial and lingual surfaces.

In addition to brushing your teeth with a brush and paste, you must use floss and mouthwash. Flosses will help to clean the space between the teeth and thus significantly help in the prevention of caries. However, it is important to remember that only children from 9 years old can use dental floss.