Caring for a baby’s oral cavity is a serious matter requiring high responsibility from parents. The first baby teeth are very fragile and sensitive. How not to make the wrong choice of toothpaste and to teach the child to brush their teeth?
Without exception, parents want their children to be healthy, so adults should monitor the health of the child. On the shoulders of parents go care about the state of the first milk teeth. Daily oral hygiene is necessary from early childhood. The formation of molar teeth and the absence of dental problems throughout life will depend on this.
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Why is it important to brush baby teeth?
Some parents show carelessnesswhen the question comes about baby teeth. Erroneously believing that such teeth soon fall out, they often ignore their care. The danger of such errors lies in the ignorance of the possible consequences. Temporary teeth also need care, because caring for them is a key factor in the emergence of strong and healthy molars. If the damaged baby tooth is not cured, then the rudiments of the permanent teeth located at its root system can be damaged.
In addition, healthy milk teeth are responsible for the proper development of the jaw bones and contribute to the formation of bite. The child utters the first words thanks to milk teeth. They help him develop a speech apparatus. Mealing occurs with the help of milk teeth. Forming a food lump, they preserve the health of the baby's stomach. When a child chews food, he trains the chewing muscles, and the development of the jaw bones affects the formation of harmonious proportions of the lower face zone. Do not forget about the aesthetic side - beautiful smile is important for mental state and behavior in society. Measures aimed at early prevention of caries, are the key to healthy teeth at any age.
Approximately at the age of three, a child must have 20 baby teeth cut through. From this point on, it is recommended to visit the dentist at least twice a year. A visit to the dental office will help reduce the risk of tooth decay, while the doctor will monitor the condition of the gums.
The children's specialist is obliged to identify a bad tooth, and also to check the areas of eruption of the molar teeth. An adult should consult a doctor about what hygiene products are suitable for a certain age. It is necessary to discuss how to properly care for teeth and gums, which toothpaste will not harm.
Teething first teeth
By 6–8 months, the first teeth that have cut through can be observed in the baby’s mouth. In the first stage appear two lower and two upper incisors, and by the age of three ends the formation of twenty milk teeth. The body of each child is individual and it happens that the first tooth buds are detected only after a year of life, in this connection the whole process of dental development is inhibited.
Minor deviations should not alarm the parents, but if the child already has a year, and there is no hint of teeth, or by three years, the eruption did not end, full-time consultation is necessary for a specialist who examines the baby and sends X-rays to exclude possible pathologies.
When to start brushing the baby's teeth?
It is difficult to give an unequivocal answer to the question of when to start brushing your baby’s teeth. Teething is individualand each child has a different tooth formation process. The appearance in the gum of a white stripe indicates extrusion of the crown. Parents should closely monitor its condition, it is useful to draw up a calendar for brushing your teeth, where it is indicated when to start cleaning milk teeth.
It is strongly not recommended to brush your teeth during painful eruption. Often the gums around the tooth begin to inflame, so any kind of mechanical intervention will increase the pain syndrome.
Among other things, soft tissue wounds can become infected, which will cause suppuration. The use of children's fluoride pastes at this stage is not welcome.
Most doctors agree that parents should monitor the oral hygiene of the infant. Breastfeeding mother transmits microorganisms to the child, which can provoke gingivitis and stomatitis.
How to clean the mouth of a child up to 6 months or older?
Until the formation of milk teeth, parents can wipe baby's mouthincluding gums and tongue. In this elementary way, pathogen plaque is removed and the mouth gets rid of bacteria. Because of the increased sensitivity of the first teeth, they are also advised to wipe them in order not to cause discomfort to the toothbrush. Suitable for wiping:
- Swab made from gauze or bandage. It is moistened with warm disinfected water. A small amount of salt can be added to the water. Vata is categorically not suitable for this procedure: its texture without roughness and its parts adhere to the gums.
- Foam napkins containing xylitol. Promote quality cleansing of the mouth and teeth. With the help of napkins, fingertips soaked in xylitol, you can relieve the pain of cutting teeth. A good tool for the prevention of caries and candidiasis. The well-known brand "Zubkichistki" is widespread; there are napkins with different fruit flavors in the range. Designed for babies from infancy up to seven years.
- Dental napkins. Impregnated with a harmless antiseptic. Are disposable. Completely cope with the task of cleaning the teeth and gums, but, unfortunately, have a high price, so not available to all.
At about six months of age, the child leaves the pushing reflex. From this period you can brush your teeth using the following tools:
- Silicone fingertip brush. Apply from 3 months to a year. In this age gap, the hands of the child are unable to hold the toothbrush firmly and perform the necessary movements, therefore the use of such a device will facilitate the task.
- Toothbrush. A children's toothbrush must have soft bristles and a small handle. The size of the cleaning surface should not exceed the area of two children's teeth.
In addition to the toothbrush, you need pick toothpaste in accordance with the age of the child:
- For children who have not yet received complementary foods, gel toothpaste is suitable. It is best to buy a pasta with a neutral or milky taste, as they will not cause rejection in the baby. The absence of abrasive components in it will not cause pain to the child when they brush their teeth.
- Fruit Toothpaste. For children who receive supplements, you can buy pasta with tastes of banana, raspberry or strawberry.
Cleaning technique
Start cleaning your teeth need twice a day: in the morning and before bedtime. The duration of the procedure should take at least three minutes, but one minute will be enough for a start so that the baby can gradually get used to the new occupation.
What is important is not a formal adherence to the procedure for brushing your teeth, but its proper execution. The main points of proper cleaning Children's teeth do not differ from the recommendations for adults:
- A toothbrush is applied to the teeth at a 45 degree angle. Then circular movements are made from the gums to the upper border of the tooth.
- Cleaning is made both from external, and from the inside.
- The chewing surface is cleaned by progressive circular motions of the brush.
- Do not forget about the language. To clean it is the reverse side of the brush.