Infant Oral Care

Here are some east ways to take care of your baby’s teeth and gums:-

• Before teeth have erupted, clean your baby’s gums and the teeth by rubbing a clean, damp washcloth along the baby’s upper and lower gums.
• When your baby has teeth, start brushing your baby’s at least two to three times a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush and water.

What is the role of primary/deciduous or Milk Teeth?

Primary/deciduous/Milk Teeth are 20 in number 10 in upper jaw and 10 in lower jaw.These teeth have the same function as permanent teeth viz. for esthetics or appearance, speech, eating or mastication and apart from this they maintain space in the jaw for the permanent teeth to erupt.

How long should the parent brush the child’s teeth?

The parent should brush and guide the child’s teeth until the age of 3 to 4 years or until the child is able to brush properly by himself. Later they should supervise the child’s brushing.

What is the importance of dental treatment for milk teeth?

The milk teeth need the same amount of dental care and treatment as the permanent teeth, in fact they need more dental attention as any infection or injury to the milk teeth affects the developing permanent teeth directly or indirectly. So prompt and immediate treatment should be given to all the primary teeth, which are decayed and are injured due to fall or trauma.

Should a child also visit the dentist regularly even if he/she has no dental problem ???

Yes, it is mandatory to visit the dentist regularly at least once in 6 months, as it is not just decay or injury that needs dental treatment, but if there is any developing malocclusion. It can be detected by the dentist and can be intercepted and corrected early.

Is spacing between primary teeth normal ???

Yes, spacing between primary teeth is normal. The primary teeth are smaller than the permanent teeth. To compensate for this difference in size of teeth there is spacing between primary teeth.

What would happen if there were no spacing between primary teeth?

Lack of spacing between primary teeth is a clear indication that there will be less space for the permanent teeth to erupt. Hence leading to crowding or malocclusion/ misalignment of the teeth.

What Exactly Is Fluoride?

Fluoride is a naturally existing mineral found in water, many foods, within the earth’s crust, and widely throughout nature. Fluoride is often added to tap water supplies for drinking and to toothpastes for children and adults.

Why Children Need Fluoride?

• Fluoride is beneficial for all children, because it helps shield young teeth from damaging acid and can actually reverse early signs of dental decay (very small cavities).
• Hurtful acids in the mouth form from bacteria combined with sugars. The acid damages the hard protective outer layer of the tooth called enamel. On a daily basis, minerals are being lost and added to the enamel layer of the teeth through naturally occurring processes called demineralization and remineralization.
• Minerals are lost (demineralization) when acid attacks the enamel, and minerals like phosphates, calcium, and fluoride (which all strengthen the teeth) are added back (remineralization) when kids drink water or eat foods that contain these minerals.
• Cavities form and decay occurs when too much demineralization transpires without enough remineralization to restore enamel.

Benefits of Dental Fluoride Treatments For Children

• According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), professionally applied topical fluoride treatments are effective in decreasing dental decay in children as well, especially those in a high risk category for decay.
• Having fluoride professionally applied during a pediatric dental visit ensures your child’s teeth have received an adequate and protective amount of fluoride to successfully obstruct acidic breakdown of the enamel layer of the teeth.
• Only small amounts of fluoride are required for children to receive the maximal benefits.
• Professional Dental Fluoride treatments for children are applied to the teeth in a gel, foam, or varnish form. These treatments consist of highly increased levels of fluoride as compared to what is found in water and toothpastes.

How safe is Fluoride For Children ???

• The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), American Dental Association (ADA), and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) all claim fluoridated water to be safe for children and an effective agent in maintaining dental health.
• In fact, fluoride exposure and intake becomes particularly important to a child’s dental development starting from the age of six months through sixteen years. This is the span of time when all of the baby and permanent teeth erupt. (Fluoride is beneficial for adults too.)

When Should My Child Begin Using Fluoridated Toothpaste ???

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends using just a “smear” of fluoridated toothpaste beginning when the first tooth appears, until a child is three years of age. At three years old, a pea-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste can start being used. Ask the pediatric dentist about fluoride safety and precautionary measures recommended for young children, especially those under the age of six.

How Is Topical Fluoride Treatment Done ???

At your child’s routine dental visit, we apply a fluoride solution to each tooth with a brush. After the treatment, your child may be cautioned not to rinse, eat or drink for at least 30 minutes to allow the teeth to absorb the fluoride.

How Often Should My Child Get Fluoride Treatment ???

We recommend periodic fluoride treatment every six months. In some instances, especially for children prone to dental decay, we may recommend more frequent treatments.

Sealants are applied on a child’s chewing surface that supplements protection against tooth decay. They are thin coatings of plastic used to seal the pits and fissures engrained on the chewing surface of the posterior teeth. Hence, sealants are like a fence that will prevent occurrence of plaque and acids in the biting area. Many times brushing and flossing are ineffective in deeply cleaning the teeth depressions and groves.

The remnants of food particle in the mouth enhances bacteria thereby dissolving enamel covering of the tooth. We suggest to apply sealants soon after permanent molar eruption in a child, nearly between 6-12 years of age.