When it comes to a pediatric dentist for a child’s dental care, it’s all about good oral hygiene. Establishing a good oral health routine encourages kids to brush, floss, and rinse which ensures a lifetime of strong and healthy teeth. These at-home oral habits balance the work your dentist does to help keep kids’ smiles incredibly beautiful at Infinity Dental’s best dental clinic in Lucknow. Still, life with kids remains very much unpredictable. How do you know when baby teeth come in? What do you do when something hits and knocks out your child’s front teeth?
- FIND A PEDIATRIC DENTIST NEAR YOU The first tip to ensure your child’s dental care is to find a pediatric dentist that you and your kids can trust. Often this goes hand-in-hand with finding a family dentistry practice with specialists in all fields of dentistry, including pediatrics. According to the American Dental Association, “Pediatric dentistry is an age-related specialty that provides both primary and comprehensive preventive and therapeutic oral health needs for infants and children through adolescence, including those with special health care needs.”
Seeing a pediatric dentist with experience treating kids of all ages helps promote healthy oral care habits for life. When searching out a potential pediatric dentist, make sure the office is located near home or work. Also, ensure the office offers convenient hours that fit into your child’s schedule. After all, no one wants to feel anxious and rushed at the dentist – especially a young child!
START EARLY AND ENCOURAGE AGE-APPROPRIATE DENTAL HABITS AT HOME
A child’s dental care begins early in life. A Baby’s first visit to the dentist should happen when the first tooth erupts and no later than the first birthday, according to the American Dental Association (ADA). Even baby teeth can get cavities.
Take advantage of your child’s very first dental examination by making a list of questions. A pediatric dentist offers advice about teething, bottles, thumb-sucking and pacifier usage.
As soon as children are old enough to understand brushing and flossing, consign them to a lifetime of taking care of their teeth and gums at home.
Age 6 and younger: Your child probably doesn’t have the fine motor skills necessary to do brushing. Embrace their enthusiasm – let them start brushing, but hop in when needed.
Ages 7 – 12: Kids in this age range know they should brush their teeth, but they may not always do. Though they are nearly teenagers by the end of this stage, you may still need to jump in to make sure the brushing job gets done.
Ages 13 – 18: This is a decisive time for children’s dental care, according to Dr.Damini Agarwal Best Dentist In Lucknow. The rate of cavities rise during this time because teens may not have experienced cavities as kids and relaxed off with their dental hygiene. Don’t let teens let go of oral care habits.
KNOW ABOUT BABY TEETH
Primary teeth – baby teeth – usually appear between 6 months and 1 year of age. Most kids have a full set for 20 primary teeth by the time they are 3, according to the ADA. Babies’ gums can get swollen and tender when teeth come in. Teething rings and rubbing your child’s gums with wet gauze, a clean finger, or a small, cool spoon can be soothing, the ADA says. If baby is still fussy and seems to be in pain, contact your dentist or pediatrician.
4. EVERYDAY BABY ITEMS AND HABITS CAN LEAD TO TOOTH PROBLEMS
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) states that tooth decay among young children is on the rise, and the misuse of sippy cups could be to blame.The same goes for bottles. Bottles should be used only for formula, milk or breast milk – not juice. Pacifiers are another offender behind tooth decay in young children.
Thumbsucking can also cause problems for children’s dental care, especially after permanent teeth start come in. It can cause changes in the top of the mouth and cause issue with the proper growth of the jaw and alignment of teeth.Children usually stop thumbsucking habit between 2 and 4 years old, but if you notice the changes with your child’s baby teeth that could be related, consult your pediatric dentist.
5. ACT AS YOUR CHILDREN’S DENTAL CARE SUPPORTER
Young children – cannot always express what they are feeling. Parents must act as an supporter during their children’s dental care; ensuring they get the treatment they need, despite fright of the dentist. Kids with dental anxiety can be problem patients for dentists. Don’t set your child up for a panicked visit by mentioning words like “shot,” “hurt” or “pain,”
6. MAKE BRUSHING AND FLOSSING FUN
The AAPD states that parents should brush their children’s teeth until the age of 8, and floss them until they turn 10 years old. The best way to instill healthy child’s dental care habits at home is to make them fun!
As an alternative of just setting a timer and supervising, make brushing a two-minute event twice a day. Listen to your child’s favorite song as you brush together .Other tips include telling stories about brushing, making brushing a family affair, watching kids’ TV shows featuring characters who brush their teeth, and rewarding good.
7. UNDERSTAND FLUORIDE AND OTHER COMMON CHILDREN’S DENTAL CARE TERMS
There are some concerns surrounding the role of fluoride toothpaste and fluoridated drinking water in children’s dental care. However, fluoride is one of the best and safest ways to prevent decay in children.
Another child’s dental care term that parents should become familiar with is a sealant. A sealant is a thin, protective coating made from plastic and other dental materials that covers the chewing surface of the back teeth, or molars. Sealants help to stop cavities from forming on the hard-to-brush back teeth and even stop early decay,.
8. DON’T JUMP INTO PULLING A WIGGLY TOOTH
Wiggly baby teeth are a trademark of childhood. Baby teeth get loose and fall out to make space for permanent adult teeth. Sometimes a wiggly tooth bothers a child before it comes out on its own – so how do you know when to pull and when to let it be still?
The first teeth to fall out are the first to come in. Usually that’s the two front teeth. Once the permanent tooth starts coming in, the baby tooth’s roots dissolve until it becomes loose enough to fall out painlessly and with very little blood. Pulling before a baby tooth is ready can be painful and bloodier than necessary. Rather, if you and your child really want the tooth out, let him or her wiggle it gently until it comes out on its own.
9.TEACH YOUR CHILDREN ABOUT GOOD NUTRITION
The No. 1 rule when it comes to nutrition and healthy teeth remains limiting sugar intake.
- Save sugar treats for after mealtime..
- Store excess candy in sealed bags
- Floss. It removes hard candy particles.
- Encourage kids to drink more water, which helps flush the sugar and food partcles prevents tooth decay.
It is also helpful to focus on foods that build strong teeth. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry claims cheese is one of the healthiest snacks for kids’ teeth. The dairy product not only provides much-needed calcium, it also stimulates the salivary glands to clear the mouth of food debris and protect teeth from acids, disrupting the formation of cavities.
10. HAVE A PLAN FOR CHILDREN’S DENTAL CARE EMERGENCIES
It’s all fun and games until someone loses a tooth. Accidents happen! Ensure you have a plan for any emergencies related to your children’s dental care. Ideally, the pediatric dental office you choose offers emergency service. Make sure you have your dentist’s card on hand so you can contact the office whenever an issue arises. And if your child does play sports, consider investing in a mouthguard to cushion blows to the mouth and prevent some dental emergencies.
