Many people are surprised to learn that good dental care starts as early as the day your child arrives home from the hospital. This should include gently wiping the infant's gums with a soft cloth twice a day, preferably after breakfast and as part of a bedtime routine. Some pediatric dentists suggest performing this cleansing routine after every feeding. The benefits are two-fold. The process of having an adult's fingers in their mouth becomes second nature and makes the transition to the dentist less stressful when the time comes. Once the first teeth appear, this cleansing step becomes even more important because it helps remove bacteria and sugars from developing young teeth. Parents can use a soft cloth, gauze or even over-the-counter products designed for newborns. Toothpaste is not necessary at this age and, per the American Dental Association, children under two should not ingest fluoride.
So, when does that all important first tooth appear? It depends on the child and the family's oral history, but generally parents can expect to see the first tooth between four and seven months. There is no particular deadline and getting them early or later is perfectly normal, as well. It has no bearing on later, adult teeth or on other dental development.
Many parents might wonder why it is necessary to take care of these little baby teeth if a new set will grow in to replace them in just a few short years. In fact, by age six, the process has already begun for most children. The answer may surprise even a veteran parent. First and foremost, those little teeth act as space holders for the adult teeth. If one is lost, due to accident or tooth decay, the other teeth may crowd into the empty space and not allow enough room for the adult tooth to grow in. Likewise, missing baby teeth can make it difficult for small children to chew food properly and may make speech difficult. Children learn a variety of new sounds as they grow and need all their teeth to do so properly and without a lisp in this early, developmental stage. Lastly, the decay and eventually loss of a baby tooth may lead to an infection below the gum line. This infection could lead to the need for surgery, like a root canal, or worse, the adult tooth may never develop properly.
It is important to see a dentist very early in your child's life. In fact, most pediatric dentists prefer to see their young patients at least once by their 1st birthday. A cleaning is not necessarily performed but it gives the dentist the opportunity to introduce him or herself as well as to make sure everything is developing normally. The hygienist may even give a teeth brushing demo. Precocious children may find the experience exciting and fun, whereas shy children may be uncomfortable or begin to cry. Don't worry. The dentist and his staff are more than used to this; they have a slew of stickers and free toothbrushes to hand out to combat the tears. Parents that are concerned about the reaction at future visits should consider having young children accompany them to their own cleanings so the process can be observed first hand. Sometimes just watching removes the fear factor.
The most important factor to remember in dental care for infants and young children is that they are never too young to start. From gently wiping the gums of newborns to seeing the dentist by the age of one and the orthodontist by seven, parents need to stay on top of their child's dental development and form an early bond with the staff at their local dental office in order to safeguard their child's overall oral health.
Author Resource:-
Vista Dental Care and Specialty Center prides themselves on providing the best in preventative dental care for children and adults. They also provide services such as tooth whitening and cosmetic dentistry.
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