For the mum and
dad
We all tell our kids to brush their
teeth because we know if they don't tooth decay and gum disease will
ruin their teeth. Here are some more things that you should know to
help look after your teeth and your children.
Baby
When you hear doctors and midwives
say that you should eat well, it is not just for your benefit. Your
baby gets whatever you get. Your diet can have an affect on your
baby's teeth. Even before your baby is born, they have about 20
teeth ready to develop.
By the time your baby is six months
old, their first teeth should have started to arrived. From the
appearance of the first tooth, dental hygiene is important for your
child.
One problem with bottle fed babies,
or those that use a bottle for comfort is that milk and sweetened
drinks have sugar on them. If your baby or toddlers teeth are not
cleaned each day, the bacteria can build up causing plaque. This
plaque can cause tooth decay.
Toddlers
From around two years of age your
toddler should start to see a dentist regularly.
Three to Six years of age
Parents should be helping their
children with brushing their teeth.
From six onwards
Children should now have the skills
to be able to brush their own teeth. Parent will have to remind them
to brush them, as kids just don't like do it!
Second Hand Smoke
A United States research team
published in the Journal of American Medical Association their
finding of a study of second-hand smoke and found that children,
with baby teeth, were more at risk of cavities if their parents
smoked than if their parents were non-smokers.
Accidents will
happen
Because of the general nature of
play, children's teeth can become displaced, loosened or knocked
out. Knowing how to act if this happens is important.
Loosened Teeth
If you can, gently push the tooth
back into place. Using a damp cloth, apply pressure around the tooth
for a few minutes. Then call a emergency dentist.
Knocked out Teeth
Baby Teeth
First off how can you tell the
difference between a baby or milk tooth and an adult or permanent
tooth. It is simply. Baby teeth do NOT have a root, permanent teeth
do.
If your child loses a baby tooth,
other than stopping the bleed there is nothing you can do.
Eventually their permanent teeth will come through to replace the
lost tooth. However any concerns should you consulting a
professional for advice.
Adult Teeth
The most important thing when your
child loses one of their permanent teeth is time.
If you can replace the tooth
immediately or keep it moist and get to a dentist immediately. A
tooth has a good chance of being saved if you can get your child to
the dentist within 30 minutes.
Do NOT touch the root. Hold it by the
crown, the top part of the tooth.
Do NOT scrub or attempt to disinfect
the tooth, this can kill some of the cells on the root of the tooth.
If the tooth is not clean place it in
a cup of milk (this is your first choice) or a weak salt solution (1
level tsp to a large cup of water), or cold water.
See an emergency dentist immediately,
within 30 minutes you have a high chance of saving the tooth.
