Tooth decay remains one of the biggest kids teeth problems being faced today. Your child’s teeth need to be kept clean as soon as they emerge from the gums, and it’s important to introduce your child to good dental hygiene practices from a young age to avoid dental problems as he or she grows up. Today we are going to take a look at some of the most common problems that can affect children’s teeth.
Your Child’s Baby Teeth
Even though your child’s teeth will fall out to make way for permanent teeth, they play a very important role in your child’s dental health. At birth, your baby already has 20 baby teeth – they are just in the jaw so they can’t be seen. But your child’s gums still need to be kept clean, and your young child needs to get used to oral care in order to avoid dental problems later on.
Before the baby teeth emerge, you should wipe your baby’s gums clean with a damp, soft cloth. This will remove any bacteria, and also let your child get used to the act of keeping their mouth and teeth clean.
Kids Teeth Problems: What To Watch Out For
Dental Decay
You should start cleaning teeth with a soft-bristled toothbrush and a tiny drop of toothpaste, as soon as they emerge. When the teeth start to touch one another, you can start to floss. Decay of the baby teeth may not seem like a major problem to you, but remember that the baby teeth are holding space for the adult teeth, and it is possible for decay to reach below the gum line and infect the adult teeth that may be below.
Baby Bottle Decay
Letting your baby or toddler fall asleep at the bottle is not advisable, because this longer-term exposure can lead to decay very quickly.
Never put sweetened juices or sugared milk in your child’s bottle, as they can lead to tooth decay.
Untreated tooth decay on your child’s teeth can lead to other dental problems such as infections and tooth loss.
Sucking On A Pacifier
Continuing sucking on a pacifier and thumb sucking after a certain age may lead to further problems with your child’s teeth. Never put sugar, honey or anything sweet on the pacifier either, as this can accelerate decay.
Thumb Sucking
It is quite normal for babies and toddlers to put things (including fingers and thumbs) into their mouths, however, if this habit persists after the age of 5, it can lead to problems with your child’s teeth. Thumb sucking can force the teeth out of alignment, leading to an openbite and other kids’ teeth problems.
How To Handle Dental Problems With Your Child’s Teeth?
You should take your child to the dentist as soon as the first tooth emerges, and then every six months after that. Your dentist will look out for the early signs of decay and assist your child to establish a good dental care routine.
To find out more about how to manage kids teeth problems or to book a consultation, please contact us: (02) 6188 7293.