Teeth start to develop in the jaw even before the baby is born. However, they are not often visible until the baby turns at least six months old. As the infant continues to grow, more teeth will develop, and the child will typically have a complete set of baby teeth by the time they turn three years old. These baby teeth start falling after a few years when the adult teeth begin to appear in their oral cavity. Here are a few dental facts that you should know about when it comes to taking care of your children’s oral health and their overall health in return.
#1 Tooth Decay is the most common disease in children
Tooth decay is one of the most common diseases that occur in children and can prove to be harmful not just to their oral environment but also to their entire system. If left untreated, tooth decay can damage the child’s other teeth and have a lost-lasting bad effect on their overall health & growth.
#2 Cavities are Preventable
Although cavities are common, that does not mean you cannot prevent them. Natural element – Fluoride has the capability to prevent and reverse tooth decay in its very early stages. Once applied over the teeth, fluoride strengthens the developing teeth. It reinforces the tooth enamel, which is the protective hard layer on the teeth. A reinforced enamel can resist tooth decay to a large extent. However, you should keep in mind that fluoride cannot repair cavities.
#3 Candy is not the only cause of bad oral health
Although eating candy leads to cavities, it is not the only thing that leads to poor oral health. There are several different types of food products that have been identified to cause decay in teeth. Particularly, snacks such as crackers, cookies, or even bread can increase the chances of a child developing cavities. This is because tooth decay is a result of bacteria which produces acid after consuming carbohydrates. To simply put, cavities are formed from microorganisms that feed on sugar contained in starchy foods. Hence, it is very important to brush your child’s teeth after they eat starchy foods.
#4 Children should start visiting the dentist by the time they are one year old
Dental professionals recommend that you should take your child to a dentist once they are a year old. But, most people do not go to a dentist until their child is two to three years old, which is not a good thing. It is important to keep in mind the fact that baby teeth are vital for various reasons. One of the main reasons is that they help the growing kids in speech development among many other things, such as helping them chew food.
#5 Baby’s teeth should be taken care of from the beginning
Even before your child has any teeth, it is important to take care of them. You can use an infant toothbrush or a soft cloth to wipe your child’s gums twice every day before their teeth start to show. Doing so will keep their gums free of bacteria and prepare them for brushing. Once your baby develops their teeth, you should brush them twice a day with a non-fluoridated toothpaste.
To sum it all up, you should not neglect your baby’s dental health just because they haven’t started showing teeth yet. Further, taking proper care of one’s teeth is important whether they are a child, teen, or an adult as it could keep them safe from the array of dental diseases as well as take care of their overall oral health. Top Notch Dental Clinic has experienced team of dentists who will take care of your child’s dental issues and diligently treat them.
See what Mrs Ruchi Arora has to say about her experience with Top Notch Dental clinic where she got her daughter’s dental treatment done.