This three-part article series explains some very important information about dental health care for children, which faces some unique challenges many parents are completely unaware of.
Welcome to the second installment of this three-part article series on dental healthcare for babies and young children. Previously, in Part 1, a panel of experienced dentists in Palos Verdes explained the following important bits of information on general healthcare, oral hygiene and check-ups:
• You should schedule your baby’s first dental appointment a few months after their first milk teeth emerge and definitely before the age of 1.
• You should clean your baby’s gums with a soft moist cloth after feeding and, when they develop milk teeth, use a soft bristled toothbrush with water to clean them.
• Seeing the dentist from an early age is fundamental for the optimal guidance of your baby’s oral healthcare, hygiene and teeth. It’s also really important for getting him or her used to seeing the dentist, as this will establish healthy habits for a lifetime.
Let’s continue by looking at a particularly dangerous and yet pervasive attitude held by many Rancho Palos Verdes parents…
Secondary Teeth Are Not a Second Chance At Getting Dental Care Right
Many parents have the following detrimental attitude towards child dental care: “I’m not too concerned with looking after my child’s milk teeth because he or she will be growing a new set of (adult) teeth soon.”
Your child’s secondary teeth are not a second chance at getting dental health care right!
“The emergence of a child’s adult teeth is not a clean slate for their oral health and not a chance to start over,” says an experienced Palos Verdes family dentist. “The health of their primary teeth are as important as the health of their secondary teeth. If you allow your child’s milk teeth to become decayed, it could very well lead to serious dental problems and the need for complex dental work in early adulthood.
“It’s fundamental that you look after your baby’s milk teeth, not only for this reason, but also because poor dental health could lead to difficulties eating and speaking. Additionally, there is a very real risk of your child experiencing problems interacting socially because their smiles aren’t healthy like the other kids and they may also have bad breath.”
How to Deal with Teething Problems
By the age of 3, your child will have development most or all of their primary teeth. Until that time, however, it’s not uncommon for babies to become cranky and tearful quite simply because they are in pain. Teething is a painful process and since you can’t very well tell your baby to take an aspirin, the treatments available are more therapeutic in nature. The best approach is just to take a moist, damp cloth or even your clean finger and gently massage the gums. According to some Palos Verdes dentists, a cool teaspoon also does the trick quite nicely.
If you experience significant problems calming your child as a result of teething problems, don’t hesitate to give your dentist a call and ask for recommendations. A very mild topical aesthetic cream may do the trick in extreme cases.
Stay Tuned for Part 3
To read some final facts and important information about oral healthcare for tiny tots, stay tuned for the last installment of this three-part article series. Next, we shall be looking at two potentially major problems affecting many Palos Verdes babies: thumb-sucking and baby bottle decay.