Some mothers think that it is only important to take care of their children’s teeth when they become preschoolers and are eating lots of sweet stuff in school. But experts actually tell us that nearly all children have the entire set of 20 primary or baby teeth by the time they reach three years old. As such it is actually imperative that you pay close attention to your toddler’s teeth.
The common argument that causes moms to overlook this first set of teeth is that they will fall off and be replaced anyway. But dental experts report that these milk teeth hold the spaces that the permanent teeth eventually grow out of. For example, if a child loses a baby tooth at a very young age, nearby baby teeth have the tendency to tip or move into the empty space, which causes a crooked “mold” for the new teeth to move into. Also, these first teeth are responsible for properly aligning the child’s jawbones and the resulting bite.
A usual advice given to moms of babies is to watch prolonged thumb-sucking and reliance on a pacifier. This is because these two habits, when done past the age of three, have the tendency to cause improper teeth alignment by pushing teeth outward. It can sometimes even cause a malformation of the upper palate of the mouth.
While we’re on the subject of babies’ sucking habits, note also that dentists advise moms whose babies bottle-feed to invest in orthodontic teats. Studies show that there is a difference in the baby’s teeth formation. Babies who suckle on normal, round teats have a greater tendency to develop bottom-row teeth that are crooked, while orthodontic teats have been shown to help align top and bottom teeth.
In terms of cleaning your baby’s teeth, even babies below one year old need to have their mouth area cleaned diligently. Even if only a few teeth have appeared, you can start by cleaning your baby’s gums with gauze to get rid of plaque as soon as the first teeth come out. This usually happens when your baby is between four to six months, with the first two usually coming out on the bottom gums followed by the top two incisors a few months afterward.
When your child reaches two years old, he most likely has nearly all of his baby teeth. As such it would be best to start getting him to brush by one year old, or if you are delayed, get with it as soon as possible. A toothbrush now becomes necessary as it can help to clean the molars and the crevices between his teeth. Also remember to wipe the tongue gently, since it is also a good holding place for bacteria. For a toddler, let him hold the brush as you guide him in brushing. Dentists recommend brushing the front teeth and easing toward the molars, since some children are afraid to choke when their back teeth are brushed. Since your baby’s mouth is very small, you would do well in choosing a short toothbrush with a small head that comes with two rows of soft bristles.
When your child reaches three, your child most likely still does not know how to brush properly. As such you need to be ready to keep him supervised. You can put him on the countertop facing you, and you can brush your teeth together. Let him imitate your movements, using 10 counts per side. You also need to start flossing his teeth by this age, because by this time, the spaces between the teeth are likely to have closed. Bits of food can get stuck in those spaces, so you need to get rid of them as soon as possible.
This quick guide should give you a good idea of how to take good care of your child’s teeth from infancy to preschool age. You can see that it really is not complicated, but you just need to be consistent in developing healthy habits. Once you have given him a good head start, you can help celebrate his good dental hygiene as you watch him avoid many dental problems in the future!
The common argument that causes moms to overlook this first set of teeth is that they will fall off and be replaced anyway. But dental experts report that these milk teeth hold the spaces that the permanent teeth eventually grow out of. For example, if a child loses a baby tooth at a very young age, nearby baby teeth have the tendency to tip or move into the empty space, which causes a crooked “mold” for the new teeth to move into. Also, these first teeth are responsible for properly aligning the child’s jawbones and the resulting bite.
A usual advice given to moms of babies is to watch prolonged thumb-sucking and reliance on a pacifier. This is because these two habits, when done past the age of three, have the tendency to cause improper teeth alignment by pushing teeth outward. It can sometimes even cause a malformation of the upper palate of the mouth.
While we’re on the subject of babies’ sucking habits, note also that dentists advise moms whose babies bottle-feed to invest in orthodontic teats. Studies show that there is a difference in the baby’s teeth formation. Babies who suckle on normal, round teats have a greater tendency to develop bottom-row teeth that are crooked, while orthodontic teats have been shown to help align top and bottom teeth.
In terms of cleaning your baby’s teeth, even babies below one year old need to have their mouth area cleaned diligently. Even if only a few teeth have appeared, you can start by cleaning your baby’s gums with gauze to get rid of plaque as soon as the first teeth come out. This usually happens when your baby is between four to six months, with the first two usually coming out on the bottom gums followed by the top two incisors a few months afterward.
When your child reaches two years old, he most likely has nearly all of his baby teeth. As such it would be best to start getting him to brush by one year old, or if you are delayed, get with it as soon as possible. A toothbrush now becomes necessary as it can help to clean the molars and the crevices between his teeth. Also remember to wipe the tongue gently, since it is also a good holding place for bacteria. For a toddler, let him hold the brush as you guide him in brushing. Dentists recommend brushing the front teeth and easing toward the molars, since some children are afraid to choke when their back teeth are brushed. Since your baby’s mouth is very small, you would do well in choosing a short toothbrush with a small head that comes with two rows of soft bristles.
When your child reaches three, your child most likely still does not know how to brush properly. As such you need to be ready to keep him supervised. You can put him on the countertop facing you, and you can brush your teeth together. Let him imitate your movements, using 10 counts per side. You also need to start flossing his teeth by this age, because by this time, the spaces between the teeth are likely to have closed. Bits of food can get stuck in those spaces, so you need to get rid of them as soon as possible.
This quick guide should give you a good idea of how to take good care of your child’s teeth from infancy to preschool age. You can see that it really is not complicated, but you just need to be consistent in developing healthy habits. Once you have given him a good head start, you can help celebrate his good dental hygiene as you watch him avoid many dental problems in the future!
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