Kids Expected To Brush Teeth On Their Own By Age Five
Article Source: HealthSnare.com
Just like the average person, babies should be given good dental health care both at home and professionally. Early care for a baby's teeth would usually mean that the child's first teeth would develop well. This is important because the space in the mouth for permanent teeth is reserved by primary teeth. Empty spaces created by primary teeth that fall too early could be taken by other teeth, and this would cause new teeth to grow out crookedly.
You can use a spoon or your own finger to ease the pain of sore gums that a child experiences during teething. The pediatrician or dentist would be the one you can turn to if the child continues to show discomfort. A few days after the baby is born, parents should start wiping his gums using a damp washcloth or gauze pad.
As soon as the first tooth erupts, you should start cleaning it with a toothbrush to remove plaque, putting first a tiny drop of toothpaste on a tuff or two. It is recommended that the toothbrush to be used should be designed for young children. Because young children have delicate gums and tiny mouths, the toothbrush should be soft bristled and small.
The development of baby bottle tooth decay may occur when a baby drinks something sweet before going to bed. The formation of cavities and the eventual tooth loss because of cavities would result. Without proper treatment, permanent teeth would come out looking very crooked. A baby would not develop baby bottle tooth decay if you just give him a pacifier or a bottle of water to suck on while he sleeps.
A child's early dental visits could make the difference in keeping small problems from becoming big ones. Examination for cavities and other dental problems will occur during the baby's visit to the dentist. It is also during the dental visit that the dentist will explain to you how to take care of the teeth of your growing children and what kind of diet they should have.
The importance of good dental care is best explained to children during early childhood. You can do this by first being the example for them. Good dental habits which you decide to practice for yourself will most likely be adopted by your child as well.
Brushing is something that should be taught to two or three year olds. When kids hit their fifth year, they can be old enough to brush by themselves with their parents only giving them slight supervision. Flossing requires some mastery, and a child may have to practice it first before they can do it right. Parents should first be ones to floss the child's teeth when he is about two or three years old. By the age of eight, the child will just be needing some supervision as he flosses by himself.
For tooth enamel to be stronger and resistant to tooth decay, one must take a mineral known as fluoride. The need for fluoride is particularly greater for young children compared to other age groups. While the new teeth are starting to develop, the fluoride begins to mix in with the developing enamel, causing the teeth to be healthier and stronger.
Internal or topical are the two ways for children to experience the benefits of fluoride. The internal way is by drinking water with fluoride and also eating foods that contain fluoride. Additional anti cavity protection is achieved through topical fluoride which you can get from your dentist or which you can apply on your own teeth.
About the Author
Article Submitted By:
Daniel Gray
Html View
Total views: 8
Word Count: 621
Date: Sat, 21 Aug 2010 Time: 2:35 AM
Publish/Share this article
To use this article on your site click here to get the HTML code |Remember: The article body, title, author bio and links may not be changed or removed. By publishing this article, you agree to all the terms in our Terms of Service.
Rating: Not yet rated
