Most people assume that baby teeth aren't as important as adult teeth since we lose them early in life. But the truth is that baby teeth really do matter for a variety of different reasons.
Background on Baby Teeth
An infant's 20 primary teeth are already in place within the jaws at birth. They start to appear between 6 months and 1 year of age. The emergence of baby teeth often results in sore gums that can be alleviated with gentle rubbing. The average child will have all 20 primary teeth in place by the age of 3.
The Importance of Baby Teeth
Primary teeth are critically important as they help our little ones chew food and form words. Baby teeth also hold space for permanent teeth that will soon emerge from beneath the gums. If a baby tooth is lost prematurely, the adjacent teeth might drift into the empty space, making it challenging for adult teeth to find space when they finally come in. This is one of many reasons why taking your kid to a child’s dentist early in life is so important.
Don't Delay That First Dental Visit
According to the American Dental Association, the first dental appointment should be scheduled within six months after the child's first tooth comes in. Do not wait until beyond your child's first birthday to have him or her seen by a dentist. This visit will give your dentist a chance to check your kiddo’s teeth for decay and other issues.
How You can Care for Your Little One's Teeth
It is imperative that you take care of your child's baby teeth from the get-go. The first step is to wipe your baby's mouth in the first couple of days after birth. Use a washcloth or a moist gauze pad for this quick rub.
If your child is under the age of 3, brush his or her teeth three times per day and floss where teeth touch, as soon as the teeth have entered the mouth. Use fluoride toothpaste the size of a lentil. If your child is between 3 and 6 years old, use a little bit more toothpaste, roughly the size of a small pea and brush three times per day and floss where the teeth touch. Continue brushing your child's teeth until you are confident that he or she can brush them on his or her own.
Kids start to get sufficient hand-eye coordination around the age of 8. If your child wants to brush and floss on his or her own, that’s great! Let he or she brush and floss, then an adult should follow up behind. An adult can brush and floss first, whichever method works best to get the job done.
Once your child has two teeth that touch, you can teach him or her how to floss! Encourage your child to floss each time he
or she brushes to maintain oral health into adulthood. And don't forget to schedule regular dental appointments at Playtime Dental.
When it comes to dental sedation and your child, safety should be everyone’s first concern. Something as important as sedating a child for a dental procedure should only be done by an expert in children’s health, such as a children’s dentist.
Not only does a kid’s dentist have the expertise and knowledge of safe sedation methods for children, they are trained how to help a nervous child feel safe and comfortable during a dental procedure. This is vital in order to protect the child’s personal sense of well-being.
Laughing Gas for Nervous Children
If a child feels overly stressed or frightened, dental sedation may be necessary to help the patient relax and feel calm. The most popular choice for this is nitrous oxide, or laughing gas as it is commonly called. Oxygen mixed with laughing gas is administered with a mask over the child’s nose.
This type of dental sedation will start to take effect within minutes and the child will begin to feel happy and relaxed. Immediately following the procedure, only oxygen will be given via the mask to make sure all laughing gas is removed from the child’s system.
Putting Safety First
Before your children’s dentist performs a procedure, they will ask questions about your child. Any medical concerns, such as allergies, previous illness or a pre-existing health condition will be noted and taken into consideration.
When speaking with your child’s dentist, be sure to answer all questions as thoroughly as possible. Also, provide the child’s general physician’s name and phone number for the dentist to contact for more information if necessary, especially if your child has a medical condition.
You should also inform the dentist if your child receives any sort of medication, vitamin supplements, or over-the-counter health products. All of this information is important for the dentist to know in order to determine what type of dental sedation is suitable for your child.
Depending on the type of sedation a child may need, a kid-friendly dentist will give instructions to parents about eating and drinking prior to the procedure. When using laughing gas for sedation, a light meal is recommended prior to the procedure. A heavy meal or no meal can cause nausea when using laughing gas for sedation. For IV sedation, an empty stomach is vital in order to prevent your child from vomiting and inhaling the stomach’s contents into their lungs.
If you have any questions about dental sedation, do not hesitate to contact our office. We can discuss options for your child's dental procedures and talk further with you about the safety precautions we use.
