Kids Dental Care
By: Ken HurtTotal Views: 148, Word Count: 693,
Knowing about kids’ dental care can help us to ensure that our kids will definitely have healthy teeth and gums when they grow old. Here are some basic guidelines for kids’ dental care that you can include in your child’s daily routine.
We all know that kids are completely dependent on their parents for their healthy life and well-being. Teeth are important part of kid’s health which have major role in his/her proper and healthy upbringing.
Baby’s Teeth Care
Nearly all babies have their first teeth come out around the age of 6 months. In some cases, kids do not have any teeth for a complete one year .Others may be born with one or more teeth.
Around the age of two and half years, most babies will usually have all 20 primary teeth, which are known as ‘milk’ teeth.
At the age of six, milk teeth slowly start to be replaced by permanent teeth.
Teething of Babies
Babies who are teething often show signs such as the continuous dribbling of saliva. They may try to chew or bite objects.
The irritation in jaws makes them restless and may disturb their sleeping patterns.
Teething is popularly associated with health issues e.g. fever or diarrhea.
Here are some important points that you can do to help your kid during teething:
- Holding your baby to make him/her secure and comforting him/her with kind words is important during the teething process.
- You can gently rub your kid’s teething gums or dab them with cotton dipped in cold water.
- You can give your kid teething rings, specially made to fulfill the urge of chewing. Refrigerating these rings before use will be helpful for the kids.
- Give your kid cold or soft things to eat. For e.g. chilled curd, mashed fruit etc.
General Dental Care for Kids
It is very important to make dental hygiene a part of your kid's daily routine.
1. Set up brushing as a daily routine when your kid gets his/her first teeth. It is good to brush them twice, morning, and at night.
- Slowly teach your kid to brush her/his own teeth, but always be there to control at all times.
- Teach your kid to spit out the toothpaste after each time of brushing. Until your child learns to do this, try to use fluoride-free toothpaste which is made for children.
- Give your kid calcium-rich foods like milk or cheese. Calcium plays an important role in making the teeth and bones healthy.
- Sugar intake increases acid level in the mouth of kids, so teach your kids to brush their teeth within half an hour of sugary treat. This will protect their teeth from harm.
- Encourage your kid to develop a taste for healthy snacks, fruits and nuts; one way to do this is to practice the same thing yourself.
All these points will definitely help in your kids’ dental care.
Nutrition
Proper nutrition to kids is essential to help prevent cavities. Offer your child a diet containing fresh vegetables, healthy fruits, proteins, dairy and grains.
Visit the Dentist
According to American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, a child should be observed by a dentist when his/ her first tooth comes out.
By following all these strategies, your kid will grow up with strong teeth and gum, with control on how to continue caring for his /her teeth as a grown up.
About the Author
Dr. Ken Hurt is a well known dentist and has been in this field since 1995. He is graduated in doctor of dental medicine from London University. His interest lies in cosmetic dentistry, gum and teeth replacement, children dentistry, drug therapy, psychology in dentistry, oral surgery and pathology.
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