Kids Corner

As our daily lives seem busier and faster-paced than ever, one phrase comes to mind: The future is now. Children’s oral healthcare habits today will have an impact on their health as an adult.

Baby’s first teeth :

As teeth begin to emerge, some babies may have sore or tender gums. Rubbing your child’s gums with a clean wet gauze or cotton or finger may relieve some of the soreness. A clean, chilled teething ring may also ease tender gums.

Your child’s baby teeth or milk teeth are important in helping your child chew and speak normally. In addition, the primary teeth hold the space in the jaws for the permanent teeth. Both primary and permanent teeth help give the face its shape and form. A baby’s front four teeth usually erupt first, typically at about six months of age, although some children don’t have their first tooth until 12 or 14 months. Most children have a full set of 20 primary teeth by the time they are three years old. As your child grows, the jaws also grow, making room for the permanent teeth that will begin to erupt at about age six. At the same time, the roots of the primary teeth begin to be absorbed by the tissues around them, and the permanent teeth under them begin to erupt.
Typically, children have the majority of their permanent teeth by 12 to 14 years of age. The remaining four permanent molars, often called “wisdomteeth”, erupt around age 21 to complete the set of 32 permanent teeth.
First dental visit :
As your child’s first tooth erupts, consult with the dentist regarding scheduling a first dental visit. It is advantageous for the first dental visit to occur within six months after the first tooth erupts, but not later than the first birthday.

Preventing decay of milk teeth :
As soon as teeth appear in the mouth, decay can occur. One of the risk factors for early childhood cavities (sometimes called baby bottle tooth decay) is frequent and prolonged exposure of a baby’s teeth to liquids containing sugar, like sweetened water and fruit juice and potentially milk, breast milk and formula. Tooth decay can occur when parents or caregivers put a baby to bed with a bottle or use one as a pacifier for a fussy baby.

Encourage children to drink from a cup by their first birthday, and discourage frequent or prolonged use of a bottle. If you give your child a pacifier, use a clean one. Never dip a pacifier in sugar or honey before giving it to a baby. Encourage healthy eating habits. This would include a diet with plenty of vegetables and fruits and whole grains. Snacks should be nutritious. Limit sweets to mealtimes.
Permanent teeth :
Sometimes a primary tooth is lost before the permanent tooth beneath it is ready to erupt. If a primary tooth is lost too early because of cavities or injuries, nearby teeth can tip or shift into the vacant space.

When the permanent tooth is ready to emerge into the space, there may not be enough room for it. The new tooth may be unable to erupt or may emerge in an abnormal position. If your child loses a tooth prematurely, the dentist may recommend a space maintainer, a metal appliance that holds open the space left by the missing tooth. The dentist will remove this device once the permanent tooth begins to erupt.

Cleaning your child’s teeth :
Begin cleaning the baby’s mouth during the first few days after birth. After every feeding, wipe the baby’s gums either with a clean, wet gauze pad or with a washcloth or towel. This removes plaque and residual food and helps children become accustomed to having their mouth checked.

When your infant’s teeth begin to erupt, it is important to clean them regularly. You may continue to use a gauze pad or cloth to clean the incisors after feedings until the back teeth (molars) begin to erupt (usually around 12 months of age). Once a molar appears, brush all teeth gently with a child’s size soft toothbrush and water. Position your child so you can see into the mouth easily; you might want to sit, resting his headin your lap. When your child can predictably spit and not swallow toothpaste, begin brushing the teeth with a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste.
Check your child’s toothbrush often and replace it when it is worn.

PREVENTIVE DENTISTRY
Not a branch in itself, but involves the motivation and education of patients towards prevention of dental conditions and also emphasizes on the regular maintenance protocol and routine dental visits to be followed by the patients.

CARIES FREE DIET COUNSELING
A thorough knowledge on the importance of correct diet regimen will be imparted. The importance of having non-cariogenic foods such as fibrous and non-sticky, or refined foods is stressed upon. Patients are asked to refrain from sticky, processed foods, or sweets in between meals, as this forms an important basis for plaque formation and initiation of dental caries.

PSYCHOLOGICAL COUNSELING
Modern day stress is found to have an important role in the oral hygiene maintenance. A direct relationship between stress and poor oral health, higher incidence of dental caries and periodontal or gum disease is found. Thus counseling will be provided for such individuals to overcome stressful situations in day to day life and aim towards better oral hygiene.

PIT AND FISSURE SEALANTS- CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS
Children and young adults with newly erupted permanent teeth are generally advised pit and fissure sealants which are resin materials which can seal the pits, grooves, fissures on the biting surfaces of the teeth and prevent the initiation of dental caries. This is done routinely wherein the resin is applied to these vulnerable surfaces with an applicator and light cured. Sometimes a glassinomer cement is also used which is cured by a chemical setting reaction. It leaves a very smooth, hard surface, which is easy to clean and prevents accumulation of plaque.

FLUORIDE APPLICATION- CHILDREN
Fluoride is a mineral which is generally required for the healthy teeth. Fluoride generally reaches the population though drinking water as it is incorporated in it. Also almost all the toothpastes contain fluoride. It reacts with the hydroxyapatite in the outermost layer of the tooth that is enamel, to form fluorapatite, which is much stronger and prevents tooth decay. Indications for fluoride application :

  1. White spots on teeth
  2. Active decay
  3. Orthodontic treatment
  4. Hypersensitivity
  5. Protect root surfaces