Baby teeth in children are temporary teeth that the child will replace with permanent teeth, but some of them remain for a long time until the age of twelve years, so they must be preserved until they are replaced with permanent teeth. Caring for baby teeth and daily oral hygiene is a healthy habit that the child must be accustomed to at this age because it will remain a beloved habit for life, and give him healthy and sound teeth, good oral health and a beautiful smile always.
Why do we take care of and treat these teeth as long as they are baby teeth?
It is a misconception that it is not necessary to take care of baby teeth since these teeth will change, but it is necessary to take care of baby teeth for several reasons, including:
– Inflammation of baby teeth may spread to the permanent teeth underneath and affect their formation.
– The appearance of permanent teeth next to neglected baby teeth full of decay may expose the permanent teeth to decay as soon as they appear in the mouth.
– Early extraction of baby teeth may lead to tooth movement and loss of spaces between teeth, which leads to deviation of permanent teeth and the patient may need braces in the future.
– Early extraction of teeth exposes the child to eating and chewing problems at an early age because permanent teeth are subject to a specific time to appear.
The role of the mother in caring for children's teeth
The role of the mother in caring for her child’s teeth begins from the embryonic stage of the child by taking care of her health and nutrition during pregnancy, and after birth by taking care of the child’s nutritional behavior and taking care of the child’s oral health.
The mother and her child must visit the dentist when the teeth begin to appear at the age of the child’s first year, in order to educate the mother about the healthy behavior that she must follow with her child in order to preserve his baby teeth until the permanent teeth appear. Studies have also shown that this visit has a positive impact on the child in the future when visiting the dentist.
Useful tips for the mother:
Teaching the child how to brush daily.
– Supervising the child and helping him during the brushing process and daily reminders of the brushing process.
– The mother should also brush the child herself until she is sure that the child has learned the correct way.
– Providing children’s toothpaste and toothbrushes appropriate for the child’s age.
– Regulating the use of sweets, candy and soft drinks for children and controlling what they eat daily, preferably with the main meal times and not between meals.
– The mother should check her children’s teeth constantly and if anything is discovered, she should consult a doctor immediately.
The importance of visiting the dentist
Prevention is better than cure”, this slogan is now followed in most countries of the world in order to protect children’s teeth from decay and spare the child from needles and dental drills.
Regular check-ups for children every 6 months starting from the appearance of the first baby tooth are what prevent the child from drilling and needles through several preventive methods, including:
– Applying a fissure sealant:
This is a substance placed on the fissures in the permanent and baby molars to reduce food accumulation in them and facilitate the process of cleaning the teeth after eating, thus reducing the possibility of tooth decay for children after applying this substance to the teeth.
– Applying fluoride to children:
External fluoride is one of the best minerals that help prevent tooth decay. It is a natural mineral that can combine with the enamel layer (the outer layer of the teeth) to give it strength that helps it fight decay.
– Guidance on the child’s oral health and teaching him proper cleaning and making him love the dental clinic from an early age with simple gifts to avoid fear and terror later.
– One of the benefits of visiting the dentist is also early detection of any decay and treating it quickly in its early stages.
– Giving the mother all the advice about the child’s diet and all the methods used in cleaning the teeth and caring for the child’s oral health.