Baby Teeth

In the first few years of life developing healthy dental habits is important.  Begin by taking your child when you attend for your regular visits.  Such visits will be a valuable experience for your child and enable to experience the smell, sounds and sights of a dental visit. Your child will almost certainly inherit their attitude towards dental health from you

 

Teething

Some children experience discomfort before and during eruption of teeth.  The child may be irritable and place objects in the mouth and bite on them. Dribbling may increase and your child may be fussy or refuse food.  The gums may appear red and be painful when you press on them.  During teething there may be arise in temperature, restlessness by day or sleeplessness by night.  Teething gels rubbed on the gum prior to eating are effective. Analgesics can be taken as required.

 

Thumb and Finger sucking

Sucking is a natural reflex for babies and helps develop the jaw and facial muscles. At the early age many different objects are tested by being put into the mouth.  This desire to suck objects usually disappears before school age.  If the thumb or finger sucking continues after the permanent teeth erupt it may cause the front teeth to be crocked.

 

Dummies

Dummies should be used with caution and only for a short time. Coating a dummy in jam, honey or other food can lead to extensive decay.  It should be thrown away at the first sign of wear, splitting or cracking.

 

Bottles

Severe decay can occur when a bottle, containing sweet liquids is given to your child. During sleep very little saliva is produced and the resultant decay can be very rapid.  The bottle should be used when baby is hungry or thirsty and not as a pacifier or comforter. It should be taken away from the baby when the baby falls asleep.  Breastfeeding is recommended.

 

Cleaning

As soon as teeth erupt they can potentially decay. Initially they should be cleaned with gauze.  As more teeth erupt a small, soft brush should be introduced with or without toothpaste.  A children’s toothpaste should be used. Stand or sit behind your child and slowly brush all of their teeth.  Gradually the child will learn to brush their own teeth. Up until the age of about seven brushing needs to be supervised or checked routinely.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  An example of bottle caries.