Children are usually quite irritable and fussy when it comes to brushing teeth. However, it is important for the parents to make sure that they are helping the kids maintain good oral hygiene daily despite the tantrums!
Children have a special set of teeth known as the deciduous, primary or milk teeth which begin to appear in the mouth at as early as 6 months of age. These teeth are smaller, temporary, and are later replaced by the permanent dentition when they start shedding at 6 years of age and onwards. Even though milk teeth are temporary and are bound to be replaced with the secondary dentition, it is important to keep them clean, healthy and cavity-free.
Children can’t always manage to clean their teeth properly because let’s face it, for them it might actually be a more complicated task than we think! Another problem is that children tend to snack quite frequently on sugary food and beverages which makes their teeth more susceptible to bacterial attacks and decay. Neglect on part of the parents can lead to the development of cavities which can be rather painful for children, preventing them from eating properly and ultimately affecting their health.
At Buckingham Dental, we offer a complete range of dental solutions to treat and prevent infections of the oral hard and soft tissues in children. Kids usually get intimidated with hospital settings which is why it is essential to make them feel comfortable first, and to educate them about the procedures and how they can prove to be helpful. Some of the most common procedures practiced in pediatric dentist include fillings, pulpectomies and pulpotomies, which are used to restore teeth damaged by caries, extractions which are used to remove decayed or retained teeth, and fissure sealant applications which are used to prevent bacterial attacks in teeth most susceptible to caries. Here are some ways in which you can help your child maintain excellent oral hygiene on daily basis:
- Monitor their eating habits; provide them with healthy, balanced meals thrice a day and discourage sugary snacks and beverages.
- Make sure your child brushes properly before going to bed
- Purchase a tooth paste that is suitable for your child according to his/her age, and use only a pea-sized amount of the paste for brushing.
- Purchase a small sized tooth brush with a long handle so that your child can use it easily
- Educate your children regarding the importance of brushing, and also about the effects of bacterial attacks on teeth in order to help them understand why brushing twice a day is essential.
- Visit the dentist regularly to have the child’s teeth professionally examined and assessed on routinely basis.