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Early Dental Care and The Panama Dental Center |
By the time you have children, you may have forgotten what the wondrous experience of tooth growth is all about. So the Panama Dental Center hopes this brief review will be of benefit to both you and your children.
Many think that there’s no real need for mouth care until your child’s first teeth erupt. But this is far from true. Many infants develop a fungal infection known as thrush that is caused by the continuous sucking of pacifiers, bottles, or as a result of breast feeding. Care must be taken to keep these sites clean to stem this common infection. If you think your child has thrush, be sure see us at the Panama Dental Center for quick and effective treatment of this somewhat common aliment.
Your child’s milk or baby teeth can appear as early as three months, but the first eruption doesn’t usually occur until the sixth month or later. The incisors, also known as the front teeth, are the first to appear and then over the next three years a total of twenty other will appear. It is never too early to begin a regular brushing routine and you can start your child’s oral hygiene program anytime during teething. Use an age designed soft toothbrush and a non fluoride toothpaste, or even plain water, to begin. You can also purchase a variety of products designed just for infants. Contact the Panama
Dental Center for more information and recommendations.
The sooner you introduce a brushing and flossing program to your child, the easier it will be for them to include it in their daily routine. Until they’re “grown up enough to do it myself” you should be sure remove plaque by flossing in addition to brushing. Usually around the age of six a child is capable of brushing and flossing their own teeth. There are numerous attractive child incentive products available like character toothbrushes and flossing products that may make developing good cleaning habits easier. And of course it’s important to monitor and inspect your child’s brushing and flossing progress, praising and correcting when necessary.
Your child’s permanent teeth usually begin to erupt around the age six, although every child is different and may get teeth earlier or later than the norm. The twenty baby teeth will eventually be replaced by thirty-two adult ones, now that your child’s jaw is large enough to support them. It’s important to follow your brushing and flossing schedules even when teeth are coming in. Granted the oral hygiene regime may cause some discomfort but plaque makes no exceptions regarding size or tooth age. The transition between "baby" teeth and the permanent teeth is not as difficult as teething, although your
child may struggle in the eating department. If your child is having problems either because of sore gums or simply because he can't bite into the food, offer softer food choices and try to cut hard food into bite-sized pieces, to be chewed with the molars, or back teeth.
Even though your child is brushing his/her own teeth you should make visual inspections of their mouth often. If you notice any signs of gingivitis, or you can visibly see plaque visit us here at the Panama Dental Center, and we can provide any needed advice or treatment. Encourage the proper brushing and flossing technique for the recommended two minutes. Discuss any concerns you have with your dentist or dental hygienist at during your child's recommended
cleaning and check-up appointment. The hygienist will go over brushing and flossing with your child and will offer tips and suggestions for your child to keep in mind when brushing at home.
The Panama Dental Center recommends that your child see us when their first tooth appears. Our dental staff loves to see children in the office and will arrange a educational and friendly visit along with a first time cleaning and check up so call today.
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