Child Dental Care

Tips to maintain oral hygiene in children

  • After feeding, gum pads should be cleaned with a soft, clean cloth wrapped on a finger
  • After every meal, the mouth should be rinsed with water and gums massaged with a finger.
  • Parents should brush the child’s teeth till the age of four years and then supervised brushing should be encouraged.
  • Brushing twice a day and flossing are necessary to maintain healthy teeth and gums.
  • A pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste for children two and older is all that is needed.
  • Make sure your child spits out the toothpaste rather than swallowing it.
  • For young children, select a child-size toothbrush with soft bristles.
  • Children should be able to brush alone by age seven.
  • Replace toothbrushes every three to four months.
  • Use floss as soon as the child has two teeth that touch.
  • Ask your dentist or hygienist to demonstrate proper brushing and flossing techniques.

Why Is it Important to Care for Baby Teeth?

While it's true that primary teeth are only in the mouth a short period of time, they play a vital role.

  • They reserve space for their permanent counterparts.
  • They give the face its normal appearance.
  • They aid in the development of clear speech.
  • They help attain good nutrition (missing or decayed teeth make it difficult to chew causing children to reject foods).
  • They help give a healthy start to the permanent teeth (decay and infection in baby teeth can cause dark spots on the permanent teeth developing beneath it).

Prevent Tooth Decay

  • Maintain a balanced diet for your child by selecting foods from the five main food groups—fruits, vegetables, meat, grains and dairy.
  • Limit between-meal snacks. If your child needs a snack choose nutritious foods from the main food groups rather than cookies, candy and other sweets.

Avoid soda and sweetened beverages and encourage your children to drink water.

Space maintainers to preserve the beautiful smile

Children may lose baby teeth earlier than the permanent tooth eruption due to various reasons. If left untreated, the adjacent teeth may invade that space and prevent the eruption of permanent teeth over a period of time. This could lead to crowding and imperfect bite. Do not ignore it completely as its only the milk teeth. This calls for immediate attention.

A space maintainer is in the need of the hour!!

A space maintainer helps to conserve space. It’s a custom-made metal, fabricated in various types to preserve the space lost by the teeth. In addition, it will help in guiding the growth and direction of the permanent tooth. It’s fixed in the adjacent teeth or on an arch in the child's mouth

Milk teeth are lost due to these key reasons:

  • Dental cavity
  • Dental trauma
  • Genetic or hereditary factors
  • Periodontal or gum diseases

Types of space maintainers

They are either removable or fixed. Mostly fixed ones are routinely used. Based on the location and the method of fitting, the different types include: - band and loop, crown and loop, distal shoe, nance, transpalatal arch.

Advantages of using a space maintainer

  • It helps to preserve the arch length and helps in the correct eruption of permanent teeth.
  • It also guides the growth of permanent teeth.
  • It prevents orthodontic problems-dental crowding.
  • Prevention of dental malocclusion- crossbite and open bites.
  • Maintains the dental structure to support proper chewing and speech development.
  • Reduces the need for complex orthodontic treatments in the future.

How to maintain the space maintainers?

  • Routine brushing and flossing are needed to keep the appliance clean.
  • Avoid sticky and hard foods that can damage the appliance.
  • Periodic check -ups to monitor and make necessary adjustments.

Key takeaway message

Space maintainers 'keep the space' and benefit your children’s health. It may help them to flaunt a healthier and esthetically pleasing smile. Consult with us to know more.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

It depends on the tooth lost and the eruption timing of the permanent teeth. It has to be worn until permanent teeth erupt. It can be safely removed.

Yes, slight discomfort may be there when its initially placed until your child adapts to the new appliance. If it persists, contact us immediately to check if any adjustments are needed.

Yes, initially it might cause a speech hindrance. Over a period of time, it helps to maintain the chewing and speech efficiency of the child.