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Dental care - child

 

Proper care of your child's teeth and gums includes brushing and rinsing daily. It also includes having routine dental exams, and getting necessary treatments such as fluoride, extractions, fillings, or braces and other orthodontics.

Information

Your child must have healthy teeth and gums for overall good health. Injured, diseased, or poorly developed teeth can result in:

  • Poor nutrition
  • Painful and dangerous infections
  • Problems with speech development
  • Poor self-image

CARING FOR AN INFANT'S TEETH

Even though newborns and infants do not have teeth, it is important to take care of their mouth and gums. Follow these tips:

  • Use a damp washcloth to wipe your infant's gums after each meal.
  • DO NOT put your infant or young child to bed with a bottle of milk, juice, or sugar water. Use only water for bedtime bottles.
  • Begin using a soft toothbrush instead of a washcloth to clean your child's teeth as soon as their first tooth shows (usually between 5 and 8 months of age).
  • Ask your child's health care provider if your infant needs to take oral fluoride .

THE FIRST TRIP TO THE DENTIST

  • Your child's first visit to the dentist should be between the time the first tooth appears and the time when all the primary teeth are visible (before 2 1/2 years).
  • Many dentists recommend a "trial" visit. This can help your child get used to the sights, sounds, smells, and feel of the office before their actual exam.
  • Children who are used to having their gums wiped and teeth brushed every day will be more comfortable going to the dentist.

CARING FOR A CHILD'S TEETH

  • Brush your child's teeth and gums at least twice each day and especially before bed.
  • Take your child to a dentist every 6 months. Let the dentist know if your child thumb sucks or breathes through the mouth.
  • Teach your child how to play safe and what to do if a tooth is broken or knocked out. If you act quickly, you can often save the tooth .
  • When your child has permanent teeth, they should begin flossing each evening before going to bed.
  • When your child is a teenager, braces or extractions may be needed to prevent long-term problems.

 

References

Chou R, Cantor A, Zakher B, Mitchell JP, Pappas M. Preventing dental caries in children <5 years: systematic review updating USPSTF recommendation. Pediatrics . 2013;132(2);332-350. PMID: 23858419 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23858419 .

Hughes CV, Dean JA. Mechanical and chemotherapeutic home oral hygiene. In: Dean JA, ed. McDonald and Avery's Dentistry for the Child and Adolescent . 10th ed. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier Mosby; 2016:chap 7.

Ng MW, Chase I. Early childhood caries: risk-based disease prevention and management. Dent Clin North Am . 2013;57(1):1-16. PMID: 23174607 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23174607 .

 
  • Teach children to brush - illustration

    Healthy teeth and gums are essential to a child's overall good health. Without proper dental care tooth decay and gum disease can lead to serious problems such as cavities and gingivitis, swollen and bleeding gums. Regular visits to the dentist, brushing twice each day, and flossing, are ways to help maintain a healthy mouth.

    Teach children to brush

    illustration

  • Infant dental care - illustration

    Even though newborns and infants do not have teeth, care of the mouth and gums is important. Use a damp washcloth to wipe your infant's gums after each meal and do not put your infant or young child to bed with a bottle of milk, juice, or sugar water. As the child grows, establishing proper dental hygiene will promote healthy teeth and gums which are essential to overall good health. Poor dental development, dental disease, and dental trauma can result in poor nutrition, painful and dangerous infections, problems with speech development, and problems with self image.

    Infant dental care

    illustration

    • Teach children to brush - illustration

      Healthy teeth and gums are essential to a child's overall good health. Without proper dental care tooth decay and gum disease can lead to serious problems such as cavities and gingivitis, swollen and bleeding gums. Regular visits to the dentist, brushing twice each day, and flossing, are ways to help maintain a healthy mouth.

      Teach children to brush

      illustration

    • Infant dental care - illustration

      Even though newborns and infants do not have teeth, care of the mouth and gums is important. Use a damp washcloth to wipe your infant's gums after each meal and do not put your infant or young child to bed with a bottle of milk, juice, or sugar water. As the child grows, establishing proper dental hygiene will promote healthy teeth and gums which are essential to overall good health. Poor dental development, dental disease, and dental trauma can result in poor nutrition, painful and dangerous infections, problems with speech development, and problems with self image.

      Infant dental care

      illustration

    A Closer Look

     

    Talking to your MD

     

      Self Care

       

      Tests for Dental care - child

       

         

        Review Date: 2/22/2016

        Reviewed By: Michael Kapner, DDS, general and aesthetic dentistry, Norwalk Medical Center, Norwalk, CT. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

        The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997- A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

         
         
         

         

         

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