MEDICAL INSIDER
DR. RHODA ENTERO
How to Take Care of Young Children’s Dental Health
(Part 2)
This is the second week of our discussion of the topic “How
to Take Care of oung Children’s Dental Health”.
Parents should remember to teach their kids Good Dental
Habits. Once your baby’s first set of teeth do appear, they
should be brushed at least twice daily.
Use the infant toothpaste suggested by your dentist plus
fluoridated toothpaste to get the job done.
Once your child ends up with his first twin set of teeth
touching each other, then that’s when you should start
flossing them.
As parents, you should ask your dentist about the proper
schedules and techniques when it comes to flossing the teeth
of a child.
Don’t forget to brush and floss before baby’s bedtime.
Afterwards, don’t give your child food or drink except water
until the morning after.
What are the Dangers of Tooth Decay? Your child’s milk or
baby teeth, also known as primary teeth, are important.
These teeth hold space for your kid’s adult or permanent
teeth.
They should, therefore, be taken care of carefully. Just
because they’re supposed to fall of eventually doesn’t mean
you should feed your children candy and other junk food
without any regard for their dental health until they’re
permanent teeth start emerging.
Most importantly, taking care of your child’s milk teeth will
protect him from tooth cavities and decay.
Why is it important to protect the children from Tooth
Decay? It is because tooth decay can cause oral pain for
your child which may lead for the following to happen:
Headaches and migraines.
Difficulty in chewing and swallowing.
Embarrassment whenever your kid smiles or talks.
Future issues with your offspring’s permanent teeth.
Therefor, extra care must be observed when maintaining the
healthiness of a baby’s baby teeth.
If your family have cavities, then it’s likely that they can pass
such bacteria to their children, whether they’re infants or
even unborn babies.
A child has greater risk for developing tooth decay and
cavities if they have the following symptoms or
circumstances: ongoing special healthcare needs; white or
brown spots on their teeth; they’re unable or they neglect to
go to their dentist; and they’re born prematurely or early or
have low birth weight. (To be continued)