Congratulations on your bundle of joy, train up a child in the way to go and when he or she is old, he or she shall not depart from it.
With so many ideas and contributions from mothers, grand mothers and the world at large. It can be quite confusing to select which advice to follow. When you have a child everyone seems to have an opinion or experience to share. But in the end whatever you decide, you will be blamed or praised for the consequences.
Its with that I am directing the guide to the parent because you are solely responsible for the oral health of your child until he or she is old enough. Many parents have a tough time judging how much dental care their child needs. They know they want to prevent cavities, but they don’t always know the best way to do so.
Proper dental care begins before a baby’s first tooth appears. Just because you can’t see the teeth doesn’t mean they aren’t there. Teeth actually begin to form in the second trimester of pregnancy. At birth, your baby has 20 primary teeth, some of which are fully developed in the jaw.
Your baby should start teething at around 6 months old and will continue until all 20 baby teeth come through. At around 6 years old, the adult teeth will begin to appear. This will continue until all the adult teeth, except the wisdom teeth, have come through between 14-18 years old.
Follow this guide and you can help keep your child’s teeth decay free:
0-2years
Typically, babies get their teeth in pairs. The teething process lasts about two years, but after the first few teeth come in, the process tends to be much less painful. During the teething phase, massage gums with clean fingers or pacifier or dummy or soother or teether (a rubber, plastic or silicone object) or give pain reliever if associated with low grade fever.
——-Clean baby’s gums with a damp washcloth daily, this will help clear away harmful bacteria.
——–Parents can brush kids’ teeth as they come in with an infant toothbrush (very soft), using water with just a smear of toothpaste until about age 2.
——–Start brushing your baby’s teeth with fluoride toothpaste as soon as the first baby tooth breaks through. It’s important to use a fluoride paste as this helps prevent and control tooth decay.
——–Around age 2, most kids can spit while brushing.
3-5 Years
—–Children aged between three and five years should use a pea-sized blob of toothpaste.
—–Guide your child’s hand so they can feel the correct movement.
—–Use a mirror to help your child see exactly where the brush is cleaning their teeth.
—–Make tooth brushing as fun as possible by using a timer to time it for about two minutes.
—–Don’t let children run around with a toothbrush in their mouth as they may have an accident and hurt themselves.
6–9 years
—–Begin flossing as soon as teeth touch.
—–Let your child know that it’s normal for baby teeth to fall out. That’s how “grown-up” teeth come in.
—–From the age of seven or eight they should be able to brush their own teeth, but it’s still a good idea to watch them now and again to make sure they brush properly and for about two minutes.
10- 12 Years
—–Require children who play sports to wear a mouthguard to protect their smile.
—–Should be effective in brushing properly, still observe occasionally.
13+ years
Parents can make the most of their teen’s interest in how they look by reminding them that a healthy smile and fresh breath will help them look and feel their best. This is usually the age that they may also need to see an orthodontist if they are unhappy with the arrangement of their teeth.
Important tips to follow:
Brush your child’s teeth for about two minutes twice a day: once just before bedtime and at least one other time during the day.
Be a role model: Children like to observe and copy people in their life. Start with yourself as a parent be a role model, let your child see you brushing with joy ease and fun and they will likely do the same.
All children can use family toothpaste containing 1,350-1,500ppm fluoride as long as you supervise brushing until the age of seven and make sure its pea-size and make sure they don’t eat or lick toothpaste from the tube.
Children under the age of six who don’t have tooth decay can use a lower-strength toothpaste if you prefer, but make sure it contains at least 1,000ppm fluoride. Check the toothpaste packet for this information or ask your dentist.
Encourage them to spit out excess toothpaste but not to rinse with lots of water. Rinsing with water after tooth brushing will wash away the fluoride and reduce its benefits.
As a parent you are to supervise teeth brushing until the child is 7 years old and reinforce until child is 12 years. Read that again and don’t forget. The child will likely fuss or cry, but don’t let that deter you. You are not being a bad mom or dad if he/she cries while their teeth is been brushed think of your goal of good oral health, no cavity. “Kids don’t have the manual dexterity until they’re between 5 and 7 years old. I think a lot of parents really don’t realize that. Even when your child thinks they can brush their own teeth, your job is to go back and re-brush for them.” – I agreee with Dr Kevin Dolly who made that statement.
Consume fruit juices only at meals, and try to limit carbonated beverages during the first 30 months of your baby’s life, as these drinks have been associated with an increased risk of tooth decay
Take your child to the dentist when the first baby teeth appear. This is so they become familiar with the dental team, environment and get to know the dentist.
The dentist can help prevent decay and identify any oral health problems at an early stage. Just opening up the child’s mouth for the dentist to take a look is useful practice for when they could benefit from future preventative care.
When you visit the dentist, be positive about it and make the trip fun. This will stop your child worrying about future visits.
Thanks for reading, feel free to share and leave your comments or questions.
