Dental health in children... Are you doing it right as a parent?
Dental health in children should be taken care of with greater caution than usual. Otherwise, they can trigger important infectious foci that sometimes go unnoticed.
As parents, nurturing knowledge is transcendental to achieve the goal. Also, leaving behind certain habits and beliefs will be crucial to guarantee success.
How to start a good dental health technique in children?
Starting a good dental health habit in the little ones at home will make a difference in the future.
During childhood is when problems related to teeth are more likely to happen, with poor hygiene being the main trigger for everything.
Oral infections and lack of sanitation not only affect the general area of health.
Also, it is directly associated with a worsening of the appearance with an affectation of the mental state. Given this, anxiety, depressive feelings or low self-esteem are common.
For practical purposes, the medical literature establishes that it is essential to start with fluoridated toothpastes from the age of two. However, medical criteria subject to the interpretation of risk factors or background may indicate an early start.
As a complement, the technique for promoting dental health is based on a healthy diet. That is, totally natural meals and greatly restrict the consumption of sweets, soft drinks or other similar substances.
In case of doubt, parents should not act on their own or treat the child according to non-specialist opinions. The visit to the dental office will be the key to completing the trinity of basic strategies for good dental health.
Take care of your child's teeth in the early stages of their life
It is common culture to know that the teeth of children at an early age are structurally made of milk. An early fall of them due to poor hygiene can greatly compromise the appearance of permanent ones.
Through a series of key steps, divided into crucial stages of growth, such an event will be avoided. They are listed below in chronological order as such:
From newborn to one year of life
There are three essential guidelines for growth control and dental sanitation at this age. They are easy to apply, disproving many false beliefs of yesteryear:
Oral hygiene begins even when the first tooth has not appeared. Before that event, the gums need to be rinsed with clean, sterile water and a special toothbrush for newborns and infants.
Attend the specialized consultation for the control of the healthy child. The pediatrician will be the one who will check the correct dentition of the baby, ensuring a timely action for the success.
Subsequently, apply a program of strict control of the dental sphere. Above all, it is a key step when there are concomitant risk factors. In turn, it will be important to determine whether there is a need for fluorinated pastes before 2 years.
More than 12 months to 2 years of life
As the child moves into the older infant stage, teething becomes more apparent. Therefore, the health check in this period is more thorough compared to the previous one.
The "Healthy Children" program of the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends brushing twice a day. The rule highlights the application of dental cleaning after breakfast and before going to sleep at night.
With regard to food, parents should take care of the amount of sweets that the little one eats. From juices, soft drinks or sweets of all kinds, they are a contraindication for the maintenance of dental health.
Dental control continues to be essential throughout this age. It will help identify not only negligent practices that affect the structure of the teeth, but also other aspects such as the bite.
Crossing the 24-month barrier
By crossing the age barrier of 24 months or 2 years, the baby is already more susceptible to learning. If from the initial phases the habit and an excellent practice of hygiene were instilled, he will begin to become aware of it.
In addition to basic processes such as brushing twice a day, other useful and essential strategies are added. In order of importance, they are the following:
Buy a toothbrush with soft bristles and suitable for the baby's age. Be aware that he begins to gain autonomy for brushing, ensuring that he executes a good technique.
Complement dental health and hygiene by taking the step towards fluoridated toothpastes. Make it clear that they cannot be ingested due to the risk of poisoning or adverse gastrointestinal reactions. At the same time, dental floss gains carats as the protagonist of the process.
Do not forget to schedule regular dental check-ups with the relevant specialists. It will benefit the treatment of underlying or systematic pathologies linked to orthodontics.
Correcting bad habits is vital for long-term success
Parents are often not likely to learn more about their children's dental health. Over time, the probability of falling into bad habits becomes more pronounced.
Parallel to this, the same program "Healthy Children" throws up alarming data. Negative practices are in favor of causing the rapid appearance and spread of caries:
About 1 in 10 children between the newborn and toddler stage has dental caries.
More than 28% of children over 3 years of age are identified as carriers of caries.
After 5 years of age, 50% of children in that age group have caries problems.
To rival this problem, it is non-negotiable to catalog the most common negative habits. That way, you can take note and weigh the past.
Diet in which sugar and ultra-processed foods predominate
Every bad habit starts with food. Parents make the serious mistake of basing food on the consumption of ultra-processed sugars and supplements.
Bacteria proliferate in a medium rich in sugar, using the energy from it to survive. Over time, they increase their production of acids and organic waste that deteriorates tooth enamel. You better think twice before going ahead with this trend.
Objects that stimulate suction
The use of the pacifier is currently in controversy due to the consequences that it brings with it. When it is limited to a chronic or extensive use over time, it unleashes anatomical problems in the palate.
It is also a blessing for the establishment of bite problems, dental deviation and more. As if that were not enough, they are objects that are prone to getting dirty frequently, transmitting potentially pathogenic microorganisms to the oral area.
Nor should the baby be allowed to make a habit of "thumb sucking." It has the same or greater negative impact compared to objects that stimulate suction. In short, they are praxis that will be progressively discontinued.
Avoid the figure of the dentist
Another bad habituation in children's ages is to avoid visiting the figure of the dentist or dentist. He is the primary specialist who will ensure a correct guide to oral well-being.
Parents can't take your expert advice lightly just because they "get a good look" at their child's teeth. At first glance, cavities can be hidden and go unnoticed in most cases.
In conclusion, he will be the character that will make the difference between an uncertain future for teething and an improved one. Therefore, it will be worth going to a regular consultation to counteract unnecessary inconveniences.