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Primary teeth: Why are baby teeth important?
The temporary dentition, or baby teeth, plays a very important role in the development of the child, ranging from aesthetics, speech and chewing, to stimulating the growth of the bones of the face. Likewise, they save space for permanent teeth to emerge, since if any are lost too early, the new teeth can come in crooked. For example, if a baby tooth is lost due to cavities before its time, and something is not placed to keep said space open, the pieces that remain on the sides of the empty space will move, closing the space, and when it is time for When the permanent tooth comes out, it will have no place to fit, which will result in crowding. This idea that baby teeth are not fixed because they are going to move is wrong; Imagine a 3-year-old child with a chipped baby tooth; Baby teeth move around the age of 9, meaning that tooth will be in your mouth for at least 6 more years, so it is preferable to "shim" it to prevent the decay from advancing, causing pain and discomfort to the child. .
Dr. Brenda Achon-SaludPanama-SaludPanama.com
It is common to see advanced cavities in the first permanent molars that emerge at approximately 6 years of age; When informing parents about this, they often tell us: "but that tooth hasn't moved yet," without knowing that those teeth don't move because they are already permanent; Therefore, we must know when our children already have permanent teeth to avoid tooth decay problems.
Discomfort during tooth eruptionWhen teeth begin to emerge, your baby may have gum discomfort. To relieve it, you can rub the gum with a piece of gauze or cotton. There are also rubber bands available on the market that are cooled and given to the child to bite. If the child has a lot of discomfort, it is better to consult with his or her doctor or dentist, as there are currently topical or oral medications that can relieve this discomfort. Contrary to popular belief, it is not normal for a child to develop fever or diarrhea during teeth eruption, so if this happens, consult your pediatrician.
Baby Teeth HygieneCleaning your baby's mouth should start from the first days of birth. After feeding, clean his gum by gently rubbing it with the tip of a towel, cotton, or gauze to remove plaque bacteria. As soon as the teeth erupt, they should be cleaned using the same system; After giving milk to the child, it is advisable to give him a bottle of water to try to "rinse away" the remains of milk that may remain in contact with the teeth, although it is best to clean them directly. If the child falls asleep, try to do it when he wakes up. As soon as the child allows it, begin brushing the child's teeth with a soft-bristled toothbrush, using a very small amount of fluoride toothpaste—about the size of a lentil—and have the child spit.
Preventive Dentistry refers to the prevention of oral diseases before they develop, and if the disease is already present, this process must be stopped and controlled.
On average, it has been shown that the 2-year-old child has approximately 1-2 cavity lesions, and in some cases severe cavities develop during the breastfeeding period, which is known as Baby Bottle Cavities. Bottle feeding, prolonged beyond the time the child begins eating solid foods, can result in early and rampant tooth decay.
To prevent baby bottle cavities, it is important that parents know the necessary care:- Do not add sugar, honey or other types of sweeteners to the child's drinking liquids (milk, juice, water), as they are an excellent culture medium for microorganisms.
- Do not let your child sleep with a bottle during naps or at night, as milk contains sugars that break down into acids, which cause cavities. Salivary flow decreases during sleep and the clearance of fluid from the oral cavity slows down.
- After giving the child milk, it is advisable to give him a bottle of water to try to "rinse away" the remains of the milk; If the child falls asleep, try to do it when he wakes up. If the infant allows it, he can wipe gauze, cotton, or the tip of the towel over the surface of the teeth, rubbing them gently to remove plaque.
- As soon as the child has greater coordination of movements, the use of the toothbrush should be introduced.
Cavities form when acids, products of the breakdown of foods rich in sugar and carbohydrates, remain on the surface of the teeth for a long time. First, a demineralization of the enamel surface occurs, which can be observed as a white spot (white caries) and subsequently a cavitated caries develops, which if it continues to advance can reach the nerve and cause anything from mild sensitivity to thermal changes to night pain. severe and the appearance of dental abscesses.
Junk foods rich in carbohydrates such as chips, cheese-flavored corn flour snacks, seasoned corn tortillas, sweet and salty cookies, and caramel popcorn, among others, can cause cavities if hygiene is not adequate because Carbohydrates are converted into sugars and these in turn into acids that cause cavities. Obviously hard and soft candies, chewing gum and chocolates are also on the list of highly cariogenic foods.
It is advisable to take your child to their first dental appointment around 2-3 years old. If adequate care has been taken during breastfeeding, and the infant does not present advanced stages of cavities, this first experience will be very pleasant. Usually during this first appointment the child will be familiarized with the instruments and equipment used, performing a dental cleaning or prophylaxis and applying fluoride, which is important to keep teeth healthy and resistant to cavities.
If a dark stain is observed on the teeth before the age of 2, it is advisable to take the child to the dentist as soon as possible before the caries progresses and causes advanced pain or abscesses.The toothpaste that the child uses should preferably be children's toothpaste, because the dosage of fluoride is different than in normal toothpaste, and if normal toothpaste is used, it should be used in a very small amount. As the child usually swallows the paste, he runs the risk of ingesting large amounts of fluoride, which could cause fluorosis, a pathological state in which the teeth have different degrees and shades of stains that range from whitish to dark brown, which makes them increasingly fragile.
If the child has teeth close together, without spaces between teeth, it is necessary to remove the dental plaque between them; For this we use dental floss, which when used regularly will reduce problems with bleeding gums and cavities on the contact surfaces of the teeth. Usually children's dentures where there are no spaces present will have problems when shedding teeth, since the new teeth will be larger than the baby teeth. If your child has these conditions, review his diet: Is the child eating well? Or he only eats soft things and is too lazy to chew. Poor chewing produces a lack of stimulation for bone growth and the necessary wear of baby teeth. We can say that if it is not used, it atrophies. Consult your dentist about the measures that can be taken.
Preventing Cavities in the Dental ChairPrevention is the best treatment. The traditional visit to the dentist every 6 months for cleaning and application of fluoride is the best way to prevent dental problems, as it allows us to detect cavities, habits, and observe the child's growth. There are also physical methods to prevent cavities, which are applied directly to the teeth, especially the molars; If we look at a tooth closely, we will see that it has small grooves or "lines", which is where food residues get trapped. To prevent this from happening, it is recommended to place Sealants on these surfaces, which is like a varnish that seals the grooves, isolating them from the oral cavity and therefore from food remains. These are mainly recommended for permanent teeth and in cases where the child has a very high rate of cavities.
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