Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010
It’s important to start bringing your children to the dentist on a regular basis from a young age, but that doesn’t mean that the work stops between dental visits. To be proactive with the oral health of your children you can complete examinations at home between trips to the dentist and keep an eye out for tooth decay, cavities and enflamed gums that could be signs of trouble. If you spot something while completing a home examination, book an appointment with your dentist.
Tips for home examinations:
- Sit comfortably with your child’s head in your lap. In this position, you should be able to see all surfaces of the front and back teeth relatively easy
- Use gauze or paper towel to help move your child’s tongue around their mouth to get a good view of the teeth all around the mouth
- Use a compressor to hold their tongue down when you try and look at the back teeth. If you don’t have a tongue compressor then use the end of a spoon
- With a younger child, don’t take too long with the examination process, otherwise they might not be so cooperative next time. The first time you try this at home, get your child to open his/her mouth while you do a quick check!
Via: Your Dental Care Tips
Image Credit: Flickr Creative Commons
Tags: at home examination, baby teeth, children's teeth, dental care for kids, dental care for parents, oral care at home
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Saturday, January 16th, 2010
Many parents don’t think about their children’s oral care until they’ve developed teeth in their mouths for a more extensive period of time. But, for proper oral care, it’s got to start even earlier than that. Parents who take control of their children’s health care early can prevent the development of much bigger problems later on.
- Remember, dental health starts in the womb – when there’s a baby on board, moms can aid in the development of their child’s teeth by consuming calcium-rich items
- Recognize that teeth are there even if you can’t see them – while they might not be visible at birth, there are about 20 primary teeth in the jaw. They can be cared for by wiping the gums with a warm cloth to prevent bacteria
- Start dental care around the first year – by a child’s first birthday they should have a visit to the dentist. Gum and tooth decay can be evaluated, other issues like thumb sucking or use of soothers than can affect teeth can also be addressed. This is also a time when dentists can begin providing parents better tips for caring for children’s teeth
- Don’t introduce toothpaste too early – toothpaste, even the children’s variety, should only be used by age 2. Before that water and a toothbrush is a great way to start
- Teach them to brush – although children may not be able to brush independently until 6 or 7, until then, teach them the right techniques and give them a chance to try brushing for themselves
- Use floss – many parents forget that floss is important for children too. Start as soon as they have teeth in their mouth to clean between them
- Make dental visits fun – some kids fear the dentist, make sure the trips are fun and if you have the right dentist, that can help make it an even more enjoyable experience for them
Via: Dentistry.com
(Image Credit: Flickr Creative Commons)
Tags: caring for children's teeth, dental care for parents, dental tips for children, dentists for children, oral health
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