|
Teething
If teeth haven't showed up yet brushing and flossing isn't required. Even though they don't have teeth, you should still clean his/her gums with a damp cloth. Normally infants don't like this at first, but if you turn this routine into a habit he/she begins to get used to it. There are some problems that can arise later with your baby teeth if you let your infant to fall asleep with a bottle. If the bottle contains milk formula or anything sugary, it forms around the teeth and mouth which could potentially cause cavities to form. Instead of allowing your child to fall asleep with a bottle filled with formula or juice, allow them to have water or a pacifier recommended by your pediatrician. To prevent the sugary substance from forming on the teeth and gums during normal feeding times, simply wipe out accurately the teeth and gums with a damp cloth after feeding. Though the order in which teeth appear during teething differs from person to person, it tends to follow a general pattern. The first teeth to appear are nearly always the central incisors, those two teeth in the center of the mouth on the bottom. The top central and lateral incisors appear next, which are the four central top teeth. Next come the bottom lateral incisors, the two teeth on either side of the bottom central incisors. Then the basic molars, in the back of the jaw. And lastly, the eye teeth, the pointed teeth on the top. Most infants have twenty baby, or milk, teeth in all. Female infants tend to begin teething at a slightly earlier age than males, but the difference is negligible. During teething, infants may experience a considerable amount of discomfort and pain, which leads to a high level of irritability. Other infants may have virtually no discomfort and make it through the entire teething process without exhibiting any signs of pain whatsoever. The body temperature may slightly increase when teeth are breaking through the gums, it is common. But teething should not create feverish states, and any surprising shifts in temperature should be looked at by a physician. When babies go through the teething stage they can't sleep, become ill-tempered, drool and lose their appetites. If your child should have a fever, please call or see your pediatrician to be on the safe side. While babies are teething they tend to drool a lot, and it is important to wipe the drool clean regularly to make sure no rashes develop. Most infants also like to chew on things to help alleviate the discomfort caused by swollen gums. While teeth breaking through the gums infants chew on whatever is handy going through the teething progression. It is best to have teething toys or aids available to ensure that your favorite socks don't become impromptu teething cloths! Dampening a washcloth and putting it in a freezer for fifteen minutes makes a wonderful teething aid, and a number of commercial teething rings are also available. Do not give the child teething cookies as those are sugary and promote tooth decay. To help your child through this not-so-fun stage here are a few things you can do: • Give him/her a chilled teething ring to chew on • Rubbing your clean finger over his/her gums • Using an over-the-counter gel or dissolvable tablets to help ease the child's pain and discomfort Dental decay is one of the most common chronic infectious diseases among US Children. This preventable problem begins early: 17% of children age 2-4 years old has already had festers. By the age of 8, 52% of children have experienced decay and by the age of 17, dental decay affects 78% of kids. Please remember to start early introducing proper oral hygiene to your children. Poor oral health among children has been related to poor performance in school, poor social relationships and less success in later life. Even before the first teeth appear, brushing should begin. The gums should be brushed softly with water. Once teeth begin appearing, brushing with only water should continue. Even though these teeth will fall out before long, allowing them to decay can cause gaps which will lead to future problems, as permanent teeth squeeze in to try to fill the gaps and leave the mouth an orthodontic nightmare. Once the child is old enough to spit out toothpaste, brushing may begin to incorporate toothpaste as well as water.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
