Children’s dentistry

Children’s dentistry

Oral health needs to be taken care of from an early age – after the first tooth has germinated, it needs to be thoroughly cleaned, and oral hygiene skills need to be developed from the very first days of a child’s life.

Dentists working in the clinic for small patients:

• helps the child to feel comfortable sitting in the doctor’s chair;
• performs preventive inspection;
• teaches to brush teeth properly;
• cleans teeth with abrasive paste and strengthens them with fluoride varnish;
• seals milk and permanent teeth;
• treats dental canals;
• performs preventive coating of tooth grooves with sealants.

One of the most common problems in early childhood- bottle decay or caries of individual deciduous teeth. The causes of these disorders are the consumption of sweet drinks, high-carbohydrate food and poor oral hygiene (non-cleansed plaque). The microorganisms in this plaque break down carbohydrates and secrete acids that damage tooth tissues. Very good oral hygiene is essential to avoid these problems. A child’s oral hygiene skills need to be developed from an early age. For kids up to 6-7 year of age, adults should help to clean their teeth. As long as the child does not know how to write, his hand movements are not sufficiently coordinated. Of course, we should keep in mind that the greatest authority for children is the parents, so their hygiene skills should also be excellent.

Milk teeth care

The first teeth should be cleaned with a damp gauze or other clean cloth, preferably after each meal. Once the deciduous teeth have erupted, the child should be weaned from feeding at night with breast milk or sweet mixes. In general, any sweet drinks such as sweetened tea or juice should be avoided. Kids should not be allowed to snack throughout the day, and if this already happens, brush their teeth after each snack. When milky molars are erupted, the child can be accustomed to the toothbrush. Kids 2-3 years of age can use toothpaste without fluoride. Paste dosing- the amount of toothpaste (the size of a small child’s finger nail) should be pressed onto the brush.

Permanent tooth care

By about the age of 7 (until the child learns to write), parents should help the child clean their teeth. Later, although children claim to have their teeth cleaned well, we recommend checking. Very often little ones do not really like the tooth brushing procedure and they try to avoid it or pretend doing it. After germination of the first permanent molars (about 6-7 years), we recommend covering these teeth with sealants (this is a special filling material that fills the deep grooves of the permanent teeth so that they do not get damaged). We recommend that you do not wait until the tooth has fully erupted, because the enamel of the newly erupted teeth is not fully mineralized and is very easily damaged, so it is best if you come to the doctor only after the permanent teeth have erupted.

Tips for parents on how to prepare your child before visiting a dentist:

Before going to the dentist, do not tell your child that he/she will not be hurt or “nothing will be done” to him/her. This is one of the most common mistakes parents make. When a child comes determined not to get upset because “nothing will be done”, child does not get upset. When he/she thinks he will not be hurt, child gets scared and stops cooperating. When you go to the dentist for the first time, tell the child that they will need to open their mouth because the doctor will want to check and count the teeth. Let the dentist talk to your child and you will not have to tell lies or make up the stories. Take the child with you to the dentist yourself – it will be easier for the child to get used to the atmosphere of the dental clinic. Do not wait for the child to have a toothache, come earlier, because when a tooth hurts it is difficult to find a common language and the procedures become much more painful. Do not be disappointed if the child did not receive treatment during the first visit, sometimes the first visit is for acquaintance, in order to cooperate with the child in the future – you have come more than once, you will have to visit again in the future, so it is important not to be afraid of the visit.

Children’s dental diseases, treatment

If you notice a change in the color of your baby tooth or if the tooth hurts when your baby eats, be sure to see a dentist. Milk teeth must be treated! The consequences of untreated deciduous teeth can haunt the rest of your life – the germs of permanent teeth can be damaged. Caries complications may require removal of the deciduous tooth, and if done early can negatively affect permanent bite and the appearance of the baby for the rest of their lives. Dental caries can affect a child’s diet, and a baby can begin to have a complex due to their appearance. Also, the earlier you see a doctor, the more likely it is that the procedures will be less painful and uncomfortable.