6 Things Parents Should Know About Losing Baby Teeth
Your little kid will ultimately lose his baby teeth. That is a milestone in the growing process. Generally, that is not too painful for children when they started losing baby teeth. Just be sure to visit the Childrens dentist in Vienna for regular check-ups to maintain good dental health as well.
Here we give you certain things which are essential for you to know about losing baby teeth:
1. Most children develop teeth between 6 and 12 months
There is great variability concerning when a first tooth can be born. Some children may not have teeth even before their first birthday. At around 3 months of age, children will begin to explore the world with their mouths, increasing saliva production and starting to put their small hands in their mouths.
Many parents often ask if this could mean that their child is having a tooth, but a first tooth usually starts at 6 months. In general, the first teeth that are born are almost always the lower ones and most of the children will have all their milk teeth within 3 years of age.
2. Fluoride should be added to the child’s diet as early as 6 months of age
Fluorine is a mineral that helps prevent tooth decay by hardening tooth enamel. The good news is that fluoride is often added to tap water. It is therefore very important to give the child some water in a cup when introducing solid foods. Talk to kids dentist to see if your tap water contains fluoride or if your child already needs fluoride-based supplements. Fluorine is not generally present in most bottled waters.
3. Brush your baby’s teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste
Once the baby’s teeth have been seen, it would be a good idea to wash them twice a day with a thin layer of rice grain-sized toothpaste, especially after the last drink or meal of the day. Also, remember to never put your child in bed with a bottle. This could cause tooth decay.
Once they are 3 years old, the use of a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste is recommended. Only when the child is able will it be important to teach him how to spit out the excess toothpaste.
It is always better to put the toothpaste on the child’s toothbrush personally until he is at least 6 years old. Parents should monitor and assist their child while brushing their teeth until the child is 7 or 8 years old. When the child can write his name well, he will also have the ability to brush his teeth well.
4. Ask the kids dentist for the child’s teeth and fluoride lacquer
During regular visits for children, the pediatrician will check the child’s teeth and gums to make sure they are healthy and will also try to advise on how to continue to keep the situation in an optimal state.
If the child does not have a dentist yet, ask the pediatrician if he can apply the fluoride lacquer to the child’s teeth. Once the child has a dentist, the lacquer can also be applied from the latter. Before the child receives the fluoride lacquer it will be better able to prevent tooth decay.
5. In the case of painful nights, massage the gums
Massaging the gums giving the child something cold and that can help relieve the pain in the child’s teeth.
Usually, the growth of the teeth does not cause excessive discomfort in children. However, many parents can understand when the teeth are born from the child. Children may show signs of discomfort in the area where the tooth is born; the gums around the tooth can indeed be swollen and the child can drool much more than usual.
Parents can help alleviate pain by massaging the baby’s gums with clean fingers, offering solid teething rings or ice cream or wet cloth. If you offer a teething cookie, be sure to monitor the baby while he eats it. The pieces could easily break causing choking. Furthermore, these cookies are not very nutritious and contain a lot of sugar and salt.
6. Take the first dental appointment as soon as the first tooth is born
It is important to have the first kids dental care appointment for the child immediately after the birth of the first tooth or before his first birthday.
It is recommended that all children see a pediatric dentist and begin to create a sort of “dental home” from the age of one year. A pediatric dentist will ensure that all teeth develop normally and that there are no dental problems.
Salman Zafar is an ecopreneur, consultant, advisor, speaker and journalist with expertise in waste management, waste-to-energy, renewable energy, environment protection, conservation and sustainable development. His geographical areas of focus include Asia, Middle East, Africa and Europe. Salman is the Founder of EcoMENA, a popular voluntary organization based in Qatar. He is also the Founder and CEO of BioEnergy Consult, a reputed consulting firm active in biomass, waste-to-energy and waste management segments.
Salman is a professional environmental writer with more than 350 popular articles to his credit. He is proactively engaged in creating mass environmental awareness in different parts of the world.
Salman Zafar can be reached at salman@ecomena.org or salman@bioenergyconsult.com
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