Contents:
Medical Video: Baby Health : How to Take Care of Baby Teeth
Milk teeth in children are as important as adult permanent teeth. Most milk teeth begin to appear at the age of 6 months to 1 year old children. This tooth helps children chew food and talk. The existence of milk teeth is actually very important because it will provide a place for adult teeth.
You should check your child's teeth within 6 months after his first tooth grows, before he turns one year. Regular dental check-ups from early on will help grow healthy children. In addition to checking tooth decay, your doctor will also clean your child's teeth and evaluate habits that can be harmful, such as thumb sucking.
When the first tooth grows, the baby will feel pain or gum pain. Gently rubbing your child's gum using clean hands, a cold and small spoon, or wet gauze can reduce the pain. You can also give your baby soft toys specifically for teething (teething). If your child is still fussy and feels sick, consult a dentist or nurse. Most children have 20 complete milk teeth when they are 3 years old.
When your first tooth grows, you can start brushing your child's teeth. Choose a toothbrush that has:
- Soft and soft brush
- Small brush head
- Large brush handle
First, wet your toothbrush. When teeth begin to appear, you can use toothpaste with a volume the size of rice. You can increase the amount of toothpaste to the size of peas when your child is 3 years old. Gently brush your child's teeth, both inner teeth and front teeth.
You should brush your baby's teeth until he can hold his own toothbrush. Teach and supervise your child to brush his own teeth so he can cleanse and get rid of saliva without your help. Usually you can only release your child to brush his own teeth when he is 6 years old.
Note if there is tooth decay in your baby, such as brown or white stains on the teeth. If you or your pediatrician is aware of a problem with your child's teeth, immediately take your child to a pediatric dentist for further examination.
You also have to maintain the health of your child's teeth. To prevent tartar, you should only fill your baby bottle with:
- Formula milk
- ASI
- Water
Avoid giving fruit juice, soda, and other sweet drinks. Sweet drinks, even sweet milk, can stick to the teeth. This can cause tooth decay in infants, known as "baby bottle tooth decay." Bacteria in the teeth will get "nutrition" from sugar that settles in the teeth and produces acids that will damage the teeth.
If your baby has to sleep while sipping, you should only fill the water in the bottle or sippy cup. Avoid giving anything sweet — like sugar or honey — to the child's pacifier.
