Children have a tendency to suffer from the dreaded caries and other dental pathologies, given their particular frequency of food intake and, to a large extent, the nature of some of these foods. That is why it is important to have your oral health closely monitored by a dentist from the eruption of the first baby teeth.
The arrival of the first two molars, which coincides with the age of 18 months, should be the trigger for adopting strict dental hygiene guidelines, since assimilating adequate habits from infancy means establishing a solid barrier to disorders at later ages. Not surprisingly, oral health statistics show an alarming figure: one third of children under six years of age suffer from tooth decay.
There are some factors, such as the presence of oral biofilm or bacterial plaque; and the abundance of acidic foods, such as ketchup; or foods rich in carbohydrates, such as cakes and candies, that trigger a gradual demineralization process that is the prelude to caries.
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oral health care at an early age requires daily parental intervention to ensure that children brush their teeth correctly.
requires daily intervention by parents to ensure that children brush their teeth correctly, which is essential for successful prevention. This routine maneuver should respond to the following parameters:
-To be carried out after each meal. With special interest, if possible, before going to bed.
– Brushing for more than two minutes.
-Replace the brush frequently, since keeping it for more than three months leads to the accumulation of organic matter that reduces the effectiveness of brushing.
Use an age-appropriate brush with a long handle and a thick grip. When moving it, the correct thing to do is to trace circles, to clean the lateral areas; and forward and backward, for the chewing surfaces.
-In the early stages, a soft filament brush should be selected and, once the child learns to rinse, fluoride supplementation is recommended to counteract enamel demineralization.
It is highly harmful for the child to go to bed with food debris between the teeth, since having the mouth closed for several hours produces an ideal breeding ground for the development of biofilm.
On the other hand, the close relationship between food and oral health is well known, as certain substances behave as great enemies of oral health. Especially sugars, which are so widespread in food and beverages. In the case of babies, the bottle itself, if it includes a sugary substrate, can stimulate the genesis of caries, so after each feeding, it is recommended to wipe the baby’s gums with a wet wipe.
And, of course, any serious strategy to promote oral health in children involves visiting the dentist at least once a year. A professional of great help for families.
