The best way to protect children's dental health is through correct dental hygiene at home!
What does this involve?
Proper care of children's oral health begins before the eruption of the first baby tooth. It is recommended that after each meal, the gums should be wiped with a moist sterile compress, thus removing some of the bacteria that can cause cavities in the baby teeth.
With the appearance of the first baby teeth, starting from the 6th month, you can get acquainted with the toothbrush. The end of the toothbrush should be soft to avoid injuring the gums. Dental brushing should be done twice a day with toothpaste suitable for the age category and in a very small amount, less than the size of a rice grain.
Also, alongside dental brushing, to prevent the occurrence of dental caries, it is very important that the water/milk in the bottle or pacifier is not sweetened with sugar or honey.
Usually, by the age of 3, all 20 baby teeth are erupted. These should continue to be brushed twice a day for at least 2 minutes by the parent with fluoride toothpaste, using an amount the size of a pea until the child is capable of brushing their teeth on their own. Flossing is also recommended, after the eruption of baby teeth, but only done by the parent.
Why is caring for baby teeth important: because children's tooth enamel is much thinner than adults', making their teeth much more vulnerable to bacteria that cause cavities. The decay of a tooth progresses rapidly and has a negative impact on dentition: it quickly penetrates the enamel, then the dentin (the tooth's supporting structure), then infects the nerve.
Thus, maintaining a healthy oral hygiene in children is as important as in adults by performing correct brushing and using auxiliary means under parental supervision from a young age.
Dr. Deé Kinga