Oral hygiene is not only an issue for grown-ups, it is also a topic that should interest the youngest in the house, since the good health of teeth in adulthood will depend on it.
For the dentist of our institution, Sara Esther Gallego Zapata, oral hygiene should be practiced in the child from the first months of life, even if the teeth have not appeared, “cleaning the child’s gums with gauze is important because this is how the teeth are removed. residues that remain from the milk and when the first tooth erupts, cleaning must be carried out with a suitable brush for babies ”, he specifies.
And precisely he emphasizes that the ideal is that before the first year the minor has his first visit to the dentist, at that moment the mandibular alignment is evaluated, the presence of braces or cavities from the bottle, “in addition, guidance is provided to care for the best way the child’s teeth”.
In this sense, the dentist and orthodontist of our Institution Daniel Alejandro Díaz, reinforces the need to raise awareness among parents about the importance of taking children for a dental check-up “at an early age is important because it helps children to have a healthy oral health and prevent future problems that affect dental development, speech or bite from appearing”, he affirms.
How should dental care be in children?
Mouthwash, toothbrush and toothpaste should be included in the daily cleaning routine, “added to this is the periodic consultation with the dentist where they will receive necessary preventive treatments, among which are the application of fluoride, sealants on teeth that have deep grooves, accompanied by brushing with the appropriate cream for their age and the use of dental floss”, mentions Dr. Gallego Zapata.
Toothpaste and toothbrush for children
- The toothbrush should have a small head, with even, soft and rounded bristles, which will allow you to reach all your teeth and the handle of the brush should be wide for a better grip.
- From the first year of the infant’s life, special toothpaste for children should be used, this helps to drag away food debris and bacteria.
- Avoid toothpaste having fluoride.
Why milk teeth are important in the development of children?
They help chewing, the stimulation of the jaws, the musculoskeletal development of the face and are a guide to the eruption of permanent teeth, they maintain space for their arrival.
“These teeth begin to form in the second trimester of pregnancy and from the womb they must begin to take care of themselves with a healthy diet on the part of the mother. Even if they don’t see the child, they are there”, concludes the dentist Sara Gallego.
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