Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010
It’s important to start bringing your children to the dentist on a regular basis from a young age, but that doesn’t mean that the work stops between dental visits. To be proactive with the oral health of your children you can complete examinations at home between trips to the dentist and keep an eye out for tooth decay, cavities and enflamed gums that could be signs of trouble. If you spot something while completing a home examination, book an appointment with your dentist.
Tips for home examinations:
- Sit comfortably with your child’s head in your lap. In this position, you should be able to see all surfaces of the front and back teeth relatively easy
- Use gauze or paper towel to help move your child’s tongue around their mouth to get a good view of the teeth all around the mouth
- Use a compressor to hold their tongue down when you try and look at the back teeth. If you don’t have a tongue compressor then use the end of a spoon
- With a younger child, don’t take too long with the examination process, otherwise they might not be so cooperative next time. The first time you try this at home, get your child to open his/her mouth while you do a quick check!
Via: Your Dental Care Tips
Image Credit: Flickr Creative Commons
Tags: at home examination, baby teeth, children's teeth, dental care for kids, dental care for parents, oral care at home
Posted in Dental Tips, Oral Health for Children | No Comments »
Tuesday, February 16th, 2010
Although many parents have been made aware that dental care should start with their children in some way shape or form almost from birth, there’s still a misconception out there that it’s not necessary. Parents believe that since their children’s baby teeth are only temporary proper care is not required and that any issues that do surface are not reason for concern. Unfortunately, not enough healthcare providers that deal with children encourage parents to start as early as they should.
Children should see a dentist by their first birthday, because the treatment of tooth decay, cavaties and other oral health issues can prevent them occurring again in the future. Poor oral health is also related to diet and nutrition problems which can lead to obesity, and has links to behavioural issues.
It’s important that paediatricians begin encouraging families to take control over the oral health of their children from the onset. Dentists that see parents who have older children should also ask about other kids in the household to encourage them to be brought in, so their care becomes a priority as well.
Tags: baby teeth, children's health, children's oral care, dental care, encouraging dental habits
Posted in Oral Health for Children, dental news | 1 Comment »
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