Interesting stories about pediatric dentistry

• What causes baby tooth decay?
• When do baby teeth start to decay?
• How to notice when baby teeth are starting to decay
• How to prepare for your child’s first dental appointment
• dentist

What causes baby tooth decay?

• It comes from family upbringing where children are allowed to sleep with a bottle of milk in their mouth, which allows the sugar in the milk to destroy the enamel of children’s teeth because plaque breaks down the sugar in the milk that remains on the tooth surface, causing acid buildup to dissolve the tooth surface and form holes.
• It can be caused by an incomplete tooth structure in a child, possibly due to premature birth, low birth weight, or the mother getting an infection during pregnancy.
• Eating snacks as desired without brushing teeth is another reason. Moreover, parents often have the wrong belief that baby teeth will eventually fall out and be replaced by permanent teeth, so they don’t pay much attention to their children’s snacking and tooth brushing.
• Some parents think that their children can brush their teeth by themselves, but in reality, children are not yet able to effectively clean their teeth by themselves.

When do baby teeth start to decay?

• It can happen from the time a child has teeth in their mouth, which is around 6 months of age. Because the enamel layer of baby teeth is only about half as thick as permanent teeth, baby teeth are much more susceptible to decay. They also contain less calcium and phosphorus. The upper front baby teeth are more susceptible to decay than the lower front teeth. Another area where decay is easy is the chewing molars because they are the inner teeth. Sweets often get stuck in the gaps between the teeth, making them difficult to clean.

How to notice when baby teeth are starting to decay

Stage 1 : In the early stages of tooth decay, the tooth enamel will appear as a dull white color, not shiny like normal tooth enamel, and will not yet show any symptoms.

Stage 2 : Caries affecting the enamel and dentin. The white opaque dentin turns into brown pits. During this stage of tooth decay, the child will not feel pain. However, when the tooth pulp is broken and a cavity forms on the tooth, the child will begin to experience tooth sensitivity and pain when food particles get stuck.

Stage 3: The tooth nerve has penetrated the pulp chamber. The child will experience toothache. The pain will be intermittent and come and go, causing the child to suffer for a long time. The pulp is inflamed along with inflammation of the gums and organs surrounding the tooth.

How to prepare for your child’s first dental appointment

Your child’s dental health is an important factor in their physical growth. Having healthy teeth can help with chewing food, ensuring they receive all five food groups. Baby teeth are also the starting point for permanent teeth to emerge in a beautiful row.

Many people wonder when is the best time to take their child to see a dentist? The answer is to take your child to the dentist when their first tooth begins to emerge. This is so that the doctor can advise you on how to care for your child’s teeth and to instill in your child a familiarity with the dental office and dentist atmosphere.

How should parents prepare for their child’s first dental appointment?

• Tell your child the truth. Don’t lie about going somewhere else, as this may make your child more resistant.
• Tell stories about dentistry to make your child feel familiar and like it’s a normal thing.
• Show your child good examples , such as taking them to the dentist with their parents or siblings, to encourage them to imitate good examples.
• Do not threaten your child, such as if he is stubborn and will take him to the dentist. This will create an attitude that the doctor is a villain. You should make your child feel that the doctor is a teacher and a friend who will help take care of his teeth.
• Get your child used to brushing their teeth. When you brush your child’s teeth, you can practice by letting them open their mouths to let you see their teeth. When they see the dentist, they will feel comfortable and will be more willing to open their mouths to let you examine their teeth.

Orthodontics in children

Children under 10 years of age can also have braces. This can be done when some of their permanent teeth have erupted in their mouths and they need to receive braces to correct malocclusion or abnormal jaw position. When they grow up, they may need to have braces for the entire mouth again.

Pediatric dentistry

• Oral and dental health checks for children from birth to 12 years of age.
• Clean and floss your teeth
• Fluoride coating
• Dental sealant
• Baby tooth filling
• Baby tooth extraction
• Place a space maintainer to allow the permanent teeth to emerge without overlapping.
• Root canal treatment for baby teeth
• Make a crown for baby teeth
• Orthodontics in children under 10 years of age