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Prevent teething troubles

Minor teething troubles in children are quite common. However, sometimes these problems can become quite serious and can also endanger your child’s life.

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Start early and incorporate the right dental habits to ensure your child has good oral health

Minor teething troubles in children are quite common. However, sometimes these problems can become quite serious and can also endanger your child’s life. Below are a few guidelines for prevention of dental problems

- Before teething begins: Clean your baby’s gums with a wet cotton swab twice a day.

- Care of baby teeth: Oral hygiene is important from an early age. Wipe the gums and teeth of the baby with wet cotton after each feed or meal.

- Introduction of toothbrush: Between two and three years of age, use a soft small toothbrush to clean your child’s gums and teeth. Then let the child play with the toothbrush. As the child grows old, s/he may start asking for it and may like to brush his/her teeth herself after the age of three. Get a new brush after six months.

- Frequency of brushing: The whole family should brush their teeth in the morning and after dinner. Brushing before going to sleep is a must.

- Choice of toothpaste: No toothpaste can guard the family against tooth troubles if they do not follow the basic principles of dental hygiene. Let your dentist guide you about the choice of toothpaste.

- Rinsing the mouth after each meal: Train your child to rinse the mouth after each meal and clean the gums and teeth with a wet finger whenever brushing is not possible.

- Avoid bottle-feeding: Breastfeeding reduces the risk of dental carries. Bottle-feeding is dangerous for the teeth, especially if it is given when the child is asleep.

- Restrict intake of sugary foods and drinks: Healthy foods are essential for healthy teeth. Limit the consumption of sugary food and drinks to mealtimes.  Avoid sticky sweets, raisins and dried fruits between meals. Also avoid cola drinks as they tend to demineralise the enamel of the teeth. If a child can have tablets or capsules, avoid sugary medicine syrups.

- Get the child used to the dentist: Take your toddler with you when you visit the dentist yourself for a non-painful procedure. Some time after his/her second birthday, take your child for a check-up. Then get a yearly check-up done. If the child has cavities, let the doctor attend to it.

Request the dentist to teach the child how to brush the gums and teeth properly.

- Dental treatment in presence of heart disease: If the child has congenital heart disease or has had rheumatic fever in the past, your dentist must be informed. Such children need a medicine just before and for some time after dental treatment.

Dr RK Anand is senior paediatrician at Jaslok Hospital & Research Centre, Mumbai
healthline@dnaindia.net

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