Milk teeth: prevention is important

July 12, 2017

Denti da latte: la prevenzione è importante

There are 20 deciduous teeth: their appearance begins around 6 months of life and ends between 30 and 36 months. Milk teeth have a fundamental function for the health and well-being of the child, therefore it is important to take care of them from the first months , getting them used to the basic oral hygiene manoeuvres. In fact, deciduous teeth can decay and cause pain and inflammation like permanent teeth. Maintaining healthy milk teeth involves maintaining the necessary spaces for future permanent teeth; in the event of loss due to trauma or caries (according to the Ministry of Health, 22% of children between 0 and 4 years of age are affected), it is necessary for the dentist to evaluate the need to apply appliances to maintain space for tooth growth permanent.

Some fundamental points for dental health

How do you clean baby's teeth?

In the first years, children emulate the habits of their parents: teach the child the right techniques by making them look like a game . It is possible to use a toothbrush with a small and soft head starting from the appearance of the first teeth; the toothpaste can be used but in very small quantities and of those specific for children 0-3 years, which have a lower fluoride content. The movements to be performed, first by the parents and then by the child, are circular movements on the external and internal surfaces of the teeth for about 2 minutes and at least 2 times a day .

Milk teeth

Spoiled habits

As for pacifiers and teats, if used for a long time or in the wrong shape they can modify the bone structures of the palate. Appropriate use of the pacifier up to 18 months is not harmful to the mouth and promotes correct development of the palate and the stomatognathic system; subsequently it is necessary to reduce its use until it is definitively eliminated around the age of 2. Different, however, is the sucking of the finger, which must always be avoided: through intense pressure on the palate and teeth, it can lead to alteration of the position of the same.

At what age should you take your child to the dentist for the first time?

The ideal would be to take the child to the office before symptoms appear. In this way the child will be able to get to know the dentist who will take care of him, familiarize himself with the spaces and tools that are used . After the first visit, the relationship with the dentist must continue with periodic annual checks, in order to monitor the harmonious development of the mouth and teeth and strengthen the relationship of trust between the dentist and the child.

Insights by Dr. Giorgia Carpegna