Babies’ oral health will last a lifetime: see care

Before we talk about the first appointment with the baby’s dentistit is good to reinforce that the ideal would be for the visits to be carried out even before the birth of the child, while he or she is still in the mother’s womb.

This is what we call prenatal dental care. It is during these consultations that the pediatric dentist assesses the state of the oral health of the pregnant woman, as it reflects on the baby.

After birth, other care begins. Still in the maternity hospital, the medical teams perform all necessary examinations for newborns, incl language test.

This is a standard exam for the early diagnosis of possible limitations in tongue movements, also known as tongue-tie, which can compromise the functions of sucking, swallowing, chewing and even speaking.

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No period breastfeedingthe baby will develop its stomatognathic system, all the muscles of the mouth.

At this stage, parents should start taking care of their child’s oral health. A baby’s tongue can be cleaned with a silicone toothbrush, which is usually placed on an adult’s finger.

The soft bristles will remove the layer of milk that remains under the tongue and this will create a reference for the child’s oral hygiene routine.

Baby’s first dentist appointment

The first tooth will come in around six months, which is the right time for parents to take them to their first dental appointment. This is where the pediatric dentist begins the prevention phase.

A common question that can be clarified at this point is when to start using toothpaste, and whether it should be with or without fluoride. Science shows that a toothpaste with 1100 ppm fluoride should be used. At this first visit, the dentist will advise on the correct dosage.

The professional also checks if there is a cavity lesion or any pathology in the baby’s mouth, such as foot-mouth disease and stomatitis, popular thrush.

Caries is the most common oral disease in the population and, if not treated properly, can progress and require root canal treatment.

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It is worth noting that inside the tooth is the dental pulp, which is considered the heart of the tooth. The smaller this child is, the bigger and more voluminous the pulp will be.

So, when there is a small cavity, during the treatment, the professional can touch the pulp and, thus, automatically have to perform the root canal treatment.

If for some reason this root canal treatment is unsuccessful, the tooth will have to be extracted early and this can change the child’s bite and feeding.

For this reason, prevention is important. The milk tooth (baby) has a root and needs care, because it serves as a guide and is there to prepare a healthy territory for the permanent teeth.

Differentiated care

Dental care for infants is different from that provided for older children. The specialist uses a different attitude, language and ways to serve him, either in specialized chairs or even on the mother’s lap.

First consultations too reduce the risk of children being afraid of the dentistbecause they teach children from an early age about professionals and offices.

Among the techniques that assist pediatric dentists in their care and reduce patient anxiety are colorful coats and welcoming, playful environments.

This welcome extends to parents, since if they have had a negative experience in clinics, they may end up not knowing this fear in their child.

In conclusion, by taking care of the mouth from early childhood, parents guarantee good oral health for their baby, child, and then for youth and adults.

*Paulo Ricardo Duarte Bonavides, dental surgeon, specialist and member of the Technical Chamber of Pediatric Dentistry at CROSP