Baby teeth should be taken care of immediately after birth, says the expert

posted on 23.06.2023 06:00

(credit: Marcelo Ferreira/CB/DA Press)

When the child is born, one of the first concerns of the parents should be the teeth, which affect the child’s health. Teething can affect breastfeeding, the neck joint and cause headaches. Therefore, you need to be very careful.

“Generally, the first teeth come out after six months, but there are also those that come out with the child”, explained pediatric dentist Ilana Marques, in a conversation with journalist Carmen Souza. CBSaúde – the partnership of Correio Brasiliense with TV Brasília — this Thursday (6/22). According to the expert, the recommendation is for mothers to practice self-care during pregnancy and after giving birth to avoid pacifiers and bottles. “Breastfeeding is almost like a baby’s first gear, where their muscles and arches will develop,” he added.

When to start taking care of children’s oral health?

The ideal is in the mother’s womb. It is very important for the mother to take care of herself and understand the first information when the baby is still in the womb. After the baby is born, it’s also worth checking how the baby’s oral frenulum is doing. This will have a tremendous impact on breastfeeding, which is almost like a child’s first device, where they will develop their muscles, their arches. It is very important that the mother is encouraged to breastfeed with pleasure and this is possible if the baby has a normal oral frenulum. It often happens that people are born with a short lingual frenulum and it is important to visit the pediatric dentist.

Is this assessment a language test?

Exactly. The maternity ward has a speech therapist or nurses prepared to perform this test. However, the test result is often unreliable. Therefore, the mother is asked to return after a month, but mothers do not always return. If this goes unnoticed, this problem can be perpetuated and have consequences.

When do the first teeth come out?

Teeth can come out even before the birth of the child. The pediatric dentist will teach habits and avoid pacifiers and bottles. Ideally, the baby should use only the mother’s breast to perform the breastfeeding exercise and, as a result, achieve good arch and breathing development. In most cases, the tooth comes out around the age of six months, but there are those called natal or neonatal, which appear when the child is born or a month later. These teeth may not have a large insertion and are at risk of being aspired and leading to the death of the child. In other cases, the tooth may have a good insertion, but it starts to hurt the baby’s mouth and prevent breastfeeding.

How about taking care of food?

There are dangerous and protective foods. Sugary, sticky and acidic foods are dangerous – all sweets are acidic. Examples are filled cookies, soft drinks and candies. Protectors are those that have a basic Ph, such as nuts, cheese and popcorn. The advice is to always eat a dangerous food, finish with a mouthguard and then brush your teeth. It is good that the child is encouraged to eat fruits, which have fiber and to practice chewing. If you want to juice, do it naturally and rarely.

How many washes per day are enough?

This is very relative. The main factor of cavities is diet. Some people have a good diet and only brush their teeth once. The ideal is to brush three times a day after main meals and flossing. If this is not possible, it is suggested that you brush thoroughly before bed and floss. Washing is the most important, because during sleep the production of saliva, which protects the tooth, decreases.

One problem that has increased is bruxism. What is this and how can it be identified?

Bruxism is a manifestation that occurs when the individual is asleep and begins to grind the teeth. There may be several causes, so it should be investigated. It is important to take care of and protect your teeth. Bruxism can be related to a respiratory problem, psychological or due to an incorrect bite. The disease can even cause problems in the jugular joint. It is usually identified by the noise, but if the child complains of headaches or joint pain, it can also be a warning sign. Teeth grinding is also a sign of bruxism.

How can a child undergo a dental procedure in a less traumatic way?

One service that has made a difference in many children’s lives is inhalation sedation, which is new and few professionals offer it. The most practical and least dangerous option is to inhale nitrous oxide through a mask. Children just relax and are not alert. The effect begins to wear off in five to ten minutes. It works for most children and prevents trauma.

*Intern under the supervision of Patrick Selvatti

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