Many people are quite misguided in their beliefs that good dental care is important for a child's first teeth, commonly called the baby teeth.
A child's good dental health actually begins with his mother's own oral health and nutrition.
If a pregnant mother has a gum infection or abscessed teeth or a great deal of decay, the bacteria can actually be transmitted through her bloodstream to her unborn infant.
A mother, who has not taken care of own teeth and has poor dental health, is much less likely to look out for that of her young child.
Just because you can not see that first tooth doesn't mean that it's not there.
Teeth begin to form in the second trimester of pregnancy.
At birth, your child has 20 primary teeth, some of which are fully developed within the jaw.
Before any teeth erupt, get in the habit of running a washcloth over your baby's gums once or twice a day to remove bacteria.
This helps establish a healthy environment in the mouth for that first tooth.
Remember, once it appears, it is susceptible to decay from these same bacteria.
The first tooth eruption usually occurs as other changes are taking place in your baby's immune system.
By this time, an infant is losing much of his maternal antibodies and he becomes much more susceptible to infections.
There is increased growth and many changes take place within the baby's body.
The first primary teeth generally erupt between the age of six months and one year.
These first teeth help a child chew and also in learning to talk.
They hold spaces within the jaws for the permanent teeth that have begun to develop under the gums.
The American Dental Association now recommends that a dentist see the child within the six months after the first tooth pops through.
The teeth should definitely be checked no later than the first birthday.
Look at it as a well-baby check-up for the teeth and do make sure that it is done.
Besides looking for developmental problems and signs of early decay, the dentist can show you the proper way to clean the youngster's teeth.
This is also a good time to discuss thumb-sucking and the use of a pacifier and the effects of both upon the teeth and jaws.
You may decide to take your infant to a pediatric dentist who has the training to deal with a wide range of children's dental health issues.
This dentist can refer you to a wide range of specialists, such as an orthodontist or an oral surgeon, if issues develop later.
The goals of early care are the prevention of dental problems before they ever occur and maintaining your baby's good oral health.
A child's good dental health actually begins with his mother's own oral health and nutrition.
If a pregnant mother has a gum infection or abscessed teeth or a great deal of decay, the bacteria can actually be transmitted through her bloodstream to her unborn infant.
A mother, who has not taken care of own teeth and has poor dental health, is much less likely to look out for that of her young child.
Just because you can not see that first tooth doesn't mean that it's not there.
Teeth begin to form in the second trimester of pregnancy.
At birth, your child has 20 primary teeth, some of which are fully developed within the jaw.
Before any teeth erupt, get in the habit of running a washcloth over your baby's gums once or twice a day to remove bacteria.
This helps establish a healthy environment in the mouth for that first tooth.
Remember, once it appears, it is susceptible to decay from these same bacteria.
The first tooth eruption usually occurs as other changes are taking place in your baby's immune system.
By this time, an infant is losing much of his maternal antibodies and he becomes much more susceptible to infections.
There is increased growth and many changes take place within the baby's body.
The first primary teeth generally erupt between the age of six months and one year.
These first teeth help a child chew and also in learning to talk.
They hold spaces within the jaws for the permanent teeth that have begun to develop under the gums.
The American Dental Association now recommends that a dentist see the child within the six months after the first tooth pops through.
The teeth should definitely be checked no later than the first birthday.
Look at it as a well-baby check-up for the teeth and do make sure that it is done.
Besides looking for developmental problems and signs of early decay, the dentist can show you the proper way to clean the youngster's teeth.
This is also a good time to discuss thumb-sucking and the use of a pacifier and the effects of both upon the teeth and jaws.
You may decide to take your infant to a pediatric dentist who has the training to deal with a wide range of children's dental health issues.
This dentist can refer you to a wide range of specialists, such as an orthodontist or an oral surgeon, if issues develop later.
The goals of early care are the prevention of dental problems before they ever occur and maintaining your baby's good oral health.
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