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Toddler’s teeth and oral care

The beginnings of baby teeth begin to form in the 6th–7th week of embryonic development, the beginnings of permanent teeth in the 5th month of pregnancy. During normal foetal development, 20 baby teeth and 28–32 permanent teeth are formed.

Eruption of baby teeth usually begins between 6 and 8th month after birth and usually ends by 2–2.5 years of age. When teething, children are often restless, fussy, put their hands and things in their mouths, and salivation increases. An erupting tooth presses the gum tight, it becomes red and painful. An increase in body temperature may also occur. Loss of fluid from the body also increases, and the child should be given plenty to drink to avoid this.

During the teething period, the child’s gums should be massaged with a chewing ring or clean gauze wrapped around a finger. Soothing gel can be applied to the gums. Special attention must be paid to oral hygiene. Since the newborn doesn’t have any teeth, there are no convenient places for bacteria to attach in the mouth. When teeth erupt, bacteria immediately attach to them.  

Cleaning a toddler’s teeth

Cleaning teeth should start immediately after the first tooth erupts. Food easily sticks to small teeth, which is an excellent place for bacteria to attach – dental plaque is formed. Bacteria can also enter the baby’s mouth when the mother cleans or moistens the baby’s pacifier in her mouth, kisses the baby on the mouth, or feeds the baby with a spoon, putting it in her mouth in between.

Plaque must be removed immediately so that dental enamel is not damaged. A special finger brush or a soft toothbrush for babies can be used for cleaning, or in their absence, a clean piece of gauze can be used. Baby and toddler toothbrushes have very soft bristles and a small head to fit properly in the mouth and not hurt the delicate gums. You can start using toothpaste when the child knows how to rinse their mouth. Only toothpaste intended for small children may be used. 

Nursing caries

Nursing caries is a serious dental disease in young children that occurs when a child’s teeth come into too frequent and prolonged contact with sugars in food and drink. A feeding bottle with milk, some food mixture or juice that is taken to bed at night has a particularly devastating effect on the teeth. Bacteria living in the mouth feed on sugar and produce acids, which in turn damage dental plaque by washing away minerals. The outer surface of the teeth becomes porous and white spots appear, which later darken and increase in size. The front teeth are most often damaged, leaving only black stubs in the worst of cases. In addition to the increased risk of caries, long-term use of a feeding bottle leads to the development of bite problems.

It is important to practice brushing your child’s teeth from an early ago so that they know not to go to bed with unbrushed teeth. If the child is thirsty after brushing their teeth, he should only drink clean water, not fruit water or sweet juices, which cancel out the result of careful teeth brushing.

By the age of five, the child should be able to brush their teeth on their own. It is the adult’s job to help them and see that brushing is done well.

The most important thing about a toddler’s oral care:

  • not going to sleep with a feeding bottle – during sleep, the child’s saliva cannot protect their mouth because the flow of saliva is less;
  • use clean drinking water to quench thirst;
  • proper and consistent oral care;
  • parent as a personal role model.

Children and fear of dental care

Most people become anxious and afraid before going to the dentist. Fear is a reaction to an external stimulus. There is always a reason that causes fear. For example, it can be an object or a threat from another person. This may cause anxiety and stress, which may lead to panic. There are various reasons for fear, but mostly they are unpleasant experiences from childhood.

It is known that 85 percent of patients have developed a fear of dental treatment in early childhood. Children develop the fear from the stories they hear from parents, acquaintances and playmates. Fear of dental care comes from these stories and the vivid imagination of the child. A child’s memory stores this fear, and it can last a lifetime.

The child’s opinion is most influenced by the mother. A mother who is afraid of dental care transfers her fears to her child. It also depends on the mother whether the child develops the habit of taking care of their teeth and whether this care is sufficient. In early childhood, it is the mother who takes care of the child’s oral hygiene. You would think that children who fear dental care take care of their teeth to avoid going to the dentist, but in reality, they brush their teeth poorly or don’t brush them at all. They often don’t want to hear anything about oral hygiene or anything else related to teeth, let alone a visit to the dentist.

Preparing for a doctor’s visit

Parents should prepare the child for each appointment. Before visiting the dentist, it is very important to explain the reason for the visit to the child. It is important for the child to know what is being done to them at the dentist. This facilitates mutual cooperation. If the child is not ready to cooperate, treating them is impossible. The child sees this as a failure on their part, and the fear will be even greater the next time. If the child visits the dentist 1–2 times a year to check the teeth and oral cavity, fears disappear. The worst thing is for the child to only come to the dentist with a tooth ache. This visit will leave the child with an unpleasant memory for life.

Fear does not need to be amplified

Fear is caused by ignorance. A child’s ability to listen decreases when they are afraid, which is why you should talk about a visit to the dentist days in advance. The child will then be able to think it through for themselves and ask any questions to the parents. When talking to a child, you should use their form of communication and the language must correspond to the child’s age. You should definitely avoid such phrases as “don’t be afraid, they won’t do anything to you”, “it won’t hurt”, etc. The words “fear” and “pain” hint to the child that there is a reason to be afraid and that they could get hurt.

A child needs security

The dental office is unfamiliar to a child, and there are different rules of behaviour that the adult knows, but the child does not. A new situation and unfamiliar people cause fear. It would therefore be advisable to always visit a specific dentist with whom you have had good rapport during previous appointments.

Sometimes homework is not enough, so it would be good to inform the dentist in advance about a fearful child. You can find a solution together – the child is introduced to the dental chair and instruments during the first appointment. Sometimes the presence of a child’s friend or sibling who has been to the dentist and has had positive experiences with the procedure also helps.

Dental health is a very important part of a person’s overall health. It is crucial to keep your child excited and motivated to take care of their teeth. Helping and teaching your child to take good care of their teeth is very important to avoid problems with oral health in their life. A regular visit to the dentist twice a year helps to overcome the fear of the dentist and is beneficial for the child’s teeth and the health of their whole body.