Kids Dentistry/ Children’s Dentistry

Start Early!! Take your kids to dentist before they have or start any dental problem. It is important to train and teach children to keep their teeth clean and importance of maintaining oral hygiene. Most children do not like brushing their teeth, but parents have to inculcate these habits strongly from childhood to prevent decays and cavities.

Oral Habits & Habit Breaking Commonly found habits in children:

• thumb sucking
• finger biting
• nail biting
• lip biting
• mouth breathing
• tongue thrusting etc.,

Effects of these habits:

If continued for a long time it can lead to:
• gum disease
• change in position of teeth
• change in shape of the jaws

Getting rid of it:

Habit breaking appliances with either fixed or removable in nature

Correcting these habits at an early age or as soon as it is noticed helps prevent oro- facial changes in the child.

Pits & Fissures

It is the most common dental problem found in children. Chewing teeth have grooves on the surface like mountain and valleys. These grooves are the hiding and dwelling places for oral bacteria’s causing decay since bristles of a brush do not reach to clean that area.

Hence these areas start developing pits and fissures gradually leading to caries.

To prevent this “dental sealants” are applied on the surface of the tooth which covers the grooves and protects it form acid attacks and plaque.

Ideal age to put a sealant is 6 years

There are various reasons for tooth decay in children. The most important being poor brushing habits followed by poor dietary habits and lastly infrequent dental visits.

Fluoride is a mineral which helps to prevent tooth decay in children. Fluoride strengthens teeth by aiding the mineralization on teeth. It prevents the formation of acid causing bacteria.

Fluoride treatment includes:

1. Fluoride treatment at the dental clinic
2. Brushing with Fluoride added toothpaste or mouthwash
3. Addition of fluoride to drinking water

Fluoride treatments commonly are given to children as their teeth are developing between the ages of 6 months and 16 years. Many children having history of cavities get fluoride treatments every six months. The treatments provide extra protection against cavities, even if children already drink fluoridated water.