What should children with milk teeth do?

Tooth decay or tooth decay is a common dental condition in young children. Although only temporary, baby teeth play an important role in helping to ensure that your baby's permanent teeth come into place. Therefore, mothers should know how to take care of baby teeth, understand when children have lost milk teeth what to do to help protect their children's healthy teeth.

When babies are about 7 to 10 months old, the first baby teeth begin to appear. Babies will have all 20 teeth by the time they are about 29 months old. Then the adult teeth will gradually appear to replace the baby teeth and become the baby's permanent teeth. But many children have tooth decay and tooth decay before they "finish the job and leave the office" to make room for adult teeth, causing a number of oral health problems. So what to do when a child has a toothache?

What is a toothache? Similar to the structure of permanent teeth, the outside of the baby tooth root is also covered with a layer of dentin and then the hard outermost enamel layer. However, this hard enamel in baby teeth is often more fragile and susceptible to damage, putting them at higher risk of tooth decay. 

When caries "eat" gradually into the roots of the teeth, it will cause them to crumble and disappear, the root of the tooth will be significantly reduced in volume. This phenomenon is called tooth decay. Causes of tooth loss in children According to pediatric experts, young children often have tooth decay leading to tooth loss for many reasons. Understanding these causes helps parents to have a solution to the problem of children with tooth decay. 

Children often eat foods containing a lot of carbohydrates (including sugar and starch) such as candy, cake, chocolate, milk, etc., creating a food source for bacteria that cause tooth decay. During the fetal period, the baby's tooth germ is formed from the 8th week of pregnancy. Therefore, the mother has a diet deficient in calcium, minerals, etc., which also affects the development and solid structure of milk teeth. Babies are bottle-fed, formula-fed, fruit juices or other sugary drinks before bed. These drinks will create a strong adhesion on tooth enamel, nurturing an environment for bacteria to attack enamel. This condition is also known as bottle-fed baby teeth. 

Children lacking fluoride and calcium make baby teeth vulnerable. Fluoride is a natural mineral that has the ability to prevent tooth decay and reverse early damage that causes tooth decay. Improper brushing is also a cause of tooth decay in children. Brushing properly and regularly will help you remove the plaque on your teeth early - part of the process that causes tooth decay in children. How does tooth decay affect children? 

The condition of tooth decay and milk tooth decay is quite common, leading many parents to think that children with milk tooth decay are normal, there is nothing to worry about. 

However, if parents are subjective and do not have an early solution, the loss of baby teeth can leave many effects on the physical and psychological health of the child, typically: 

 1. Influence on children's eating Tooth decay makes it difficult for children to chew or in some cases, the roots of the teeth are exposed, causing pain when children chew food. This long-term creates fear and even fear in children, children gradually lose their appetite, leading to slow weight gain and other nutritional deficiencies. 

 2. Shame mentality Children with tooth decay may feel embarrassed when smiling or even being teased, affecting their confidence. At the same time, tooth decay also puts children at a higher risk of tooth decay in adulthood. This also affects the child's physical and psychological well-being. Tooth decay can also cause children to pronounce incorrectly, affecting their language and communication abilities. 

 3. Other health problems if tooth decay persists Many parents ignore the question of what to do if a child has a toothache because they think this is a normal thing in their child's development. But in rare cases, tooth decay can lead to an abscess, the formation of a pocket of pus at the root of the tooth, causing infection, even life-threatening. In addition, when children have tooth decay, the adult teeth will find it difficult to "locate" their position, causing the teeth to grow crooked, messy, protruding or misaligned. When the child is an adult, you will spend a lot of time and money to have orthodontic treatment for your child. What to do with a baby with a toothache?

When dealing with a baby experiencing a toothache or showing signs of tooth decay, it is crucial to take them to a pediatric dentist for examination and appropriate oral care guidance. However, there are also steps parents can take at home to prevent tooth decay in children. Here are some useful tips:

Maintain oral hygiene: Teach your child good oral hygiene habits, such as brushing their teeth at least twice a day and rinsing their mouth after meals and before bedtime.
Start early: Even before baby teeth appear, gently clean your child's gums and oral cavity with a soft cloth or infant toothbrush.

Promote a healthy diet: Encourage your child to develop good eating habits, limiting snacks and foods that are high in sugar. Provide a nutritious diet rich in protein and calcium during pregnancy and for your child's overall health.

Use physiological saline: If you notice the early signs of tooth decay, such as small ivory-white spots on baby teeth, you can use physiological saline for gargling. Physiological saline has antiseptic and antibacterial properties that can help clean the oral cavity and reduce the risk of tooth decay.

Fluoride supplementation: Consult with your dentist or pediatrician about the need for fluoride supplementation for your child. Fluoride is known to strengthen tooth enamel and prevent tooth decay.

Regular dental check-ups: Take your child for regular dental check-ups every six months. This allows the dentist to monitor their oral health, detect any early signs of tooth decay, and provide appropriate preventive or treatment measures.

Dental Interventions for Children with Tooth Decay:

In mild cases of tooth decay, dentists often perform fillings to prevent further progression and promote healthy tooth development, ensuring proper eating and drinking abilities for the child.

In severe cases, such as large cavities or extensive tooth decay, the dentist may consider whether to extract the affected baby teeth based on the child's age. Removing baby teeth before the natural tooth replacement age (around 6 years old) may impact the alignment of permanent teeth.

By following these tips and maintaining regular dental care, parents can actively participate in preventing tooth decay in their children from an early age. It is crucial to address tooth decay promptly by seeking professional dental advice and treatment to ensure the child's oral health and overall well-being.