Your child’s primary teeth are special. Designed only to be temporary, they are meant to erupt and then fall out at specified times, carrying him or her to the adult teeth that will be permanent and last (hopefully) for lifetime. Our
Wallingford pediatric dentist, Dr. Azra Saleem, wants to be sure you understand the importance of caring for your child’s primary teeth and the best way to go about it.
Children's Dentist Wallingford
Your child will develop a total of 20 primary teeth, with the first coming in as early as at 6 months of age. Those teeth will all fall out naturally sometime between the ages of 6 and 13, with girls typically losing their primary teeth faster than boys do. If one of these primary teeth needs to be extracted or falls out sooner than it is supposed to, the result can be that the remaining teeth will shift and create a difficult situation when the adult tooth is ready to erupt. Another possible complication is that the adult tooth may come in ahead of schedule and erupt crooked due to the limited space available. So it is essential to maintain your child’s primary teeth so that she or he keeps each one for the natural amount of time before it is supposed to fall out. The enemy is tooth decay and employing good practices to prevent it is vital. Our
Wallingford pediatric dentist will assist you with strategies for you to use at home and of course, twice yearly dental exams complete with x-rays and a thorough dental cleaning are a big part of the equation.
Regular brushing and flossing at home in addition to a diet for your child that limits sugary treats is the cornerstone of proper care for primary teeth. Brushing should be done after meals and after sweet snacks as well. If that is not always possible (for example, when you are on the go), at least try to rinse your child’s teeth. Our
Wallingford pediatric dentist will also discuss with you the benefits of fluoride treatments and dental sealants to determine if either may be useful in helping your child prevent tooth decay. With attention paid by our office and by you at home, together we can keep your child’s primary teeth strong and healthy so that they will serve their intended purpose for the right amount of time.
By Dr. Azra Saleem
March 31, 2014
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