Do you know what tooth decay is? Have you noticed that your baby has cavities?
Child cavities can adversely affect their growth, development and physical health, so we should help children take care of their teeth as soon as possible, so that they have a healthy mouth!
What is tooth decay
Caries, also known as tooth decay, is a chronic progressive destruction of the hard tissue of the tooth under the action of bacterial infection and other factors. common diseases.
Why children are prone to tooth decay
Children are prone to tooth decay, mostly due to factors such as poor oral hygiene, poor tooth structure, low tooth resistance, and poor eating habits.
1. Poor oral hygiene
Children do not develop good oral hygiene habits of brushing their teeth in the morning and evening and gargle after meals, or do not master the correct brushing method, resulting in many deposits of teeth on the surface of the teeth Plaque. This can lead to demineralization of the teeth, resulting in tooth decay.
2. Poor tooth structure
If the fissures and fissures of the children’s teeth are relatively deep, and the fissures and fissures of the teeth cannot be cleaned at ordinary times, it may cause food residues in the fissures and grooves of the teeth, which may not be cleaned for a long time. caused tooth decay.
3. Low tooth resistance
Childhood deciduous and permanent teeth are relatively less calcified, and their enamel and dentin are relatively thin, and their ability to resist acid and alkali is weak, so they are prone to tooth decay .
4. Bad eating habits
Children’s diets are mostly soft foods with strong viscosity and high sugar content, which are easy to ferment and produce acid. Most children also like to eat sweets, such as candy, chocolate, biscuits, cakes, etc. These foods can easily breed bacteria in the mouth and damage tooth enamel. Especially at night before going to bed, it is easy to cause tooth decay.
How to prevent tooth decay
Children must develop good oral hygiene habits and eating habits, and regularly visit the hospital for oral examinations, which is very helpful to prevent the appearance of tooth decay.
1. Brush your teeth morning and night
Brushing your teeth in the morning and evening can remove food residues between the teeth and prevent food residues from remaining in the mouth for a long time, which can breed bacteria and corrode the teeth and periodontal. It can also remove plaque and soft scale on the surface of the teeth to avoid dental caries caused by plaque. It can also prevent oral diseases and avoid the occurrence of inflammation in the oral cavity.
The method of brushing your teeth is also particularly important. The correct brushing method often has a multiplier effect.
2. Diet
Most children prefer foods with high sugar content such as bread, cakes, candy, chocolate and other foods that are high in cariogenicity, so reduce or control sugar in children’s diets. You can control the frequency of eating sugar and the amount of sugar intake, or you can switch to other foods to replace the nutritional content of sugar. You can also give children whole grains and fiber-rich foods.
3. Regular oral exams
Children after the age of 1 are recommended to have a routine pediatric oral examination every six months. Oral examination can check the presence or absence of caries in the oral cavity, as well as the health of the gums and oral soft tissues, etc. It can also perform filling treatment for children with early caries, and take effective and timely anti-caries measures.
The right way to brush your teeth
We can choose the arc brushing method, which is relatively simple and easy for children to master. Start on the outer side of the upper left back tooth, brush your upper and lower teeth together, and then gently place the toothbrush on the outer side of the upper left back tooth.
Start at the junction of the upper left posterior tooth and the gum, and draw a circle downward to the position where the lower jaw tooth and the gum meet, and then brush forward in circles. Repeat the same movement on the lateral side of the right tooth, going from the back to the front.
When brushing the front teeth, the lower teeth can be slightly extended forward until the upper and lower front teeth face each other, and continue to brush the front teeth in a circular arc. When brushing the inside of the teeth, start from the left maxillary posterior teeth, open the mouth wide, place the toothbrush bristles on the inner surface of the left upper posterior teeth, and then reciprocate back and forth for a short distance, the amplitude is generally 1-2mm, and advance to the canines in turn.
Then brush the inner surface of the upper right posterior tooth in the same manner. The medial surface of the left lower posterior teeth and the medial surface of the right lower posterior teeth.
When brushing the upper front teeth, hold the brush upright, start from the left canine, and vibrate up and down several times. Proceed from left to right to the right canine. When brushing the occlusal surface of the teeth, you need to open your mouth wide, place the bristles vertically on the occlusal surface of the teeth, and do a short back and forth brushing back and forth with a little force.
The choice of toothbrush
Be sure to choose a toothbrush with a small head and soft bristles for children. The top of the bristles of the toothbrush should be round and the brush surface should be flat, so as not to damage the gums of children. Do not use adult toothbrushes for children, because adult toothbrushes have large brush heads and hard bristles, which can easily wear children’s teeth and gums. It is recommended to replace your toothbrush every 3 months.
The choice of toothpaste
In the choice of toothpaste, buy toothpaste for children, never use adult toothpaste. Toothpastes that are less irritating and fruity can be chosen. Do not use too much each time, the size of soybean is enough.
3-6 years old is the peak period of tooth decay in children, so parents should let their children develop a good habit of brushing their teeth on weekdays. Teach children the skills of brushing their teeth, let them like to brush their teeth, and actively brush their teeth!