Although dental treatment in Poland has been at a very high level for some time, Poles are still afraid to sit on the dentist's chair. Most of these fears and fears stem from childhood, and that is why it is so important to care for the comfort of treating a young patient from the very beginning. Only in this way will we raise a generation that is not afraid of dentists.
Nobody needs to be convinced thatbaby teethrequire special care and are also much more prone tocariesthan adult teeth. Polish parents, however, do not care for their children's milk milk. The statistics are inexorable. Only 13 percent. children in our country have treated decay in primary teeth. Most parents also do not pay attention to the hygiene of their children's teeth, the little ones are not able to brush them properly.
A child's teeth should be looked after before they even appear
Practically the expectant mother, even with her diet during pregnancy, can have an impact on her child's teeth. Later, after birth, from the very beginning, we should rinse the gums with a moist gauze pad or a hygienic stick and clean them from milk or porridge remnants - says Mariusz Duda, MD, PhD, president of the Polish Implantology Association, owner of Duda Clinic in Katowice.
Choose a pediatric dentist
Children come to the office mostly with pain and crying. Meanwhile, parents should bring their children to the dentist much earlier. However, it is worth choosing a dentist who specializes in pediatric dentistry. - A pediatric dentist, i.e. a child dentist, not only has detailed knowledge of the structure of teeth or jaw bones in the developmental period. He also has an appropriate approach to children, he knows how to tame them with the office so that they will not be afraid of visiting the dentist in the future - explains Dr. Duda. In addition, the pediatrician, if necessary, will take care of problems with teething and recommend appropriate prophylaxis to avoid tooth decay.
First adaptation visit, then treatment
So when is the first time to bring a child to the dentist? Dentists emphasize that the moment the first tooth appears, parents and their toddler should come to the office for the first time. A child under the constant care of a dentist has a chance foravoiding malocclusion and minimizing the risk of caries. However, before the treatment of milk milk is carried out, it is important that the child's first visit to the dentist is an adaptation visit.
- For a child it is an opportunity to get to know the office in the form of a game. Under the watchful eye of the pediatrician, the child looks at dental tools and equipment. A child can touch everything that interests him, "ride" on the chair, manipulate with buttons, of course, with all safety rules, says Dr. Dorota Mangold, MD, specialist in pediatric dentistry, orthodontist Msc from Duda Clinic.
However, the office that wants to carry out should have appropriate conditions. - In our clinic, we have a specially prepared office for children, where it is colorful and fun, thanks to which the child finds a friendly environment, which he associates with play, not an office. The child's further attitude to treatment depends on the success of the adaptation visit - adds Mariusz Duda, PhD. It is also important to reward the child for being brave during the visit, e.g. with a Brave Patient diploma or medal. Children attach importance to this type of rewards, it is for them that a good grade at school motivates them to continue their efforts.
Hygiene is the key to he alth
Regular check-ups at the dentist's office are the basis for caring for the he alth of children's teeth. However, parents should start by taking care of the hygiene of their children. - Appropriate, age-appropriate toothbrush, toothpaste for children - these are certainly elements we cannot do without. Small teeth should be gently brushed at least twice a day. The sooner we start, the better, because the child will get used to the toothbrush right away and we will not be exposed to wars for brushing our teeth every morning or evening - warns Dr. Dorota Mangold and adds that it is also worth limiting carbohydrates in the child's diet. - As you know, sugars are deadly to enamel.
Help! Black spot on the tooth
Despite the best wishes, cavities are often unavoidable. What symptoms should we worry about? If we go for regular checkups with the child, any irregularities will be surely noticed by the dentist and healed by caries. However, if we ourselves notice any spots or discoloration on the teeth, we should immediately visit a pediatric dentist. In the case of advanced caries, even milk teeth sometimes need to be treated with a root canal. - However, such treatment is adapted to the anatomy of the primary teeth. It is worth doing them, as it will save the tooth from its extraction. And premature loss of milk milk can then lead to malocclusion, when permanent teeth begin to grow - explains Dr. Mariusz Duda.
Don't forget about prophylaxis
In addition to proper hygiene and regular visits, parents should also take care of preventive treatments that will protect small teeth from decay. Teeth should be fluoridated at least once every six months. We can also stop the development of caries and strengthen the enamel by sealing the teeth of small patients. It is a procedure consisting in covering the teeth with a special, permanent preparation, usually gradually releasing fluoride, which fills all grooves and gaps in the teeth, preventing the penetration of bacteria responsible for caries.