We all know the importance of dental health and how it could influence the general wellbeing of our bodies. Regular checkups of all family members are advisable at least once per year even though there are cases when more frequent visits are required. We should never forget or neglect children’s dental health.

Primary teeth are just as important and should be treated with care. We should not find comfort in the fact that they are temporary and will be replaced by permanent ones sooner or later as poorly treated primary teeth infections might lead to irreversible consequences regarding the state and structure of the permanent tooth which is forming under the primary one.  Early extraction of primary teeth is also not advisable as it might result in an almost irreversible bite or teeth order problems. This might also lead to the need for braces.

Regular checkups and hygiene instructions are what is needed to keep children’s teeth healthy.

We at Avi Dent recommend:

1. We – parents, are the best role model for our children. Everything, that Mom and Dad do, is right and children never doubt it. This is why it is preferable to bring our kids together with us during our checkups. We should avoid sharing childhood traumas regarding past visits to the dentist. We should not use the doctor’s or dentist’s visits as a threat. Always remember that children often hear and understand everything that we said in a lower voice while trying to hide it from them.
   
   

2. The first dental visit of a child should not be later than a year after it was born. At that age, children easily perceive colours, voices and different types of atmosphere. These first visits are exactly the right time to show to our child that there is nothing to be afraid of during a checkup. The child does not know what stands behind the sound of the dental tools or the dentist’s uniform and this is why we should try to create a positive association. When the child gets used to us and the place we can move on to the first dental examination during which we can clean the teeth with some of the dental tools. By doing all of this even if a caries treatment is needed the child will feel comfortable and ready. Another positive aspect of regular checkups is that they considerably lower the chances of problems to appear.
   
   

3. Hygiene at home starts with the first tooth. The first lessons start with a small toothbrush or a thimble brush and the help of Mom and Dad.
   
   

4. Do not postpone or neglect visits– Statistics show that 70% of children who are 5-6 years of age have 4 cavities on average. The more people wait, the more difficult, time-consuming and complex the treatment of the problem becomes. The development of caries and further complications in primary teeth takes far less time than in permanent ones due to their delicate structure. The fact that children cannot perform impeccable personal hygiene is also a factor which might lead to even more serious problems.
   
   

5. The diet of the child is just as important. Be careful with carbohydrates and try to provide a balanced diet for your child. Avoid the addition of sugar or honey in juices, on pacifiers etc. Salivation in children is usually more intense than in adults (saliva works as a self-cleaning agent) but the sufficient water intake also plays an important role. Diet should be rich in micro and macro elements and vitamins. All of the things mentioned so far influence not only the teeth but the whole body.
   
   

Care for children’s teeth is a responsibility shared between the following three: dentist- parent-child.

All of them should work together to avoid problems. The young mind is pure and open to the world. This is why this is the best time to form healthy habits and we the doctors at Avi Dent are always ready to help or give advice when needed.