When a child hits five to eight years, they are ready for school. This is a delicate age for most children, especially when it comes to their teeth. At this age, children are curious, inquisitive and very playful. They can try anything with their teeth, including opening bottle corks, cutting tough threads or even tearing tough fabrics like jeans and leather. If the child feels that anything is tough to rip apart with their hands, then they certainly resort to using their teeth to do the job. Here is a piece for all parents dealing with children's teeth at this age:
Brushing Your Child's Teeth
Just like an adult, children's teeth can be affected by what they eat. Particularly, their love for sugary things puts them at a higher risk of tooth decay, because bacteria thrives on the presence of sugar to initiate and speed up the process of tooth decay. For this reason, you must brush your child's teeth two times a day to prevent the build-up of sugars between the teeth. If the child is below six years, make sure that you use a small amount of fluoride (the size of a pea). It is also advisable to use low-fluoride toothpaste. This ensures that the mineralisation effect that fluoride has on the enamel is at par with its erosive effect. For children above six years, you can use regular amounts of toothpaste like an adult, as the enamel is strong enough to stand up to the higher amounts of fluoride.
Toothbrush to Use (And How to Brush) The child's toothbrush should have soft bristles that vary in height. In this way, the brush will be gentle on the child's teeth and gums, yet it is still able to penetrate the hard-to-reach areas in between the teeth. Move the brush in small circular motions when cleaning the faces of the teeth and gums. After that, move the brush back and forth when cleaning the chewing surfaces of the teeth.
Go for Sealants
Dental sealants are another reliable way of looking out for the child's teeth. They are thin coatings made from plastic sheets that can bond to the chewing surface of the teeth. This part of the teeth are prone to cavities and the sealants will help mitigate the possibility of an attack. They also prevent plaque and a myriad of harmful bacteria from reaching the surface of the teeth. Since teeth are used regularly, it is normal for the sealants to wear off. Your dentist needs to check and fix or reapply them.
Contact a child dentist in your area for more information and assistance.
