"MY TOOTH IS LOOSE".... and I DON'T WANT TO LOSE IT!!!
This was the text which i got from my nephew few days back, and that made me write a few words on this topic.
LOSING A BABY TEETH... This represents a big milestone in your child's life. Baby teeth have to fall out to make way for permanent teeth to grow.
Most kids are excited to feel a tooth wiggle ( and perhaps get a visit from tooth fairy.. or some feel its a sign that they are 'grown up ' now) , while some worry it will hurt when the tooth falls out.
If your child is worrier,you can reassure him that he probably won't feel anything.
However , it's usually not until we have children of our own, that we wonder why we even have baby teeth and what really happens in that transition to adult teeth.
So here are some facts, which if you are already aware with, can help you and your child, to cope this milestone with ease.
KNOW YOUR MILK TEETH
KNOW YOUR MILK TEETH
MILK TEETH also better known as PRIMARY/ DECIDUOUS/ BABY TEETH. They begin to develop even before child is born and most have a full set of 20 Teeth , by the time they turn 3.
Now, milk teeth starts to erupt in mouth from around 6 months of age and completely exfoliates between 10-12 years.. first milk tooth starts to fall out by 6-7 years, making ways for permanent teeth.
It takes around 6 yrs ( between ages 6-12 yrs) for children to loose primary teeth and gain their permanent teeth. This is called " PERIOD OF MIXED DENTITION", as for much time they will have both primary and permanent teeth.
Since the tenure of milk teeth is extended till the mentioned age range, its quite important to keep these teeth HEALTHY AND CAVITY FREE. This lays a strong and healthy foundation for permanent teeth to erupt properly.
WHY DO WE HAVE BABY TEETH
Milk teeth are essential for development of mouth and jaw, also helps maintain arch length of jaw.
They acts a guide to permanent teeth.
They also help with speech development
Also helps assist when a child is learning to chew.
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WHY DO WE HAVE BABY TEETH
Milk teeth are essential for development of mouth and jaw, also helps maintain arch length of jaw.
They acts a guide to permanent teeth.
They also help with speech development
Also helps assist when a child is learning to chew.
WHEN DO KIDS START LOOSING TEETH?
Most often this is the pattern which is followed for eruption of permanent teeth
Upper - lower front teeth - 6-8 years
Canines - 9-10 years
Molars - 10-12 years
Order in which that teeth emerge can vary and plus or minus 6-12 months can differ with every child.
Parents should be more concerned about symmetry( the same teeth coming in at the same time on both sides ), than the time teeth emerge.
Eventually 20 PRIMARY TEETH are replaced with 32 PERMANENT TEETH.
FEW IMPORTANT FACTS TO CONSIDER
FIRST IN, FIRST OUT.
Milk teeth usually fall out naturally when permanent one are right underneath them.
Mostly they fall in same order that they came in.
OUT WITH THE OLD
Encourage your child to gently wiggle a wobbly tooth with their tongue. ( some loose teeth can actually be rotated because the root underneath has almost completely disintegrated. )
IN WITH THE NEW
The new teeth may look bigger, especially those first few.... Adult teeth also tend to be less whiter than baby teeth and have pronounced ridges at margins ( because they are still not used much for chewing).
If 6-7 yrs old complain of soreness in the back of his mouth, it's probably the first permanent molars coming in ( he has no baby teeth there to fall out ).
PARENTS .. U ALL NEED TO EXPLAIN THIS TRANSITION OF TEETH TO KIDS, so that they can understand the process smoothly.
TIPS FOR PARENTS DURING THIS PROCESS
1. TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR CHILD'S BRUSHING... as children usually avoid brushing around loose teeth. Gentle brushing is fine, but skipping brushing completely is not recommended.
2.ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILD TO WIGGLE AROUND THE LOOSE PRIMARY TOOTH WITH THEIR TONGUE if required. Also most children will ask their parent to pull out a loose tooth. At that moment ,the parent will need to grab the tooth confidently with a tissue and pull it out with a quick thrust.
If the tooth is resistant, try it again after few days. You also have the option of visiting a dentist.
3. PROVIDE SOFT FOOD as wobbly tooth can potentially lead to sensation of soreness within their mouth.
4. REPLACE TOOTHBRUSH EVERY 3-4 MONTHS ( sooner if the bristles get frayed). Also make sure your child sees a dentist twice a year.
5. In case of severe pain/ discomfort during stages of exfoliation,CONSULT YOUR DENTIST and professional extraction can be considered.
Majority of times, it's a natural phenomenon of growth and does not require any treatment .
SUMMARY
We were all children, innocent and naive, always with the big smile on our faces. But when that time came and our teeth started to move, we all panicked and began to cry that we will lose our teeth. YOU NEED TO TELL YOUR CHILD EARLY about this milestone coming ahead,about losing his/her teeth.
It is IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO BE ASSURED, everything will be alright and another set of teeth will grow instead of the old ones.
And once replacement starts,TELL YOUR CHILD ABOUT IMPORTANCE OF PROPER DENTAL CARE.
Dr AVNI SHAH
CHIEF DENTIST
THE DENTAL HOME
SATELLITE, AHMEDABAD
If 6-7 yrs old complain of soreness in the back of his mouth, it's probably the first permanent molars coming in ( he has no baby teeth there to fall out ).
PARENTS .. U ALL NEED TO EXPLAIN THIS TRANSITION OF TEETH TO KIDS, so that they can understand the process smoothly.
TIPS FOR PARENTS DURING THIS PROCESS
1. TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR CHILD'S BRUSHING... as children usually avoid brushing around loose teeth. Gentle brushing is fine, but skipping brushing completely is not recommended.
2.ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILD TO WIGGLE AROUND THE LOOSE PRIMARY TOOTH WITH THEIR TONGUE if required. Also most children will ask their parent to pull out a loose tooth. At that moment ,the parent will need to grab the tooth confidently with a tissue and pull it out with a quick thrust.
If the tooth is resistant, try it again after few days. You also have the option of visiting a dentist.
3. PROVIDE SOFT FOOD as wobbly tooth can potentially lead to sensation of soreness within their mouth.
4. REPLACE TOOTHBRUSH EVERY 3-4 MONTHS ( sooner if the bristles get frayed). Also make sure your child sees a dentist twice a year.
5. In case of severe pain/ discomfort during stages of exfoliation,CONSULT YOUR DENTIST and professional extraction can be considered.
Majority of times, it's a natural phenomenon of growth and does not require any treatment .
SUMMARY
We were all children, innocent and naive, always with the big smile on our faces. But when that time came and our teeth started to move, we all panicked and began to cry that we will lose our teeth. YOU NEED TO TELL YOUR CHILD EARLY about this milestone coming ahead,about losing his/her teeth.
It is IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO BE ASSURED, everything will be alright and another set of teeth will grow instead of the old ones.
And once replacement starts,TELL YOUR CHILD ABOUT IMPORTANCE OF PROPER DENTAL CARE.
Dr AVNI SHAH
CHIEF DENTIST
THE DENTAL HOME
SATELLITE, AHMEDABAD
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