All About Teeth

Your child gets two sets of teeth, which is a pretty cool thing if you think about it. The primary teeth (or baby teeth) that get chipped or knocked out are going to be replaced anyway courtesy of good ole Mother Nature. If these get cavities or aren’t cared for perfectly, researcher Lawanna Brock reassures us that it is OK. Think of these first few years a ‘training’ for later years of tooth care. By the time your child gets his secondary set of teeth (called permanent teeth), he should be able to take good care of them since he will likely have them for 80 more years or so.

Primary Teeth

A baby tooth gradually loosens until it falls out. This is a painless event with a very tiny amount of blood that announces that the permanent tooth is moving in. Hurray! For some kids, it is such a uneventful thing and they may even swallow the tooth. For others, it may cause pain and dangle around in the mouth for a while. The good thing is that there is always the Tooth Fairy who is going to bring money in exchange for this prize.

Baby Tooth Removal Trick

If your child has a loose baby tooth that is very wiggly and annoying, Lawanna Brock knows an easy way to remove it. First, grasp the loose tooth, using a piece of tissue or gauze for a better grip. Next, gently give a twist while still pulling gradually. It doesn’t take more than a second or two. Any longer means the tooth isn’t ready to fall out yet. Your child will feel a little pressure just before the tooth pops out. Dab the area well if it starts to bleed. You may even have to hold pressure on the site for around 5 minutes.

Permanent Tooth Emergency

Should your child have a permanent tooth get injured or knocked out, there are some things you need to know. First of all take your child to the dentist immediately or to the nearest emergency room. Save the tooth and the root end, as the doctors may be able to fix it. Teeth can be saved- even those that are completely knocked out, but you have to act fast. It’s just as important NOT to do the wrong things as it is to do the right things.

• Take care of the injured child. Look thoroughly for the missing tooth. A tooth that is found is a tooth that can be successfully transplanted back in the mouth. If it is a tooth chip, don’t worry so much about it.
• Once you have the tooth, do not pick it up by the root end. If it is very dirty, rinse it with saline solution, milk, or saliva. Don’t rinse it with drinking water or scrub it clean.
• Put the tooth into the child’s mouth where it came from while you transport him to see an expert. Place a small piece of gauze over it and have the child bite down gently to hold the tooth in place.

Did I Mention…Prevention?

There are a few preventive things you should teach your child about caring for teeth. Here are a few of these tips:

Wear a mouth guard. This is an especially good idea if your child is involved in a rigorous contact sport or one that involves high speed. It could save him from accidentaly biting his sweet lips.

Follow sporting safety rules. By reducing the chance of accidents, he may save a tooth or two.

Visit the dentist every six months. The dentist’s office is like a health spa for the teeth. Healthy teeth are much more likely to hang onto the gums and not get chipped or knocked out.

Eat right. A healthy, balanced diet does a body good-and teeth, too! Remember that dairy products like milk, yogurt, and cheese contain lots of calcium that not only makes strong bones, but strong teeth, too.

Brush and floss at least twice a day. This is the most important skill your child can learn to do. Lawanna Brock advises that caring for the teeth in early years will teach him how to care for his permanent teeth later in childhood.