INDUSTRY INSIGHT
A
Lifetime Dental Care
SpoNSoReD CoNTeNT
A Lifetime of Dentistry
s we age, our dental needs change and
the type of dental treatment also changes. A
good understanding of this cycle is important to
prevent problems as we get older.
Early childhood. Primary teeth begin to erupt
when a child is about 6 months old and usually
finish at about 2 years of age. For young children
just getting their first teeth, the easiest way to
clean their teeth is to use a 2”x2” piece of gauze to wipe each tooth.
If you want to use a toothbrush to clean the teeth, use only water
with it. If you want to use toothpaste, only use a “pea-size” amount of
toothpaste until the child is old enough to understand not to swallow
toothpaste. At age 3 or 4, the dentist can clean a child’s teeth and
apply fluoride to strengthen the enamel and reduce the chances of
the child getting tooth decay.
Ages 6 to 12. At this period in a child’s life, there is a mixture of primary
(baby) and permanent teeth. There is a lot going on – permanent
teeth are erupting, and the remaining primary teeth are acting as space
maintainers so there will be room for additional permanent teeth.
Dental exams are particularly important at this time along with regular
cleaning and fluoride treatments. Sealants are placed on the erupting
first molars to reduce chances of decay. For children with certain types
of irregular growth patterns, orthodontic treatment may be started.
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