Baby’s teeth: good dental hygiene habits

Teething is a painful time for babies and complicated to manage for parents. We explain how this crucial stage in the life of the child and how to face it by taking the right decisions, because the baby teeth are as important as the permanent teeth.

The stages of teething

Not all children experience teething in the same way. The most precocious are born with teeth, which remains exceptional, while others are particularly late with teeth that appear only after one year.

On average, teeth begin to grow between 4 and 7 months of age and follow a specific sequence:

1. Lower central incisors, then upper
2. Upper and lower lateral incisors
3. First upper and lower molars
4. Upper and lower canines
5. Second lower molars, then upper molars.

A child has a total of 20 baby teeth, while the permanent teeth that will grow between 5 and 12 years will be 32.

The pain associated with teething

During the period when teeth are growing, the child becomes irritable during the day and sleeps poorly at night. It reacts to the pain caused both by the mechanical effect of the teeth making their way through the jaw, and by the gum that has to open to let them through.

Symptoms are easily recognizable by his behavior, as the baby drools more and regularly tries to bite anything that comes within his reach. You may also see physical manifestations, with red, swollen cheeks and/or gums, and sometimes the formation of an erupting cyst on the gum.

What can you do to help your child?

Pain is normal when teething, but you can relieve it. Avoid medications that are still chemical compounds whose side effects are not always measured. On the other hand, there are organic products based on plants, in particular camomile, in the form of gel, which are more indicated. You can massage the gum in its painful place with one of these gels, or simply with a wet compress.

The child massages his own gums while chewing his toys. Remember to clean them often. You can also give him teething rings that are specially designed to relieve teething pain.

These toys offer different surface structures (pimples, ridges, etc.) that relieve the gums. Some are more elaborate and contain water or a specific gel and are designed to be placed in the refrigerator. Your child benefits from the anesthetic capacity of the cold.

How to take care of your baby's teeth?

Milk teeth are as important as permanent teeth. If they decay, they cause pain for the child, but also a risk of infection. It is also about preparing a good ground for the growth of permanent teeth.

In any case, the ritual of tooth care by the parents, and then by the child himself as soon as he is able to brush his teeth alone, gives him good habits that he will keep all his life.

As soon as the first baby teeth appear, you can use a wet compress to gently clean them. At one year of age, you can switch to a baby toothbrush. The brush should have particularly soft bristles, with a small head that allows it to get everywhere.

Start by getting him used to a wet brush only, then add a very small amount of toothpaste. Choose the most neutral taste possible. On the one hand, because the child can react badly to a taste that is too pronounced and, on the other hand, because they are artificial tastes, and therefore chemical additives that are best left alone.

Each brushing session should be gentle and pleasant. Teach your child to spit out the toothpaste, but there is no need to rinse the mouth. Toothpaste contains active ingredients that will continue to act until the saliva naturally removes it (this is also valid for adults of course).

Check your child's mouth regularly

There is no age for dental problems and they should be treated as soon as they appear.

Milk teeth grow out of control

Baby teeth may grow out of control, but this does not necessarily mean that permanent teeth will follow the same path. Teeth may be naturally misplaced or their growth may have been hindered by thumb sucking or a pacifier.

You can talk to your pediatrician about it occasionally, but there's no need to rush to the dentist. Watch closely and observe their evolution with the growth of the other teeth. If, around the age of two, the teeth are not harmonious, see a dentist who will decide whether or not to intervene.

The appearance of cavities

Babies are not immune to cavities. Start by avoiding sugary drinks that are bad for your teeth, as well as your overall health. They also create addictions. On the other hand, you should not let your child suck on a bottle. After feeding, rinse the child's mouth and brush the teeth as described above.

If you see dark spots that don't go away when you brush, see your dentist.

Bruxism in children

Bruxism is a behavior found in adults, especially at night, which consists of rubbing the jaws together. The consequences are disastrous on the teeth whose enamel wears out prematurely and flakes. By the way, the repercussions are also calamitous on the couple, because bruxism makes the teeth grind, which is absolutely unbearable for the person who sleeps next to it.

If your child rubs his or her jaws, it's to massage the gums and ease the pain inherent in teething. That's okay, as long as it's only temporary. If this behavior persists, you should talk to your dentist.

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