[Oral Health Science Series 2] Oral Health Management for Preschool Children

When it comes to baby's baby teeth, many parents think that "it doesn't matter if the baby teeth are damaged and not treated, because new teeth will be replaced in the future anyway." It is not until the baby has a toothache that he can't sleep at night, or a large abscess swells up on the gums under the teeth, or even half of his face is swollen, that they rush to the hospital to seek help from a doctor.

"Why are my baby's teeth so bad after they just grew out?" This is because the teeth have not been cleaned properly for a long time. Bacteria destroy the surface structure of the teeth and form caries, which are "black holes" on the surface of the teeth. As the infection gradually enters the inside of the teeth, it causes inflammation of the dental pulp (dental nerve). At this time, the baby will feel pain. After further developing into apical inflammation, large abscesses can be seen on the outer gums of the teeth.

Don’t all baby teeth get replaced? Do we need to treat them if they get damaged?

The deciduous teeth begin to erupt at around 6 months old, are gradually replaced by permanent teeth at around 6 years old, and are completely replaced by permanent teeth at around 12 years old. Therefore, it takes a long time from the fall of deciduous teeth to the eruption of permanent teeth. If the baby is not treated, long-term infection may damage the developing permanent tooth germ follicle, thereby affecting the development of the permanent tooth germ. In severe cases, it may also affect growth and development, systemic infection, and mental health.

Depending on the degree of caries in the deciduous teeth, the doctor will make corresponding treatments:

1. If the caries has not reached the pulp, the carious tissue can be removed and then directly filled with resin (also called filling).

2. When caries reaches the pulp or the root and periodontal tissue, root canal treatment is needed to completely remove the infected substances in the root canal.

Because children are young, they are often difficult to cooperate clinically. For children who are difficult to cooperate with treatment, protective fixation (such as using a strap to fix the child's body), nitrous oxide-oxygen inhalation sedation technology, or general anesthesia technology can be used to assist in treating the affected teeth, but this can easily cause fear in the children and increase the mental pressure and financial burden on parents. Therefore, it is very important for parents to do a good job of preventive care for their baby's oral cavity.

How can we help our baby have good teeth?

During the growth and development period of children, a complete row of deciduous teeth can play a good chewing function, promote the growth and development of children's bodies, stimulate the growth of facial bones, and guide the eruption of permanent teeth. Therefore, it is very important to protect the health of deciduous teeth and do a good job of oral hygiene.

1. Maintain oral hygiene

Infancy (0 to 1 year old)

Starting from the first newly erupted deciduous tooth, parents should wrap their fingers with moist gauze or use a fingertip toothbrush to gently clean the tooth surface and massage the gums once a day.

Finger Toothbrush

Early childhood (1 to 3 years old)

Use a toothbrush to remove plaque, encourage and help your baby brush his teeth, and cultivate good brushing habits. Use the circular brushing method every morning and evening, and use a rice-sized amount of children's fluoride toothpaste, which has a fluoride concentration of 1000ppm. After each meal, parents help their baby use dental floss to clean food residues stuck between two teeth.

Preschool period ( 3 to 6 years old)

Parents still help their children brush their teeth in the circular brushing method every morning and evening, using a pea-sized amount of children's fluoride toothpaste. Children with a lower risk of caries use fluoride toothpaste with a fluoride concentration of 1000ppm, while children with a higher risk of caries use fluoride toothpaste with a fluoride concentration of 1450ppm.

The circular brushing method is better than the "like" way of holding the toothbrush:

The toothbrush bristles should be at a 45° angle to the gums;

Brush the outside of your teeth: Bite your upper and lower teeth gently, use a soft-bristled toothbrush, and brush repeatedly in an arc;

Brush the inside of the front teeth: Hold the toothbrush upright to clean the inside of the upper and lower front teeth, brush the upper teeth downwards and the lower teeth upwards;

Brush the inside of the back teeth: clean in an arc shape;

Brush the biting surface: Keep the toothbrush vertical and clean the biting surface of the teeth.

Arc brushing method

Give a thumbs up to brushing your teeth every day

2. Regular dental check-ups

Regular oral examinations can detect oral problems early. Once problems are found in the baby's teeth, intervention can be made as soon as possible. Applying fluoride once every six months to a year and sealing the pits and fissures of deciduous molars can effectively prevent the occurrence and development of caries.

3. Develop good eating habits

Limit the intake of foods and drinks high in sugar, such as candy, cakes, carbonated drinks, etc.;

Avoid foods that are sticky and stay in the mouth for a long time, such as chocolate, cookies, etc.;

Clean your mouth after every meal and do not give snacks or drinks before bedtime;

Use bottles to feed milk appropriately and try to avoid feeding at night.

The popular science content of this platform has been funded by the China Association for Science and Technology's Science Popularization Department's 2022 National Science Literacy Action Project "National Society Science Popularization Capacity Improvement Project-Rehabilitation Science Popularization Service Capacity Improvement Action Plan"

Author: Xie Shanshan, Ji Wenqiang, Xu Runjuan

Presiding Judges: Jiang Xinxiang, Yao Junyu

Unit: Stomatological Hospital Affiliated to Guilin Medical College, Oral Disease Prevention and Rehabilitation Committee of Chinese Rehabilitation Medicine Association