Tiny Teeth

A baby’s first smile is always a cherished moment, and as a baby’s first teeth start to appear, the smile only gets cuter. But how can you keep that smile healthy?
The first baby teeth usually appear when the baby is around six months old. The process differs from one baby to another; it may be smooth for some but painful for others. Dr. Osama El Shehawy, M.D.S., assistant lecturer in the Pedodontics department at the Faculty of Oral and Dental Medicine at CairoUniversity, says that teeth should generally be left to
come out on their own except in some cases when there might be problems. For example, the baby’s tooth might have to be cut through if an eruption cyst starts forming on the gum, or if a bluish swelling is observed.
As soon as the baby’s first teeth come out, Dr. El Shehawy advises mothers to start getting into the habit of cleaning them. “You can use a small toothbrush or a piece of gauze, but without adding toothpaste at this stage, and gently wipe their teeth.” The ideal time to clean your baby’s teeth is right before he goes to sleep at night when the production of saliva, which is a natural cleanser, slows down. At the age of two, toothpaste can be introduced and Dr. El Shehawy advises using children’s toothpaste because of the reduced fluoride content. “Don’t put a full spread of toothpaste on the brush but a small amount, the size of a pea, up until the age of four,” he explains. In the beginning you should help your child with brushing his teeth to make sure that you reach the places that are difficult for him.
So what are the main causes of early tooth decay in children? The first tooth decay the baby might suffer from is called ‘nursing bottle tooth decay’, which is a result of mothers continuing to give milk to their babies throughout the night. The continuous presence of milk on their teeth causes decay. Another major cause of dental decay is the excessive use of honey and sugar, adds Dr. El Shehawy. “It is not only the amount of sugar in foods that is the issue but, how long it stays on the teeth,” explains Dr. El Shehawy. Sugary juices and soda drinks are very harmful for the teeth. Avoid the temptation of pacifying your baby by giving him sugary drinks in a bottle. Lollipops, sticky sweets, potato chips and other starchy snack foods that stick to the teeth are all major offenders as well. Even ‘healthy’ foods such as breads, cereals and fruits contain sugar or starch that can cause tooth decay. Therefore, brushing your child’s teeth is essential after all meals regardless of whether you perceive this food as healthy or not.
A very common mistake made by parents is to ignore the importance of primary teeth. “Most parents come to me thinking that primary teeth are not important as they will be replaced by permanent teeth.” However, primary teeth play two important functions: they enable the child to eat and talk properly, and they hold the space for the permanent teeth that are going to appear. Thus, treating tooth decay, if it occurs, is of utmost importance at this stage to prevent losing a tooth. Losing a tooth at this stage means that the remaining teeth will space out to take its place, and when the permanent one comes out there will be no room for it. Over-crowding of the teeth will occur. “If a tooth cannot be saved and has to be removed it is very important that a child have a space maintainer put in place to save the empty place,” adds Dr. El-Shehawy.
An overall nutritious diet promotes healthy teeth, making them stronger and more resistant to tooth decay. Several nutrients are important to promote the healthy development of teeth and the building of jawbones to help keep teeth in place. These include phosphorus, vitamin D, and of course calcium. Calcium-rich cheeses in particular have two advantages. They are very nutritious, and also stimulate the flow of saliva and neutralize mouth acids. Dr. El Shehawy assures parents that in Egypt we are lucky that the water supply is fortified with fluoride, and that extra fluoride supplements are unnecessary except in cases of severe decaying or in the case of handicapped children who cannot take care of their teeth.
So, start taking care of those first teeth by keeping them extra clean, and make sure that your children follow a nutritious diet. Remember that a healthy smile is only healthy with healthy teeth!