by Dr Shweta Verma senior Dentist
Milk teeth starts erupting when the baby is around 6 months old . All the Deciduous teeth (milk teeth) erupts completely till 2 ½-3 years of age. Many people assumes that cavities or hygiene of milk teeth is not much importance as they will shed off eventually but milk teeth are really important for the overall health of the child .
Here are some common problems associated with milk teeth :
Precautions and treatment;
In many cases, a loose tooth will heal without treatment. Injured teeth that are very loose may need to be removed. Dentist will further guide about space maintainers ,if necessary, for the proper positional eruption of permanent teeth.
Children with broken teeth should see a dentist promptly. The dentist will determine if the tooth’s nerves or blood vessels could be damaged. Treatment may include smoothing the rough edges of the tooth, repairing it with a tooth-colored resin material, leaving the tooth in place, or removing it.
If the child is still sucking their thumb even when their permanent teeth begin to come in, the habit can cause a wide range of other problems , affecting teeth alignment and the shape of roof of the mouth. In that case, dentist can provide a habit breaking appliances depending on the severity of habit and its effects.
Teeth grinding is a common condition among school-aged children. It develops because their top teeth aren’t aligned with their bottom teeth. Another reason could be in response to pain — just as you rub a sore muscle, like teething or an earache. It can also be a sign that a kid is experiencing stress or hyperactivity. Night guards can help keep your child from grinding their teeth as they sleep.
Delaying in shedding of milk teeth / delayed eruption of permanent teeth/ presence of both milk and permanent teeth at the same site. In these cases, visit your dentist to rule out the possible cause and treatment related to that.
When is the right time for orthodontic braces or wiring of teeth ,in cases of crowding or mal-aligned teeth in children?
The best age for an orthodontic assessment of children is around 8-10 year of age, it helps to avoid progressive dental issues, helps in keeping better oral hygiene and accordingly braces can be planned after 1-5 years.
For adults , orthodontic treatment can be done at any age.
Oral hygiene tips for children
The writer is Dr Shweta Verma, Senior Dentist, AIIMS.
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