Hygiene, brushing, cavities … Baby teeth in 6 questions

If the date of arrival of the milk teeth varies from one child to the other, The order of teeth is significantly the same: first of all, the incisors will appear, then the premolars, the canines and finally, the molars. In total, 20 milk teeth will form inside the bones of the jaws, cross the gum and set up in the child’s mouth. And these milk teeth, you have to take care of it! Indeed, they serve as “guides” with permanent teeth and make it possible to ensure the space necessary for their thrust. The health of their definitive teeth therefore depends on that of milk teeth. So, we do not ignore care and brushes on the pretext that they will fall! When should you brush your baby’s teeth? Which toothpaste to choose? What are the right gestures to avoid cavities? At what age to take your child to the dentist? We take stock with experts.

Generally, the baby begins to teety around 6 months (but the dental thrust is very variable from one child to another). On average, a milk tooth grows each month: since the child will have 20 milk teeth before his 3 years (10 per arcade), the dental thrust lasts about 1 year and a half and two years. Before the tooth appears, its growth will cause inflammation of the gums. So that often, dental thrust is accompanied by certain symptoms that are sometimes difficult to support for the baby. Light to moderate fever, soft stools, red cheeks, abundant salivation, loss of appetite, sleep disturbance, crying and irritability … All these small inconveniences are not serious and can be relieved, but they must be monitored and consult a doctor in order to spread another cause, for example if the fever persists, if the child presents a diarrhea or if he presents vomiting.

“”It is advisable to brush baby’s teeth from its first milk tooth: you start by brushing the child’s teeth with small compresses soaked in water that we pass on each side. Then, around 9-12 months, we use a little finger in silicone with flexible pins or a first age toothbrush with flexible and soft hairs that we delicately rub by small circular movements, taking care to pass over the entire surface of the tooth. You also have to think about cleaning the gums“, Recommendes Dr. Jona Andersen, pediatric dentist.”Before two years, brushing is only done with water. From two years old, brushing can be done with the equivalent of a “pea” of toothpaste (whose fluorine content is suitable for babies)“, Advises the French Union for Oral Health (UFSBD). Make sure your child is hanging on the toothpaste and that he does not swallow it. At what rate? It is advisable to brush the baby’s teeth twice a day, for example after breakfast and before evening sunset (brushing is enough before bedtime before 1 year). Finally, since the carogenic bacteria (carases responsible) are transmitted from parents to the child: it is important to have each your own toothbrush, you should not share it with anyone!

From 2 years old, you can put a little hazelnut of toothpaste adapted to children. “”I recommend three toothpaste specially designed for children from 2 to 6 years old and whose fluorine content corresponds to the dosage recommended by dentists: Elmex child toothpaste, Curaprox for children and Zendium Kids“, Specifies Dr. Andersen. If fluorine supplementation is no longer suitable for infants less than 6 months old and is no longer recommended by the National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products (ANSM), it is better to opt for a toothpaste whose fluorine content is suitable for the age of the child” is 500 ppm or less before the age of 3 “.

Not treated, cavities on a milk tooth can infect the nerve and weaken the final tooth.

“”Like adults, a baby can have cavities, even at 9 months!“, Underlines the pediatric dentist. Note that carriers is a contagious bacterial disease by saliva and which can be transmitted by parents: carogenic bacteria transform the sugars present in breast or industrial milk, in food and even in drugs, in acids. And these acids attack the enamel of the tooth forming a caries. can, by contact, transmit it to her child.You do not share the glass or the cutlery with your child, you don’t take the same spoon to taste your hot dishes, and you don’t put the pacifier in your mouth before giving it …“, Advises Dr. Emilie Krai, dental surgeon. Also pay attention to what the child brings his mouth (toys or objects contaminated by the saliva of another family member). Also,”Do not let your child sleep with a bottle of milk (lactose contained in milk is a sugar that can promote the appearance of cavities) or juice: prolonged contact with teeth with sweet liquid (milk, juice, grenadine with water …) causes dental cavities“. Finally, it goes without saying, but poor oral hygiene (unsuitable or irregular brushes, lack of fluorine …) and a diet too rich in sugars increase the risk of cavities. However,”If the teeth are properly brushed, there is little chance that they are carved“, reassures the specialist. Consult a dentist from the moment the child has a dull, yellow, brown enamel or tasks on the teeth. But sometimes, cavities is invisible. Other symptoms can put the chip in your ear: if your child suffers from dental sensitivity, experiences pain with teeth or bad breath, it could be the sign of a caries. to fall, Don’t let a caries settle : A tooth of carved milk which is not treated could infect the final tooth which is forming under the gum.

The UFSBD advises to consult a dentist 6 months after the appearance of the first tooth of the child, between 1 year and 18 months. “”Before, if there is trauma or cavities“, Specifies Dr. Emilie Krarai. The latter will make a complete examination of your child’s dentition to see if it is healthy and solid, if there are no cavities and if the milk teeth are formed correctly … He can also clean his teeth, see if he has sufficient fluorine intakes and find out if you have any questions about the oral health of your baby (brushing techniques, treatment, The pacifier …).

In thumb and pacifier have an impact on teeth growth?

Inch, pacifier: what consequences on the jaw of children? And from what age should they be avoided? “”The thumb and pacifier have an impact on the position of the teeth, especially on the growth of the maxillary bone (pair of bones welded by the medium forming the upper jaw)“, Indicates at the outset Emilie Krai. Sucking her thumb or a pacifier thus promotes the creation of a space between the upper milk and the bottom teeth (this is called a” dental gap “) and this has an impact on the positioning of the definitive teeth (teeth in front” rabbit teeth “, spacing or dental overlap, overall …). There are orthodontic teat while improving their alignment.There is a lack of perspective compared to this alternative presented as more “physiological“” underlines Dr. Krai. Ask for the advice of a dentist before heading to this type of pacifier. Furthermore, the pacifier being difficult to abandon, it is advisable to use a single pacifier and remove it from the baby when the latter falls asleep, even if “the ideal being to stop the pacifier or the thumb as soon as possible And to make sure that the child was weaned before the age of 3, “recommends the French Orthodontics Federation in a 2014 article.”If the pacifier stops before 15 months, its effects on the malformation of the teeth are reversible at 65 %“, she continues. Indeed, at that age, all the baby’s teeth have not yet pushed and the child has a certain bone plasticity allowing to” catch up “the possible deformations.”If in doubt or difficulty, and if you think you have exhausted all the methods to help your child abandon the pacifier or the thumb, you should not hesitate to consult a doctor or an orthodontist“Concludes the French orthodontic federation.