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Child Teething
Generally teething starts at around six months. These primary milk teeth are important as they guide the adult teeth to grow in correct positions. There is no standard time for the baby's teeth to erupt. It would be interesting for you to know that both Julius Caeser and Napolean were born with teeth. If a baby is born with a tooth that should be removed. With the first tooth at six months, the molars are there by 2 ½ years and teething finishes with wisdom teeth coming in at age 20 or thereabout.
Baby would be irritable when a tooth erupts. He will generally have fever, vomiting and even diarrhoea. The gums will be red and swollen. The tooth can be felt through the gum. His cheeks may also be red and he is likely to drool, excessively. Other symptoms of teething are increased thumb sucking, gum rubbing, poor appetite and wakefulness. A small cooled carrot or a piece of hard toast may be given to the baby to chew on. This will make teething less painful. Massage his painful gums with finger tips.
Baby teeth begin to fall out when he is 5 to 6 years of age. The first permanent teeth also start appearing at 6 years of age. Breasts fed generally have healthier teeth because of the nature of mothers milk and the natural rinsing action during breast feeding.
For good dental health, it is important that the child eats right foods in a right manner. By giving sweet foods in between meals increases the exposure of teeth to harmful acids. Give him sweet foods at the end of a meal instead. Do not give him sticky candy. Cheese given at the end of a meal makes saliva alkaline which counteracts the acid that crodes teeth. Eating candy for hours is bad. Have a unique mouth cleansing property. They promote the flow of saliva in the mouth. Use of yogurt, because of its helpful bacteria, is specially beneficial for the teeth. Clove oil has been used for centuries to sooth a toothache.
Avoid giving milk or juice in a bottle at bed time. During sleep less saliva is produced and bacteria can develop in the mouth, producing decay acids that erode the protective enamel of the teeth and the mouth can have rotten teeth as early as three years old. Drinking substantial amounts of sweet fruit juice is another cause of early tooth problems.
It has been established that the crowns of all the baby teeth are formed in the gums before birth. These are, therefore, made from what the mother eats during her pregnancy. Milk and cheese, citrus, tomatoes, cabbage and some sunshine taken by the pregnant mother will help in healthy teething. The baby's permanent teeth are being formed within a few months after birth. Then he is getting plenty of vitamins. Let his food then fortified with vitamins C and D.
Fluoride in the water makes stronger teeth. Principal cause of tooth decay is lactic acid manufactured by bacteria that live on sugars and starches. Sugar of the fruits have a brushing action on the teeth.
Once the molars are through, the child could be encouraged and trained to use a soft small tooth brush for care and protection of the teeth.
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