Oral hygiene is very important for each age to prevent common oral diseases such as tooth decay, gingivitis, periodontitis, etc. Therefore, from the age of 1, most parents should pay attention to how to take care of their children’s teeth. This can prevent bacteria from attacking the child’s oral cavity from an early age, while creating favorable conditions for the child’s teeth to develop best later on. Join BIK International Dentistry to learn how to take care of teeth for 1-year-old children in the article below!
1. CAUSES OF DENTAL DISEASES IN CHILDREN
Oral diseases that children can suffer from can be caused by the following reasons:
1.1. Parents let their children eat too much fast food
Instead of using fresh foods like before, Vietnamese people are now gradually tending to use canned foods, fast foods, and bottled drinks containing substances that are harmful to the oral health of both children and adults.
1.2. Excess sugar in candy
Parents often indulge their children and feed them sweet candy. If not cleaned thoroughly, the remaining sugar in the mouth after eating will gradually accumulate into stubborn plaque that affects tooth enamel.
1.3. Bacteria in the mouth
Plaque on teeth is a favorable location for bacteria to grow and develop, from which they will secrete harmful acids and cause tooth decay. At the same time, plaque that is not removed for a long time will form tartar, causing gingivitis, periodontitis and even tooth loss if not treated promptly.
1.4. Parents’ subjectivity in taking care of children’s teeth
From the moment the baby starts to grow the first teeth, parents should pay attention to cleaning their child’s teeth after eating to avoid food plaque gradually accumulating and harming teeth and gums. Even when the baby has not yet grown teeth, parents should clean after drinking milk so that the baby gets used to the feeling of a clean mouth.
2. HOW TO CARE FOR 1-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN’S TEETH
Caring for 1-year-old children’s teeth is very important to help them develop their oral and digestive systems. However, the way to care for teeth will be different at each stage of the child’s development.
2.1. When teeth have not yet grown
During this period, mothers should use a soft cloth to clean the baby’s mouth. Mothers should wash their hands before doing so, dip the cloth in warm water or saline solution and gently wipe the baby’s gums and tongue. You should only clean your baby’s mouth once a day, preferably during bathing.
2.2. Teething Starts
When your baby has started teething, in addition to a soft cloth, you can use a tongue-shaped gauze pad worn on your finger to clean your baby’s teeth. Mothers still need to soak a soft towel or gauze in warm water or saline and then clean the surfaces of the teeth, gums and tongue.
At 1 year old, the baby has imitated adults’ actions, so mothers can slowly start to guide the baby to brush their teeth with a toothbrush. Note that you should choose a toothbrush with soft bristles and the right size so as not to damage the gums.
However, when you see that your baby is about to grow the next tooth, you should use a soft towel to clean the mouth without using a toothbrush because at this time the gums will be swollen and painful.
3. NOTES WHEN TAKING CARE OF 1-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN’S TEETH
– Absolutely do not use toothpaste for children under 2 years old because the fluoride content can be harmful to tooth enamel. Only use warm water or saline to clean your baby’s teeth in the early stages.
– Choose a soft-bristled toothbrush of suitable size. In addition, you can choose a product with eye-catching colors and shapes to stimulate your child’s interest.
– Create a habit for your baby to drink water after eating to remove food particles in the mouth to prevent tooth decay.
– Create a fun atmosphere for your baby to feel interested in cleaning their teeth.
4. SOME NOTES TO PROTECT YOUR BABY’S TEETH
– Limit foods that contain too much sugar to protect teeth from decay.
– Do not let your baby suck on a breast or bottle overnight to keep teeth from growing crookedly or growing misaligned.
– Encourage your baby to chew on both sides of the teeth to avoid misaligned jaws that cause facial imbalance.
– Limit chewing and feeding food to limit the spread of harmful bacteria from mother to baby. Avoid sharing chopsticks and spoons with other family members.
– Have your child’s teeth checked at the dentist every 6 months to detect any oral diseases and treat them promptly.
So how to care for teeth for 1-year-old children? depending on each stage, specifically when the baby has not yet grown teeth and when the first tooth has grown. At first, the baby may feel a bit uncomfortable and uncooperative, but parents need to be persistent to minimize the risk of oral diseases caused by bacteria.
