As with many things in life, well begun is half done! This is indeed true with regard to the health of the milk and permanent teeth. Children are not vertically challenged adults and need special care for their milk teeth and while permanent teeth are erupting.

Care of the Milk Teeth

The milk teeth are essential for a child for aesthetics, mastication and most importantly to preserve the space for the permanent teeth. Premature loss of a milk tooth can cause the permanent teeth to erupt crooked or crowded. Thinking that they will be lost anyway, so there is no need to care for them, is a sure sign of future dental problems!

Oral hygiene and diet

The gum pads of infants should be cleaned with the mother’s finger and a soft cloth. Once the teeth start erupting, brushing must be initiated. Children must be supervised and taught correct brushing techniques from an early age. Oral hygiene and diet guidelines explained here are even more important for children as their teeth are forming and newly erupted teeth are more prone to decay. Mothers must implement dietary guidelines in 'break boxes' as intermittent snacking of the wrong foods predisposes to dental decay.

Fluoride

Fluoride is an element known to combine with hydroxyapatite (the building block of enamel and dentine -- the hard tissues of the tooth) forming fluorapatite which makes the teeth resistant to decay. Professional fluoride application on newly erupted teeth prevents dental decay. Furthermore, the use of a fluoridated toothpaste is beneficial for children and adults alike.

Orthodontic treatment

Timely consultation with an orthodontist is essential to intercept developing malocclusions. Today we have a wide variety of treatment options to correct crooked teeth. In addition to traditional metal braces, we have tooth coloured braces and the latest clear aligners which align teeth invisibly!