PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY (PEDODONTIC)

MILK TEETH;

• Provides chewing function.
• Is important for digestive function.
• Contributes to growth and development.
• It acts as a space saver for the permanent teeth that will replace them.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN DILIMY TEETH ARE EMERGING, WHAT SHOULD BE DONE?

What Happens When Teeth Come Out?

Symptoms of teething may appear two to three months before the teeth themselves. These symptoms vary from child to child, and opinions about what they actually are and how painful they cause also vary from doctor to doctor. However, it is generally accepted that a teething baby may experience the following.
Drooling: Many babies drool starting from two and a half to three months of age. Teething increases this in some babies more than others.
Redness on the chin or face: It is not surprising that in a baby who drools a lot, redness or cracks may occur on the skin due to the irritation caused by constant saliva contact on the chin and around the mouth. To prevent this, gently wipe off the drool periodically throughout the day, and place a towel under the bed sheet to absorb the drool while your baby sleeps. When the skin becomes dry, keep that area constantly moist with a soft skin cream.
Mild cough: Excessive saliva may cause the baby to choke and cough from time to time. If your baby does not show symptoms of cold, flu or allergy, there is nothing to worry about. It is common for babies to continue coughing to attract attention or to enrich their vocal repertoire.
Bite: In this case, a bite is not a sign of hostility. A teething baby tries to relieve his gums by putting anything he can get into his mouth, be it his own hand, his mother's breast, or a stranger's finger.
Pain: Under the pressure of an emerging tooth, inflammation develops in the gums. While this situation may cause unbearable pain in some babies, it may not cause any problems in others. The first teeth and molars are the teeth that cause the most trouble when they come out.
Restlessness: As inflammation increases And as the sharp tooth approaches the surface, the pain in the baby's gums may become constant. Like anyone with chronic pain, he can be distressed and drift away from his normal self. This restlessness can sometimes last for weeks.
Refusal to feed: A teething baby may refuse to feed. A baby who has started eating solid foods may lose interest in these foods for a while. But this shouldn't worry you. Because your baby gets the necessary nutrients from liquid foods and his appetite will return after his teeth erupt.
Diarrhea: Its relevance to teething is very doubtful. Some mothers say that their babies have diarrhea every time they teethe. Some doctors believe there is a correlation between teething and bowel movements, possibly due to increased salivation. Some doctors do not want to accept that there is such a relationship; Perhaps they act this way because mothers are afraid that important gastrointestinal disorders may be overlooked by attributing every diarrhea to teething. Be aware that your baby's stool may be watery during teething, but be sure to report diarrhea that lasts longer than two defecations to your doctor.
Fever: Fever, just like diarrhea, is a symptom that doctors are hesitant about being related to teething. A fever below 38°C may accompany teething due to swelling of the gums. However, if your baby has a fever, do the same as you do at other times and inform your doctor if it does not decrease in two days.
Insomnia:Even babies who sleep soundly throughout the night may start to wake up at night while teething. In this case, do not try to feed him immediately. Instead, let him go back to sleep on his own. Waking up at night, like other problems, is more common when the first teeth and molars are emerging.
Gum Hematoma: Sometimes an emerging tooth can cause bleeding in the gums, which can cause bleeding in the gums. It appears as a bluish stain. There is no need to worry about these hematomas and they will resolve on their own without requiring medical intervention. Cold compress can reduce pain and speed up healing.
Ear Pulling, Cheek Scratching: On the gums Pain may be reflected in the ear and cheek along the nerve pathways. It should not be forgotten that babies pull their ears when they have an ear infection. Even if your baby is teething, consult your doctor if you suspect an ear infection.

What to Do When Teeth Are Emerging?
There are dozens of tried and tested treatment methods. Some work, some don't. You can also try some of the following.

• Giving Something to Chew: The aim here is to relieve the pressure on the gums rather than its nutritional value. Therefore, if the chewed thing is cold, its benefit increases. A frozen donut, a cold banana or carrot, a piece of ice wrapped in cheesecloth, a rubber dental ring. Whatever you give your baby to chew, be sure to be near it and ensure that it is in a sitting position.
• Things That Can Scratch Its Teeth: Some babies may object due to the initial pain. But after a while, the pain gives way to relief.
• Cold Drinks:Give your baby a bottle of cold water. If he refuses the bottle, try giving him a cup. In this way, you will meet your baby's water needs and replace the fluid he lost due to diarrhea or increased salivation.
• Cold Foods: Refrigerated peach puree, apple puree, yoghurt are better for your baby than foods at room temperature. It may be tempting.
• Something to Relieve the Pain: If nothing else works, paracetamol will make your job easier. Consult your doctor for dosage adjustment. Do not apply anything else to your baby's gums unless your doctor recommends it. This includes alcoholic beverages.

ORAL CARE IN CHILDREN

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR INSTALLING TOOTH BRUSHING HABITS IN YOUR BABY AND CHILDREN:

While brushing his teeth, brush your own teeth with a separate toothbrush.
Buy him a few toothbrushes. Let these brushes be of different colors and have different comic book heroes. Have him choose a different brush each time. This choice will increase his/her desire and motivation to brush his teeth. Make sure there is a tooth brushing board at home. and make a mark on the board after each brushing.
Let him brush his own teeth first, then you brush his teeth, and he brushes yours.
Place an hourglass in the bathroom and keep time by turning the hourglass upside down every time you brush. Approximately 2 minutes of tooth brushing will be sufficient.
Remember that your baby or child has no knowledge about tooth decay. Feed him sticky candy, chocolate or biscuits and show him in the mirror how it sticks to his teeth. Then, have her teeth brushed and show her in the mirror how beautiful, clean and white her teeth are. In addition, taking your child to the dentist after the first milk tooth appears (6-9 months) will improve your child's oral hygiene. It will allow you to get more detailed information about. Having the pediatric dentist brush your child's teeth during regular dental check-ups afterwards or seeing other children brushing their teeth in the clinic environment will definitely increase his motivation.
It should not be forgotten that regular tooth brushing will play a big role in preventing your child's dental problems that may occur in the future.

PROTECTIVE PRACTICES FOR CHILDREN