MyChildHealth » Dental

Causes Of Bad Breath In Children

admin — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 06:54:18 +0000

Oral hygiene is very important for all. If you take care of your teeth, it is helpful for you to keep your heart in the pink. Bad breath is a well-known problem that affects persons belonging to any age group. Sometimes you must have had experience of talking to those whose mouths stink while they have a smile on their face. Such persons are advised to drink plenty of water at regular intervals to overcome this problem.

This problem not only affects adults but children also. Actually, children are the easy targets of this disease because children don’t think before eating things. They eat whatever they like at any time. Children even avoid brushing their teeth before going to bed. So if your child is also a victim of this disease, don’t create panic. It is not that this condition cannot be avoided. By taking some preventing steps, you can free your child from the clutches of bad breath.

It is your duty to educate your child regarding healthy habits of eating and cleaning. What you have to do is to advise him to take care of his mouth and teeth in an appropriate way. Ice creams, chocolates, candies, junk food and sweets are a center of attention for children. This food generates germs in their mouth and due to bacterial activities in mouth, nose and teeth, children face the problem of bad breath.

Once bacteria attack your child’s mouth, they tend to spread very fast and cause pain in teeth. Healthy habits and good exercise of teeth is very essential to counter the attack of bacteria. Before going to doctor you can try some homely treatments. You can give your child sugar free chewing gum to chew, or you can guide him to eat corn in good quantity.

There are many other causes of bad breath, which every individual must know. Allergy, cold, temperature, etc. can also cause bad breath. Some children have the habit of trapping some food particles at the backside of their teeth. If this food remains in their mouth for a considerable period, it creates a ground for bacteria to play their toxic role. Make sure that your child does brush his teeth before going to sleep. When our body is suffering with any disease or allergy, our mouth turns out to be dry and in a dry mouth suit bacteria very much.

Sometimes a small particle in the air gets stuck in the child’s nose. It creates infection and becomes the cause of bad breath. Sometimes our toothbrush is not of good quality. Toothbrush should be of soft nature for a child up to the age of 8 years and after this age, children should use medium natured toothbrush.

Drink water in good quantity and also guide your baby to do the same. Your child not only needs your care and love but also your wisdom too.

How To Deal With Children With Special Needs?

admin — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 11:31:07 +0000

Children who face developmental difficulties have to struggle with the condition when there is no proper correspondence between their mind and body. This condition also becomes a challenge for those who look after such children. A number of special need children may be violent because they don’t know the right method to express what they feel or need. Some may suffer from some hearing problem or may not be physically able to do all things – which a normal child can do with ease.

Whatever be the cause of problem, but as a parent, teacher or a caretaker it is very important that while dealing with these children, you take resort to lot of calmness and thoughtfulness. Some people are of the view that these special need children are not good for anything. This is a totally wrong view because these children deserve the same panorama of life like any normal child. He has the right to play, read, and enjoy the things or to do whatever he is capable of.

It’s not an easy task to care of a child with disability. Brain is the main running part of our body. It controls the things in an accurate manner. If it starts working erroneously, it is easier said than done to carry things in appropriate manner and to finish the tasks.

If you are dealing with a child of some physical disability, provide him a room where everything is well set. His chair, his table, his bed and cupboard should be organized according to his convenience. If the child is unable to listen, the teacher can make him sit closer to him. Parents and teachers should use sign language books to understand such children. Pictures and videos can also be used.

Music is the diet of mind and heart. Pleasant sounding selections can help special needs children to get emotional control to a considerable degree. Teachers and parents should highlight on equilibrium and smooth actions to teach self-regulation to such children. Many books and toys are easily accessible in the market that relate to different kinds of disabilities. It is enormously constructive if we educate parents and our society that these children can do significant things and can touch new heights if we cooperate with their special needs.

It is the prime duty of teachers and parents to lay great focus on the physical, social, mental and emotional growth of a special child. They should provide opportunities to regulate their muscles through special games designed for them. They should motivate a special needs child to increase his muscle control, emotional control and his strength by practicing yoga and gross motor activities.

It is a must for parents to always keep in touch with a specialist in case. God has given them responsibility of nurturing a special child. By using all-inclusive fitness programs, you can inculcate confidence in the special needs child and help him march forward in a constructive direction.

Early teething in babies

admin — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 04:25:34 +0000

A baby who is taking breast-feed is a matter of great concern for the mother. If this baby starts teething, he can become even trying for his loving mother, as babies often tend to bite hard on the nipples at the time of sucking milk. The mother usually experiences great pain and sometimes even suffers from sore and bleeding nipples. Let’s discuss some methods to be safe from such a situation.

Baby early teething signs

It is a common experience that babies tend to bite at the end of the feeding session. They become tired of sucking so resort to some other thing. You, as a mother, can judge as to when your baby has slowed down his sucking speed considerably. Then, you should detach your baby from the nipple by putting a finger in the baby’s mouth so that the baby does not feel any discomfort. The finger will open his mouth with ease. If you try to pull out your nipple you may get a very hard bite at it.

How to relief teething gums ?

Babies also tend to bite because they have sore gums. So, you should give teething rings or toys to your baby frequently so that he eases himself out. It’s better to keep the toys in the freezer because the sensation of cold actually relieves your baby of the pain from sore gums. Avoid, those rings that contain water as they may get punctured by our baby’s newly emerging teeth.

Ice creams, pieces of ice, Popsicles etc. produce cold sensation in the mouth of the baby and reduce the soreness as well as the tendency to bite. Actually, the gums become temporarily numbed and hence the soreness vanishes.

You can even rub the gums of your baby with a cold cloth. Make sure that the cloth is clean and hygienic. A frozen cloth is also a good alternative, as babies like to bite on this manageable thing. Mothers also like this method very much as it is quite manageable both for the mother as well as the baby.

You must also keep in mind that during teething babies tend to avoid taking feed frequently because the sore gums and the pain that results thereof grip their attention. This is not something unnatural or worrisome and you should not try to force your baby in taking feed.

Even if you are trying all the above methods and still your baby is not responding to them, you should allow time to heal the soreness of the gums. You should also resort to expressing your milk as the baby is not interested in it and you have to save yourself from engorgement of your breasts for the benefit and future nurturing of the baby.

Treatment with teething gels and tablets

Various teething gels like Dentinox and Bonjela are quite effective at easing the painful gums of your baby. Apply them before feeding your baby. Similarly, some tablets that readily dissolve in the baby’s mouth also help a lot in this regard.

What Is Baby Bottle Tooth Decay ?

admin — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 09:38:19 +0000

Infants and toddlers often fall prey to the baby bottle tooth decay. This type of tooth decay hurts a lot and is a cause of much discomfort to the baby. In its initial stage it appears in the form of cavities in the baby’s four front teeth. It’s just an indication as the cavities can be present elsewhere also. With the passage of time cavities start appearing near the gum line and eventually the teeth get decayed so much that they become brown in colour.

Problems arising out of tooth decay

Various emotional and physical problems confront the child. The child does not look pretty and handsome to look at (especially while smiling or laughing) and may develop inferiority complex or low self-esteem. Baby teeth also reserve the space for adult teeth. If some of these teeth get decayed, their place may be occupied by other baby teeth. Thus, no space would be left out for the adult teeth to grow.

Causes of baby bottle tooth decay

It usually occurs when the child falls asleep with the bottle in his mouth and the bottle contains any other liquid except water. This can also be caused if the mother and the baby sleep during feeding. Actually what happens is that when a baby sleeps with bottle in his mouth, his mouth contains a small amount of milk or feed for the whole night. This results in the overgrowth of bacteria that are naturally present on the plaque. The bacteria produce various types of acids as a result of their digestive system. These acids gradually erode your baby’s teeth. The sugar in the feed is the main culprit and it may also lead to gingivitis or periodontal disease.

Prevention and Treatment

Never allow your baby to sleep with the feed bottle in his mouth. If the baby insists a lot, fill his bottle with simple water. Else, don’t allow the baby to sleep for 20-25 minutes after his nighttime feed.

Also don’t allow the child to keep on sucking at the bottle all the daylong. This is only a bad habit and is not linked to the nourishment of the child.

Clean the gums of your baby with a clean cloth after every feed and brush his teeth daily with soft and quality baby tooth brush like Baby Banana Bendable Training Toothbrush.

You should get fluoride free toothpaste for this purpose, as it is safe for your baby. It’s best if you brush your baby’s teeth twice, once in the morning and second time before he falls asleep at night.

When your child grows and is able to brush his teeth, always use a toothpaste having fluoride. Even give supplements to your child like vitamin supplements, so that he gets his daily requirement of fluoride. Always consult your doctor before giving such supplements.

Don’t allow your child to stick to bottle feed even when he has grown up. You can use a sippy cup at that time. Don’t be careless as regards the dental health of your child and keep on paying regular visits to your dentist.

Baby Teething Problems and Remedies

admin — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 10:09:02 +0000

When do Babies Start Teething?

Teething is a natural process that results in the sequential growth of the infant’s teeth. Teething can start at an early age of three months or may even take at least one year to start. The baby or milk or deciduous teeth, as they are differently called, are 20 in number. A time span of many years may pass before all these 20 teeth show up. These teeth are also called as cutting teeth because they cut their way through the soft gums of the baby.

Signs symptoms of teething

If your baby is often irritable, loses appetite, chews different objects, has swollen gums, produces excessive saliva, has high body temperature or earache and nappy rash, it he may be undergoing teething. These symptoms start to appear approximately at the age of six months.

While teething is going on, you will find your baby gnawing at almost everything it can get hold of. Those objects that are so small that can be swallowed or are breakable are very dangerous because they can lead to chocking of your baby’s throat. Certain toys for babies and teething rings are designed in a special way so that they massage the baby’s gums, while it is chewing them.

Infant teething problems and remedies to Relief Pain?

Infant teething requires proper care and help. You can also administer certain medicines to your baby, if there are obvious symptoms of pain. Baby Oragel that contains benzocaine is considered very safe in such cases. Other safe anti-inflammatory and pain-relief medicines can also be given to your baby to relieve it from annoying pain. Some infants are in the habit of gnawing on a washcloth that is cool. This gives relief to them. Similarly, certain teething rings that can be frozen also help calm your baby. You can also massage the soft gums of your baby with your finger to soothe it. Take care to keep your hands clean before doing this. In the beginning, your baby may not relish this massage, but after a while it will feel much comfortable.

Dental hygiene is important

Pediatric dentist advise that a baby’s teeth should be brushed soon after they become visible. This, of course should be done with a specially soft tooth brush. You should not wait till all the teeth come out and then resort to brushing. This delay may also spoil your baby’s teeth and lead to baby bottle tooth decay. You should not use toothpaste for this type of brushing.

Children Teeth Grinding (Bruxism) while Sleeping at Night

admin — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 16:14:35 +0000

Teeth grinding in kids is known as bruxism. It happens when children clench their upper and lower teeth, rubbing them each other. Generally kids grind their teeth during sleep and are not aware of what they do.

Teeth Grinding Causes ?

It is not known that why some children start grinding their teeth and some children are not. There are many studies that it could be based on the fact that the sets of upper and lower teeth do not fit together comfortably because of the fact that the children’s teeth and jaws grow in phases to unpleasant sensations in the area. The natural reaction of the child is to grind their teeth to calm, often this practice later develops as a habit. It was also revealed that both children and adults grind their teeth when they are scared in any way or as a response to facial pain as a children’s ear pain or illness. It is also seen that hyperactive children have developed bruxism.

Recent studies suggest that sleep disorders may be a cause for bruxism in children as well as a number of other problems such as bed-wetting, drooling and sleep-talking. Interruptions in the rapid eye movement (REM) patterns by dehydration during sleep may be the underlying cause of many of these problems. The dentist can advise you more on this topic.

Effects of Bruxism

Children usually experience no ill effects from grinding their teeth. Even when their milk teeth show wear it usually does not cause pain or damage, if it does carry is heavier, or if your child has already lost their milk teeth, then it is advisable that the treatment by your dentist as dental problems such as tooth infection can occur. In most cases of teeth grinding in children they will usually develop the problem.

Bruxism Treatment

While the problems are most likely gone, you can try some tips to help the child stop grinding their teeth in the meantime. Your dentist would be the best source of advice, and in a position to ensure that there are no problems regarding the alignment of the teeth of the child.

Teeth Grinding Guard

The most common solution is usually a recommendation from the mouth guard. Wear a mouth guard at night will prevent the child from grinding their teeth and night, and has a very high success rate in reducing the habit. But, your child may be uncomfortable wearing a mouth guard, and for this reason, it is advisable to engage with other treatment options. In many cases, have shown hypnosis a successful way to people of all age groups from the habit of teeth grinding.

Bruxism due to Stress

In children whose grinding appears to be to stress or anxiety, it is extremely important to the underlying cause of these feelings. Try to relax, as your child before they sleep, like a warm bath and a massage of the jaw. These methods help to ensure that your child has a deep, restful and uninterrupted sleep.

The most important thing is that you are not worried about a child grinding, as it very often. If your child already has their adult teeth, then it’s more of a problem, but there are many options available to the Council by your dentist.

Baby Teething Help

admin — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 10:48:29 +0000

When do baby teeth ?

All of us have teeth, but the age at which we get first tooth or milk tooth, is not the same for all. Some children get their first tooth by the age of 4 months while others may not get one till one year. Both types of children are normal, provided they are healthy and active otherwise. Napoleon and Julius Ceaser were known to be born with a tooth. You cannot judge a child as being extra bright for teething early, nor can you define one as backward dust because he has teethed late. An average child gets the first tooth around the seventh month. However, the child very often tends to start drooling, biting and getting irritable, months before this.

Baby Teething Order Chart Diagram as per Age

Just look at the baby teething chart given here. The first teeth to appear are the lower two front teeth (central incisors) by approximately 7 months, the upper two central incisors by about the 9th month and the upper two lateral incisors erupt by about 1 year. So by one year, the child has 6 teeth. This is followed by a pause. Then the lower 2 lateral incisors come by 15 months. This is followed by the 4 first molars by the end of one-and-half-years. Morals appear by the end of 2 years. Canines appear by two-and-a-half years.

Baby Teeth Problems, Signs & Symptoms

The infant sees and explores the world with his mouth. The eruption of teeth is a new experience for him. Since the infant has a tendency to put all objects he sees into the mouth, this can result in inflammation of the gums, since the gums may get cut between the teeth and other hard objects.

Children tend to put things in their mouth, makes them feel good. As a result of this they often get infections of the digestive tract which results loss of appetite and loose motions. This is the most common reason why loose motions are always associated by our mothers and grandmothers with teething. Teething can lead to intermittent localized discomfort in the area of an erupting tooth and subsequent irritability. Low grade fevers may be associated with teething, but this has not been established. Many children go through teething without any apparent problem, whereas others have significant discomfort.

Some mothers get very anxious over the child’s putting things in her own mouth. No amount of stopping can help. You can give your child clean plastic, silicon or rubber teethers. Quality of the baby teethers must be excellent to avoid any problem to your little one. You can also give carrots for your child to chew upon. However, take care to see that the child does not bite off a part of the carrot or rubber teether and get choked by it. It must be remembered that for infant, the mouth is window to the world. Infants put anything that they fancy into their mouths. This is because one of the first experiences of the infant is sucking.

One of the best quality and best seller teether is Vulli Sophie the Giraffe Teether, Brown/ White.

Baby’s Permanent Teeth

These appear by 6 years. The baby loses the milk teeth in the same order as they have appeared. The permanent teeth push upwards from underneath and thus destroys the roots of the milk teeth. These milk teeth then loosen and fall off, giving place to the permanent teeth. Substitution of milk teeth is complete around 12-14 year. For reference, look at the infant teething chart given above. The wisdom teeth come later and sometimes never. These teeth have jagged edges when they appear which later wear down to a smooth finish.

Fluoride is good for Kid’s Teeth

Small amounts of fluoride are definitely good for kid’s teeth. Fluorinated tooth pastes are ideal. However, fluoride in excess can cause damage to tooth enamel.

Kids Dental Hygiene

admin — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 12:24:04 +0000

Parents should always encourage children for regular teeth cleaning. Normally all children do not like brushing as they feel it is a boring unnecessary daily task. But it is a very good habit for children to properly brush the teeth twice daily for healthy and shiny teeth.

Some good dental care habits for children

The children should develop good oral practices with early age. It is also important that they break the bad habits like going to the bed with a bottle. It is an extremely bad practice drinking any fluid which has sugar in it, can cause the very fast dental decomposition. The sugar substances react on the teeth throughout the night, which can cause the dental decomposition immediately.

Another practice which is bad, the sucking thumb or the practice of suction of finger. Parents should try to remove this practice of child as it causes uneven teeth development and infection in gums.

Toothpaste is mostly sweet in taste, so children like its taste and start swallowing it. Parents should watch their children that they don’t swallow the toothpaste.

Teaching children about dental hygiene

It is important for children to brush the teeth twice daily,especially before going to bed in the night. This good habit should be developed in children at early age, as this is very important for the protection of teeth from unnecessary cavity or plaque.

Choose small, pea size, toothbrush with very soft bristles.

It is also very important that you brush the teeth of your child till the age they can brush himself properly.

Dental checkup with doctor should be regular.

Give children water after sweet syrups

Children refuse to take any medicine which is unpleasant in taste. That is why flavored and sweet syrups are given to them after medicines.
You must make your child drink a few sips of water, after giving any sweet syrup.

If sugar is left in the mouth it can eat away the enamel of the teeth and damage them. If possible, ask your child to brush the after having sweets.

Kids Dental Care Facts

admin — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 11:21:44 +0000

What are dental cavities?

Cavities are lesions on the teeth. To put it in simple terms, they are holes on the teeth. Technically they are known as dental caries.

What is plaque and tartar?

Plaque is a sticky white film that is continuously formed on everybody’s teeth. It consists of food particles, bacteria etc. It is the main cause of all dental diseases. If allowed to remain on teeth, it hardens to form tartar (calculus).

How are cavities formed?

The sugar that we eat gets stuck on the surface of teeth in the form of plaque. There it degenerates by the action of bacteria and in this process acids are released. They attack tooth enamel and make it soft. After many such attacks the enamel completely breaks down and a small cavity is formed. This acts as a focus for food accumulation and a vicious circle is formed. Ultimately it results in a full-fledged cavity.

Why some cavities are is the painless in the initial stages?

Enamel is a non-living tissue. It is the hardest substance in the human body. The tissue inside the enamel is dentin which is living. Therefore, in the initial stages dental caries cause no pain. When the caries involve dentin there is sensitivity to hot and cold foos.

As the caries proceed the sensitivity increases. Finally, when the caries the nerve of the tooth, there is severe pain. If the infection spreads from the tooth into the surrounding bone then there is a swelling, along with pain.

Which is the best time for doing a filling?

The tooth can best be filled when the cavity is not very deep. If the caries is limited to the dentin then it can be filled. In case the cavity becomes very deep. i.e. if it involves the nerve (plup) of the tooth then it cannot be filled. Sometime, the cavity may not be very, deep, but in case it is very broad, then too it cannot be filled. In such cases it has to be capped.

Do chocolates cause cavities?

An foodstuff which contains a large amount of sugar can cause cavities. Sweets, chocolates, candies, biscuits etc. have a lot of sugar in them. Furthermore, they are very sticky and accumulate on the tooth surfaces. They therefore cause cavities. It is the local action of these sugary foodstuffs that cause, cavities if the sugars were to go directly into the stomach then there would be no cavities.

Nowadays, the consumption of sugary foodstuffs has increased. An isolated bout of indulgence in sweets is of no consequence. It is repeated attacks of sweets on the tooth surface that cause cavities.

How can this be controlled?

As pointed out before, if sugars repeatedly get stuck on the tooth surface it leads to cavities, sugars must not be allowed to stick on the tooth surface.

Parents must not use sweets as an inducement for a child to have his dinner or do his homework or for proper behavior or to put a child to sleep. The most damage is caused by children sucking sweets during sleep.

What is a childhood without chocolates?

Certainly childhood would not be eaten sweets. But they must be eaten sensibly and within limits. Sweets should be eaten for fun and not given as a bribe or as a reward. A child’s toothache is no fun for the parents either. Love can conquer everything except, possibly, a toothache.

Children would still insist on eating sweets.

With proper care it is possible to eat sweets and free from dental proper too. After sweets are eaten, parents must see to it that children eat some raw, fibrous fruits or vegetables e.g. carrots, cucumber, apples. These clean the teeth and prevent sugars from sticking on them. Sweets must be given before meals and not be consumed between meals. It must be remembered that it is the local action of sugars that causes the problem. Sugary foodstuffs must not be allowed to stick to the tooth surfaces.

How many times a day must one brush the teeth?

You must brush your teeth after every meal. Brushing at night is more important than in the morning. When we have food in the evening and we don’t brush before retiring then the bacteria have a full 8-10 hours to attack the enamel and cause cavities. Brushing before retiring is a must.

How often must you change the brush?

The brush must be changed as soon as its bristles become frayed. Usually it takes 3-4 mouths. A toothbrush with frayed bristles has reduced cleaning efficiency and tit also acts as a source of bacteria. Change the brush as soon as its bristles start spreading.

What are other ways to prevent cavities ?

Brushing has to be supplemented with flossing. With floss the interdental are is cleaned very well. Fluoride mouthwashes are available. The child must rinse his mouth with such a mouthwash before retiring.

Fluoride strengthens the enamel and makes it resistant to acid attack.

Nowadays, topical fluoride applications are done. A solution of fluoride is applied on the child’s teeth. This strengthens the enamel. It has to be done by a dental surgeon. It is done every six months till the age of 12 and is very helpful in reducing cavities.

Pit and fissure sealants are available. These seal small irregularities on the biting surface of the teeth, where most of the cavities begin. It prevents food and plaque accumulation and hence cavities. This can be done only by a dental surgeon.

Regular professional checkups are also very important. Through regular check-ups a dental surgeon can detect new cavities which are very small and treat them at an early stage when treatment is simple and inexpensive. Regular professional check-ups go a long way in preventing dental disease.

Why are milk teeth important? After all they are going to fall.

Milk teeth are going to fall only when their purpose has been served. The front teeth start falling at the age of six years. The grinders fall at about the age of twelve. If a milk tooth is extracted before the permanent one is ready to take its place then it causes problem. It leads to deficient growth of the jaws. Sometimes the skin and bone close over the permanent tooth and this retards its eruption. Milk teeth are as important as permanent teeth.

My child refuses to brush his teeth.

In case the child is very small, the parents must brush the child’s teeth. In case the child doses not allow the use of a brush then his teeth must be cleaned with a Turkish towel with a little toothpaste on it.
It is best that the child brushes his teeth immediately after dinner before he settles down in front of the T.V. Brushing must not be postponed till the child starts feeling sleepy. Attempts to make a child brush his teeth when he is feeling sleepy are not very successful. Either he will not brush, he will not brush them properly.