Table of ContentsOral Health of Infants and ChildrenBirth to 6 months6 to 12 months12 to 18 months18 months to 5 yearsHow to prevent oral injuries and manage dental emergenciesFrom the birth to 6 months6 – 8 monthsAge 4-10Ways to relieve children's anxiety in the hospitalOral health of infants and childrenFrom birth to 6 months of ageIt is important to take care of teeth and dental health (oral) of your child from birth. Adopting healthy habits can prevent or reduce tooth decay (cavities) in infants and children. Always clean your baby's gums after feeding: Cradle your baby with one arm Wrap a damp washcloth around the index finger of your free hand Gently massage the gum tissue Do not put your baby to bed with a bottle, place - it in his mouth or let your baby feed “as much as he wants”. Infants normally start teething between four and six months of age. Their gums may be red and swollen and the flow of saliva may increase. To alleviate these symptoms, give your baby a clean teething ring or a cold, damp washcloth. Cold temperatures are soothing, so you may want to cool the teether. Remember that tooth decay is a communicable infectious disease. Avoid testing the temperature of the bottle with your mouth, sharing utensils (e.g. spoons), or cleaning a pacifier or bottle nipple by putting it in your mouth. These practices can help stop the transmission of bacteria that causes tooth decay (cavities). Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay Age 6 to 12 months Between the ages of six and eight months, your baby will have their first tooth. It is important to take care of your teeth from the start. Adopting healthy habits can prevent or reduce tooth decay (cavities) in infants and children. Continue to clean your baby's gums after feeding. Once the tooth appears, start using a soft-bristled child's toothbrush, without toothpaste, in addition to massaging the gum tissue. To relieve teething symptoms, give your infant a clean teething ring or a cold, damp washcloth. Cold temperatures are soothing, so you may want to cool the teether. Start weaning your baby off the bottle as he begins to eat more solid foods and drinks from a cup. Little by little, start offering a cup of water or juice. Between 12 and 14 months, most children can drink from a cup. Promote healthy habits now by limiting the frequency and quantity of sugary drinks and foods you give your child. Don't let your baby walk around with his bottle. Familiarize yourself with the normal appearance of your child's gums and teeth. Periodically, lift your child's lips to check for suspicious small white or brown spots on their teeth. If you see these white or brown spots, which may indicate tooth decay (cavities), make an appointment with your dentist immediately. Schedule your child's first dentist appointment. Your child should have an exam by a dentist before their first birthday or within 6 months after the first tooth appears. If your drinking water is not fluoridated, talk to your pediatrician about fluoride supplements for infants. Remember that tooth decay is an infectious disease. communicable disease. Avoid testing the temperature of the bottle with your mouth, sharingutensils (e.g. spoons) or cleaning a pacifier or bottle nipple by putting it in your mouth. These practices can help stop the transmission of bacteria that causes tooth decay (cavities). 12 to 18 months At age 1, your child should have an oral exam by a dentist. Continue to brush your child's teeth twice a day with regular soap. water Periodically, lift your child's lips to check for small, suspicious white or brown spots on their teeth. If you see these white or brown spots, which may indicate tooth decay (cavities), make an appointment with your dentist immediately. If your child has not seen a dentist for their first dental exam, make an appointment. Continue to take steps to prevent passing cavity-causing germs to your child. 18 months to 5 years By 30 months of age, all of the primary (first) teeth should have come into the mouth. By age 3, most toddlers should have stopped using a pacifier and/or thumb sucking. At age 2, begin brushing with a small, pea-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste (small smear). Teach your child to spit out toothpaste. Observe to make sure your child does not swallow the toothpaste. Start teaching your child to brush their teeth. In general, children will need help brushing their teeth until they have the hand coordination needed to clean their teeth effectively. Children should be able to brush their teeth unsupervised by around age six or seven. Continue to lift your child's lip regularly to check for small, suspicious white or brown spots on their teeth. If you see these white or brown spots, which may indicate tooth decay (cavities), make an appointment with your dentist immediately. Take your child to their dentist for a regular check-up. Talk with your dentist if your child is older. 3 and regularly sucks a pacifier or fingers or thumb. Fluoride protects teeth from tooth decay (cavities) and helps heal early cavities. Fluoride is present in drinking water in many cities. Regular and frequent exposure to low doses of fluoride is the best way to protect against tooth decay. When fluoride is added to community drinking water, it provides an effective, inexpensive and safe way to reduce tooth decay. To find out if your public drinking water system is fluoridated, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's website, My Water's Fluoride. When there is no optimal fluoride in the water, fluoride drops, fluoride tablets, or a fluoride rinse may be given to your child. Be sure to talk to your dentist or pediatrician about fluoride supplements. It's up to you to ensure that your child grows up with good, strong teeth. Injury Prevention Injuries to the head, face and mouth are common among infants and children. Infants and toddlers will fall while crawling or walking, run into furniture or a wall while running. Protect your child from trauma and facial injuries by protecting your environment and practicing safety habits. How to prevent oral injuries and manage dental emergencies From birth to 6 months When changing your baby or when he is in high places, protect him with one hand. Do not use a baby walker at any age. Always use a safety seat when traveling by car. Make sure it is installed and used correctly at all times. Age 6 to 8 months Protect your baby fromhand when in high places and when changing diapers. Do not use a baby walker at any age. Always use a safety seat when traveling in a car. Make sure it is installed and used correctly at all times. Install gates at the top and bottom of stairs and safety devices on windows. Closely supervise your child when climbing stairs. Keep pet food and dishes out of reach of children. Use safety locks on cabinets. Provide your child's caregivers with emergency phone numbers, including your dentist's number. Make sure caregivers are familiar with handling oral health emergencies. Age 4 to 10 years Make sure your child wears a seat belt when driving or in a car. Make sure your child wears a helmet when riding a bike, skateboard, or in-line skates. Make sure your child wears appropriate protective equipment for play and sport (i.e. mouth guard, face protector, helmet) when participating in sports or activities that could cause injury to the mouth. Adolescence Make sure your child wears a seat belt when driving or in a car. If your teen drives, insist that their passengers also wear seat belts. Obey the speed limit. Make sure your child wears a helmet when riding a bicycle, skateboard, in-line skates, motorcycle, or all-terrain vehicle (ATV). Make sure your child wears appropriate protective equipment for play and sports, including mouth guards. Ways to Relieve Hospital AnxietyChildrenFor patients of any age, a trip to the hospital can be uncomfortable. However, for pediatric patients, it can be particularly traumatic. In addition to the reason for their visit, which is probably stressful in itself, they experience an environment full of unusual sounds and sights. Depending on their age, they may have unpleasant memories of previous hospital visits. Not to mention, TV shows and movies don't exactly depict hospitals as a bright and happy space. As you have probably noticed, when a pediatric patient becomes anxious, administering treatment can become particularly difficult. The situation can become emotionally stressful for not only the child, but also the child's parents and, often, the nurse and caregiver. To reduce hospital anxiety in your young patients, consider the following 7 tips: - Practice calm Anxiety is contagious. It's easy to feel exhausted during a busy shift, but when you become tense and stressed, it usually shows in your voice and body language. An anxious healthcare professional only increases the nervousness of young patients and their parents. They rely on you to stay strong and composed, no matter the situation. Fortunately, calm is also contagious. By breathing evenly and speaking confidently, you can help your patient relax and feel comfortable. - Talking about the experience Often, pediatric patients are anxious because they don't know what to expect. Are you going to give them a chance? Is it going to hurt? Will they have to spend the night or be separated from their parents? The best way to allay their fears is to acknowledge them and communicate with them. Instead of talking only with parents, include children in the conversation as much as is appropriate for their age and skill level..