Common Dental Problems among Infants and Toddlers

According to a renowned psychologist Sigmund Freud, children ages 0 to 1 years old find pleasure in their oral area. We find it unsurprising because of the fact that infants have been programmed to suck their mother’s breasts, making it a part of their reflex.

Our mouth, ever since we are but wee tykes, is one of the most significant parts of our body. Through it, we are not only able to survive but also determine our health. So the moment a child is born, parents need to look into their dental health.

There are common problems infants and toddlers find uncomfortable with their teeth. Two of these common problems are as follows:

• Teething

  Have you ever noticed a little child becoming restless and crying constantly? New parents do not know that the reason their child is feeling such is because the little one is teething.

  It is given that infants, the moment they come out of the womb, do not have teeth. But when they reach their 6th month, their teeth are slowly piercing through the gums. That is why teething is an extremely painful process.

  The hurt that they feel will eventually disturb their good night sleep and eating habits. They may also tend to chew on things, therefore, exposing themselves to harmful bacteria. Another thing that frightens first-time parents is the fact that children’s cheeks swell and turn red.

  All of the things we mentioned above are normal but do you know what is not normal? It is when teething comes along with a fever. Once your child has a high fever while he or she is teething, we advise you to go to your pediatrician.

  How do we help them relieve the pain? Actually, the method is easy. Ice is capable of numbing pain and little kids love to put edible things in their mouth. Try making a flavored ice Popsicles. Your little one not only gets rid of the pain he or she is in but also enjoys the taste of the cold treat.

  You can also use safe teething rings.

• Thumb sucking

  Parents usually use a pacifier or a dummy to calm their little kids. Other children suck their own thumb or finger for comfort. Thumb sucking has its own benefits. This will only give a minor effect on their teeth especially if it is only done in a limited time.

  However, if parents rely on this technique too much, it can become a curse on its own. Once a child reaches the age of 2, we advise halting using pacifiers. And also, do not dip your child’s pacifier in sugar or coat them with sugary substances like sweetened drinks and honey. It will only reinforce a child’s love for sweets which will cause him or her harm in the long run.

Parents are extremely cautious about what they give to their little infants. Baby foods, drinks, clothes, etc., undergo a meticulous scan under the eyes of a hands-on parent. In fact, parents undertake and join all those seminars, researches, and parent communities so they can raise their child well and right.

We understand the concern fathers and mothers have for their children. For that reason, ORCHID Family Dental promotes dental awareness to children as young as 1 year old through Orchid Bloomers.

We feel the need to extend our dental services in Richardson, Texas to these young bloomers. Hence, we encourage all responsible parents out there to submit their child to our Complimentary Children’s Dental Program. All children ages 1 to 12 years old can join the said program.

With your child’s teeth taken care of by professional dentists, we can now guarantee the overall wellness of our family’s dental health.

Visit our dental clinic in Richardson, Texas. Do not worry about introducing your child to the dental chair for our staffs are well-accustomed to this. We make sure that children are comfortable in our clinic and their feelings of security matter to us the most.

Go to our website at www.orchidfamilydental.com for more information about our Complimentary Children’s Dental Program. Or you may call us at 972-424-3555.