Oral health is integral to our overall health, and ensuring children incorporate oral care into their lives as soon as possible is important. Teaching children to look after their teeth and gums can come with challenges, but the key is to start young! We all want our little ones to have happy and healthy smiles and keep the dentist visits to just the checkups. So, we have put together this article to provide tips for parents who want the best for their children’s teeth.
How Diet Affects Oral Health
The phrase ‘you are what you eat’ isn’t strictly true; however, the food and drink you consume play a key role in oral health, especially for children. This is why it is imperative to instil good oral hygiene and eating habits at a young age. Here are some foods that can help to protect teeth from the moment those first tiny ones break through the gums right through to adulthood:
Crunchy veggies – the roughage of the veg can help remove plaque, and such as crunchy carrots, broccoli, and bell peppers are great for overall health.
Dairy – milk, yoghurt, cheese, and other dairy items are high in calcium and protein, strengthening dental enamel and fighting cavities.
Nuts – nuts without additives that are high in fibre and calcium, like almonds, help improve tooth enamel. Of course, make sure the consumer does not have a nut allergy.
Leafy greens – folate-rich leafy vegetables like romaine lettuce and spinach can strengthen enamel, prevent gum disease, and reduce gum inflammation.
Onions and garlic – onions and garlic reduce microorganisms that cause gum irritation, dental decay, cavities, and foul breath.
Salmon – salmon’s omega-3 fatty acids can make your mouth more resistant to advanced gum infections and help your gums heal faster throughout gum disease treatments. Mackerel, tuna, cod, sardines, and herring are also omega-3-rich.
Fruit – strawberries are known to help reduce tooth staining as strawberry malik acid offers unique whitening qualities. Fibrous foods like apples and pears are good for heart and gum health. You must spend more time chewing to eat them correctly, stimulating the gums and increasing saliva production, which neutralises mouth acidity and reduces cavities.
Whole grains – whole grains have B vitamins and iron, which help keep gums healthy, while magnesium keeps your teeth strong. Whole grains include whole wheat bread, brown rice, oats, barley and granola.
Choosing The Right Dentist For Your Child
Choosing the best dentist for your child involves several factors. It is always best to enrol with a local dentist. Choosing private dental care ensures swift and professional treatment should emergencies occur. It is worth investing in your child’s oral health as it may prevent issues as their adult teeth develop. Furthermore, creating a bond by using the same dentist who gets to know your child’s dental background can reassure your child and make them less nervous about attending appointments.
Dental Braces For Children
If your child’s adult teeth come through misaligned, you may wish to consider braces. Your dentist will closely monitor how their adult teeth come through, and early treatment, such as dental braces, can help the teeth align correctly. Additionally, your dentist can suggest the best age for orthodontic treatment. When a child will need braces varies, but you should start early enough to avoid alignment concerns but not so early that their teeth won’t come through.
A child’s teeth are easier to straighten due to softer bones, but it is harder to keep them straight. If they forget their aligner at night, their teeth may go out of alignment after orthodontic treatment. Between 12 and 13, your child’s dentist will start thorough exams to ensure correct alignment. NHS braces are available until the age of 18 in the UK. Some young people may not need orthodontic treatment until they leave the NHS-free bracket. If your dentist finds uneven tooth eruption or overcrowding, you can start treatment sooner to ensure proper tooth development. To accommodate upcoming teeth, the dentist may remove adult teeth. There is no age limit for braces; if the teeth are healthy, orthodontic treatment can begin at any age.
Dental Implants For Teenagers
Sometimes, children have accidents resulting in tooth loss or damage. They may also have rotten or eroded teeth due to poor oral health or overcrowding of misaligned teeth. Dental implants are a fantastic solution for missing teeth when they are teenagers. They are unsuitable for younger children as their adult teeth have yet to come through.
Dental implants are small screws that replace tooth roots in the jawbone. Titanium implants merge with the jaw to securely attach tooth restorations such as crowns, bridges, and complete arch restorations with dentures. Although dental implants can benefit some people, they are not for everyone. Teens may not be excellent candidates for dental implants for various reasons, so they may wish to consider other options. When implants are placed, all adult teeth must be erupted. If implants are placed sooner, they may block adult tooth eruption. Girls may be eligible for dental implants at 15, while boys must wait until 17. Most dental implant specialists won’t examine patients under 21.
Adolescents’ teeth are still moving and may close the gap of a missing tooth. Orthodontists can speed up this process and fill the gaps with dental implants. Because dental implants are fixed, they may impede tooth movement, causing more problems than they solve. The implant is more likely to be rejected and fall out as the mouth and jaw mature. Dental implants may be placed when adolescent bones solidify, as they are still pliable. This is why teenagers are usually good candidates, as their adult teeth have finished erupting.
Book a Consultation
Book a consultant with a children’s orthodontist if you want to schedule private dental treatment for your teenager, whether braces or dental implants. A children’s orthodontist can help your child have a happy and healthy smile, boosting their confidence and overall oral health.
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