What is Preventive Dentistry for Children? Why is it important?

Preventive dentistry means your child’s healthy smile. A child with healthy mouth and teeth chews more easily than a child with unhealthy teeth, and therefore gets more benefit from the food he eats. He learns to speak faster and speaks more clearly. The general health condition is much better. On the other hand, the health of children with oral and dental problems is at risk, as any disease in the mouth will negatively affect other parts of the body. A healthy mouth attracts more attention. Thus, it helps the child to be more self-confident in terms of his appearance. In addition, preventive dentistry practices are less comprehensive, less costly and shorter compared to therapeutic dentistry practices.

What are preventive dentistry practices?

Preventive dentistry practices applied to children are as follows:

• Acquiring the habit of brushing teeth
• Acquiring the habit of using dental floss
• Monitoring tooth eruption
• Fluoride applications
• Detection and prevention of oral habits (habits such as thumb or pacifier sucking, nail biting, etc.)
• Protective and stopping orthodontic treatments
• Acquiring balanced and non-cavity-causing eating habits
• Fissure sealant applications
• Mouth protection applications to protect from sports injuries
• Establishing cooperation with parents to implement all the above-mentioned practices

Fluoride Applications: Fluoride treatments, which are considered the most effective form of treatment in preventive dentistry, can be applied to healthy individuals, individuals prone to caries, in the treatment of tooth sensitivity and erosion, and in individuals with systemic diseases that need special care. Applications are carried out at frequencies and amounts determined according to the individual’s age and risk of caries formation.

Fissure Sealants: Anatomically, the indentations and protrusions on the chewing surfaces of the molars create areas where food can stick.

Bruises start in these areas that are difficult to clean. Fissure sealants help create a surface on the teeth that will shallow these surfaces, reduce the adhesion of food and make brushing easier. It is known that after clinical applications, there is a 70-80% reduction in caries formation.

TREATMENTS IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS

What should I do when my child’s tooth hurts?: First, gently clean the area around the painful tooth with a soft toothbrush, without applying force. Clean your child’s mouth by rinsing it with warm salt water or using dental floss to remove any food residue that gets stuck between the teeth. Never apply aspirin or heat to the aching tooth or the gum surrounding it to relieve pain. If there is any swelling on the face, apply cold. Give paracetamol (Calpol) to relieve pain and visit your doctor as soon as possible.

My child bit/cut his tongue/lip/cheek. What should I do?: Prevent swelling by applying ice to the affected area. If there is bleeding, apply pressure with gauze or a clean cloth. Bleeding 15 min. If the bleeding still continues or the bleeding cannot be stopped due to pressure, take your child to the hospital.

What should I do if my child falls out and the milk tooth is completely dislodged?: Consult your doctor immediately. Your physician will evaluate the severity of the fall or impact and the problem it caused and will inform you about any complications.

What should I do if my child falls and the permanent tooth is completely dislodged?: First of all, you must act calmly and find the dislodged tooth. Hold the tooth without touching its root and wash it with clean water at room temperature. Never wash the tooth with soap or rubbing. Check to see if the tooth is broken. If the tooth maintains its integrity, replace it. Have your child bite on gauze or a clean cloth to prevent the tooth from coming out. If you cannot replace the tooth, place it in a glass containing milk, water or your child’s saliva. If your child is older, the tooth can also be carried in the mouth and inside the cheek. Consult your doctor immediately without wasting any time. If the permanent tooth comes out as a whole, it takes 30 minutes. If it is placed back in place within a short period of time, its prognosis (response to treatment) will be much better.

If a tooth fracture occurs as a result of trauma?: First, reduce the risk of infection by washing the injured area with clean warm water. Apply a cold compress to the area. Take the broken part with you and consult your doctor without delay. Whether the broken tooth is a milk tooth or a permanent tooth, the shorter the time it takes to receive treatment after the injury, the more likely the treatment will be successful.