Things you must do to keep up that bright, toothy smile of your little one!

On this video, Dr Varsha Daryanani, a Mumbai-based pediatric dentist, answers some of the most common questions that parents worry about their child’s dental health.

Q: When does the first tooth erupt?
A: The first milk tooth erupts at around 6 months and other teeth erupt up to 3 years. While the first permanent tooth erupts at 6 years and goes on till 13 years.

Q: When should you take your child for his/her first dental check-up?
A: The first dental check-up should be done at the age of 1.5 years.

Q: When to start brushing your toddler’s teeth?
A: Parents should start brushing as soon as the first tooth erupts. They should start with finger brush and then slowly graduate to junior toothbrushes. As for toothpaste, this is what we recommend:

0-3 years: Zero fluoride toothpaste
3-6 years: Low fluoride toothpaste
6 years & above: regular adult toothpaste

Q: How to inculcate the habit of brushing in your child?
A: To inculcate the good habit of brushing, the key is to start early, let your child choose his/her own toothbrush, let it be a colorful, cartoon design brush, show him brushing video and make it a part of fun family routine in the morning as well as in the end of the day.

Q: What are the common dental problems in children?
A: One of the most common diseases in children is tooth decay, which happens due to incorrect diet (lot of sugar in foods), incorrect brushing techniques, and pro-longed breast or bottle feeding. It can lead to cavities and infection.

The model in the video shows how the decay in the tooth can damage teeth and gums. In fact, the permanent tooth that forms in the presence of infection, is not going to be healthy, that’s it is necessary to take care of and treat the milk tooth, if infected.

The video also shows the right brushing technique for your child.

Q: What are the implications of thumb sucking in children?
A: Though thumb sucking looks very cute and cuddly, it could have serious implications. It leads to crooked teeth and incorrect jaw development. So, to prevent the thumb sucking habit, we have the Myobrace, which is a soft appliance. It has to be worn in the night. It prevents the habit and also positions the tongue correctly so that the jaws develop better.

Here is the video – Watch Dr Varsha guide you through this herself!

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