Kid Zone FAQ's
Maintaining a healthy mouth is an important step toward maintaining a healthy body. Problems of the mouth can lead to other health problems, the least of which can cause pain and can lead to much more serious problems including cancer and heart disease. On a purely social level, an unhealthy mouth can hurt your dating life. People like a healthy, bright smile and a clean mouth.
There are many risks involved with oral piercings including chipped or cracked teeth, blood clots, or blood poisoning. Your mouth contains millions of bacteria, and infection is a common complication of oral piercing. Common symptoms after piercing include pain, swelling, infection, an increased flow of saliva and injuries to gum tissue. Difficult-to-control bleeding or nerve damage can result if a blood vessel or nerve bundle is in the path of the needle. Follow the advice of your dentist: give your mouth a break and skip the mouth jewelry.
Tobacco in any form can jeopardize your child’s health and cause incurable damage. Parents should teach their children about the dangers of tobacco. Smokeless tobacco, also called chew or snuff, is often used by teens who believe that it is a safe alternative to smoking cigarettes. This is a misconception. Studies show that chewing tobacco may be more addictive than smoking cigarettes and more difficult to quit. One can of snuff per day delivers as much nicotine as 60 cigarettes. In as little as three to four months, smokeless tobacco use can cause periodontal disease and produce pre-cancerous lesions. It’s best just to avoid tobacco in any form.
Adults have 28 permanent teeth, or up to 32 including the third molars (or wisdom teeth).
Children’s teeth begin forming before birth. As early as 4 months, the first primary teeth to erupt through the gums are the lower central incisors, followed closely by the upper central incisors. Although all 20 primary teeth usually appear by age 3, the pace and order of their eruption varies. Permanent teeth begin appearing around age 6, starting with the first molars and lower central incisors. This process continues until approximately age 21.
It is very important to maintain the health of the primary teeth (also called baby teeth). Neglected cavities can lead to problems which affect developing permanent teeth. Primary teeth are important for:
- Proper chewing and eating
- Providing space for the permanent teeth and guiding them into the correct position
- Permitting normal development of the jaw bones and muscles.
Primary teeth also affect the development of speech and add to a person’s appearance. The front four teeth last until age 6 or 7, while the back teeth (cuspids and molars) aren’t replaced until age 10-13.
Over time, yes. It’s a natural reflex and infants and young children may use thumbs, fingers, pacifiers and other objects on which to suck. It may make them feel secure and happy or provide a sense of security at difficult periods. Since thumb sucking is relaxing, it may induce sleep. Thumb sucking that persists beyond the eruption of the permanent teeth (age 6-7) can cause problems with proper tooth alignment. Usually, children stop thumb sucking between the ages of two and four. Peer pressure often causes many school-aged children to stop.
Tooth brushing is one of the most important tasks for good oral health. Many types of toothpaste however, can damage young smiles. They contain harsh abrasives which can wear away young tooth enamel. When looking for a toothpaste for your child be sure to select one that is recommended by the American Dental Association. These toothpastes have undergone testing to ensure safety.
Remember, children should spit out toothpaste after brushing to avoid getting too much fluoride. If your child is too young or unable to spit out toothpaste, consider using a fluoride-free toothpaste, using no toothpaste, or using only a “pea size” amount of toothpaste.