Baby Teeth
Is your child’s dental health related to their diet?
A balanced diet is essential for proper development of teeth and healthy gum. Your child's diet should include fruits and vegetables, breads and cereals, milk and dairy products, meat, fish and eggs. On the other hand, high amounts of carbohydrates like sugar and starches increase the risk of tooth decay.
Source: Cosmetic Dentist Los Angeles
What types of foods have sugar?
All types of sugar increase the risk of tooth decay. You have to know that a variety of foods have one or more types of sugar. Fruits, some vegetables and dairy products have at least one type of sugar. Many processed foods have sugar as well, even though they may not taste sweet. Breads, crackers, pasts, pretzels, potato chips and other snacks contain starch.
Source: Cosmetic Dentist Los Angeles
When do baby teeth appear?
The age of eruption of the baby teeth varies greatly from child to child. They can start appearing as early as 2 months old or as late as 12 months. A lower incisor may occasionally be in place at birth. Although the age of appearance is different in each child, the sequence of eruption of baby teeth is same.
Source: Cosmetic Dentist Los Angeles
How much sugar should be in your child's diet?
Although a high amount of sugar is not healthy, giving up all foods with sugar or starch is not healthy either. Most of foods with sugar provide the nutrients your child needs. Let your child have foods with sugar or starch with meals, not as snacks. Dried fruit, toffee and other sticky foods are not easily washed away from teeth, even by milk or water, therefore they have more cavity-causing potential.
Source: Cosmetic Dentist Los Angeles
Are sucking on fingers and pacifiers harmful for the teeth of children?
Source: Los Angeles Dentist
What happens when a child loses his baby teeth too soon?
Usually when a baby tooth is lost too soon, your pediatric dentist uses a space maintainer to prevent dental problems in the future.
Source: Los Angeles Dentist
Why is it important to take care of the baby teeth?
Baby teeth are important not only to your child's present health, but to his future dental health as well. They maintain the space for permanent teeth and guide them to their correct position, and encourage normal development of jaw bones and muscles.
Source: Los Angeles Dentist
How can a baby tooth that is lost too soon cause problems for permanent teeth?
When a baby tooth is lost, the teeth next to it can shift and move into the empty space. Also, teeth in the other jaw may move up or down. These create a lack of space for permanent teeth and they might come out crooked or overlapping, requiring extensive orthodontic treatments.
Source: Los Angeles Dentist