A- MOUTH CARE IN INFANTS AND CHILDREN

Cleaning should start as soon as the first teeth appear in the mouth. Using a clean cloth, the teeth should be wiped clean in the morning after breakfast and before going to bed at night. Toothbrush use should begin after the baby's back teeth appear.

It is very difficult to suggest a technique for brushing teeth in preschool children and to have them practice it. The important thing at this age is to give the child the habit of brushing teeth. When children brush their teeth, most of the time they brush the visible or easily accessible sides of the teeth, but parents should check after brushing and brush again if necessary.

In school-age children, oral hygiene education and information on brushing technique are given during check-up sessions.

B - PREVENTIVE DENTISTRY

Fluoride therapy and fissure sealant treatments are the most important preventive dental applications. However, at what age and under what conditions should be determined by the pediatric dentist.

The main goal of preventive medicine is to prevent caries formation in children's teeth with painless and simple procedures. These sessions are also an opportunity for the child to come to the dentist more willingly in the future.

C- TREATMENT OF DECIDUOUS AND PERMANENT TEETH

As with adults, children and even babies can also get cavities. However, deciduous teeth are different from permanent teeth and their treatment is recommended to be performed by a pediatric dentist. The first goal of pediatric dentistry is to protect the oral and dental health of the child. It is also among the aims of Pedodontics to eliminate the pain in children with the right dental treatments when necessary, and to restore their eating and sleeping habits, which are of great importance for their development. Depending on the condition of the problem, treatments such as filling, amputation, root canal treatment or tooth extraction can be performed in children. The most important point that families should not forget is that milk teeth must be treated. As a result of teeth whose treatment is postponed because "they will fall out anyway"; both problems affecting the general development of the child and problems may occur in the permanent teeth that will follow. In addition, a decay-free oral flora obtained during the transition from deciduous to permanent dentition will also protect the permanent teeth; because it should not be forgotten that decay is a contagious disease.

D- PREVENTIVE ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT

Problems affecting jaw relationships can also occur during the deciduous period. Pediatric dentists can detect bite problems, which may be much more difficult to treat in the future, at an early stage and take the necessary precautions. Another situation that can lead to orthodontic problems at a later age is the early extraction of deciduous teeth. In this case, the necessary distances are fixed with fixed or removable space mainteners that help to protect the place of the milk teeth and the place of the permanent teeth coming from below is protected.

Dr. Songül Uluçam Ülkenli / Pediatric Dentist 

• How many times a day should children brush their teeth?
• Which toothbrush should I choose for my child?
• My baby's teeth are erupting late. Should I be worried?
• When is the eruption of milk teeth completed?
• When do permanent teeth start erupting?
• My child is sucking his thumb. Should I be worried?
• Can children start orthodontic treatment when their baby teeth are in their mouth?