Maintaining healthy gums and teeth are essential hygiene practices to prevent oral cavities. The structure of the teeth is very complex. What is seen in the mouth is just a small portion of the teeth called the dental crown, while the remainder below is called the roots. The teeth are supported by other tissues which include the alveolar bone, fibrous tissues and ligaments. The tissue covering the dental crown is called enamel and the area covering the dental root is called the gingiva (gum).
On average the first set of teeth is seen at 6 months old. Factors contributing to the time of development include the time parents started sprouting teeth and whether the baby was delivered at full term.
The mouth should be cared for even before the development of teeth. As the gummy smile disappears, the primary teeth appear and need to be kept healthy to aid with chewing and speaking. According to the National Institute of dental and craniofacial research (2014), “42 % of children 2-11 years of age have had dental caries in their primary teeth.” It was also shown that dental caries was most common among blacks and Hispanics and persons of a lower socioeconomic group.
How to Care for Gums & Teeth
Caring for a baby’s gum can be done with a clean gauze or washcloth without the use of toothpaste. This can be done after meals and before bed. Cleaning should be done at least two times per day.
The teeth on the other hand, when they appear, should be cleaned with a soft, small head but long handle toothbrush with a rice grain sized amount of toothpaste. According to Dr. Kayanna Senior (Dentist at Modern Dental), “By age 6, a pea sized amount of fluoride toothpaste may be used to clean the teeth.” She went on to say plaques are built up between the teeth as in any adult and hence flossing may begin as early as 6 years of age under adult supervision.
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