What you need to know about milk teeth
Sep 14, 2008
AT six months, your baby’s first tooth will appear. For some babies, teething is painless, while others get irritable. <br>Teething may cause your baby’s temperature to rise a little. <br>
By Vision Reporter
AT six months, your baby’s first tooth will appear. For some babies, teething is painless, while others get irritable.
Teething may cause your baby’s temperature to rise a little.
However, if your baby gets a rash, fever or starts vomiting, consult your doctor immediately.
Below is what to expect when your child is teething.
In the beginning…
Dr. E. Kasiku of Mulago Hospital says the first teeth to appear are usually the two bottom front teeth between four and seven months. These are followed four to eight weeks later, by the four front upper teeth.
About a month later, the lower two teeth flanking the bottom front teeth will appear. Next are the molars and “eyeteeth†(the pointy teeth in the upper jaw).
“If your child experiences significant delay, seek medical advice,†says Kasiku.
In rare cases, there are babies born with one or two teeth. Unless these teeth interfere with feeding or are loose enough to cause choking, experts say this is not a cause for alarm.
Caring for baby’s teeth
Dr. Catherine Mwesigwa of Makerere University says dental care begins at birth. “Wipe the baby’s mouth and massage the gums with a damp gauze pad or washcloth after feeds and before bedtime.â€
Babies can get dental decay if parents do not practise good feeding habits. For instance, much as putting your baby to sleep with a bottle in their mouth may seem convenient, it can harm their teeth.
When the sugar from the drink remain on a baby’s teeth, they destroy the enamel causing bottle mouth. “Pocked, pitted, or discoloured teeth are signs of bottle mouth,†explains Dr. Mwesigwa. “Severe cases result in the need to remove the front teeth.â€
“Consult your dentist if your child complains of tooth pain. The pain could be a sign of a cavity that needs to be treated,†adds Howard Besigye, a dental prosthetist at Denture Care Centre in Kamwokya.
Don’t force out milk teeth
Dr. G .B. Bataringaya, a dentist at Airways House, says if baby teeth are removed before they fall out, the space for the permanent teeth can be lost. The other teeth may crowd together to fill up the gaps, which may cause the permanent teeth to be crooked.
To prevent problems in permanent teeth, regular dental check-ups are necessary. “Besides checking for cavities, the dentist can teach parents good oral hygiene habits for their children,†says Bataringaya.
Although discolouration can occur as a result of prolonged use of antibiotics, experts warn that too much fluoride can also cause tooth discolouration. Use only a pea-sized amount for brushing and encourage children to brush after taking medicine.
You can get toddlers interested in the routine by letting them imitate you as you brush and floss,†says Dr. Mwesigwa.
AT six months, your baby’s first tooth will appear. For some babies, teething is painless, while others get irritable.
Teething may cause your baby’s temperature to rise a little.
However, if your baby gets a rash, fever or starts vomiting, consult your doctor immediately.
Below is what to expect when your child is teething.
In the beginning…
Dr. E. Kasiku of Mulago Hospital says the first teeth to appear are usually the two bottom front teeth between four and seven months. These are followed four to eight weeks later, by the four front upper teeth.
About a month later, the lower two teeth flanking the bottom front teeth will appear. Next are the molars and “eyeteeth†(the pointy teeth in the upper jaw).
“If your child experiences significant delay, seek medical advice,†says Kasiku.
In rare cases, there are babies born with one or two teeth. Unless these teeth interfere with feeding or are loose enough to cause choking, experts say this is not a cause for alarm.
Caring for baby’s teeth
Dr. Catherine Mwesigwa of Makerere University says dental care begins at birth. “Wipe the baby’s mouth and massage the gums with a damp gauze pad or washcloth after feeds and before bedtime.â€
Babies can get dental decay if parents do not practise good feeding habits. For instance, much as putting your baby to sleep with a bottle in their mouth may seem convenient, it can harm their teeth.
When the sugar from the drink remain on a baby’s teeth, they destroy the enamel causing bottle mouth. “Pocked, pitted, or discoloured teeth are signs of bottle mouth,†explains Dr. Mwesigwa. “Severe cases result in the need to remove the front teeth.â€
“Consult your dentist if your child complains of tooth pain. The pain could be a sign of a cavity that needs to be treated,†adds Howard Besigye, a dental prosthetist at Denture Care Centre in Kamwokya.
Don’t force out milk teeth
Dr. G .B. Bataringaya, a dentist at Airways House, says if baby teeth are removed before they fall out, the space for the permanent teeth can be lost. The other teeth may crowd together to fill up the gaps, which may cause the permanent teeth to be crooked.
To prevent problems in permanent teeth, regular dental check-ups are necessary. “Besides checking for cavities, the dentist can teach parents good oral hygiene habits for their children,†says Bataringaya.
Although discolouration can occur as a result of prolonged use of antibiotics, experts warn that too much fluoride can also cause tooth discolouration. Use only a pea-sized amount for brushing and encourage children to brush after taking medicine.
You can get toddlers interested in the routine by letting them imitate you as you brush and floss,†says Dr. Mwesigwa.