The dental hygiene needs of children and those of adults are not the same. Teeth start to form in the second trimester of pregnancy. The baby will have 20 teeth at first. Some of them will be fully developed in the jaw. Tooth decay is a common occurrence in babies It would be a bad idea to let a baby fall asleep with the bottle in its mouth. The sugar present in juices or milk can stick to the teeth of the baby for hours and can eat away at the enamel. The enamel is the protective shield against tooth decay. The decay can cause discolouration of the teeth among other problems. If you are looking for a dental clinic in your vicinity for your child, simply type ‘Dental clinic near me’ and you will find a range of results.
Early Childhood Caries (ECC)
ECC is a growing health concern that is very common in toddlers and can pose to be a serious threat if they are not treated. ECC occurs in the form of caries particularly. It attacks smooth surfaces and keeps spreading rapidly. This can have a severe effect on the teething of the infants. There is a complex relationship between ECC and breastfeeding and be made even more complex by biological factors such as sugar intake, enamel hypoplasia and certain social and economic factors as well. The infection requires professional treatment.
How ECC Affects
ECC is the most common infectious disease that toddlers go through. The reason for the infections is the interaction of mainly the Streptococcus mutans and the sugary foods that get stuck to the enamel. The bacteria can spread from the mother in its infancy and breaks down sugars for energy which causes an acidic environment in the mouth. This can lead to the enamel losing minerals and dental caries. There is a clear distinction between the pattern of dental caries in infants and toddlers.
The Right Time For Kids To See A Doctor
Dentists recommended that kids see a dentist before their very first birthday. This dentist will explain during this visit the proper ways to brush and floss teeth. The visit also involves one or more modified tests. These visits can help find out the issues early if there are issues. Another benefit of early dental checkups can reduce the fear of going to the dentist more and more to the point where they get used to it. The expertise of pediatric dentists lies in taking care of the issues about the dental health of children. These dentists can also recommend other specialists like orthodontists who can work on overlapping teeth or an oral surgeon for realigning the jaw.
How To Improve The Dental Health Of Children?
Improved teeth can be ensured by keeping the following in mind:
- Fluoride: Fluoride is crucial for the dental health of children. It fights cavities in their teeth and hardens the enamel of the teeth. Special drinking water for children has fluoride in it. In case there is an absence of fluoride in their water, they may need to take an oral fluoride supplement. This can be recommended by dentists. It has to be kept in mind that too much fluoride can be detrimental to dental hygiene and that they do not swallow fluoride toothpaste or mouthwash.
- Brushing & Flossing: Oral health has to be made a priority when the child is still an infant. Parents can use soft toothbrushes specially made for children from the age of 1 or 2 and their teeth should be washed at least twice a day. A small pinch of non-fluoride toothpaste can be used. Parents can switch to one that has fluoride when the kids are old enough to spit out the toothpaste.
What Is Medicare?
The Medical Child Dental Benefits Schedule is an initiative by the federal government that has taken up the responsibility of providing fundamental dental services to eligible children between the age of 2 to 17. Over a two-year calendar period, children can get up to 1,000 AUD worth of dental care. If the schedule covers the payment for the dental treatment, the healthcare centre will invoice medicare on the behalf of the patient. The patient is billed in bulk and no out-of-pocket costs are involved.
The Services Of Child Dental Benefits Schedule
The services provided by the Medicare Child Dental Benefits Schedule are as follows:
- Checkups or examinations
- Dental fillings
- Professional cleans that include scale, polish, and fluoride
- X-Rays
- Sealing fissures
- Partial dentures
- Root canal therapy
- Extraction of tooth
Conclusion
The two-year period will start when the calendar year begins. During this period, the child becomes eligible and receives their first dental checkup. The entire 1,000 AUD can be used in the first calendar year and if the entirety of the amount is not used then the remaining amount can be used in the second calendar year in case of eligibility. If the full amount is not used in these two years then it cannot be used after the period concludes. They will be eligible in the first calendar year even if they turn 18 in the same or if they stop getting the payment during that particular year. In the same breadth, the dental health of children should not be taken lightly and parents should take special care as to when to visit dentists and take care of their oral health. Parents can find dentists close to them by just typing ‘Dental clinic near me’.
