Dental Care Necessities for Babies

A child’s baby teeth deserve as much care as their permanent teeth. Although these primary teeth do eventually fall out your child should still be seeing a dentist in Irvington every six months. Sometimes a child or baby’s teeth are hard to clean so the debris tends to accumulate and remain on their teeth. If this accumulation is left unchecked bacteria can start to grow, which will lead to tooth decay. Making sure your child’s baby teeth are clean is important since they are fundamental to child’s overall development and health.

Baby’s teeth usually begin to come in between six months of age and 24 months. Sometimes a tooth can even erupt in the first month. It is important to remember that the tooth should be cleaned as soon as it comes in. To clean your baby’s tooth gently a soft washcloth or gauze can be used. Just like with older children and adults this should be done after ever meal or bottle. Once multiple teeth arrive a small-bristled toothbrush can be used to clean their teeth. Pediatric dentists recommend that this toothbrush be ran under warm water before use.

When it comes to using toothpaste only a pea-sized amount should be used. It can be dangerous for your child if they swallow too much toothpaste. Once they get older and have the coordination to use a toothbrush on their own they should be prompted to brush their own teeth so they can establish a habit of it. Also, toothbrushes should be replaced every two to three months. By the time your baby is one-year-old they should see a family dentist or pediatric dentist in Irvington. By seeing a dentist you can acquire a professional cleaning plan and institute long-term dental hygiene.

Post-Care for a Tooth Extraction

A tooth extraction is the removal of a tooth from the mouth, or more specifically from its socket in the bone. There are many different reasons for needing a tooth removal but the post-operative care is basically the same. Directly after the appointment you will not want to get up right away. The reason for this is because a blood clot needs to have formed. If you get up too soon after the procedure and walk around this will provoke bleeding so it is important to sit still for a few minutes directly after the procedure is performed to make sure a blood cot has formed. Keeping pressure on the site by biting down on a piece of gauze will help stop the bleeding.

After leaving the dentist office you will want to make sure you keep calm and do not perform any strenuous activity for the next couple of hours. More activity can be resumed the following day, but you will still want to be cautious and not do anything too physically straining for the next few days. Some persistent bleeding is normal, but if the site continues to bleed even after about 45-minutes of direct pressure on the abrasion your dentist should be called.

There will be some pain after the procedure as well. If it is a simple tooth extraction an over-the-counter pain medication can be taken such as ibuprofen, Advil, or Tylenol. If the extraction was more difficult your dentist may prescribe a more serious pain medication. Usually the pain dissipates after a couple of days. If your face becomes swollen, ice packs can be beneficial in reducing the swelling. Try to also stick to eating cool and soft foods as to not irritate the site. Stick to these tips and you should have minimal recovery time and be able to get back to your normal activities without any complications.

Reasons to Get Tooth Extraction

Tooth extraction, which is the removal of the tooth from the mouth, can be useful in many situations. Whenever a patient hears they need to get a tooth removed many of them become fearful of this procedure, but in many cases it is necessary for the health of your mouth.

One reason a patient might need a tooth extracted is if they have extra teeth that can crowd and misalign teeth as well as block other teeth from coming in. Some people when getting braces on need this procedure done to produce more room for the teeth that are being moved and straightened. Another reason dental services may be necessary is when a tooth becomes infected. This can sometimes happen to people who are taking cancer drugs which weaken the immune system enabling teeth to become infected.

There is also the very common wisdom teeth removal. Wisdom teeth are usually extracted during the late teen years or early 20s. Many times wisdom teeth do not even come in because they are either impacted, blocked by other teeth, or there is not enough room in the mouth for them to descend. If they become decayed or cause a patient pain immediate removal is necessary. Remember to find a qualified dentist before selecting a dental practice to perform any of these procedures.