Teaching our children to maintain oral hygiene is an investment in health that will provide benefits for all life. As parents, the first thing we should do is teach them with examples; When we take care of our teeth, the child will realize that oral health is very important. For our children to show much more interest in their oral hygiene, give them the opportunity to choose their toothbrush and the containers with their favorite motives to place their brush, choose a toothpaste with flavor and without risk if swallowed, we accompany to our children, sing a song, etc.

Milk teeth, also known as temporary teeth, are those that help our children bite, chew food and speak clearly. These remain for a set time in the mouth until they are replaced by definitive or permanent teeth. In total, there are 20 milk teeth (10 on the top and 10 on the bottom) that begin to fall around 6 to 10 years, approximately.

It is very important to take care of our children's milk teeth, since they are the guide for the new teeth, that is, they mark the position of the permanent teeth. If these teeth fall before the stipulated time, the other teeth can move and prevent the permanent teeth from growing in place. Once the permanent teeth begin to come out, it is necessary to clean them properly, since these teeth will last a lifetime.

Infant caries

It is a frequent, chronic and infectious disease caused by bacteria that adhere to tooth enamel, mainly affecting children under 7 years of age. This oral disease causes the destruction of the tooth enamel (the external hard layer of the teeth), that is, the tooth is destroyed as a result of the demineralization of the tooth surface. This disease is 100% preventable if preventive measures are taken.

Dental caries in milk teeth is usually very painful and can cause health problems, such as: infections that can sometimes be life threatening, facial inflammation, lack of appetite and even problems in the development of the Language, Sensitivity in the teeth, Visible holes in the teeth, teeth staining (brown or black), etc. Many research has shown that children who have tooth decay in baby teeth are more likely to have tooth decay when they are adults.

Infant caries is produced mainly by:

• Absence of proper daily oral hygiene.

• Very frequent consumption of certain foods and beverages, such as: milk, ice cream, honey, sugar, soft drinks, nuts, cake, cookies, sweets, mints, dry cereals and potato chips, among others.

• Lack of fluoride (natural mineral that helps prevent cavities).

• Frequent nocturnal feeding without oral hygiene.

How to avoid cavities in children.

• Children under two years old should brush at least twice a day, while children older than 3 years should brush when getting up, after each meal and always before going to sleep.

• Use a toothbrush according to the age of the child.

• Clean the teeth after the sweet or sugary drink. Also when consuming syrups that contain sugar.

• Supervise the brushing of our children.

• Control the nighttime feeding.

• Maintain good eating habits.

• Visit the dentist frequently.

• Before the child's first tooth comes out, clean your gums with a clean, moist rubber infant massager or with a washcloth.

• Renew the toothbrush every 3-4 months.

• Preach the learning with examples.

• Learning does not include screaming or mistreatment.

How children should brush their teeth:

We, the parents, should help our children to brush their teeth until they can do it alone, however, it is necessary to be present to supervise them. The most recommended technique is to make circular movements from top to bottom and from bottom to top, you should also brush the molars, the inner side of the teeth, the tongue and even the gums to prevent the accumulation of tartar. between the gum and the tooth.

Children under 2 years old should brush their teeth with a minimum portion of toothpaste with fluoride, this is effective for the prevention of caries. It is very important to emphasize that the use of fluoride in minors must be supervised, since when a lot of fluoride is swallowed, the enamel of the teeth can be altered and stains can appear. Between two and six years the amount should be a little larger y from six years onwards our children can already use the pasta of adults.

From the age of 7, children can have their first dental cleaning. In addition, early visits to the dentist will help us diagnose many problems such as: tooth decay or bad position or crossed bite that can be easily solved thanks to orthodontics.

We, the parents, are responsible for our children having good dental habits at a very early age as this will help them improve their smile and their oral health.