According to Dr. Vo Van Nhan, the goal of the orthodontics is not only to bring a more harmonious face than before, but also make the maxilla (upper jaw) proportionate to the mandible (lower jaw), result in a good eating and chewing function after the treatment.
Unfavorable signs of primary teeth affecting permanent teeth
Unbalanced face.
Jaw bone protrude too far forward.
Can only chew on one side because of the other's pain.
The habit of grinding or clenching teeth.
Primary teeth sprout too tightly to each other.
The early extraction of the primary teeth, not following the natural timeline of teeth replacement, affecting the development of the jaw bone which causes the lack of space for the permanent teeth to sprout. This leads to the increase of crooked and jammed teeth.
The primary teeth sitting on the jaw for too long can make the permanent teeth to grow crookedly inside or outside.
The early extraction of the primary teeth affecting permanent teeth
How do I take care of baby teeth?
There are many things you can do to help care for your child’s baby teeth. Below is a list of ways to keep your child’s mouth healthy.
- Brush 2 times a day (morning and night) with fluoride toothpaste to prevent cavities. For newborns, wipe the gums with a wet cloth or pad to keep the mouth clean. For children younger than age 3, use an amount of toothpaste that is the size of a grain of rice. For children 3 years and older, use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste. Help your child brush their teeth for 2 minutes until you feel sure that your child will brush all sides of their teeth well.
- Clean between their teeth daily once you see two teeth that touch. This helps to get rid of food between teeth and under the gums. Using floss every day also helps to stop cavities from forming between teeth. Just like with brushing, help your child clean between their teeth until they can do it well on their own.
- Make regular visits to your child’s dentist. As soon you see your baby’s first tooth – and no later than your child’s first birthday – visit the dentist for a checkup. Your dentist can tell you if your child has plaque or cavities, when to expect the next baby teeth to come in, and how to take good care of your child’s teeth. Also, some states require children to have a dental exam before they start school or finish certain grade levels.
- Watch your child’s diet. What your child eats and drinks can hurt their baby teeth. Some drinks including fruit juice and soda can be high in sugar or acid. Limit sugary treats like cookies, too. Sugar and acid can make the outer shell (enamel) of teeth weak and put teeth at a higher risk for cavities.
Hopefully, the information above will help you recognize the unfavorable signs related to the primary teeth, which helps children to be treated in time to have beautiful and well-aligned teeth later. If there are any questions that need to be answered, please contact Nhan Tam Dental Clinic for advice.