Dear parents, today I would like to tell you a true story,
The protagonist of this story is a small patient named Xiao Ming, who our clinic recently received.
Xiao Ming just turned six years old this year, he is lively and cute, but recently because of a tooth problem, the whole family fell into anxiety.
Here's the thing, when Xiao Ming's mother was brushing his teeth, she accidentally noticed a small black spot on one of his teeth.
At first, she thought it was just food scraps, but upon closer inspection, the black spots turned out to be signs of tooth decay.
Xiao Ming's mother quickly brought him to our clinic.
After examination, I found that Xiao Ming's tooth had been severely decayed, and this tooth was a permanent tooth.
Once damaged, it cannot be replaced as naturally as baby teeth.
Xiao Ming's mother was shocked when she heard the news.
She always thought that there was no need to worry too much about the child's dental problems, anyway, the baby teeth would fall out and the permanent teeth would come out.
However, what she didn't know was that when a child was 6-7 years old, his first permanent tooth would erupt – commonly known as the "sixth age tooth".
This tooth is located at the back of the mouth and is the first permanent tooth to erupt, but it does not replace any baby teeth, but grows directly behind them.
The importance of sixth-year-old teeth is self-evident, it is not only an important tool for children to chew food, but also the key to the alignment of teeth in the future.
If there is a problem with this tooth, such as tooth decay, it will not only affect the child's chewing function, but may also cause the teeth to be misaligned and even affect facial development.
Unfortunately, due to the hidden location of the sixth age tooth, it is not easy for many parents and children to find the problem in time.
By the time pain or obvious symptoms appear, it is often already advanced.
Treatment is complicated and painful, and is physically and mentally torturous for children.
If you want to make the tooth change smoother, you might as well eat "extensively".
We all know that there is an important stage in a child's growth process - the tooth replacement period.
During this period, the children's baby teeth will gradually fall out and the permanent teeth will begin to emerge.
So, how can you make this process smoother?
In fact, sometimes, we can let our children eat "roughly".
The so-called "extensive" diet does not mean that children can eat casually, but it refers to adding some foods rich in fiber and slightly harder texture.
Such food not only exercises the child's chewing ability, but also helps the baby teeth to loosen naturally and promotes the growth of permanent teeth.
For example, give your child more fresh fruits and vegetables, such as apples and carrots.
Not only are they nutritious, but in the process of chewing,
It can massage the gums, which helps the natural loss of teeth and the smooth growth of new teeth.
Of course, there is a limit to what I mean by "extensive".
During the child's tooth change, we should still avoid letting the child eat too hard or too sticky food.
Nuts, candies, etc., can damage new permanent teeth or cause premature loss of baby teeth.
At the same time, it is also essential to maintain good oral hygiene habits, brush your teeth every morning and evening, rinse your mouth after meals,
Regular check-ups at the dental clinic are important measures to protect your child's dental health.
In addition, I would like to remind parents that it is normal for children to experience discomfort or pain during tooth changes.
However, if the pain persists or is accompanied by bleeding, it is important to take your child to the doctor in time to avoid delaying the condition.
Precautions for your child's teething period
We need to closely observe the changes in your child's teeth
Maintaining good oral hygiene habits is crucial
Eat a balanced and reasonable diet
Avoid eating foods that are too hard or too sticky
Therefore, as a pediatrician, I would like to solemnly remind you here:
Children before the age of 7 must pay special attention to the health of this six-year-old tooth.
Take your child to a professional dental hospital for regular check-ups and develop good oral hygiene habits.
Brush your teeth at least twice a day for no less than two minutes each time, using a fluoride toothpaste,
Eat less sweets and carbonated drinks, these are basic measures to protect your child's dental health.
Finally, I would like to say that the healthy growth of children is inseparable from the careful care of parents.
Let's work together to cultivate good living habits in children from an early age,
Let them have a healthy and beautiful tooth and welcome every bright smile!