:: Prof Dr. Lamisse Makhyoun ::

Reccomendations For Parents

Dental visits
Brushing and flossing
Thumbsucking
Mouth guards
Bike helmets
Paintball
Focus on fluoride

Dental Visits

Regular dental visits are crucial to maintaining a healthy smile. Take your child to see the dentist by his or her first birthday. Although this may seem early to begin dental visits, the dentist can explain how the child's teeth should be cleaned at home, how diet and eating habits affect teeth and provide methods to ensure that sufficient fluoride is received.

During the first visit, the dentist will examine your child's mouth for tooth decay and growth or development conditions that may pose a problem in the future. The dentist will explain how to clean the child's teeth at home and methods to ensure your child gets the right amount of fluoride.

Thumb sucking

Sucking is a natural reflex and infants and young children may use thumbs, fingers, pacifiers and other objects on which to suck. It may make them feel secure and happy or provide a sense of security at difficult periods. Since thumb sucking is relaxing, it may induce sleep.

Thumb sucking that persists beyond the eruption of the permanent teeth can cause problems with the proper growth of the mouth and tooth alignment. How intensely a child sucks on fingers or thumbs will determine whether or not dental problems may result. Children who rest their thumbs passively in their mouths are less likely to have difficulty than those who vigorously suck their thumbs.

Children should cease thumb sucking by the time their permanent front teeth are ready to erupt. Usually, children stop between the ages of two and four. Peer pressure causes many school-ages children to stop.

Pacifies are no substitute for thumb sucking. They can affect the teeth essentially the same way as sucking fingers and thumbs. However, use of the pacifier can be controlled and modified more easily than the thumb or finger habit. If you have concerns about thumb sucking or use of a pacifier, consult your dentist.

Mouthguards prevent dental emergencies.

When a child begins to participate in recreational activities and organized sports, injuries can occur. Mouth protectors, also called mouthguards, are an important piece of protective face gear. You've probably seen mouth protectors used in contact sports, such as hockey, football or boxing.