Oral Health
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Important information about meals for babies and toddlers
Teething
There are 20 baby teeth, 10 on the top and 10 on the bottom. The front bottom teeth will come in first at around six or seven months of age, and when your baby is around two-and-a-half to three years old, all 20 teeth will have come in. Teething progresses at a different pace for different babies.
Including the wisdom teeth (the third molars), there are 14 permanent teeth each on the top and bottom for a total of 28. In many cases, the front bottom teeth are the first permanent teeth to come in, followed by big back teeth (the first molars), which have chewing power. By the age or 12 or 13, most children will have all their permanent teeth.
Key points for brushing teeth
To get your child into the habit of having teeth brushed, start with the following steps.
1The mouth is a sensitive area. Even before teeth begin to emerge, gently touch the inside of the mouth with your finger to gradually prepare it. When baby teeth start to come in, to begin, a guardian should hold the child on his or her lap with the child lying on the back so that the guardian can inspect the teeth (and count them). Observe how the teeth are coming in and clean them using toothpaste on a piece of gauze to begin with, then gradually get your child used to a toothbrush.
* It's important to brush teeth cleanly, but the really critical thing is for your baby to become used to having their teeth brushed and to begin to like it.
* If your child becomes upset, try again when he or she is in a good mood and try to find a way so that your baby does not cry.
2For finishing brushing, lay the child down, and when they brush their teeth themselves, always have them sit to prevent "toothbrush throat-poking accidents." Along with establishing a habit of finishing brushing, encourage the child to brush their teeth more than twice a day, including after breakfast and before bedtime.
It's also recommended to learn the correct way of brushing teeth during dental visits.
Gargling
Since gargling not only helps prevent colds and cavities but also promotes the development of oral functions, do it while washing hands. There are two basic types of gargling: one with water filling the mouth to clean it, and the other where water is concentrated in the throat to clean that area. To teach your child to gargle, begin by having a guardian provide an example. (After two years of age, have your child gradually practice gargling to clean the mouth.)
Using fluoride
Put fluoride on a cloth to directly apply it to the surface of your child's first baby teeth. This will make the teeth very resistant to cavities. You can have this done at a dental clinic, public health center, municipal health center and elsewhere. Please refer to the following link for specific instructions on using fluoride toothpaste. After your child becomes four years old, have your child gargle to clean the mouth while using fluoridated mouthwash.
The Activity of the Japanese Society of Pediatric Dentistry Website "Recommended Usage of Fluoride Toothpaste for Cavity Prevention (2023 Edition)"
Important information about meals for babies and toddlers
When baby teeth come in, make sure that food and drink does not get stuck to the teeth. In particular, around the time when weaning is finished, because your baby will begin to eat a greater variety of food, it is more likely that food particles containing sugar will remain on the teeth. Eating sweet snacks and being very slow to eat makes it more likely that your child will develop cavities, so when you feed snacks, provide a predetermined quantity at a predetermined time about twice a day. In addition, you need to be careful about juice, electrolyte drinks and lactic drinks, as they can cause cavities. For normal rehydration, provide drinks that are not sweet, such as water or barley tea.
Thumb sucking
Your baby may suck on the thumb or other fingers to relax when feeling lonely or worried. Sucking that creates calluses on the finger can affect the growth of the jaws or cause misaligned teeth, thereby creating an uneven bite. Rather than physically forcing your child stop sucking on fingers, call your child and play together. Thumb sucking doesn't usually require excessive worry, but it can affect jaw development and teeth alignment. Therefore, if frequent thumb sucking continues past the age of 3, it's advisable to consult with a dentist or specialist early on.
Japan Dentist Association website "Oral Prevention and Care" (http://www.jda.or.jp/park/prevent/contents_prevent.html)"Oral Prevention and Care"
Japan Dentist Association websiteFAQ about Children's Oral and Dental Health