Pediatric Dentist in Dubai

Your child should be scheduled for check-ups once every six months. However, your dentist may recommend more visits depending on your child’s personal oral health.

A child’s diet is a major factor concerning tooth decay. Teeth are at risk for decay as soon as the first tooth erupts. An early examination evaluates your child’s risk of developing an oral disease using a caries risk assessment.

Tooth decay, otherwise known as dental caries or cavities, is caused by the acids produced by the bacteria in the dental plaque. Plaque is a thin film of bacteria, saliva and food debris that naturally develops on the tooth surface. These bacteria found in the plaque use sugar to produce acids which attack and destroy teeth and tooth enamel.

Baby Bottle Tooth Decay (BBTD) or Early Childhood Caries (ECC) is attributed to prolonged duration of bottle feeding among children. Putting a child to sleep with a bottle of milk, juice or formula can lead to tooth decay. Giving your child sweetened liquids over a long period of time means protracted contact between the bacteria on the susceptible tooth surfaces and the sugars present in the feeds or liquids. This increases the risk for dental caries.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry suggests that a child should visits the dentist no later than his first birthday. A child should be examined by the dentist as soon as his first tooth erupts, usually between six to twelve months.

Primary or ‘baby’ teeth play a vital role in your child’s over-all development. Healthy and well-aligned teeth are essential for proper nutrition, speech and consequently, self esteem. Without good teeth formation, he may have difficulty in forming words or speaking clearly.

Baby teeth hold space in the jaw for the permanent teeth. Teeth next to a missing tooth may encroach into the space left by the missing tooth thereby resulting to permanent teeth forming in the wrong positions.

X-rays will help determine whether your child’s teeth and jaw are healthy and aligned. It is a safe procedure. It is recommended that a child gets his x-rays taken at an early age in order for his dentist to examine and devise ways to prevent future dental problems.

Thumbsucking is common among children. It is a natural urge for babies to soothe themselves whenever they feel hungry, restless or sleepy. It is best to put a stop to thumbsucking before the permanent teeth come in. This may not only trigger problems with proper chewing and swallowing, it may also cause may cause teeth to grow out of alignment (malocclusion) and position.

Remind. Distract. Reward.

Be supportive. Be open and talk to your child openly about it. Nagging will most likely lead to worse results. A positive reminder is useful for children who are ready to stop the habit.

Distract your child by offering him other comfort objects like toys or even pacifiers. Pacifiers make less damage to the oral makeup and structure than thumbsucking. There are over the counter non-toxic bitter paints that you can apply on his fingernails that may help him keep his thumb off his mouth.

Start a progress chart and reward your child each day that he does not suck his thumb.

1. Use a damp, clean washcloth or a soft toothbrush to clean your baby’s gums after feedings.
2. As soon as your child’s teeth erupt, start brushing them twice daily with fluoridated toothpaste and with an age-appropriate toothbrush.
3. For children less than two years of age, a ‘smear’ of toothpaste is advised, while for children between two to five years of age, a ‘pea-sized’ amount of toothpaste is recommended.
4. Flossing regularly will help clean areas that cannot be reached by a toothbrush.
5. Encourage your child to brush and floss as soon as he has the ability to do it on his own.

1. Never put your child to sleep with a bottle.
2. Avoid sugary foods and drinks and maintain a healthy diet for your child.
3. Do not flavor his pacifiers with sweetened substances like honey or syrups.
4. Brush his teeth twice daily and clean them after giving him medications that may contain high amounts of sugar.

Symptoms of teething babies include restlessness and irritability, gum swelling, sleeping problems, loss of appetite, increased saliva or drooling, rashes or redness in the cheeks, and frequent biting of fingers and other objects into the mouth.

Comfort your baby by giving him something to chew on, such as a cold teeth ring or a cold clean washcloth. Soothe him by gently massaging and rubbing his gums. If none of this works, your doctor may suggest giving your baby acetaminophen to relieve his pain.