Index Oral health of infants and children From birth to 6 months of age 6 to 12 months of age 12 to 18 months of age 18 months to 5 years of age How prevent oral lesions and manage dental emergencies From birth to 6 months of age6 – 8 months of age Ages 4-10 Ways to Relieve Hospital Anxiety for Babies Oral Health of Infants and Children From birth to 6 months of age It is important to take care of your child's teeth and dental (oral) health from birth. Adopting healthy habits can prevent or reduce tooth decay (cavities) in infants and children. Always clean your baby's gums after feeding: Cradle your baby with one arm Wrap a damp cloth around the index finger of your free hand Gently massage the gum tissues Don't put your baby to bed with a bottle, put it in your mouth or allow your baby to breastfeed "at will". Babies normally begin teething between four and six months of age. Your gums may be red and swollen and your saliva flow may increase. To relieve these symptoms, give your baby a clean teething ring or a cold wet washcloth. Cold temperatures are calming, so you may want to cool the teething ring. Remember, dental caries is a transmissible infectious disease. Avoid testing the temperature of the bottle with your mouth, sharing utensils (such as spoons), or cleaning a pacifier or nipple by placing them in your mouth. These practices can help stop the transmission of bacteria that cause tooth decay (cavities). Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay 6-12 months of age Between six and eight months, your baby will get his first tooth. It is important to take care of your teeth right from the start. Adopting healthy habits can prevent or reduce tooth decay in infants and children. Continue to clean your baby's gums after eating. Once a tooth appears, start using a soft-bristled baby toothbrush, without toothpaste, as well as massaging the gum tissues. To relieve teething symptoms, give your baby a clean teething ring or a cold wet washcloth. Cold temperatures are calming, so you may want to cool the teething ring. Begin weaning your baby from the bottle as he starts eating more solid foods and drinks from a cup. Gradually, start offering a cup for water or juice. By the age of 12-14 months, most babies can drink from a cup. Promote healthy habits now by limiting the frequency and quantity of sugary drinks and foods you give to your child. Don't let your baby walk around with a bottle. Become familiar with the normal appearance of your child's gums and teeth. Regularly lift your child's lips to check for suspicious small white or brown spots on his teeth. If you see these white or brown spots, which may indicate dental caries (cavities), make an appointment with your dentist right away. Schedule your child's first dentist appointment. Your child should have an exam by a dentist before his first birthday or within 6 months of the first tooth appearing. If the water you drink is not fluoridated, talk to your pediatrician about fluoride supplements for children. Remember, dental caries is an infectious disease. communicable disease. Avoid testing the temperature of the bottle with your mouth, sharing utensils (such as spoons), or cleaning a pacifier or nipple by placing them in your mouth. These practices can help stop the transmission of cavity-causing bacteria. 12 to 18 months of age By one year of age, your child should have an examoral by a dentist. Continue brushing your child's teeth twice a day with simple cleanser. water Lift your baby's lips regularly to check for suspicious little white or brown spots on his teeth. If you see these white or brown spots, which may indicate dental caries (cavities), make an appointment with your dentist right away. If your child hasn't seen a dentist for their first dental exam, make an appointment. Continue to take steps to avoid transmitting cavity-causing germs to your child. 18 months to 5 years By 30 months of age, all primary (first) teeth should have come into the mouth. By age 3, most children should have stopped using a pacifier and/or thumb sucking. At age 2, begin brushing with a pea-sized amount (small smear) of fluoride toothpaste. Teach your child to spit out toothpaste. Observe to make sure your child does not swallow the toothpaste. Start teaching your child how to brush their teeth. Typically, children will need help with brushing until they have the hand coordination to brush their teeth effectively. Children should be able to brush their teeth unsupervised by age six or seven. Continue to regularly lift your baby's lip to check for small, suspicious white or brown spots on his or her teeth. If you see these white or brown spots, which may indicate dental caries (cavities), make an appointment with your dentist right away. Take your child to his or her dentist for regular checkups. Talk to your dentist if your child is age 3 or older and regularly sucks a pacifier, fingers, or thumb. Fluoride protects teeth from tooth decay (cavities) and helps heal early tooth decay. Fluoride is present in the drinking water of many cities and towns. Regular and frequent exposure to low doses of fluoride is the best way to protect yourself from tooth decay. When fluoride is added to community drinking water, it provides an effective, economical and safe way to reduce tooth decay. To find out if your public water system is fluoridated, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's website, My Water's Fluoride. When there is not optimal fluoride in the water, you can give your child fluoride drops, fluoride tablets or a fluoride rinse. Be sure to talk to your dentist or pediatrician about fluoride supplements. It's up to you to make sure your child grows up with good, strong teeth. Injury PreventionHead, face, and mouth injuries are common among infants and children. Babies and toddlers will fall when crawling or walking, bump into furniture or a wall while running. Protect your child from facial trauma and injury by safeguarding their surroundings and adopting safety habits. How to prevent oral injuries and manage dental emergencies From birth to 6 months of age When changing your baby or when he is in high places, protect him with one hand Do not use a baby walker at any age Always use a safety seat when you travel by car. Make sure it is installed and used correctly at all times. 6 - 8 months of age Protect your baby with one hand when he is in high places and when changing diapers. Do not use a baby walker at any age Always use a safety seat when traveling in a car. Make sure it is always installed and used correctly. Install gates at the top and bottom of stairs and window safety devices. Supervise your child carefully when he is on the stairs. Keep pet food and dishes out of reach of children. Childproof your home. USAsafety locks on cabinets Provide your child's caregivers with emergency telephone numbers, including your dentist's number. Make sure healthcare providers are familiar with managing oral health emergencies. Ages 4-10 Make sure your child wears a seat belt while driving or riding in a car. Make sure your child wears a helmet when riding a bike, skateboard or inline skates. Make sure your child wears appropriate play and sports protective gear (e.g., mouth guard, face shield, helmet) when participating in sports or activities that could result in mouth injury. Adolescence Make sure your child wears a seat belt while driving or riding in a car. If your teen is driving, insist that his or her passengers also wear seat belts. Respect the speed limit. Make sure your child wears a helmet when riding a bicycle, skateboard, inline skates, motorcycle, or all-terrain vehicle (ATV). Make sure your child is wearing appropriate protective play and sports equipment, including mouthguards. Ways to Ease Hospital AnxietyChildrenFor patients of any age, a trip to the hospital can be uncomfortable. However, for pediatric patients, it can be particularly traumatic. In addition to the reason for their visit, which is probably stressful in itself, they are introduced to an environment full of unusual sights and sounds. Depending on their age, they may have unpleasant memories of previous hospital visits. Not to mention, TV shows and movies don't exactly portray hospitals as a bright and cheerful space. As you have probably experienced, when a pediatric patient becomes anxious, administering treatment can become especially difficult. The situation can become emotionally stressful if it is not. only the child, but his parents and, often, the nurse and staff who care for him. To reduce hospital anxiety in younger patients, consider the following 7 tips: - Practice calm Anxiety is contagious. It's easy to feel exhausted during a busy shift, but, when you become tense and stressed, it's usually evident in your voice and body language. A healthcare worker who shows anxiety only serves to increase the nervousness of young patients and their parents. They count on you to stay strong and composed, no matter the situation. Fortunately, calm is also contagious. By breathing evenly and speaking confidently, you can help your patient relax and feel at ease. - Speak Through Experience Many times, pediatric patients are anxious because they don't know what to expect. Will you give them a chance? Will it hurt? Will they have to stay overnight or be separated from their parents? The best way to alleviate their fears is to recognize them and communicate with them. Instead of just talking to parents, include children in the conversation as appropriate for their age and level of understanding. - Listen to music The power of music as an anti-anxiety agent has been studied for decades. Research shows that certain types of music elicited a wide variety of physical and emotional responses. For example, slow rhythms can relax your muscles and calm your mind. By listening to soft, soothing music, either in the exam room or through headphones provided to the patient, you can provide quick anxiety relief to a fearful child. - Use distractions. Nurses who have spent a lot of time in pediatric settings know that a little distraction can go a long way. Take patients' minds off their worries by asking questions about their interests. Get them involved by asking about the school, their favorite TV shows, their pets, and their.