Milk teeth are the first teeth to develop. They are temporary and are usually naturally replaced by permanent teeth between the ages of 6 to 14.
It is important that we treat milk teeth just as we do permanent teeth; regular brushing twice a day with toothpaste containing fluoride, as appropriate to the child’s age.
Milk teeth should be brushed without using toothpaste from the appearance of the first tooth and up until the age of two.
It is very important that children brush their teeth every evening until the age of four with the help of an adult. The amount of toothpaste used should be equivalent to the size of grain of corn in order to prevent poisoning when the toothpaste is swallowed.
Milk teeth do not accumulate plaque as do permanent teeth. However visiting a dental assistant from age five is important to teach the child how to brush their teeth and adopt a dietary protocol to prevent cavities.
It is important to fill any holes discovered in the milk teeth as otherwise the bacteria could migrate to the permanent teeth and develop cavities and infections and cause pain and discomfort.
As the name suggests, milk teeth are whiter than permanent teeth.
A complete set of milk teeth consists of 20 teeth as opposed to 32 permanent teeth (including wisdom teeth).
Maintaining healthy teeth also contributes to the child’s health and allows them to adopt a correct, healthy diet and the ability to eat correctly.
In order to prevent early trauma when visiting the dentist, it’s recommended to bring the child for regular check-ups at the dental clinic. In this way the child will become familiar with the clinic’s environment and will feel comfortable and secure on their next visit. The dentist will also take the opportunity to check the teeth in order to identify, as early as possible, concentrations of dental caries that, if treated early, will make more difficult treatments later unnecessary.
Miri Gilad
Certified Dental Assistant
