Pedodontics / Children’s Dentistry
Pedodontics literally means "PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY" and is mainly involved in the examination and monitoring of oral health of children. This branch of dentistry also deals with preventive oral health.
Dental caries is a disease that can be transmitted from the mother to the child. Close contact with the mother or the caretaker causes the transmission of bacteria of dental caries to the child (for example: feeding the child with the same spoon, with which the mother checked the temperature of the food previously; mother checking the flow of the food from the feeding bottle with her mouth or kissing the baby on its face close to the mouth, etc.).
The deciduous teeth first erupt around the sixth month of age and the first permanent tooth erupts at the age of 6. Milk teeth fall out at various times during childhood until the age of 11 and they are replaced by the permanent teeth.
The rapid proliferation of bacteria in the mouth of the child after the eruption of the first teeth will cause dental caries at very early ages if active and regular tooth brushing is not applied.
Bottle feeding or nursing for longer periods or in the night is associated with early tooth decay.
Offering pacifiers to the child after dipping them into honey or jam will also cause dental caries in the deciduous teeth.
Teeth cleaning should start in infancy after the eruption of first teeth. Teeth should be cleaned using a sterile gauze or finger brushes made of silicone after breakfast in the morning and before going to sleep at night.
Ordinary tooth brushing should begin when the child is at the age of two or two and a half. Tooth brushing should start with fluoride-containing toothpaste after 5 years of age, applying just a tiny smear of toothpaste onto the brush. Cleaning the teeth only with water will be sufficient until this age.
The critical time of teeth brushing is night-time before going to sleep. Because saliva is secreted less during the night, this prepares the grounds for dental caries to develop readily.
Fluoride-containing gels applied by your dentist will protect the tooth enamel against developing caries.