Pediatric Dentistry

The role of pediatric dentistry in protecting your child's healthy future.

Your child's teeth (baby teeth) are not simply something that will eventually be replaced. In fact, they have a significant impact on their teeth alignment and overall oral health in adulthood.

Preparing for future tooth alignment: By properly controlling jawbone growth, the likelihood of avoiding orthodontic treatment requiring surgery in the future increases.
Building lifelong habits: By learning about the importance of teeth from a young age, children develop habits that will become a "lifelong treasure"—the ability to protect their own teeth even as adults.

At our clinic, we not only focus on treating cavities, but also prioritize preventative care and teeth alignment checks with a long-term perspective in mind.

Characteristics of baby teeth you should know

Baby teeth are more delicate than permanent teeth. For the following reasons, they are more susceptible to cavities, and the decay progresses very quickly.

1. Thin enamel: The enamel and dentin that protect the surface of teeth are only about half the thickness of those in permanent teeth.
2. Influence of lifestyle habits: Babies often have opportunities to put bottles and sweets in their mouths, which tends to cause sugar to remain in their mouths for longer periods.
3. Shape issues: Food easily gets stuck between teeth, and the uneven alignment of teeth makes it easy to miss spots while brushing.

Key point: It is important to start proper preventative care from the moment teeth begin to erupt.

Two key points to protect yourself from cavities

1. Family prevention with awareness of the "window of infection"

Tooth decay is an infection caused by the bacteria Streptococcus mutans. It is mainly transmitted from family members through saliva.

Period to be careful: 1.5 to 2.5 years of age (known as the window of infection).
Countermeasures: While it is difficult to completely prevent infection, the best prevention methods are to "delay the onset of symptoms" and for "the adults around the child to keep their mouths clean."

2. Establishing rules for your diet

The longer food remains in your mouth, the more easily cavity-causing bacteria can become active.

Avoid mindless snacking: Set specific meal times and create structure in your eating.
Snack selection tips: Limit sweet, sticky snacks.
Drinking tips: Ideally, your daily hydration should consist of tea or water.

About baby teeth

Baby's tooth development schedule

The timing of tooth eruption varies from person to person, but please use this as a general guideline.

| Timing | Condition of erupting teeth | Characteristics and care |
|
| Around 6-7 months old | The lower front teeth begin to erupt first. | Don't worry if there are individual differences in timing. |
| Around 1.5 years old | Molars (deciduous molars) begin to erupt | Babies become able to grind food. |
Around 2 years old | Canine teeth begin to erupt | The ability to bite and cut with the front teeth increases.
| Around age 3 | All baby teeth have erupted | Including the molars, a total of 20 baby teeth will have grown in. |

Tips for making brushing your teeth fun

Step 1: Start by getting used to it.

To begin with, let your child have a toothbrush as one of their "toys." Choose one with a safe shape that won't poke their throat, and let them use it only when you can keep an eye on them.

Step 2: Polish thoroughly with a resting position.

Once you've established the habit of putting a toothbrush in your mouth once a day, try starting by brushing your front teeth. "Brushing while lying down" is recommended because it allows for a good view and you can safely brush all the way to your back teeth.

Tips for preventing children from hating brushing their teeth

Step 3: Find ways to avoid harassment

Up until around age 3, the basic principle is "fun."

Choose a time when you're in a good mood.
If your child is reluctant, don't force them. One option is to simply use dental floss to quickly clean areas prone to cavities (such as the front teeth and between the teeth).

Preventing cavities in children

Treatment and preventive measures at our hospital

If a child develops a cavity, we treat it with the same methods as adults, such as plastic fillings or metal crowns. More importantly, our clinic focuses on preventative measures to keep cavities from forming in the first place.

> Main preventive measures currently being taken:
(※Please add specific procedures performed at your hospital (fluoride application, sealants, etc.) here.)

Please feel free to contact us if you have any concerns at all regarding your child's oral health.

Our clinic also provides the following preventative measures.

Fluorine application

Our Preventive Treatment: Fluoride Application for Strong Teeth That Won't Be Defeated by Cavities At our clinic, we recommend fluoride application to protect your child's precious teeth. Fluoride has three main wonderful effects: Strengthens tooth structure (promotes remineralization): It restores tooth components dissolved by acid, strengthens enamel, and helps create teeth that are resistant to cavities. Suppresses the activity of cavity-causing bacteria: It weakens the activity of cavity-causing bacteria (Streptococcus mutans) and suppresses the production of "acid" that dissolves teeth. Repairs early-stage cavities: If the cavity is in its very early stages, "before a hole forms," fluoride may be able to restore it to a healthy state. Regular care is important The effects of fluoride diminish over time. Applying it every few months in conjunction with regular checkups will help maintain a higher level of preventive effect.

Sealant treatment

In conjunction with fluoride application, we also recommend a treatment called "sealant."

What kind of treatment is it?: This method involves filling and sealing the grooves of the molars, which are prone to cavities, with plastic (resin) beforehand.
Benefits: Food particles are less likely to get stuck, and the bristles of the toothbrush can reach more easily, making it very effective in preventing cavities in the back teeth.

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