The History of Dentistry

The History of Dentistry

How To Help Your Child Manage Pediatric Dentures

Regina Carlson

Pediatric dentures are often temporary because children grow permanent teeth later after they've lost their milk teeth. It is, however, not uncommon to have children incur permanent gum damage, which leads to the permanent loss of a tooth, or a couple of them. No matter the type of damage, if your child loses their teeth, they might eventually have to wear pediatric dentures.

It's not easy for children to manage dentures because naturally kids are playful and impatient. Below are some key points that will guide you through on how to help your child endure and take care of pediatric dentures.

Teach Your Child Dental Hygiene

Dentures can make a child uncomfortable such that they avoid brushing. Help your child learn the importance of dental hygiene and protecting her teeth. Remind your child every morning or every other day that it's important to brush their teeth in the morning and before bedtime.

Lack of dental hygiene can lead to accumulation of bacteria around the dentures, which can worsen the situation and cause great discomfort for your child. Also, if your child suffers from dental caries, poor hygiene might lead to loss of more teeth.

Identify Need for Replacement and Repairs

Remember, your child's jaw is growing at a fast rate. It is, therefore, likely that the dentures might dislodge or become tight and uncomfortable. Prevent this problem by ensuring dentures are replaced and repaired, in case they become uncomfortable, stop fitting properly, or get a dent.

Remind your child to let you know if the dentures become uncomfortable or break. Also, do not scold the child for breaking the dentures, because later, they might fail to tell you of their discomfort because of fear of being scolded and incur gum damage from damaged or broken dentures.

The Right Care for Pediatric Dentures

Teach your child the right way to clean dentures and handle them when not in use. Pediatric dentures are delicate and should be handled gently and carefully. In the first couple of days, walk your child through the process of removing dentures safely and cleaning them.

You can tell your child to wash the dentures holding a towel beneath to avoid breakage in case the dentures slip. Toothpaste is also not good for dentures, so get a denture cleaner from the chemist or your child's dentist. Also, dentures should stay dipped in water at room temperature throughout the night, so let your child know this and practice it.

Encourage Your Child

Encouraging your child on a regular basis to embrace the dentures is important as it will help them be confident and ready to take care of their new set of teeth. Also, you can remind your child that the situation is temporary and permanent teeth will eventually grow.

However, if the damage is permanent, you can get your child implants when the time is right. Implants have a crown similar to natural teeth, and your child will sure be happy to know that this is an option.

A healthy child is a happy child, so help your child take care of her dentures.  


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About Me
The History of Dentistry

Ever since I was a little girl, I have loved stories about the past. Whether the stories were about horses, wars, exploration or even dentistry, I loved to hear them. I find that knowing the history of something helps it to make sense and feel approachable. I know that some people have dental anxiety, and I too have suffered, but I also feel like the more you know about dental work and its history, the easier it is. This blog is dedicated to exploring the history of dentistry – What did ancient people use for fillings? How did early dentists numb their patients? Who was the first dentist? Those are just some of the questions I plan to answer here. Ready? Okay, let's dive into the history of dentistry together!