Though children rarely need dentures, surprising oral damage or severe
health issues may cause some to lose their teeth at a young age. And while the
loss of baby teeth isn't a problem, the loss of their full-grown adult teeth
will be an issue that may require the use of high-quality dentures.
Unfortunately, children may lack the proper care and restraint that is
necessary for taking care of dentures. Thankfully, parents can work with dental
health specialists to ensure that their child doesn't damage their dentures or
further harm their oral health.
Teach Children Respect for Dentures
Parents concerned with their child's dentures should sit down with the child
and talk about their new oral devices. For example, parents need to reinforce
how dentures help a child's oral health and prevent visits to the dentists.
Most children will appreciate their parents being honest with them in this way.
Just as importantly, parents need to talk to the child about the importance
of daily denture care and maintenance. Also discuss the importance of using
mouth guards and other protective devices while playing with friends or
competing in sports games. In this way, a child can be prepared for rougher fun
with their friends without worrying about damaging their dentures.
Keep Dentures Well Hydrated
Children may have a bad habit of taking their dentures out at the end of the
night and not soaking them in the proper solution. These children aren't
necessarily misbehaving or making a scene but may honestly forget. This new
ritual is one that will be hard for some children to understand at first and
may be ignored the way other nightly care methods are forgotten.
As a result, parents need to go into a child's bedroom at night and make
sure that they remove their dentures and store them in the proper solution. And
when cleaning the dentures, parents also need to make sure that the children
don't soak them in hot water. Excessively warm water may cause the dentures to
warp and struggle to fit in a child's mouth.
Just as importantly, the storage container for a child's dentures should be
strong, durable, and easy to close and open. Try to find a container that has
fun decorations, such as cartoon characters, printed on the side. This step
helps entertain the child and makes their oral care more fun.
Model Proper Behavior for the Child
Parents of children with dentures need to make sure that they model proper
behavior for their child's denture care. For example, parents should make sure
that they brush and floss their teeth every day to show children how to behave.
And if the parent has dentures, they can use their proper care methods to
showcase the simple techniques necessary to keep dentures strong.
Just as importantly, parents should avoid abusing their teeth in ways that
children may mimic. For example, don't tear open plastic wrap with the teeth or
eat hard foods, such as popcorn kernels. Parents who avoid this type of
problematic behavior show their children how to prevent oral health concerns
that could complicate the care of the dentures in negative ways.
Ask for Help When It's Needed
Parents trying to take care of a child with dentures may run into a large
number of concerns that are hard to prepare for without proper help. As a
result, their child may experience issues with their dentures that lead to
further problems with their oral health.
Therefore, parents need to know when to ask for help. There is no shame in
asking a qualified professional for care tips and techniques in this situation.
Please don't hesitate to contact Advanced Dental Care
if you have
questions about your child's dentures.
