Supervise Their Oral Hygiene
Kids tend to be rather superficial when it comes to properly brushing and flossing their teeth. Actually, lots of adults are guilty of that too.
But after getting a space maintainer, parents should check in with their little ones and make sure they don’t skip this essential part of their oral hygiene routine. You can show your child how to clean around the maintainer for the first few times, and then let them do it by themselves.
Change Their Diet
Some foods aren’t exactly compatible with space maintainers. Here is a list of treats your child should avoid while wearing this appliance:
- Sticky foods: Caramel, toffee, and other such candies can stick to the space maintainers and teeth. Unless your child brushes their teeth right after having these treats, they can increase the risk of cavities.
- Hard foods: Nuts, chips, crackers, and similar hard foods require a bit more force to break down while chewing. This can wear down the space maintainer and lead to damage, which means you’ll need to take your child to a pediatric dentist to get a new one ASAP.
- Chewing gum: Most chewing gums aren’t that sticky and won’t dislodge the appliance, but kids like the sugar versions, so as a general rule, they’re not ideal when wearing space maintainers.
When to See a Pediatric Dentist
In most cases, the space maintainer will not cause any issues for the child. However, you might need a consultation with a pediatric dentist if you notice:
- Visible damage to the appliance
- Signs that the permanent teeth are erupting
- The child is complaining of oral pain.
- Sign of cavities or tartar build-up in the nearby teeth
Most pediatric dentists will want to see the child regularly for consultations after getting space maintainers just to make sure their smile is protected. Still, if you notice any of the above signs, it’s worth a visit.
How Alamo Heights Pediatric Dentistry Can Help
Your child lost one of their baby teeth too early. Come see Dr. Angie Sage for a short consultation to find out if space maintainers are the right solution for them.
Request an appointment at Alamo Heights Pediatric Dentistry online, or call us at (210) 822-8381 for a chat.
