The primary or milk teeth begins to erupt at about 6 months of life with the complete set in place by 2.5 years of age, and the entire set is replaced by the age of 14. The benefits of some of the preventive dental measures are outlined below.

Maternal care during pregnancy: the teeth begin to form during the second trimester of pregnancy. It is very important that the maternal diet includes sufficient amounts of calcium, potassium, and fluoride for optimal tooth mineralization. Good tooth structure has greater resistance to decay than hypomineralized teeth.

Routine oral hygiene: for the first 6 months, though there are no teeth, after each nursing, end it with a spoonful or two of water to wash down the milk. Gradually, the gums can be just wiped with a gauze pad or soft cotton to remove any residual bacteria. The baby also gets used to this habit, and once the teeth are in, there are lesser bacteria for the decay process to begin.

Once the teeth begin to erupt, the nursing habits also need to be modified to ensure the baby is not allowed to go to sleep with a bottle. This is a common practice to put the baby to sleep and should be avoided to reduce the occurrence of nursing bottle caries.

Fluoride application: fluoride has been shown to have significant benefits in preventing caries. Once routine dental visits begin, then the dentist will be able to tell if fluoride needs to be applied. This can happen either in the form of a gel or varnish that is applied in the dental office or as a paste that is used at home. This helps in building resistance to decay.

Pit and fissure sealants: the tooth has a number of pits and fissures which are 8 times more vulnerable to decay than other surfaces. Deep pits are shown to harbor more bacteria and thereby greater incidence of caries. There are sealants which are thin resins that can be applied on the tooth, which can reduce bacteria accumulation and further decay.

Space maintainers: in the event that a child has lost a tooth, either due to trauma or decay and subsequent infection, then a space maintainer should be placed within the next 3 months. This helps in maintaining the space and establishing a good bite during the transition phase and later, once the permanent teeth are in place.

Orthodontic treatment: if there is malocclusion, then early intervention helps by reducing treatment time and getting better results as the teeth and periodontium are still very elastic and are more malleable to movement.

By doing these preventive measures early in life, the result is a child who has healthier teeth, less decay, less pain, and a happy smile all the time!

Benefits of Preventive Dental Treatments in Children

Tooth eruption is not only a sign that your child is acquiring the ability to tear, bite, and chew food but it also effects the baby's weight gain, immunity strengthening and development of the brain indirectly.
It is observed that most babies get their first tooth at around 6 months after birth, but they may start gnawing as early as 3 months or as late as 14, and may vary from child to child.  This depends on many factors, one of them being as when the parents started sprouting teeth and whether or not your baby was a preemie. In case of premature and low birth weight babies there may be a delay in their first tooth eruption. Children should have a full set of primary teeth by the time they are almost three.
Babies generally undergo the following Teething Timeline:
6 months: lower central incisors
8 months: upper central incisors
10 months: lower and upper lateral incisors
14 months: first molars
18 months: canines
24 months: second molars
 Symptoms of Teething:
Babies start gnawing to relieve the pain of an emerging tooth.
Puffy and red gums
Excessive drooling
Irritation, especially at night
Tugging Ear
A change in eating habits
Methods to Soothe the Pain:
Teething is a physiological process, no major intervention is needed.
Distraction: You can often soothe your child simply by diverting their minds off the pain by any new toy.
You shouldn't use teethers and topical teething gels to soothe the pain as they might be toxic to babies.
Symptoms of teething usually disappear when the tooth breaks through the gum. In case your baby is teething and the pain prevails , the following signs and symptoms are seen - high fever, diarrhea, or vomiting, highly inflamed gums or blue gum (Cysts) or any kind of lesion or bumps on the gums. In such case you should consult the pediatrician for further guidance

When Will My Newborn Start Teething?

Post pregnancy, your first priority is to lose the extra weight you gain during pregnancy. Even though it is important to get healthy and toned again, it is equally important that you do not skip on nutrients. Your body is now using all its resources to produce breastmilk for your baby. What you eat doesn t always affect the breast milk s quality, but you do need to eat the right things to stay healthy.

Here are some diet tips you can follow - 

1. Stop counting calories: Generally, women who breastfeed need to eat 500 calories more than women who aren t. In other words, you need to consume 2000-2500 calories every day. However, you don t need to count calories throughout the day. Instead, you should eat when you are hungry. Also, the right number of calories depend on how your metabolism works, your weight and how regularly you breastfeed.

2. Lose the weight slowly and steadily: Honestly, pregnancy weight takes at least a year to get rid of. So don t rush, and give in to crash diets to lose weight. A sudden weight loss and calorie drop can affect your milk supply. Instead, focus on losing 1 pound every week.

3. Choose healthy foods: Complex carbs, vitamins and good fats are important for a healthy diet, since you need the nutrition and durable energy to sustain not only yourself, but also the newest addition to your family.

4. Eat fish-but carefully: Fish such as salmon is good for you, since it contains DHA (Omega 3 fatty acids) which has an important role in the development of your baby s brain and eyes. Limit your consumption however, since maximum fish contain mercury, which in high amounts, can harm your child.

5. Take your vitamins: Don t stop taking your prenatal multivitamin and mineral supplements. Calcium, vitamin D and DHA supplements can enrich your diet and help you nurse your baby better.

Foods That Improve Breastmilk Supply-

Fenugreek
Oats
Brewer s Yeast
Alfalfa
Garlic
Fennel
Sesame Seeds
Nuts
Lactation Cookies

Nutritional Requirements For Healthy Breastfeeding!

There is an ongoing intense debate on what to eat, how to eat and when to eat during pregnancy. While quality eating is becoming crucial by the day for everyone, it becomes vital for a pregnant woman. It is a widely known and well-established fact that what a woman eats and drinks during pregnancy is the primary source of nourishment for the baby. So, the experts suggest that a would-be mother should choose a wide array of healthy foods and beverages in order to provide the required nutrients that the baby needs for optimal growth and development.

Foods to eat during pregnancy:
To improve prenatal nutrition, you should eat more fruits, lean protein, vegetables, whole grains and of course, dairy products. You must fill half of your plate with fruits and vegetables, 1/4th of it with lean protein and the remaining 1/4th with whole grains. It is also vital to include dairy products in each meal.

During pregnancy, you should eat more protein, which can be found in dairy products, particularly Greek yogurt. Also, increase your intake of soybean, peanuts, chickpeas, beans, and peas in your daily diet as they are excellent plant-based source of iron, folate, protein, and fiber. Sweet potatoes should always find a place in your diet since they contain copious amounts of beta-carotene, which is converted to Vitamin A in the body. Salmon contains Omega 3-fatty acids such as DHA and EPA, which are required for the development of the baby s brain and the eyes.

Foods to avoid during pregnancy:
To enhance the good effects of these helpful foods, you should also curb down those that can prove to be detrimental to your health. Some of these include:

Alcohol: Alcohol can directly pass to the baby through the umbilical cord, and heavy consumption of alcohol during pregnancy is linked with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders which may cause physical issues along with learning and behavioral problems in the unborn child.
Fishes with high mercury level: Fishes with high levels of methylmercury can prove to be detrimental to the baby. It is a toxic substance which may pass through the placenta and may prove to be harmful to the unborn baby's brain, nervous and renal system.
Raw meat: A mother may pass the Toxoplasma infection to her baby, which may lead to blindness and mental disability in later life of the child by consuming raw meat. So, it is essential to avoid sushi, uncooked poultry, raw cookie dough, homemade ice cream, tiramisu and raw and undercooked sprouts.
Note that even though pregnancy diet is referred to as eating for two, it doesn't mean that you will have to consume twice as much food as you used to consume. You are not eating for two until your second trimester, and the best thing you can do is to add 300 calories more along with the general dietary intake. So, consult with your doctor and frame a proper diet plan along these lines as suggested above to deliver a healthy baby.

Prenatal Care - Know What To Include In Your Diet!

A mother s milk is the best form of nutrition for a baby. A baby should ideally be breastfed for the first six months after birth. However, in some cases, a woman may not be able to produce enough milk to satiate the baby. This can be caused by a number of reasons such as nutritional deficiencies or infrequent feeding. This condition may be referred to as agalactia.

Homeopathy is often used to increase production of breast milk. This form of medication has negligible side effects and hence is ideal for a new mother. Some of the most recommended homoeopathic remedies for this condition are:

Pulsatilla: This is prescribed in cases where the flow of milk is completely absent or scanty. The mother may also complain of swollen breasts that are painful to touch. She may also suffer from depression and have an urge to cry frequently.
Ricinus communis: This homeopathic remedy helps increase the production and flow of breast milk in nursing women. This medication is usually prescribed in a low potency for such a condition.
Galega Officinalis: The name of the homeopathic remedy itself is derived from the word  gala  meaning milk. In a low dosage, this medicine can be used to increase the production and flow of breast milk for nursing mothers.
Ignatia: Ignatia is often prescribed to treat sensitive women who may be experiencing shock or even grief after childbirth. It also helps regulate lactation and increase the flow of breast milk. Such women often express an aversion to cold, tobacco, alcohol and strong odours.
Calcarea Phosphorica: A scant production of breast milk accompanied by frequent headaches, heartburn and rheumatic pain can be treated with calcarea phosphorica. It also helps deal with shock that may be caused by childbirth. Women who benefit from this medicine often feel worse when exposed to cold or damp conditions.
Along with these homoeopathic remedies, some changes in how a baby is being fed can also help enhance the production of milk. Allow the baby to nurse for as long as required and do not time the baby s feeding. When the baby appears to stop feeding, switch him or her to the other breast. You could also try nursing the baby at night when your prolactin levels are higher. Prolactin is the hormone responsible for milk production. Massaging the breasts with oil can also help increase the production of breast milk. 

Homeopathic Remedies For Increasing Breastmilk!

It is that time of the year when insects are all around. Suddenly one feels a buzzing sound or an itchy feel in the ear. To your horror, one feels a live insect is in your ear, which can be extremely annoying and is like a nightmare. Insects often get stuck when they enter our ears as they cannot fly or crawl out. They try to find their way out and their movements inside our ears can be very uncomfortable, painful and can be itchy as well. Moreover, they can easily produce infection.

In this scenario, do not try to remove an insect with cotton swab, tweezers or hair clip as it will make the situation worse and can lodge the insect deeper into the ear canal, which can possibly damag the eardrum, leading to permanent hearing loss. If an individual is not certain about the potential harm taht can be caused by the insect in the ear, one should seek medical care immediately. Insects in the ear are common reasons for visits to doctor's clinic, especially in children.

If one suspects an insect in ear, one may experience pain, swelling, blood or crackling. One may even feel biting, stinging, hearing loss or dizziness. It is best to stay calm in this situation as being active may lodge the bug further in ear or cause it to move further back or cause serious damage to the sensitive eardrum

One way to try to remove a bug in ear is by tilting the ear toward the ground and attempt to wiggle the ear. Grasp the earlobe and give it a wiggle. If the bug is not too far into ear canal, it may fall out on its own. If the bug is still alive and is not too far inside of the ear canal, it may simply come out on its own. If one stays calm and keep objects including fingers away from ears, it is likely that the bug will find its way back out of ear.

One can also try to flush the ear with warm water with a dropper or a bulb syringe. This can be done by holding head upright and stretching the ear canal by pulling the outer ear and then putting a steady stream of warm water into ear. Tilt head to the side to drain out the ear. Do not try this if one suspects that ear drum has been ruptured to prevent additional damage.

To avoid stinging or eardrum rupture from scratching or biting , one may use a drop or two of mineral, baby, or olive oil inside your ear canal to kill the insect. Finally, visit an ENT specialist doctor as they can remove the insect by special suction devices. Post insect removal, one must look out for signs of infection as swelling, dizziness, hearing loss, fever, and pain. Finally follow up with ENT specialist or Otolaryngologist for the final opinion.

How to Remove Insect from Ear at Home? 

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