For some children, the first visit to the dentist can be very intimidating due to a fear of the unknown. Sometimes, a parent can be nervous about a visit to the dentist based on their past experiences or concerns, and children become apprehensive if they see that their parent is anxious. A pediatric dentist has several years of additional training beyond dental school and has techniques to make the dental office a friendly setting for children. Their offices are geared to the pediatric population with child-friendly themes and decorations to help them feel more comfortable.
The best thing a parent can do to give their child a positive experience at the dentist is to come to the office with a positive attitude about the visit. Sometimes, because of their previous experiences or concerns, they may discuss their experiences in an unfavorable light. Sometimes, parents, unfortunately, use the dentist as a negative reinforcement to get their child to brush, etc. For example, “Johnny, if you don’t brush, the dentist is going to drill your teeth.” Every parent wants their child to have a great start in life and part of that is setting the stage for a great visit to the dentist by discussing the visit in a positive light. If parents are unsure how to discuss something, they can contact their pediatric dentist for tips on how to prepare for the visit in a child-friendly manner.
Dental cavities are the most common chronic disease of childhood — five times more common than asthma. By their eight ht birthday, 60 percent of children have had a cavity. Some of the most common causes of childhood cavities are diet and oral home care. Unfortunately, the common American diet includes frequently eaten snacks or treats that are high in carbohydrates and sugars which can make cavities grow. Your pediatric dentists are very happy to provide recommendations on healthy snacks and treats, as well as great tips on how to care for your child’s teeth and gums.
Every parent wants their child to get the greatest start in life and part of that is good oral health. It’s not uncommon for a parent to be concerned, especially if they have noticed stain or part of a tooth break. Regular visits to a pediatric dentist can help to keep a child in good oral health and if a cavity is present, catch it at an early point when it is easier to treat. My heart goes out to parents who think they have been doing everything correctly only to have a child with extensive cavities. Visits by a child’s first birthday can provide parents with information about proper diet, habits to avoid and oral care tips that can keep their child cavity-free.
I think all parents want the best for their children and are willing to make an effort to keep them cavity-free. It comes down to establishing a dental home with a pediatric dentist by their child’s first birthday, regular preventive visits, offering healthy meal and snack options and developing consistent home care routines. In our practices, we spend a great deal of time educating both parents and children on the best oral health practices. It’s a partnership with parents to identify what is possible and reinforcing positive behaviors in a culturally appropriate manner.
Dental cavities and ways to prevent them are always top of mind. Although there have been great innovations in materials and preventive products, one of the most promising recent products is silver diamine fluoride (SDF). Silver diamine fluoride is a quick, relatively inexpensive and painless medication that halts the decay process as part of a comprehensive treatment plan. SDF shows great promise with very young children, individuals with special health care needs and the other potentially difficult to treat populations. In the case of a very young child, silver diamine fluoride offers the promise of delaying treatment until they are mature enough to undergo dental treatment in a normal clinic setting. Although not a final fix, it is one more option for parents to discuss with their pediatric dentist.
Fluoride Protects Kids Teeth from the Inside
Fluoride is essential for cavity protection because it hardens tooth enamel and it remineralizes teeth, reversing the natural breakdown process caused by acid. Once your dentist recommends a fluoride toothpaste, usually around age 2, you can start brushing your child’s teeth twice a day with a toothpaste that contains this cavity-fighting mineral. The use of topical fluoride (from toothpaste, mouth rinses, and professional in-office treatments) is only one way to prevent tooth decay with this mineral. Swallowed fluoride can also help to strengthen teeth in children up to the age of 16. It enters the bloodstream where it can be used by developing teeth. Drinking water is fluoridated in some communities to help support good oral health. If your drinking water isn’t fluoridated, then your dentist may recommend supplements for your child.
having Healthy Kids Teeth Encourages Healthy Adult Teeth
Baby teeth start to fall out around the age of 6 or 7 and are then replaced by the permanent teeth. Even though your child will lose all of his primary teeth, it is still important to take good care of the first set of teeth. Untreated tooth decay in baby teeth can affect the adult teeth that are still under the gum line.
You can ensure that your kid’s teeth are healthy and cavity-free into adulthood. Start early with good daily oral hygiene habits and dental visits. Ask your dentist about optimal fluoride use. Your child will be grateful that he has a super parent to protect his smile.
We love our patients and love to help them form healthy dental life that will last them a lifetime. For more information call us today to answer all of your questions so get an appointment.
Baby teeth play an important role in helping children develop healthy smiles that grow with them. Here are five important facts about baby teeth that parents need to know to help their children keep their baby teeth healthy and strong.
Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the human body, yet it is always under constant attack by sugar, acid and external forces. You can help keep your child’s tooth enamel strong by giving them more water, which helps rinse teeth clean of harmful bacteria and acids. Additionally, limit sugar and sugary beverages in their diet to help give their enamel a break. Make sure to brush twice a day for two minutes and floss at least once a day.
Baby teeth play a critical role in developing a healthy and aligned adolescent and adult bite. If a baby tooth is lost too soon, it can lead to teeth crowding the vacant spot, which can cause bite alignment problems.
The proper diet can go a long way in helping your child maintain a healthy smile. When shopping for food, try to add more fruits and vegetables that are rich in nutrients and fiber. High fiber foods scrub teeth and keep them clean of food debris and damaging sugar, which can lead to tooth decay and cavities. Adding more magnesium and calcium to your child’s diet can strengthen their tooth enamel, and help prevent cavities.
Usually, natural tooth loss begins around age 6 and concludes around age 12. If your child loses a tooth before then, schedule a visit with our office so that we can take the appropriate actions for the health of their smile.
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that you establish a dental home for your children by their first birthday. This helps you get a dental health plan that works for their smiles and helps them get more comfortable with oral healthcare at an early age.
We love our patients and love to help them form healthy dental life that will last them a lifetime. For more information call us today to answer all of your questions so get appointment.
Orthodontic treatment is a way of straightening or moving teeth, to improve the appearance of the teeth and how they work. It can also help to look after the long-term health of your teeth, gums and jaw joints, by spreading the biting pressure over all your teeth.
Many people have crowded or crooked teeth. Orthodontic treatment will straighten the teeth or move them into a better position. This can improve their appearance and the way the teeth bite together, while also making them easier to clean.
Some people have upper front teeth that stick out and look unsightly. These ‘prominent’ teeth are more likely to be damaged, but orthodontic treatment can move them back into line. Or the way the upper and lower jaws meet can cause teeth to look unsightly and lead to an incorrect bite. Orthodontic treatment may be able to correct both of these problems.
When the teeth don’t meet correctly, this can put strain on the muscles of the jaw, causing jaw and joint problems and sometimes headaches. Orthodontic treatment can help you to bite more evenly and reduce the strain.
The best time is generally during childhood, but adults can have orthodontic treatment too – and more and more are doing so. Age is less important than having the right number of teeth. In children, it may be necessary to wait for enough teeth to come through before starting treatment.
Your dentist may carry out orthodontic treatment. Or they may send you to a specialist who has extra qualifications. The specialist may be in a practice or a hospital department and is called an orthodontist.
The most important thing is to have a full examination. This will usually involve looking at your teeth, taking dental x-rays and making plaster models of your teeth.
Your dental team or orthodontist will then discuss what treatment is possible. Once you are sure you want to go ahead, the treatment can start as soon as you have enough permanent teeth.
You may not have enough room for all your permanent teeth. If so, you may need to have some permanent teeth taken out to make space. Your dental team will tell you whether this is the case. Sometimes space can be made using other forms of treatment.
Orthodontic treatment can be done by many sorts of appliances, which most people call a ‘brace’.
Simple treatment may be carried out with a removable brace (a plate that can be taken out to be cleaned). It has delicate wires and springs attached, which move the teeth using gentle pressure.
Often, teeth need to be guided more accurately than they can be using a removable brace. So a fixed brace is used. This has brackets and bands which are temporarily stuck to the teeth. A flexible wire joins all the brackets and allows the teeth to be moved. You can’t take the appliance out yourself, so it is called a fixed appliance.
It is sometimes possible to change the way the jaws grow, using a functional brace. This works by using the power of your jaw muscles and can help with certain types of problems.
Fixed braces are not always made of metal. Plastic and ceramic can be used, especially for adults.
As well as a brace some people need to wear headgear. You usually only need to wear it in the evening or at night. If you do not wear it in the way you have been told, your front teeth may stick out at the end of treatment.
They are tough, clear plastic ‘aligners’ (molds) that are used to straighten teeth. Several sets of specially molded, slightly different aligners are made for each patient. Each set is worn for two weeks before being replaced with the next one. They are made from clear plastic, so they are nearly invisible. This means that no one need know you are straightening your teeth.
The aligners should be worn for 22 to 23 hours a day for the best results. They can be easily removed for eating, drinking, brushing, and cleaning in between your teeth. You need to have all your adult teeth before you can have this treatment.
Sometimes delicate elastic bands are attached to a fixed brace to help move the teeth. Your orthodontist will tell you if you need elastics.
The length of treatment depends on how severe the problem is, and it may take anything from a few months to two-and-a-half years. Most people can be treated in one to two years.
When treatment is finished the teeth need to be held in position for a time. This is called the ‘retention’ period, and the appliances that hold the teeth in place are called retainers.
The retainers hold newly straightened teeth in position while the surrounding gum and bone settles. The retainers can be removable or fixed, depending on the original problem.
All appliances may feel strange at first, and can cause discomfort. If the problem doesn’t go away, the orthodontist may be able to carry out adjustments to help. Teeth are usually uncomfortable immediately after a brace has been adjusted, but this will settle.
Orthodontic braces usually need adjusting every 4 to 6 weeks. Your orthodontist will tell you how often your brace will need adjusting.
Success depends on both the skills of the orthodontist and the enthusiasm and helpfulness of the patient (and parents, if the patient is a child). It is important to follow any instructions given by the orthodontist and to go to any appointments you have with them.
The success of the treatment also depends on the commitment of the patient. For children’s orthodontic treatment the patient must be as keen as the parent.
Your teeth can be damaged if you don’t look after them properly during treatment. The braces themselves will not cause damage, but poor cleaning and too many sugary foods and drinks can cause permanent damage to your teeth. Brackets, wires, and braces can trap food and cause more plaque than usual to build up. So you need to clean your teeth and appliance very thoroughly.
Even after retention, it is normal for minor tooth movements to happen throughout life. So no permanent guarantee can be given. However, it is unusual for teeth to alter enough to need more treatment.
The first thing to do is to visit your dental team and get their advice. Your dental team will know whether you need treatment and will make the necessary arrangements.
It is important to keep having your teeth checked by your dental team while you are having orthodontic treatment. You also need to take extra care of your teeth and mouth:
We love our patients and love to help them form healthy dental life that will last them a lifetime. For more information call us today to answer all of your questions so get an appointment.
Even before babies have teeth, their mouths need care to protect against damage and decay later in life. Here’s some expert advice:
A pacifier won’t hurt jaw development or tooth alignment, provided he doesn’t use it constantly or stick to it for too long. we prefer a pacifier to thumb sucking because children tend to stop using the pacifier sooner.
When shopping for a pacifier, safety is key. You don’t want any pieces coming apart, and you don’t want babies swallowing anything. I would look for something that’s solid and in one piece.
Pacifier nipples come in a few different shapes, from the rounder bottle type to flattened orthodontic versions with a wider tip. Orthodontic pacifiers are supposed to keep your baby’s jaws in proper alignment, but the frequency, intensity, and duration of sucking are more likely to affect your child’s bite than a pacifier type. Use whichever one your baby prefers.
Pacifiers are available in latex or silicone. The material probably doesn’t make much of a difference to your child’s teeth, but latex nipples aren’t dishwasher safe. You’ll have to wash them by hand to prevent bacteria buildup.
You’ll want to clean your baby’s gums in the first few months. This is a low-tech operation; a dampened piece of gauze or washcloth works fine. Or you can buy finger cots, which you slip over your finger and rub along the gums. That also helps with teething. It makes the gums feel a little better.
The dental care regimen needs to get more serious once tooth buds appear. As soon as teeth come in they will be targets for plaque. You want to brush two times a day. Use any children’s toothbrush with a small head and soft bristles. Once your child is a little older, a brush with a musical timer can help with learning how long to brush — 2 minutes at a time.
Toothpaste recommendations have changed in the last couple of years. Today, the American Dental Association advises using a fluoride paste as soon as the first tooth appears. any brand is OK. Use a smear of toothpaste about the size of a grain of rice until age 3, and then a pea-sized amount from ages 3 to 6.
Don’t forget to floss, which you should start to do as soon as the baby’s first teeth come in side by side. Disposable dental floss holders will make the job easier for both of you. Go in between the teeth gently.
Ask your pediatric dentist:
We love our patients and love to help them form healthy dental life that will last them a lifetime. For more information call us today to answer all of your questions so get an appointment.