Importance of Routine Dental Visits for Your Child

Importance of Routine Dental Visits for Your Child

by | Oct 5, 2020 | Dental

Routine dental visits are essential for all people of any age, starting around three years old. As long as there are teeth present, there is the possibility of cavities, gum disease and any other mouth or tissue abnormality. 

What Happens at Your Child’s Appointment? 

Your child is recommended to have a check-up exam and a dental cleaning at least every six months with their dentist and dental hygienist. During these appointments, your child’s teeth will be completely cleaned with various tools, stains removed with polishing, fluoride treatments provided to prevent cavities, oral hygiene instruction demonstrated and reviewed, and their teeth and mouths thoroughly checked over to assess for health.

A diagnosis will be made regarding their teeth and gums’ health, and any necessary referrals will be made, such as to an orthodontist. These visits are critical times to check in to make sure they are doing an adequate job with their brushing and flossing and to set new goals for them regarding keeping their teeth and gums healthy at home.

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Common Issues During Exfoliation/ Eruption 

Several common issues occur in children’s mouths when they are losing baby teeth and getting adult teeth, and these issues are looked for and assessed each time your child comes in for their check-up. Periodically, x-rays will be taken to assess the adult teeth’ position under the gums and the health of the baby teeth. Listed below are several common issues that occur in children’s mouths that may affect future spacing and alignment:

  • Premature loss of a baby tooth 
  • Delayed loss of a baby tooth 
  • Eruption of an adult tooth behind a baby tooth
  • Ectopic (meaning out of place) adult canines or any other adult tooth under the gums 
  • Hypoplastic enamel of adult teeth (meaning the enamel didn’t form properly)
  • Extra or missing adult teeth 

A check-up exam and x-rays will give a precise diagnosis if any of these conditions arise, and the necessary steps can be taken. A referral may be made to an orthodontist. A baby tooth may need to be extracted to create space, etc. It is vital to catch these problems as early as possible to create a solution. Make sure to bring your child in every six months for their cleaning and check-up exam. 

If your child is due for their cleaning and check-up exam, or you have any questions about the health of your child’s teeth, we encourage you to contact us today to schedule an appointment. 

Learn How To Prevent Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

Learn How To Prevent Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

by | Mar 23, 2019 | Dental

What is bottle decay?

Cavities found on the upper, front teeth in small children are commonly known as bottle decay, nursing caries, early childhood caries or baby bottle mouth. The cavities are localized to the upper front teeth because when a baby drinks from a bottle or nipple, their tongue covers the lower teeth, protecting them. These cavities often develop before the molars erupt.

How do babies get cavities?

Like adult cavities, bottle decay is caused by a combination of bacteria + carbohydrates + susceptible tooth surfaces. When we ingest carbohydrates, such as the natural sugars found in milk, they can be used by cavity-causing bacteria to grow. This bacteria then creates plaque, which is acidic. When this acid is allowed to sit on the teeth undisturbed, it starts to break down the protective enamel layer. When this reaction often happens, such as with a nightly bottle before sleep, the enamel decays and a cavity develops. Our mouths do have some self-cleaning tricks, such as producing watery saliva, however, when we fall asleep, this saliva production slows down and if proper brushing is not done, the acidic plaque is allowed to sit on the teeth for a long period.

baby bottle tooth decay

How can I prevent decay in my children’s teeth?

Children should always go to bed with a clean mouth. This starts with wiping the teeth and gums with a wet cloth after nursing or bottles. Once the molars erupt, a soft toothbrush should be used at least twice a day to remove plaque.

The current guidelines from The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry note that fluoride toothpaste can start being used as soon as teeth erupt. For children under the age of 3, it is recommended to use a small “smear” amount of toothpaste, with adult assistance. Fluoride is the only substance that can help “heal” acid damage, otherwise called “demineralization.”

When parents are brushing children’s teeth they should lift the upper lip to ensure the toothbrush is removing all of the plaque, especially along the gum line where it tends to collect.

Children should only have water in bed with them as it does not contain carbohydrates. Night nursing, especially on-demand nursing should be reduced as early as possible to minimize cavity risk. Breast milk on its own has not been proven to cause cavities. However, if there is plaque is present on the teeth, and then breast milk is allowed to sit on the tooth surface as well, this can cause cavities over time. Increased frequency of feedings also increases the risk of cavities.

Children can start to develop cavities as soon as their teeth erupt; this is why every child should be assessed by a dentist within six months of their first tooth erupting. Dental professionals may be able to diagnose early signs of cavities and provide solutions to reduce the risk or slow the progression. Contact us if you have any questions, or would like to schedule a consultation or dental visit.

How Smoking Affects Your Oral Health

How Smoking Affects Your Oral Health

by | Dec 27, 2018 | Dental

Smoking tobacco can cause many serious health issues, including fatal diseases such as cancer. Smoking can also cause significant and financially costly damage to the gums, mouth, and teeth, specifically:

Tooth staining: the nicotine and tar in tobacco rapidly stain teeth yellow. Teeth can even become brown with heavy smoking.

Gum disease and tooth loss: research suggests that smoking may cause almost 75% of adult periodontal diseases. Smoking supports plaque that leads to gum disease. When you smoke, it reduces oxygen and nutrients that flow to the gums to keep them healthy and resistant to bacteria. Gum disease also progresses more rapidly amongst smokers. As the disease progresses, teeth can be lost.

More challenges when treating oral health issues: smoking can wear down teeth and weaken jawbone through infections or decay. As a result, it may be more difficult to replace lost teeth, for instance with implants and bridges. Because smoking weakens the immune system, treating gum disease may be more difficult and slower.

Bad breath: many people who smoke find that they suffer from bad breath. This may affect confidence levels and interpersonal relationships.

Oral cancer: smoking is a leading cause of mouth cancer. Many studies indicate that people who smoke are at a significantly higher risk of developing oral cancer than people who do not smoke.

Increased sensitivity to hot and cold: when damaged gum tissue leads to receding gums and exposed tooth roots, sensitivity to hot and cold develops.

Smoking increases your risk of developing nicotine addiction, cancer (of the throat, lungs, and/or other parts of the body), heart disease and/or stroke, bronchitis, premature ageing, mouth sores, reduced sense of smell and taste, decreased immune system responsiveness, increased heart rate, difficulties breathing.

Steps to take if you smoke

Visit your dentist routinely: do not miss routine visits because these full examinations will allow your dentist to ensure your overall oral health is good and to identify any budding issues early on. Your dentist not only examines your gums and teeth, but your mouth including cheeks, tongue, and throat, particularly for early signs of oral cancer and periodontal disease (gingivitis, gum disease).

Your dentist will advise you on how frequently you should visit.

Special kinds of toothpaste for people who smoke: your dentist may recommend a toothpaste targeted to smokers, which may reduce staining on teeth. Your dentist can recommend a product.

Mouthwashes: these can be used to freshen breath but are a short-term solution.

Receive support to stop smoking: your dentist may be able to provide references to organizations or groups that can support you to quit smoking and provide recommendations for medications to aid the process.

If you or a loved one is smoking, schedule a visit for a full examination or further information on the impacts of smoking on oral and overall health and how to quit smoking.

Benefits Of Choosing Dental Implants

Benefits Of Choosing Dental Implants

by | Oct 11, 2018 | Dental

What Are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are a type of tooth replacement option to replace missing or damaged teeth. A dental implant is a permanently fixed tooth replacement option, unlike a partial denture. The dental implant is a metal post that is bio-compatible with your body. The implant is surgically placed into the jawbone for maximum stability. This is similar to how natural teeth are fixed into the jawbone. Once the metal post is placed into the jawbone, the tooth crown portion is attached to the top of the metal post.

Benefits Of Dental Implants

Increased Confidence

Many people worry about loose or ill-fitting dentures. As a result, they may avoid smiling due to fear of the dentures slipping or moving around. Patients with dental implants report a higher sense of confidence when it comes to smiling for photos.

corn-dental-implants

No Dietary Limits

Many denture wearers find that they have to adjust the type of foods they eat. This is because their dentures do not allow them to chew certain foods easily. Foods such as steak and corn can be challenging to eat with dentures or partial dentures. However, with dental implants, eating those foods are the same as when you eat with your natural teeth.

Bone Retention

Since your natural teeth are firmly located in the jawbone, the jawbone is stimulated, which in turn help with jawbone retention and prevents bone loss. Bone loss in the jawbone results in a sunken facial appearance. By having a dental implant placed in the bone like natural teeth, the jawbone is preserved, and the facial appearance can be retained.

Durable

With proper care and maintenance, dental implants can last a lifetime, same as your natural teeth. An added benefit of dental implants is that they cannot develop cavities or dental decay, unlike natural teeth.

If you are looking to replace a missing or lost tooth, dental implants should be first on your list of potential tooth replacement options along with a dental bridge and partial dentures. Contact us for more information.

How To Stay Healthy Between Dental Visits

How To Stay Healthy Between Dental Visits

by | Jun 27, 2018 | Dental

We all love having that fresh mouth feeling after leaving the dental office. Why not keep that fresh mouth feel between your dental visits? Follow these tips to keep your smile healthy until your next dental visit.

Floss Regularly

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Regular flossing keeps your gums healthy and firm. Without adequate flossing, inflammation and gum disease occurs. Gums that are swollen, red, swollen and bleed easily when brushing and flossing are signs of gum disease. Many patients experience some bleeding during teeth cleaning if they do not floss enough or properly. Flossing and brushing at least once daily reduces the chances of gum disease. While it is recommended to floss after every meal, it is not always possible. However, flossing before sleeping is most beneficial if you can only floss once a day.

Use The Proper Brushing Technique

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Brushing is only effective when the right technique is used. The rolling stroke brushing technique is easy to follow. Ask your dental professional to show you how to use the rolling stroke technique.

The technique differs when using an electric toothbrush. Your goal is to guide the electric toothbrush along the gumline since the brush is performing the brushing action. Be sure to apply pressure that is not too light or heavy.

Brushing for at least two minutes is recommended. However, you may need to brush longer depending on the health of your mouth.

Avoid Tooth-Staining Foods

During your teeth cleaning, some external stains from teeth are being removed. Avoid foods that easily stain teeth to reduce the frequency of dental cleanings needed. Foods that stain include coffee, tea, red wine, etc. Rinsing your mouth after having these foods. Habits such as smoking require more frequent cleanings as well.

Use Special Cleaning Tools

A regular flossing and brushing oral care routine works for most patients. However, sometimes special cleaning aids must be used for better reach or access. Your dental professional will recommend cleaning aids suited for your oral health.

Keep these tips in mind when it comes to your oral care routine for a healthy mouth between dental visits. Contact us to schedule your dental visit if it has been a while.