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. 

What is a Night Guard and When is it Used?

What is a Night Guard and When is it Used?

by | Sep 2, 2020 | Dental

A night guard is exactly that, a guard worn at night. It is a somewhat flexible tray that sits over your teeth. The goal of a night guard is to act as a cushion to protect the teeth and the jaw from wear occurring from nocturnal habits such as grinding and clenching. Teeth grinding is when the top and bottom teeth rub together. Teeth clenching is when the jaws press the teeth together, like a firm constant bite. Both habits are subconscious and are a form of a sleep motion disorder, and both are very common. 

How Does a Night Guard Help? 

When worn properly and frequently, a night guard helps to prevent wear on the tooth’s biting surfaces. The night guard absorbs the strong biting or clenching forces from the jaws and acts as a cushion to absorb these forces. Additionally, when wearing a night guard, the biting and clenching forces are evenly distributed throughout the jaw and teeth. There are several different models of night guards to choose from depending on your needs and what will work best for you. Some are thinner, some are thicker, some can be worn on the top teeth, some can be worn on the bottom teeth.

Important Tips 

  • Wear your night guard every night for the best protection
  • It is difficult to adjust when first wearing a night guard, so give it a few weeks until you get comfortable wearing one
  • Inspect the night guard periodically for damage. It may need replacement if there is excessive damage
  • Clean your night guard daily with a toothbrush and warm water. Avoid hot water because it may warp the plastic 
  • You night guard should fit snugly on your teeth. Let your dentist know if the fit feels loose. 

If you think that you are clenching or grinding your teeth and you think that you would benefit from a night guard, we encourage you to contact us today to schedule an appointment. 

What Is Herpetic Gingivostomatitis?

What Is Herpetic Gingivostomatitis?

by | Aug 4, 2020 | Dental

What Is Herpetic Gingivostomatitis?

Hermetic gingivostomatitis is a viral infection that affects the oral tissues and lips. It’s most common initial outbreak affects children under 5, but can occur in both youth and adulthood. The virus that causes herpetic gingivostomatitis is herpes virus simplex type 1 (HVS1.) There are two main types of the herpes virus: type 1 affecting the mouth, eyes and face, and type 2 affecting the genitals and lower half of the body. By age 35, it is estimated that up to 90% of the population will test positive for HSV1, and 50% of those people have exhibited reactivation of symptoms.

What Causes It? 

The cause of gingivostomatitis is a virus called herpes simplex type 1. Transmission of the virus occurs through oral secretions and saliva. Examples of transmission are sharing utensils, kissing, and children putting unclean hands or objects in their mouths. Reactivation of the virus can be caused by general illness, stress, fatigue and immunosuppression. 

What Are The Symptoms?

The symptoms of initial infection with the HSV1 are fever, general feeling of fatigue, oral blisters and lesions, red puffy gums, irritability and loss of appetite. The initial infection can even cause mild necrosis of gum tissue. The virus lays dormant in a facial nerve (typically the trigeminal ganglia along the jaw) until reactivation. Reactivation of the HSV1 causes cold sores and fever blisters. Reactivation of HSV1 into herpes labialis can be frequent for some people and infrequent for others. 

Treatment Of Herpetic Gingivostomatitis

The treatment for herpetic gingivostomatitis is rest and time. If there is pain, a mild pain relief medication can be used. Typically, the virus and its associated symptoms will go away on their own in a week or less. Treatment for a cold sore/fever blister includes over-the-counter anti-viral medication, pain relief medication, lip balms and stress-relieving techniques. In all cases, hydration is essential and helps speed up healing. 

If you believe your child may be experiencing symptoms of herpetic gingivostomatitis, or you have any questions about the herpes simplex virus, we encourage you to contact our office today to schedule an appointment.  

All You Need To Know About Canker Sores

All You Need To Know About Canker Sores

by | Jul 3, 2020 | Dental

“Canker sore” is the layman’s term for an aphthous ulcer. They typically appear as small, flat, white or off-white lesions on the soft tissues of the mouth such as the inner lips, the base of the gums, under the tongue and on the cheeks. They do not appear on any keratinized tissues, such as that of the top of the tongue. Canker sores differ from cold sores in that they do not appear on the lips, and they are not contagious. 

What Causes Canker Sores?

There is not always an easy answer to this question. Some people are more prone to canker sores than others, and some people rarely get them. A combination of factors may cause an outbreak. Possible causes may include: 

  • Emotional or physical stress 
  • Lack of sleep or fatigue 
  • Sensitivity to certain foods such as acidic fruits and vegetables (tomato, lemons)
  • Minor trauma from an injury or dental work 
  • Tongue or cheek biting 
  • Low vitamin b12 levels 
  • Use of toothpaste or mouthwash that contains sodium lauryl sulphate 
  • Certain oral bacteria 
  • Certain medical conditions such as celiac disease, inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis, Behcet’s Disease and HIV/AIDS

Risk Factors For Canker Sores 

Canker sores most commonly affect young adults and youth and are more common in females than in males. In addition, there is also a family link for canker sores, whether this is from a genetic predisposition or from environmental factors such as a similar diet or allergens. 

How to Prevent Canker Sores 

Canker sores are sometimes inevitable, but there are ways to reduce the frequency and severity of them. 

  • Avoiding foods that are known irritants (such as spicy, acidic and tart foods)
  • Take a vitamin b12 supplement if you have a diet low in vitamin b12
  • Reduce your stress
  • Protect your mouth from irritants and injuries 
  • Find a toothpaste and mouthwash that works for you 
  • Maintain good oral hygiene 

Treatment of Canker Sores 

The most important factor is time. Canker sores will usually go away on their own in a week or less. If the canker sore is particularly large, it may take several weeks. Some ways to help speed up the healing or relief the symptoms are:

  • Off the shelf oral or topical medications for pain relief 
  • Dab magnesium hydroxide (milk of magnesium) on the sore several times a day 
  • Rinsing with salt water morning and evening 
  • Apply ice to the area by sucking on ice chips 

If you get frequent canker sores or have any questions about preventing canker sores, we encourage you to contact our office today to schedule an appointment. 

What is Toothbrush Abrasion & How to Prevent It

What is Toothbrush Abrasion & How to Prevent It

by | Mar 4, 2020 | Dental

Toothbrush abrasion is tooth surface wear caused by overzealous tooth brushing over time. It usually appears as small indentations or notches along the gum line, mainly occurring on the front surface of the premolars and molars where it is easy to over brush. 

Signs and Symptoms of Toothbrush Abrasion 

  • Gum recession 
  • Notched enamel at the gum line 
  • Yellowing teeth at the gum line 
  • Tooth sensitivity  

Treatment Options for Toothbrush Abrasion 

  • Sensitivity toothpaste can be used to prevent sensitivity associated with the abrasion. It is recommended to use sensitivity toothpaste twice a day while brushing, and it can provide instantaneous and long-lasting relief.
  • Fillings at the gum line to fill in the abrasion notches are another treatment option. White filling material is used to fill in the abrasion and helps prevent sensitivity by blocking the vulnerable tooth structure underneath. Fillings also help prevent further abrasion by blocking the vulnerable tooth structure from abrasive brushing. 

How To Prevent Toothbrush Abrasion

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It is essential to use the correct brushing technique to prevent toothbrush abrasion. Make sure to use either a super soft or soft manual toothbrush or an electric toothbrush to brush your teeth. Never use a medium or a hard manual toothbrush as the bristles are too firm and contribute to damage to the gums and tooth structure. If you use an electric toothbrush, make sure not to apply too much pressure or to brush aggressively with it. Let the electric toothbrush do the work for you by holding it against a tooth for a few seconds and moving on to the next tooth. A helpful tool that some electric toothbrushes have is a pressure indicator that either activates a sound or a light when you are applying too much pressure. An electric toothbrush with a pressure indicator is recommended for patients who are prone to brushing aggressively. If brushing with a soft or super soft manual toothbrush, make sure to brush away from the gums in sweeping strokes and never scrub back and forth. If you notice the bristles of your toothbrush splaying, it is an indication that you are brushing too aggressively. 

If you have any questions about toothbrush abrasion or believe you may benefit from treatment options for toothbrush abrasion, we encourage you to contact us to schedule an appointment. ​

 If you have any questions, we encourage you to contact us today to schedule an appointment.