Whitening Toothpastes: Do They Really Work?

Everyone wants not only to have straight and healthy teeth, but also the white, beautiful smile so many people are drawn to. That’s one of the reasons there are more and more whitening toothpastes than ever before, with each kind promising the successful whitening of your teeth when you brush on a regular basis. But answering the question of whether they really work or not is tough, as teeth can appear very white just after a good brushing with most toothpastes and then return to a darker color after eating or drinking certain foods. So can any of these whitening toothpastes actually whiten teeth and keep them white for an extended period of time?

HOW DO WHITENING TOOTHPASTES WORK?

Whitening toothpastes contain chemicals or abrasives that act as polishing agents, with the ability to remove stains from the surface of teeth. They will definitely give teens whiter and brighter smiles that will make them all the more attractive when they flash those pearly whites. However, because there are various brands of whitening toothpastes, some work more effectively than others.

BEST RESULTS WITH WHITENING TOOTHPASTES

For the best results, most whitening toothpaste manufacturers recommend you leave the toothpaste on the teeth for at least a minute so that the chemicals and abrasive agents can do their job removing stains. This makes sense when you think about it. It’s also important to keep in mind that each person’s diet and teeth are different. Some people consume more drinks and food that darken the surface color of their teeth, while others have teeth that are more susceptible to stain. In other words, some whitening toothpastes work better for some people and not for others, making it even more difficult to know which ones will work for you.

OTHER OPTIONS TO MAKE TEETH WHITER

If whitening toothpastes don’t work and there is still a desire to make teeth whiter, bleaching can be done as well, though this should be done by a dental professional rather than using bleaching products you buy yourself (as this can lead to misuse and chemical burns). If darkening of teeth continues to occur, there may be other dental or medical conditions going on as well and these should be investigated.

You can learn more about whitening toothpastes, bleaching teeth and what the color of teeth may indicate at the AAPD website or by talking to us at Playtime Dental.

Dental Care for Your Preschooler

In a study released by the Center for Disease Control, the number of decayed or filled surfaces in children under six progressed with age. For example at age 2 children experienced between 0-2 cavities. By age three, the number of cavities was found to be between 0-5. By age four, cavities jumped from 1-6, and by age five, cavities jumped from 2-8 in primary teeth. As a parent, you might be wondering how to reduce the impact of decay and cavity/fillings for your child. The good news is that there is a lot that you can do to help improve the oral health of your children.

Help to develop a positive attitude for dental visits

As a dentist who works well with dental patients who are young and growing, I recommend finding a dental home doctor for your children by the age of one. As parents, you play a huge role in how successful your children perceive dental visits. If you dread going to the dentist, then your children will pick on that emotion and fear the dentist. Instead, try to act excited to go to the dentist. Make a big day out of dental appointments for your kids. Praise and reward them for brushing their teeth. The younger they are when they take pride in their oral health the better it is for you as a parent. Good oral health is the result of great parenting. As a dentist, I can give you the best advice, but it is up to you to make sure it is followed. These tips and tricks can help you achieve great oral health for your children.

Tips and Tricks to get your child to help with their oral care.

Start off early and avoid sugary drinks and snacks. Read the label on juice and dairy products and choose items with the least amount of added sugars.

Set dental appointment times when your child is at their best. This means choosing a time when they are alert and rested. Even the best dentist may have a difficult time overcome a grumpy mood.

Introduce children to the dental environment before their appointment. Familiarity is a great tool to reduce stress in children. Also take the time to explain the procedure to children, and encourage them to ask questions.

Another great tip is to include dental teachings in bedtime stories. ... and the little prince brushed his teeth and then .... We hope that these tips help you and inspire your child to engage in the best oral health practices possible.

Fluoride for Babies

As a parent, you're probably concerned about your baby's health and you may be wondering whether you should be cleaning his teeth. The truth is that a baby's tooth development could greatly benefit from teeth cleaning and a little fluoride. This wonderful little mineral can help prevent tooth decay by strengthening the tooth enamel. Additionally, it will make your baby's teeth more resistant to amino acids and potentially harmful bacteria.

When Should You Begin A Teeth Cleaning Routine With Your Baby?

It's a good idea to wait until your baby's about six months old before you begin your baby's teeth cleaning routine. It doesn't matter that his teeth haven't come in all the way, he still needs a small amount of fluoride to help his developing teeth to grow strong. You should meet with your child's dentist to determine your individual child's specific fluoride needs.

How Do I Make Sure My Baby Is Getting Enough Fluoride?

Your baby will get his fluoride from water and toothpaste and sometimes from bottled fruit juices even through it's not always listed on the label. However, if your drinking water doesn't contain fluoride or the right amount of fluoride, you may need to talk to your dentist about a fluoride supplement. Your dentist will then prescribe just the right amount of fluoride that's recommended for your child's age.

The prescribed fluoride can be easily administered via liquid fluoride drops or through the use of a prescription vitamin. Many HMO insurance plans may cover at least a portion of the cost of the fluoride for your child; therefore, the price should be minimal. Fluoride has been proven to reduce tooth decay anywhere from 50 to 70 percent; therefore, it's a dental health issue that shouldn't be skipped. Just make sure you follow the recommended dosage, because when it comes to fluoride, more is not better.

If you would like some help finding a dentist that works specifically with children, check with your HMO insurance plan provider to find a dentist that caters to the young and growing. Your HMO group may be able to recommend one of their preferred providers to you.

Conclusion

Cleaning your baby's teeth should become part of your daily routine once your baby turns six months old. Your dentist will instruct you on the proper techniques for cleaning his teeth, as well as, any additional amounts of fluoride your baby may need. Never hesitate to talk with your dentist about any concerns you may have about your baby's teeth. Your dentist will be your best resource when it comes to the dental health of your baby.

Pumpkin Painting Contest A Success!

We had such a great time this past Saturday at our first annual Pumpkin Painting Contest! It couldn't have been any more of a perfect day! We want to thank all the families and kiddos that came out to help celebrate Halloween a little early. We had a blast and hope you all did too! 

Make sure to check out our Facebook Album to see all the memories captured! We look forward to seeing you all back again next year!

Diet and Dental Care

As adults, we know that what we eat and our overall health is extremely important to our day to day lives. The same goes for children. Daily exercise and a balanced diet are important for kids of all ages. Too often kids are given sugary snacks or drinks as a bribe for them to behave or as an award for doing something good. Although giving kids these types of foods are okay every once in a while, as parents, we should really try to limit these.

An overall poor diet may affect the development of your child's teeth. According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, food does not cause tooth decay, eating does. Eating foods with high sugar content can play a role in tooth decay. It is important to monitor the type of food consumed and as always, make sure your kid brushes his or her teeth at least twice a day to help remove the bacteria that cause decay.   

Here are some simple, helpful diet tips that can help with your kid’s dental health:

• Ask your pediatric or general dentist to help you assess your child's diet.
• A balanced diet is key. Try to only provide sweets or starchy foods for meal times.
• If your child would like a snack, try to provide something nutritious and low in sugar.
• Try to keep your pantry and refrigerator full of healthy snacks and foods. Save the "fun foods" for a special occasion.
• Do not put your child to bed with a bottle full of milk, juice or formula. Once your child's teeth are clean it's best to give them water when going to bed.
• Always try to choose the sugar free option for soda and gum. Eliminating sugar where you can, will help in the long run!

Pacifier or Thumb?

To continue from last week’s blog post regarding dental care for babies, we felt it is necessary to talk about other baby habits that can affect oral hygiene such as using a pacifier or the baby sucking on their thumb.

According to the American Association of Pediatric Dentistry, here is a list of quick facts regarding pacifier/thumb sucking:

1. Babies suck on their thumb or pacifier for pleasure, comfort and security. This habit can start before they are even born.
2. The AAPD recommends pacifiers over thumbs to comfort new babies. The pacifier habit is typically easier to break and could decrease the chance of orthodontic problems.
3. Thumb or pacifier sucking is normal for infants and children. Usually children will stop on their own, however if the child doesn’t, the habit should be discouraged by the age of 3.
4. Thumb or pacifier sucking can affect the teeth the same way. After a long period of time, there may be affects with the upper front teeth sticking outward. Other potential effects include problems with jaw alignment, tooth positioning or the bite.

It is very important that you visit a pediatric dentist or a dentist who devotes most of his or her time to children, by the age of one year.  As time goes on, support from your pediatric dentist, as well as family, can help children quit the pacifier or thumb sucking habit!

Dental Care for the Baby

Here at Playtime Dental we care about your child’s oral health!  We are here to share with the world, how to prevent cavities and keep the mouth healthy!

People wonder, why clean your baby’s mouth when they don’t have any teeth? We want to clean the mouth even without teeth because plaque from food can accumulate and bacteria can still grow and cause problems for the gums!  Also by doing so, this will prevent the bacteria from sticking to your baby’s gums which can help avoid damage to the teeth as they erupt, as well as prevent bad breath.  So it is important to gently wipe your baby’s gums at least twice a day or after each meal.

It is recommended by American Academy of Pediatric Dentists, that a child have his or her first dental visit by the age of 1! Here is an equation to help: 1 + 1 = 0. Let me guess, in thinking back to your elementary math days, you learned that 1 + 1 =2 not zero. However, in this scenario 1 + 1 = 0 because ONE dental visit when there is ONE baby tooth can equal ZERO cavities!

After consulting with your dentist, you can graduate to using a toothbrush once the baby has a tooth or two. The toothbrush needs to have soft bristles and be small enough to fit comfortably in your baby’s mouth.  You can start using a smear of fluoridated toothpaste around age 1. Carefully supervise your children when using toothpaste so they are not swallowing it!

Babies can “catch” cavities from their caregivers. In 71 percent of the cases, the mother is the source. Research indicates that the cavity-causing bacteria known as Streptococcus mutans can be transmitted from mothers to infants even before teeth erupt! The better the mother’s oral health, the less the chance the baby will have problems.

All in all, being a proactive parent will not only benefit your child’s oral hygiene but also help start making a routine dental visit a positive experience for your kiddos!