The Center for Disease Control and Prevention notes that 70 percent of children will experience cavities in their teeth by the age of 19. If left untreated, these cavities can lead to tooth loss and a lifetime of dental problems. Dental sealants are an option that protects the chewing grooves of the teeth from getting cavities.
Understanding Dental Sealants
A dental sealant is a thin, plastic coating that is applied to chewing surfaces to prevent the tiny grooves and fissures in young teeth from developing cavities. These sealants bond into the small depressions, protecting teeth from bacteria that cause dental caries (cavities). The sealant is applied on teeth after cleaning any food or plaque from it.
The teeth are first roughened (etched) with an acid wash, and then, the sealant is painted onto them. It is then allowed to cure using a curing light. These sealants can last as long as 10 years and will protect the chewing, cheek or tongue surface of the teeth as children grow into young adulthood.
Dental sealants are an underused resource that can help children who have difficulty cleaning back teeth or who are vulnerable to cavities. The surfaces in between the teeth cannot be sealed so flossing is still the best way to protect the teeth from interproximal cavities.
Sealants Go Where Dental Caries Happens
Newly erupted teeth may have many very small grooves and indentations that catch food and may be difficult to clean properly. The teeth at the back of the mouth, in particular, can hold food debris that allows bacteria to thrive.
Sealing the chewing, cheek or tongue surfaces of back teeth ensures that bacteria will not be trapped in these mini crevices. Sealants can be particularly important for children who have thin tooth enamel or a tendency toward developing cavities easily.
Ongoing Preventative Care for Children
Dental sealants should be applied on newly erupted permanent molars and pre-molars. This generally occurs between the ages of 6 and 14. Sealants applied at this time can protect children’s teeth during these cavity-prone mid- childhood years. Dental sealants can be a useful part of preventative care for children’s oral health. They can provide that additional measure of protection against tooth decay that can lead to tooth loss.
Your child can enjoy oral health throughout his or her life if you form good habits early and visit your dentist regularly. Dental sealants can be part of the ongoing care your child needs to maintain an attractive and healthy smile. Call Playtime Dental today to schedule an appointment for your kiddo or if you have any questions!
If your child has had a tooth removed or lost a tooth earlier than the average, you should know of an oral appliance called a space maintainer. Space maintainers serve the purpose of holding space for a child's permanent teeth to erupt if your child has had a tooth removed or lost a tooth too early. Their use in the early years can prevent costly problems down the road.
Candidates for Space Maintainers
If your child loses a baby tooth too early (before the permanent tooth is ready to emerge) then a space maintainer might be an option to help. It will hold the space left open by the missing tooth so that there is enough room for the adult tooth to enter the mouth. Children might also require space maintainers if they have primary teeth pulled as a result of dental decay. Regardless of which scenario has unfolded for your child, you should understand that a space maintainer will support your little one's dental health.
Space Maintainer Details
Space maintainers are made by dentists and orthodontists with either a metal or acrylic material. It can be fabricated so it is a removable or a fixed appliance that will be placed in your child's mouth. The fixed variety comes in different kinds: unilateral band and loop, unilateral band and loop with a distal shoe if the tooth lost does not have a tooth behind it, or a bilateral space maintainer for the upper or lower arch which holds space for teeth on both sides of the mouth if teeth are lost on both sides.
The space maintainer will minimize crowding issues as baby teeth are lost. This way, future orthodontic treatment may not be required as your little one's teeth will have enough open space to shift into. It is worth noting that space maintainers are not necessary for every single child who prematurely loses a tooth. Be sure to discuss this option with your child’s dentist to determine if it is appropriate for your child.
Getting Accustomed to the Space Maintainer
It might take your child a few days to get used to wearing the new space maintainer. Both the fixed and removable varieties are foreign objects that the mouth will take some time to get used to. Be sure to clean the space maintainer to prevent negative impacts on the teeth and gum tissue health.
You will need to bring your child back to your dentist's office regularly so that he can gauge the progress of treatment with the use of the new space maintainer. If you have any questions, feel free to give our office a call!
When you
think of baby breath you think of something delicate, airy and sweetly
pleasant. But in reality, that's not always what you get.
Even
healthy children sometimes experience bad breath. But if your son or daughter
has persistent bad breath, it could point to improper dental hygiene.
Common Causes of Bad Breath
The first
and most obvious cause of bad breath in children, as in anyone, is unhealthy
oral habits. You should teach your child from a very young age to always brush
their teeth and tongue so that bacteria does not build up and bad odors
are prevented.
Let your
child know that brushing the tongue is just as important as brushing the teeth.
Supervise the brushing to make sure they are doing a good job. Make
sure children know from early on that regular care of the mouth is a normal
part of each day.
Eating
foods that have strong odors can also cause bad breath. If children are
brushing regularly after every meal, this will help with that problem, regardless
of what is consumed.
If your
child is sick, there are two possible sources of bad breath — the medicine he
or she is taking, or the infection/condition itself.
Check your
child's mouth regularly to make sure they don't have any cavities, sores in the
mouth or plaque build-up, all of which can contribute to bad breath.
Preventing Bad Breath
It is the
saddest thing to see a very young child with stained or rotting teeth. This is
something that might affect them for a lifetime and could have been prevented
with proper care.
Don't wait
until your child has an obvious problem before acting. Take your
children to the dentist now. Teach them that their dentist, just like
Officer Friendly, is indeed their friend.
You should
encourage children to floss daily and take good care of their teeth so they can
proudly brag when they visit their dentist and look forward to getting a
new toothbrush.
The
routine at Playtime Dental is designed to make your child's visit fun and
entertaining. If your child needs a dentist appointment, give our office a call
today. We are currently accepting new patients!
To floss or not to floss is not the question. We all know children need to get on board with flossing. If you are wondering why your kids should floss, when they should floss, and/or how often they should floss, here are some things your child's dentist wants you to know.
How Soon Should Children Start Flossing?
How soon should children start flossing? As soon as they have two teeth touching each other, because that is when food particles start getting stuck between teeth.
They will probably need your help until age 10 or 11 because children do not typically get good hand-eye coordination until around the ages of 8-10 and they might not get all the food particles. When they're older, they'll also have the manual dexterity to do a good job.
Why Do Children Need to Floss?
Simply put, our children need to floss to prevent cavity and gum disease. Plaque that isn't removed by flossing and brushing can harden and cause problematic tartar also known as, calculus.
Is There an Ideal Time to Floss?
Decisions, decisions, decisions. You may have heard that old song, "The Night Time is the Right Time!" That may be the "right time" to be with the one you love, as the song says, but is there a right time or a wrong time to floss?
Should children floss before or after they brush their teeth? Surprisingly, more people floss before they brush than after. They're probably thinking if they get little food particles out by flossing, then they can brush and gargle them away. However, many dentists say it doesn't matter.
The important thing is that your children do floss every time they brush. So how often should they brush? Twice daily is normally recommended. However, if your child wants to be fanatic about something, brushing and flossing more often won't hurt.
Just make sure that when you're teaching your child to floss that you teach him or her to throw the floss away after using it and don’t save it for later. They might be "saving" bacteria, which will get back on their teeth when they floss the next time.
Act Now
If you haven't begun to educate your children on maintaining a healthy mouth, start now! If it's time for your child's next dental appointment, call our office today to schedule a visit with Playtime Dental.
Of all your baby's milestones, one of the most exciting is the arrival of the first baby tooth. Teething occurs when the first baby tooth begins breaking through the baby's gums. You may not know what to expect during this time in your baby's life, so we've put together a list of the five things you need to know when it comes to teething.
1. When Teething Begins
The lower front baby teeth usually come in first. One to two months later, the upper front teeth make their appearance. This phase usually begins at about six months but it can be anytime between three and 12 months. All the primary teeth should come in by age 3.
2. Signs of Teething
Drooling is typical when baby teeth come. Keep a bib handy to wipe the chin to avoid chapping. Drooling may cause the development of a rash or redness. Have some Vaseline or skin cream handy.
Your baby may be irritable and cranky, and may not want to eat because of sore gums. You might find your baby pulling his or her ears and rubbing his or her cheeks during the teething process. Because of the discomfort of teething, your baby's sleep pattern may be disrupted as well.
Swollen gums during teething may cause a low-grade fever. However, if a high fever or diarrhea does occur, contact your child’s physician for an appointment because these symptoms are probably caused by something else.
3. Teething Pain Relief
If your baby is getting fussy because of teething, these remedies might help:
- Teething ring. This is a baby product used to soothe the gums, something a baby can gnaw and rub against the gums. Shop carefully for a safe product.
- Cold, wet wash cloth. Parents can cover their finger with the wash cloth and apply soft pressure to the baby's gums.
- Over-the-counter pain relievers. Ask your dentist for a recommendation.
4. Caring for New Teeth
Once those teeth start coming in, it's time to buy your baby's first toothbrush. Take time to clean the teeth after each feeding. This is the first step in establishing lifelong good dental habits for your child. This is also the time for your baby's first trip to the dentist to get recommendations for proper care.
Now that spring has rolled around, it is time to turn our attention to outdoor activities. The warm April weather means our little ones will head outside with their bikes and engage in all sorts of activities with their friends.
April also represents National Facial Protection Month. Too many people think that facial injuries predominantly occur when engaging in contact sports. The truth is that your children are quite vulnerable on their bicycles as well.
The Importance of a Helmet
Bike helmets have become so important that the federal government has instituted safety standards for their design and function. Do not let your child use a bike helmet that does not have a sticker stating it complies with the requirements of the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Demand that your kids wear their helmets at all times when riding their bikes. Do not let them get away with a helmet-less ride even if it is just down the street to their friend's place.
Furthermore, inspect the helmet as it rests on your child's head to ensure that it fits properly. If you and your child are not sure if it fits right, do not hesitate to consult with an expert at a bike store.
Choose the Right Size Bike
Too many parents think that a hand-me-down bike will suffice for their young one. Don't try to cut corners by forcing your child to ride a bike that is not the ideal size. A properly sized bike will help keep your child safe and sound.
Have your child stand so that he or she straddles the top bar of the bike with both feet flat on the ground. If there is not an inch to three inches of space between the top bar and your child, the bike is the wrong size. Also, check to make sure that the seat, wheels and handlebars all fit nice and snug.
Perform Regular Bike Maintenance
Bikes require maintenance just like automobiles. Check your child's bike chain on a regular basis to determine if it requires additional oil. Verify that the bike's brakes are functioning as designed. Sticking brakes can lead to a nasty accident that leaves your child bruised, bloodied or worse.
Also, be sure to inspect the tires on your child's bike on a regular basis. The tires should have ample air along with the proper tire pressure.
Playtime Dental is Here for Your Kids
The dental experts here at Playtime Dental are just as concerned about your child's teeth as you are. If Playtime Dental does not care for your little one’s dental needs and you have any interest in a new dentist, look no further. We provide a child-friendly dental environment that your little one will like. Reach out to us today to schedule an appointment by dialing 419-774-PLAY.
It is common for kids playing outside in the heat to grab a sports drink to re-hydrate and stay cool, but these drinks may be the cause of more trips to the kid's dentist for oral health problems. Drinking too many of these sugar-filled sports drinks can be harmful to a child's oral health. Sports drinks are everywhere, including school cafeterias, because they are thought to be a safe alternative for children to consume. Although they may be a healthier alternative to sodas, these drinks are just as capable of causing tooth decay.
Acid and Teeth
Many people associate enamel erosion with the bacteria found in the mouth as a result of poor oral hygiene habits. Unfortunately, highly acidic foods and drinks can cause significant damage to teeth without the help of bacteria. Sports drinks contain high levels of citric acid or phosphoric acid, which may leave children's teeth more prone to cavities and tooth decay. Once acid erosion starts to attack the enamel on teeth, the teeth often become more sensitive to hot foods, cold foods, touch and pressure, which causes problems with eating, biting and brushing.
Sugar and Teeth
Just like soda, sports drinks contain a high concentration of sugar and although sugar itself doesn't rot the teeth, the acid that is produced from bacteria due to the sugar, does. Sugar feeds the bacteria that live in our mouths. When children drink sports drinks and other beverages that contain a lot of sugar, the bacteria consumes the sugars, turning the sugars into a harmful acid that eventually causes erosion of the tooth enamel and causes cavities. The best way to remove the acid causing bacteria is to brush, but sports drinks are often sipped frequently throughout the day, which lengthens the amount of time the acids and sugars are on the teeth, leading to plaque and decay. Enamel demineralization leads to cavities on the areas of teeth that have an accumulation of plaque, which is caused by sugars and the bacteria.
Not only can the excess sugars in these drinks cause tooth decay in children, but it may lead to obesity, diabetes and other health issues. All of these can have a negative effect on oral health.
If you are concerned your child may have cavities as a result of drinking sports drinks, contact his or her dentist to schedule an appointment for a cleaning and thorough examination.
