1401 W INNES STMonday, September 30, 2013
BABY BOTTLE TOOTH DECAY
The baby teeth (primary teeth) can get tooth decay, also known as caries, just like the permanent adult teeth. In fact, tooth decay can occur more quickly in baby teeth because the hard outer layer of enamel is thinner than it is in permanent teeth.
Almost every beverage other than water has sugar in it (even breast milk), and it's the sugar in liquids that causes baby bottle decay. Infants need the nutrition and energy that is provided by breast milk or formula, but when they are allowed to feed passively they are at high risk for developing tooth decay. When children are actively nursing, the muscles in the mouth and tongue move and clean the teeth with saliva. Once the child falls asleep, sugary liquids can coat teeth and stay there for a long time. This leads to decay. For this reason, it's best not to allow infants to nurse once they have fallen asleep. If a child must be put to sleep with a bottle, fill the bottle with water.
It's also recommended that children stop breast or bottle feeding and eat solid foods by their first birthday. Children should be fed healthy, nutritious foods at meal times, and sugary snacks should be avoided.
If you notice discolored spots on your child's teeth (yellow, orange, brown or black), this may be tooth decay. If you suspect this is the case, take your child to the dentist for an evaluation. Regular dental visits (starting by one year of age) are strongly recommended for avoiding tooth decay. When you bring your child to the dentist, your dentist can provide more specific instructions on how to care for your child's teeth.
Almost every beverage other than water has sugar in it (even breast milk), and it's the sugar in liquids that causes baby bottle decay. Infants need the nutrition and energy that is provided by breast milk or formula, but when they are allowed to feed passively they are at high risk for developing tooth decay. When children are actively nursing, the muscles in the mouth and tongue move and clean the teeth with saliva. Once the child falls asleep, sugary liquids can coat teeth and stay there for a long time. This leads to decay. For this reason, it's best not to allow infants to nurse once they have fallen asleep. If a child must be put to sleep with a bottle, fill the bottle with water.
It's also recommended that children stop breast or bottle feeding and eat solid foods by their first birthday. Children should be fed healthy, nutritious foods at meal times, and sugary snacks should be avoided.
If you notice discolored spots on your child's teeth (yellow, orange, brown or black), this may be tooth decay. If you suspect this is the case, take your child to the dentist for an evaluation. Regular dental visits (starting by one year of age) are strongly recommended for avoiding tooth decay. When you bring your child to the dentist, your dentist can provide more specific instructions on how to care for your child's teeth.
Monday, September 23, 2013
THE IMPORTANCE OF BABY TEETH
The first set of teeth that a child gets are commonly called "baby teeth". The technical names for these teeth are "primary" teeth or "deciduous" teeth. Children have 20 baby teeth in all, 10 upper and 10 lower.
Even though these teeth will be replaced by permanent teeth, they serve an important role in the development and positioning of the permanent teeth. The position of the baby teeth (especially the molars) helps to guide the permanent teeth into the proper position. If a baby tooth is lost too early, it can cause the permanent teeth to move out of position and they may end up blocking each other as they come in.
If baby teeth are allowed to decay so severely that they cannot be fixed, they may have to be extracted. If this happens, the dentist may recommend that a device called a space maintainer be placed around the remaining teeth to keep them from moving and interfering with the permanent teeth that will grow in. Of course, the best way to deal with this problem is to avoid tooth decay in the first case. This can be accomplished by limiting the amount of sugary foods that a child consumes (soda, juice, candy and other sweets), helping the child keep his or her teeth clean, and regular dental visits.
Sometimes parents notice that there are spaces in between the baby teeth and they worry about the appearance of the child's teeth. Having spaces between the baby teeth is actually a good thing because it means there is a better chance of having enough space for the permanent teeth to grow in without crowding. The permanent teeth are generally larger than the baby teeth they replace and they need more space to grow in.
Many children have a habit of sucking on a pacifier or a thumb. This comforts them and often helps them sleep. Early in life, these habits are harmless and can even provide some benefits, but later on, a thumb-sucking or pacifier habit can lead to misalignment of the teeth. It's best to try to wean children off their pacifier once they are two years old, and the habit should definitely be stopped by age four to avoid tooth positioning problems. If you're having trouble stopping these habits, your dentist can talk with you about some options that may be helpful.
Even though these teeth will be replaced by permanent teeth, they serve an important role in the development and positioning of the permanent teeth. The position of the baby teeth (especially the molars) helps to guide the permanent teeth into the proper position. If a baby tooth is lost too early, it can cause the permanent teeth to move out of position and they may end up blocking each other as they come in.
If baby teeth are allowed to decay so severely that they cannot be fixed, they may have to be extracted. If this happens, the dentist may recommend that a device called a space maintainer be placed around the remaining teeth to keep them from moving and interfering with the permanent teeth that will grow in. Of course, the best way to deal with this problem is to avoid tooth decay in the first case. This can be accomplished by limiting the amount of sugary foods that a child consumes (soda, juice, candy and other sweets), helping the child keep his or her teeth clean, and regular dental visits.
Sometimes parents notice that there are spaces in between the baby teeth and they worry about the appearance of the child's teeth. Having spaces between the baby teeth is actually a good thing because it means there is a better chance of having enough space for the permanent teeth to grow in without crowding. The permanent teeth are generally larger than the baby teeth they replace and they need more space to grow in.
Many children have a habit of sucking on a pacifier or a thumb. This comforts them and often helps them sleep. Early in life, these habits are harmless and can even provide some benefits, but later on, a thumb-sucking or pacifier habit can lead to misalignment of the teeth. It's best to try to wean children off their pacifier once they are two years old, and the habit should definitely be stopped by age four to avoid tooth positioning problems. If you're having trouble stopping these habits, your dentist can talk with you about some options that may be helpful.
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Infant Oral Health
A CHILD'S FIRST DENTAL VISIT
Newborn children are accompanied by lots of questions about how to care for them. One of the many things that parents wonder is: "When is the right time for my child's first dental visit?"
It's really never too early to bring a child in for his or her first dental visit, but we typically recommend that children come in between 6 months and one year of age. The first teeth to come in are the lower front teeth (incisors) and they usually start to appear around 6 months of age.
At this first appointment, the dentist will typically spend a few minutes examining the child's mouth to confirm normal development, then spend the rest of the visit talking to the parents about how to care for the child's teeth and what to expect in the future. Starting dental visits early in life helps to establish a relationship between the dentist, parents, and child. If problems exist, they can be discovered and corrected early.
Before the first dental visit, you can care for your child's teeth and gums by wiping them with a damp cloth. Once the first teeth come into the mouth, you can brush them gently with a soft toothbrush and water. Toothpaste can be used when the child becomes old enough to spit after brushing. A bit of toothpaste the size of a grain of rice is all that should be used, because the child is likely to swallow a large portion of the toothpaste. When you bring your child to his or her first visit, the dentist and staff can help to demonstrate these techniques and answer any questions.
The sooner you bring your child in for his or her first visit, the sooner you can put them on a path to a lifetime of good oral health.
The sooner you bring your child in for his or her first visit, the sooner you can put them on a path to a lifetime of good oral health.