All posts by : A Best Heallth

The Importance of Oral Health for Children

It is important to teach your children to form strong oral health care habits while they are young to prevent tooth decay or harmful bacteria from spreading. Dental diseases can go beyond pain and infection, potentially affecting speech development, esthetics, and self-esteem. Many children with poor oral health develop a negative self-image, which can lead to depression.

Insufficient tooth care has also been connected to poor school performance and can play an important role in the development of your child. In a study done to assess the impact of substandard child tooth care, it was found that children with poor oral health are more likely to miss school and receive lower grades. Dental pain and other issues distract children from schoolwork and make them unable to concentrate, which adds to their poor school performance.

The quality of your child’s dental care affects their growth and development, as well. Poor dental hygiene can cause a child to have a difficult time eating healthy foods, which may lead to problems with inadequate nutrition, difficulty speaking, and issues with their jaw and bone development.

Learning how to take care of your child’s teeth is vital to helping them be successful in school and beyond. Take a look at some of the ways we can help your child thrive.

Tips For Caring For Children’s Teeth

1. Clean Teeth as Soon as They Come In

When your child is around 6 months old, the two lower front teeth are the first to erupt. Gently wipe these teeth with a soft cloth, gauze, or even your clean finger. At 12 months, it is possible to start brushing teeth with a soft infant brush, and at 18 months, we can introduce a pea-sized amount of children’s fluoride toothpaste while brushing. It would be best that you start to floss when you see that two teeth begin to touch. Children have 20 primary, or deciduous, teeth. They begin to erupt between 6-14 months. By age 2, most children have a full set of 20 baby teeth.

2. Brush our Children’s Teeth Twice Per Day

Your child’s early years are the perfect time to make brushing fun and cultivate good habits. Stand behind them and make them look in the bathroom mirror. Try to use positive, gentle words to explain what you are doing. Never use double negatives or harsh words such as “this won’t hurt you.” When the child hears the word “hurt”, they are reinforced with a traumatic experience. Explain how the teeth are getting white, shiny, and bright because you use ADA-approved child’s toothpaste. By age 1, try to get the child off the bottle and use a sippy cup, and around age 2, you want your children to be able to spit. This skill is helpful so that the child does not swallow too much toothpaste while brushing.

3. The Bottle

After the baby teeth come in, it is best not to put the child to sleep with a bottle that contains milk or juice. The presence of sugar can result in Nursing Bottle Syndrome, leading to the rapid decay of the baby’s teeth. Instead, you can put water in the bottle and wean the child into a sippy cup as soon as possible. Or, you can use an orthodontic pacifier to soothe the child as they go to sleep, instead.

4. Fluoride and Toothpaste

While fluoride is crucial to children’s oral health, brushing, cleaning, and wiping still take precedence. So, start brushing your child’s teeth as soon as they erupt, which should be at around 6 months. At this early age, wiping the teeth clean with a soft gauze is as effective as brushing with a small, soft child’s toothbrush.

The outside of our teeth is made of enamel, which is the hardest substance in our body. Dental decay starts when the bacteria living in our mouth reacts with the sugar found in our food and forms an acid that eats away at the enamel. Fluoride helps prevent decay, as it combines with the enamel to make it even more resistant to acid. A tiny smear of ADA-approved children’s toothpaste may be used at 1 year of age. By age 2, most children have developed the ability to spit, which is important. At this age, we are increasing the amount of toothpaste to the size of a pea and we do not want the child to swallow the fluoride paste.

Children have 10,000 taste buds around this time, twice as many as an adult. So they taste the fluoride much more than we do. Too much fluoride can lead to fluorosis, which causes the teeth to discolor or form crazes in the enamel. Proper levels of fluoride greatly reduce dental decay. At around 6-12 months, we advise that dental varnish containing fluoride be gently applied at your child’s first well visit to Om Dental and Medical Care. We feel that doing this two to four times a year will ensure a caries-free mouth for your offspring. Brushing twice a day for two minutes, limiting sugar, and using fluoride form the triad of excellent dental health for our most prized possession — our teeth.

5. Maintain a Diet That Is Low in Sugar

We are trying to prevent dental decay in your children. Without sugar, specifically a simple form called sucrose, decay cannot take place. Your child should NOT eat processed or refined sugar such as candy (gummy bears), ice cream, potato chips, prepackaged snacks, soda, soft drinks, sports drinks, dried fruit, honey, citrus drinks, fruit juice, milk, raisins, cake, sugary cereals, and even some bread. While this endeavor may be challenging, moderation is key. The sugars from these foods are broken down by the enzymes in our saliva to form sucrose. Bacteria that live in balance in our mouths (especially Streptococcus Mutans) will connect to the sugar. This mush is called dental plaque. The reaction of the bacteria on the sugar produces an acid. It is this acid that starts to eat away at the outer surface of the teeth (the enamel). This process is known as dental decay, and it goes on to form cavities. Serious infections can arise if the cavities are not treated promptly, which leads to involved dental work such as crowns, root canal therapy, or even extractions.

A sweetener known as xylitol, which is a sugar alcohol found in sugarless gum, has been shown to be an acceptable replacement for sugar in moderation. There is also sugar in milk, which is known as lactose. Nursing bottle caries can occur from prolonged exposure of a baby’s teeth with a bottle filled with milk, fruit juice, or another sugary liquid. We have even seen it with pacifiers dipped in sugar at nap time. We strongly advise that if you are using a bottle as a pacifier, fill it with water. If your infant is going to sleep with milk in the bottle, remove the bottle as soon as the baby falls asleep to prevent the upper teeth from soaking in the lactose from the milk. The sooner your infant is off the bottle and using a sippy cup, the happier we are. Cleaning the mouth with wipes, gentle brushing, flossing if teeth are touching, fluoride, and reduction of sugar in the diet are the magic keys to keeping your child’s mouth happy and healthy.

6. Healthy Foods for Healthy Teeth

Healthy eating is an important way to maintain your children’s oral health. Some beneficial options include:

• Water (lots of water all day long)
• High Fiber Vegetables
• Nuts/seeds
• Fruits containing Vitamin C (berries best, apples, pears, oranges)
• Banana (contain Vitamin C, B6, fiber, potassium and magnesium, I like them because they have “a peel”)
• Sugarless gum containing xylitol
• Dairy Products
• Protein (fish, chicken, lean meats)

7. Sealants

Statistically, sealants prevent 80% of cavities from forming on posterior molars for two years and prevent 50% of cavities from forming for four years. Between 5-14 years of age, children can have sealants, which are thin, plastic and white coverings, painted onto the cracks and fissures on the top surface of their permanent teeth. They harden in seconds when a curing light is placed upon them. This is a painless and inexpensive procedure that we feel is very worthwhile.

8. Regular Checkups

We want to see your child at age 1, which is six months after the first lower baby teeth have erupted. It is important that your child gets used to coming to the dentist under the most pleasant of conditions, so the child can bond with our dentist and look forward to their visits. It is best to schedule their visits during times when they are normally cheerful and awake. Preparing by talking to or reading books to your children also helps make the first visit a fun experience. Usually, we want the children to come in twice per year. They will receive a detailed exam of their mouth, gentle polishing and cleaning of their teeth, and as they get older, we will apply fluoride. This treatment helps ensure that any tiny pathologies are nipped in the bud.

An example is Interceptive Orthodontics. Early intervention will improve future outcomes by the guidance of teeth eruption and correction of malocclusion, or poor bite. This is usually done with a simple fixed or removable appliance. Any cavities will be diagnosed and treated. Cavities in baby teeth should be treated so that the permanent teeth lying below them in the jaw will not be harmed. We will also reaffirm preventative measures to stop cavities from forming. This is also the time for you to bring up any concerns like excessive thumb sucking or teething problems.

Why Are My Teeth So Sensitive?

Teeth sensitivity has to do with three parts of your mouth — enamel, cementum and dentin. Enamel is the protective layer that keeps the crowns of your teeth safe from stains and damage. The cementum provides the same protection, but for the roots of your teeth and gums. Dentin is a hard, nerve-connected tissue that lies beneath your cementum and enamel. An exposed dentin layer makes the nerves in your teeth and gums prone to sensitivity and pain.

Common causes for oral sensitivity include:

• Worn or damaged tooth enamel.
• Holes, cracks or microfractures in your teeth.
• Changing weather that puts pressure on your sinuses, leading to pain at your gumline.

Once something triggers this sensitivity, your symptoms might range from a brief, sharp twinge in your gums to a lasting jolt of pain. Inhaling in extreme temperatures — both hot and cold — is one common trigger for tooth sensitivity. Other triggers include consuming hot and cold beverages and food, eating something sour or acidic and sometimes brushing your teeth.

Here are several tips for sensitive teeth you can try:

1. Try Desensitizing Toothpaste

Desensitizing toothpaste is one option for treating your sensitive teeth. Compared to regular toothpaste, desensitizing formulas contain additives like potassium nitrate and stannous fluoride to reduce sensitivity and protect nerves from painful stimulation. There are several desensitizing formulas on the market. If you are unsure which one to try, contact Om Dental and Medical Care for a recommendation.

For maximum efficacy, use desensitizing toothpaste in the same way you would a regular formula and brush as usual. It will take several routine applications before you begin noticing any desensitization. If you experience no alleviation after a few weeks of everyday use, try a new formula or speak with Dental and Medical Care.

2. Use a Soft-Bristled Toothbrush

When you shop for toothbrushes, pay attention to their bristle strength and stiffness. Strong and medium-bristled brushes may help toothpaste lather better, but soft bristles are better for your oral health — especially if you have sensitive teeth. Soft-bristled toothbrushes are less abrasive on delicate tooth enamel, protecting your nerves and dentin layer. It is also easier to avoid over-scrubbing and causing small tears or holes near your gums and teeth with these brushes. Most companies will advertise that their toothbrushes are designed for sensitive teeth on the packaging.

When choosing your soft-bristled toothbrush, make sure it is the correct size for your mouth. Undersized toothbrushes may not cover all the surface area necessary to clean your mouth effectively. If your toothbrush is too large, you will have trouble cleaning hard-to-reach areas. Most adults need a brush with a 0.5- to 1-inch head, though larger and smaller variations are available.

3. Make a Saltwater Mouthwash

Rinsing with saltwater alleviates oral pain caused by mouth sores, tooth damage and sensitivity. This type of mouthwash can also freshen breath, reduce inflammation and act as an antiseptic for a clean, healthy mouth. Saltwater does this by temporarily raising your mouth’s natural pH level and increasing alkalinity, thus producing an environment that prohibits bacterial growth.

This growth can wear down your enamel and expose your dentin, causing or worsening sensitive teeth. Taking this preventive measure in addition to methods such as using fluoride toothpaste can help reduce your chances of tooth sensitivity.

For best results, gargle with a warm saltwater solution at least twice a day — once in the morning and once at night. To make a saltwater mouthwash, combine 8 ounces of warm water with 1 teaspoon of table salt. Gargle and swish around your mouth for 30 seconds, then expel and repeat until the mixture is gone.

4. Rinse With Hydrogen Peroxide

Another mouth rinse that may help alleviate tooth sensitivity symptoms is a hydrogen peroxide wash. In addition to minimizing sensitivity, hydrogen peroxide mouthwash can also:

• Remove harmful bacteria for a cleaner mouth.
• Prevent oral infection.
• Help gums heal after an injury.
• Prevent inflammation.
• Defend your mouth against gum disease.
• Whiten teeth.
• Treat some oral sores.

To create a hydrogen peroxide solution, mix two parts warm water with one part 3% concentration hydrogen peroxide. Using this percentage is vital, as anything stronger could cause damage. Gargle the solution for 30 seconds, then expel. Rinse your mouth with fresh water to remove any excess hydrogen peroxide.

When using a hydrogen peroxide rinse, be careful not to swallow any of it and avoid contact with the eyes. Stop if irritation occurs.

5. Use a Mouthguard at Night

Excessively grinding your teeth, a condition known as bruxism, can cause extensive damage to your mouth and jaw. It wears down the enamel on your teeth, leaving them vulnerable to sensitivity and pain. Extensive bruxism can even worsen jaw conditions, loosen your teeth and alter the shape of your face.

Many people clench their jaw throughout the day as a natural reaction to stress or anxiety. However, you might not always be aware you do it. Some grind their teeth in their sleep as a response to bad dreams, excess stress or as an extension of a sleep disorder, like sleep apnea. If you are unsure whether you grind your teeth overnight, ask a loved one if they have ever heard or seen it happen. Waking up with a sore jaw and headaches is also a good indication of bruxism.

If you suspect bruxism may be responsible for your tooth sensitivity, ask Dental and Medical Care to fit you with a mouthguard to wear overnight. The mouthguard will protect your teeth from wear and damage that could cause tooth sensitivity.

6. Avoid Acidic Foods and Drinks

Many natural and processed food products contain acidic ingredients that wear down enamel and promote tooth sensitivity. One way to prevent or treat your sensitive teeth and foster a healthier mouth is to avoid acidic foods and drinks or practice moderation when consuming them.

Examples of products that contain acidic ingredients include:

• Coffee
• Pickled foods
• Citrus fruits
• Carbonated beverages
• Sports drinks
• Tomatoes
• Dried, sticky fruits
• Fruit juice

Another way to prevent tooth sensitivity is to avoid brushing your teeth immediately after consuming acidic foods or beverages, as the brushing motion may exacerbate wear on your enamel. Instead, brush your teeth before eating or drinking and then rinse your mouth with fresh water after finishing your meal to remove any remnants of acid.

7. Rinse Your Mouth With Coconut Oil

Because mouth injury and infection weaken your teeth, oral health is one of the best defenses against tooth sensitivity. One way to promote a cleaner and healthier mouth is through oil pulling. Oil pulling involves rinsing your mouth with a natural, food-grade oil — such as melted coconut oil — to help draw out harmful bacteria and toxins and prevent new bacterial growth. Oil pulling is also an effective way to moisturize your gums and promote saliva production, helping sanitize your mouth.

Follow these instructions to create an oil pulling solution for treating your sensitive teeth:

• Pour or melt 1 tablespoon of coconut oil.
• Swish around in your mouth for five minutes, then spit and repeat.
• Work your way up until you can swish your oil pulling solution for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Once you have finished rinsing, flush your mouth with warm, clean water.

Repeat regularly or as needed.

8. Incorporate Fluoride in Your Dental Routine

Fluoride, a natural mineral, is essential for strong teeth and a healthy mouth. It helps ward against cavity growth and protects against sensitivity by coating exposed dentin. One type of fluoride application for tooth sensitivity is silver diamine fluoride, which can help minimize oral pain and strengthen your teeth against acid and decay.

Incorporate more fluoride into your daily routine with the following methods.

• Diet: Most drinking water contains fluoride, either through natural occurrence or manual additives. Some foods also contain natural fluoride, including grapes, baked potatoes, tea, spinach and some types of fish.
• Toothpaste: Fluoride toothpaste is one option for treating your sensitive teeth. Studies have shown that this brushing option is an effective method for controlling dentin hypersensitivity (DHS). Toothpaste with fluoride cleans and removes plaque the same way non-fluoride formulas do, but with the benefit of fluoride to fortify enamel. You can also find fluoride-infused mouthwash for extra care.
• Supplements: For extreme oral sensitivity or fluoride deficiencies, ask Om Dental and Medical Care about prescription-only fluoride supplements.

Om Dental and Medical Care might also perform a professional fluoride application during your next checkup or cleaning appointment. Professional fluoride treatments are most effective for treating sensitive teeth when applied regularly or twice per year.

9. Talk to Your Dentist About Dental Varnishes and Coatings for Sensitivity

If your sensitive teeth impact your quality of life, you might consider speaking with Om Dental and Medical Care about getting a dental varnish or coating. Varnishes and coatings add a layer of protection to your mouth, alleviating sensitivity symptoms and preventing future problems.

For instance, fluoride varnish contains a resin-like material and a concentrated amount of fluoride to strengthen and coat your teeth. A dental practitioner will paint this varnish onto your teeth, allowing it to adhere to the surface and fill any holes or microscopic cracks that could aggravate sensitivity. This method of treating sensitive teeth will have the best results if Om Dental and Medical Care reapplies the varnish every three to four months.

10. Schedule a Dental Appointment to Have Your Gums Checked

While some sensitivity is normal, any abnormal pain in your teeth or prolonged symptoms may be cause for concern. Tooth sensitivity is one symptom of periodontal disease, a dangerous gum tissue infection. Periodontal disease affects nearly half of adults aged 30 and older. Additional symptoms include:

• Pain and swelling in the gums.
• Chronic bad breath.
• Receding gums.
• Loose or sore teeth.
• Bleeding from your gums.

If left untreated, periodontal disease can cause chronic mouth pain, difficulty chewing and tooth loss. A leading cause of gum disease is plaque buildup that occurs after improper dental hygiene. If you experience excessive and persistent tooth sensitivity — with or without the accompanying symptoms listed above — schedule an evaluation with a dental practitioner. They will assess the situation and determine the best treatment method to ease your symptoms.

Preventing Tooth Sensitivity

When it comes to your overall health, prevention is always the best form of treatment. Though some people are naturally susceptible to oral sensitivity and will likely always experience some level of sensitive teeth symptoms, you can take steps to reduce future irritation.

• Maintaining good oral hygiene: Good oral hygiene is essential for the longevity of your teeth and your overall health. Brush your teeth vigorously at least twice a day, preferably after each meal, and remember to clean your tongue. Use a toothbrush that fits comfortably in your hand and mouth for the best results. Replace your toothbrush when you notice fraying and loose bristles or every three to four months. Floss regularly and use mouthwash to supplement your oral routine.
• Maintaining a healthy diet: Proper hydration is an essential part of oral care because it keeps your mouth moist and clean. You should also practice moderation when consuming sugary and acidic foods and drinks.
• Scheduling regular dentist appointments: Schedule routine dental appointments with a trusted practitioner like 209 NYC Dental to take control of your oral health and treat problems before they have a chance to grow into more significant concerns. Try to schedule an appointment with Dental and Medical Care once every six months and as needed.
• Noting and tracking symptoms: Awareness is your first line of defense against dental disease and infection. Stay informed about your oral health by monitoring any new or recurrent symptoms, like pain, swelling, inflammation or sensitivity. Bring a list of concerns or patterns to your next dental appointment and discuss health changes with your practitioner.

Tooth sensitivity after fillings should start to alleviate after the procedure, though it may be a slow process. Persistent oral sensitivity may indicate a need for further dental treatments, like a root canal or filling adjustment. Contact Om Dental and Medical Care with concerns to schedule a post-filling evaluation. They may replace or lower your filling, if necessary.