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How To Prepare Your Child To Visit The Dentist

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How To Prepare Your Child To Visit The Dentist

Introduction:

We have compiled this article on “How To Prepare Your Child To Visit The Dentist”. The reference links are at the bottom of the article.

[1]Emergencies can happen at any moment of the day. Staying prepared is wise, however we never know when will we be called by one. So, here I have compiled 9 common signs that can help you know if you should visit your dentist now or can it wait till tomorrow!

You Are Experiencing Bleeding

Seeing your gums bleed after you brush or floss is a cause for concern. It is a warning sign of gingivitis or gum disease. You may even notice a smell when flossing, swelling of the gums or aching. Treatment of early gum disease is of utmost importance. Once the disease reaches a certain point, it can leave you with the inability to return your teeth to a healthy state. So seeing your dentist to determine what exactly is going on and creating a treatment plan right away can literally save your smile!

You Have Sudden Tooth Loss

As an adult, losing a tooth can be not only painful but also unfortunate cosmetically. If a tooth is knocked out, falls out or is loose, you’ll want to phone your dentist right away. If action is taken quickly the tooth may remain viable and can possibly be replanted. You must act fast! So if your face took a soccer ball or if your tooth decided to become one with your apple…save that tooth and call the dentist! Your dentist may give you instructions on how to preserve the tooth until you reach the office.

You Have Swelling

Swelling can be a major sign of infection. Infection in your mouth can be potentially life-threatening. It’s important you are seen by a dentist quickly. Swelling can be present in your gums, face, or even your lymph nodes. An untreated infection can get into your bloodstream and cause some serious health problems. Be sure to tell your dentist how long you’ve been experiencing swelling, where it’s located, and any other signs of infection you may have.

You Are In Pain

Pain that is keeping you awake, radiates to your neck, jaw or ear is common when you are experiencing a serious dental issue. Lying down may increase your discomfort when this type of pain is present. You may also have persistent throbbing in your mouth, sensitivity and/or facial swelling. A dentist can complete an exam and take a few x-rays to determine what is going on. It’s important to be sign right away so you can begin treatment ASAP.

You Have A Cracked Or Broken Tooth

The location and severity of your cracked or broken tooth will determine the treatment route your dentist will want to take. Saving the tooth is always a top priority. In order to do that, it’s pertinent that you are seen in a timely manner. Be sure to describe how the injury occurred if applicable when you call your dentist.

You Have A Growth Or Sore

If you notice a growth in your mouth, it’s a good idea to give your dentist a call. A growth or sore that doesn’t go away could be a sign of oral cancer. A dentist can provide a visual cancer screening as well as use a device that can identify abnormalities otherwise not seen by the naked eye. It’s estimated that 53,000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral cancer in 2019. Let your dentist be your first line of defense.

You Have A Metal Taste In Your Mouth

Before composite (tooth colored) fillings were the norm, a lot of people received amalgam (metal) fillings. If you have a metal taste in your mouth, it’s possible an old filling has become loose or it could be cracking. Leaving a filling in this state will leave your tooth prone to cavities and infections. Avoid that toothache and possible root canal, call your dentist.

Your Jaw Is Popping

If you are experiencing pain, a popping sensation or if your jaw is locked; you should make an appointment with your dentist. In most people, our jaws can slide back and forth with no issues. A person with TMJ can experience a slip in their jaw where it is “stuck”. You may have pain when chewing, a clicking or grinding noise when the jaw is open or limitation of movement. It’s a good idea to get checked out by your dentist to see the severity of your TMJ to avoid other issues.

Conclusion:

Thank you for reading this article, and check back frequently for other dental health articles. Should you have any questions, please contact Apple Tree Dental today!

Article compiled by Apple Tree Dental

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Dental Care for Children How to Keep Your Kids’ Teeth Healthy and Strong

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Dental Care for Children How to Keep Your Kids’ Teeth Healthy and Strong

Establish the importance of dental care for children and provide practical advice to help parents maintain their kids’ oral health.

Introduction: 

Maintaining good oral hygiene is essential for overall health, and it’s important to instill healthy dental habits in children from a young age. As a parent, it’s your responsibility to ensure that your kids develop proper oral care routines that will keep their teeth healthy and strong throughout their lives. In this blog, we will explore the importance of dental care for children and provide tips to help you keep your kids’ teeth in great shape.

  1. Start Early: The foundation for good dental health is laid even before your child’s first tooth appears. Begin by gently wiping your baby’s gums with a clean, damp cloth or a soft infant toothbrush after each feeding. This will help remove bacteria and prevent the buildup of plaque.
  2. Choose the Right Toothbrush and Toothpaste: When your child’s first tooth erupts, it’s time to introduce a toothbrush. Select a toothbrush with soft bristles and a small head suitable for your child’s age. Use a fluoride toothpaste explicitly designed for kids, but limit the amount to the size of a grain of rice for children under three and a pea-sized amount for children between three and six years old.
  3. Establish a Brushing Routine: Encourage your child to brush their teeth twice daily, once in the morning and once before bedtime. Make Brushing fun by using flavoured toothpaste or toothbrushes with their favorite characters. You can also create a reward system, such as a sticker chart, to motivate your child to brush regularly. Kids learn by example, so ensure you’re demonstrating good dental habits yourself.
  4. Teach Proper Brushing Technique: Show your child the correct way to brush their teeth. Teach them to use gentle, circular motions, covering all surfaces of the teeth, including the fronts, backs, and chewing surfaces. Remember to remind them to brush their tongue, as this can help reduce bad breath and remove bacteria. As a parent, you may need to assist your child with brushing until they are around seven or eight years old to ensure proper technique.
  5. Make Flossing a Habit: Flossing is essential to dental care, as it removes food particles and plaque from between the teeth. Introduce flossing to your child when they have two teeth that touch. You can use regular floss or floss picks designed for children. Be patient and demonstrate the proper technique, ensuring that they’re gently sliding the floss between their teeth without causing harm to the gums.
  6. Encourage a Healthy Diet: A balanced diet plays a significant role in maintaining strong teeth and healthy gums. Limit sugary snacks and beverages, as these can lead to tooth decay. Encourage your child to eat various fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins, which provide essential nutrients for oral health. Water is also important, as it helps rinse food particles and bacteria. If your child drinks fluoridated water, it can further strengthen their tooth enamel and prevent cavities.
  7. Schedule Regular Dental Checkups: It’s recommended that your child visit the dentist for their first checkup around their first birthday or when their first tooth erupts, whichever comes first. After that, schedule dental appointments every six months to ensure your child’s teeth are developing correctly and detect any potential issues early. Regular dental cleanings and examinations can help prevent cavities and other dental problems.
  8. Consider Dental Sealants: Dental sealants are a protective coating applied to the chewing surfaces of your child’s molars, which can help prevent cavities. Sealants are especially beneficial for children with deep grooves in their teeth, where food particles and bacteria can quickly become trapped. Talk to your child’s dentist about whether dental sealants are appropriate for your child.

Conclusion: 

Good dental habits early in life are crucial for maintaining healthy teeth and gums throughout adulthood. By following the tips outlined in this blog, you can help your child develop proper dental care routines and set them on the path to a lifetime of excellent oral health. Prevention is always better than treatment, and it’s always early enough to start caring for your child’s teeth.

If you have a dental emergency, don’t hesitate to contact Apple Tree Dental Today.

Article compiled by Apple Tree Dental

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Keeping Your Kids Teeth Healthy In The Summer

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Keeping Your Kids Teeth Healthy In The Summer

Introduction:

As the days get longer and the weather gets warmer, it can only mean one thing: summer break is almost here!

We’ve put together this content that explains Keeping Your Kids Teeth Healthy In The Summer. Be aware and take care of your teeth.

[1]As parents, we understand the importance of good dental habits for a healthy, happy smile. While summer vacation sets the stage for fun, new experiences, it can also seriously disrupt your child’s dental health routine. To help protect your child’s overall well-being this summer, it’s important to encourage proper oral hygiene. Here are some tips for keeping your child’s teeth and gums healthy while they are enjoying summer vacation.

Schedule A Checkup

Visiting the dentist regularly can help your child’s smile stay healthy all year long. Parents often schedule dental checkups around August, right before school starts, which is a great way to start the school year off right. However, if you want to ensure that your summer isn’t interrupted with dental concerns, we recommend scheduling a dental appointment right after class ends. This will significantly reduce the likelihood of a toothache during summer camp or sporting activities.

Stay On Schedule

Summer vacation can seriously disrupt bedtime routines. No matter how eventful your summer gets, it’s important to make sure your kids continue to practice good dental hygiene. Resist the temptation to let your kids skip brushing before a late bedtime, and be sure to supervise to make sure they are brushing twice daily for 2 minutes with a fluoride toothpaste. The American Dental Association recommends that parents use brushing calendars to stay on top of kids’ brushing habits during the summer months. Also, don’t forget to clean between their teeth once a day. With consistent brushing and flossing habits, your kids will stay on track for healthy back-to-school dental visits.

Stock Healthy Items

Great dental care goes beyond brushing and flossing. A balanced diet that is rich in low-sugar foods can promote good dental health! When kids are home during the summer, make sure your children are grazing on healthy items by stocking your refrigerator and pantry with fruits, vegetables, nuts and whole grain foods. Good snack choices for healthy teeth include low-fat yogurt, celery sticks, cheddar cheese, apples, and unsalted almonds.

[2]Lend Fruits And Veggies Into Smoothies Or Popsicles

Another way to include teeth-friendly fruits and veggies into your kiddos’ summer diet is blending their favorites into smoothies. Add yogurt, coconut milk, or nut milk for protein. Then take your smoothie blends to the next level and freeze them into popsicles!

Double-Down On Your Kids’ Oral Hygiene Routine

In summer, kids get a break from the rush to get to school in the morning, or the excitement of after-school activities and homework, so there’s more time to slow down and practice diligent oral hygiene. Ensure your kids brush their teeth twice a day and floss once. Kids who don’t brush their teeth regularly are at risk of plaque build up, tooth decay or cavities, and even gum disease.

Let’s go through oral hygiene for kids step by step. Brushing teeth for kids starts by making sure their toothbrush is in good working order. If it’s looking a little worse for wear, toss it and pick out a new, soft-bristled one. Change your toothbrush every three to four months. That’s how long it typically takes for toothbrush bristles to start fraying and lose their effectiveness. As for toothpaste, make sure to use one with fluoride. You should also have dental floss or floss picks at the ready.

Floss first, then brush teeth at a 45 degree angle, brushing all surfaces as well as the tongue, palate, and inside the cheeks. Finish with a swish (and spit!) of alcohol-free mouthwash for kids and your youngster is good to go.

Conclusion:

Summer might be your child’s favorite time of year, but typical warm weather activities can be detrimental to their teeth. All the possible ways are explained but never bound yourself. Keep looking for best suggestions for your good oral health.

For Assistance, Visit Apple Tree Dental

Article compiled by Apple Tree Dental

Article Reference Links:

  1. https://www.interdent.com/gentle-dental/blog/keeping-your-kids-teeth-healthy-in-the-summer/ ↑

  2. https://www.kidsmilehigh.com/6-ways-to-keep-kids-teeth-healthy-summer-2021/ ↑

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Early Childhood Caries

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Early Childhood Caries

Introduction:

We have compiled this article on “Early Childhood Caries“. The reference links are at the bottom of the article.

[1]Dental caries (decay) is an international public health challenge, especially among young children. Early childhood caries (ECC) is a serious public health problem in both developing and industrialized countries. ECC can begin early in life, progresses rapidly in those who are at high risk, and often goes untreated. Its consequences can affect the immediate and long-term quality of life of the child’s family and can have significant social and economic consequences beyond the immediate family as well.

ECC can be a particularly virulent form of caries, beginning soon after the dental eruption, developing on smooth surfaces, progressing rapidly, and having a lasting detrimental impact on dentition.

Children experiencing caries as infants or toddlers have a much greater probability of subsequent caries in both the primary and permanent dentitions. The relationship between breastfeeding and ECC is likely to be complex and confounded by many biological variables, such as mutants streptococci, enamel hypoplasia, and intake of sugars, as well as social variables, such as parental education and socioeconomic status, which may affect oral health.

Unlike other infectious diseases, tooth decay is not self-limiting. Decayed teeth require professional treatment to remove infection and restore tooth function. In this review, we give detailed information about ECC, from its diagnosis to its management.

Dental caries is the most common chronic infectious disease of childhood, caused by the interaction of bacteria, mainly Streptococcus mutans, and sugary foods on tooth enamel. S. mutans can spread from mother to baby during infancy and can inoculate even pre-dentate infants. These bacteria break down sugars for energy, causing an acidic environment in the mouth and resulting in demineralization of the enamel of the teeth and dental caries. Early childhood caries (ECC) is a serious public health problem in both developing and industrialized countries.

ECC can begin early in life, progresses rapidly in those who are at high risk, and often goes untreated.Its consequences can affect the immediate and long-term quality of life of the child and family, and can have significant social and economic consequences beyond the immediate family as well.

[2]ECC which is considered as a significant health issue reported among young children, may be associated with other health conditions, ranging from local pain, abscesses, to more severe problems leading to difficulty in chewing, malnutrition, and gastrointestinal disorders.

Further, left untreated, ECC may considerably influence the child quality of life, his self-esteem, his socializing and learning abilities.

To optimize the chances of young children to stay free of early dental caries, it is mandatory to initiate preventive programs soon or after primary tooth eruption.

[3]Epidemiology Of Ecc

World Health Organization (WHO) mentioned that ECC is a highly prevalent global disease public health problem. The American Dental Association identified that ECC was found throughout the general child population, and was a significant public health problem in deprived communities.

Firstly, the prevalence and incidence of ECC is very high, it is an early-onset, aggressive form of dental caries that affected around 1.76 billion children with primary teeth worldwide. Secondly, although ECC is prevalent around the world, it is, in particular, growing rapidly in low- and middle-income countries. The result of the fourth National Oral Health Survey in the Mainland of China showed that the prevalence of deciduous tooth caries in 5-year-old children was 71.9%, which was 5.9% higher than that of 10 years ago, and the mean dmft (decay, missing, or filled teeth) score was 4.24.

With a combined global ECC prevalence of 48%, the ECC prevalence varied both between and within countries. Ranged from 16 %(Singapore) to 89% (China), the prevalence by continent was 30% in Africa, 48% in the Americas, 52% in Asia, 43% in Europe, and 82% in Oceania, which indicated the distribution of ECC is not homogeneous.

The variation could be explained by mixed factors, such as macro-economic, socioeconomic, genetic factors, ethnic minority populations,the availability of fluoride in drinking water or toothpaste, interventions with evidence of effectiveness for caries prevention, universal health coverage, growth of gross national income,6 high expenditure on health care.

Thirdly, the untreated primary caries remains high. ECC is still a global public health burden, medically, socially, and economically.

Globally, approximately 532 million cases (95% UI, 443 to 622 million) had untreated caries in primary teeth in 2017, and between 1990 and 2017, the percentage change in the number of prevalent cases decreased in high- and upper-middle-income countries and increased in low- and lower-middle-income countries.

A systematic review supported the meta-regression review showed that the prevalence of untreated caries affected 9% of children (95% CI 8.7, 9.4) in 2010 and has remained relatively unchanged for 30 years. Therefore, we face a huge challenge in the prevention and management of ECC.

Conclusion:

Thank you for reading this article, and check back frequently for other dental health articles. Should you have any questions, please contact Apple Tree Dental today!

Article compiled by Apple Tree Dental

Article reference links

  1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3633299/ ↑

  2. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.821128/full ↑

  3. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41368-022-00186-0 ↑

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