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Wellington, FL 33414
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Posts for: August, 2018
Panoramic, periapical, bitewings, what does all of this mean? You might say to yourself, “there are so many different X-rays available, but why can’t my child just get one? I mean, they’re all the same right?” No parents, they’re not! But fret not, we’re here to take it down a notch and explain the value of each X-ray and why your child needs them. From your child’s first visit to the dentist, they’ll need to take X-rays in order for us to see what we’re working with. Depending on the type of X-ray, it’s able to help us detect cavities, movement of teeth, and incoming adult teeth as well. For more information, look for a Pediatric Dentist near me.
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Panoramic and FMX
Panoramic and FMX’S are full mouth X-rays. These are super important to take starting at age 5, because they’ll give us an inside look at the adult teeth that are coming in! These X-rays are typically taken about once every 3 to 5 years so we can track the growth of your child’s teeth.
Occlusal
Occlusal X-rays are those that show the floor or roof of a child’s mouth, and can detect if there are extra or impacted teeth that are growing in. They can even check for tumors! Typically, these X-rays are taken on an as needed basis.
Periapical
Periapical X-rays, or more commonly known as PA’s, serve the purpose of examining the full tooth from the root to the crown. It can help detect decay or abscess as well. Usually, a kid’s dentist near me will advise you that PA’s are taken on an as needed basis.
Bitewings
Bitewings are X-rays that focus on the back of your mouth, or teeth that are known as molars! Just like all of the X-rays mentioned, these are just as important. Even as adults, we still take them when we go in for our routine 6 month dental checkup! These X-rays check the bone level of your teeth, and can check for any dental carries as well.
Making an Impact
So parents, we’ve gone through all of the X-rays your child needs and why. Just to answer a final question about them that you might have; will radiation harm my child? Experts are careful to use the right equipment when taking X-rays, such as lead vests. The radiation emitting from X-rays are minimal. We hope this helped put you at ease! Remember to call your Children’s Dentist in West Palm Beach to schedule an appointment!
Did you know you can start before the teeth grow in?
It’s very important to start caring for a babies gums right away. In the beginning, a tooth brush and tooth paste aren’t used. In contrast, you can begin by moistening a wash cloth and gently wiping along the gum line of the baby twice a day, most importantly after feedings! This will wash away any bacteria that is left on the gums which may prevent damage to infant teeth as they form. A pediatric dentist in Wellington can help you better understand how to properly take care of your child’s oral health.
After infant teeth start forming, a tooth brush may be used. Make sure to choose one with a soft brush, small head, and large handle. The perfect amount of tooth paste that should be used is equivalent to about a grain of rice. Overall, your baby’s teeth are very important! It is essential for us to care for baby teeth and prevent damage and bacteria build up for future teeth. A healthy mouth starts at a young age! Make sure to emphasize with your child the importance of self-brushing and brushing after meals. Bad dental hygiene can cause other health issues later on in life (for example cardiovascular disease). The bacteria from inflammation of the gums and periodontal disease can enter your bloodstream and travel to the arteries in the heart and cause atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). To avoid this, let’s start with good dental hygiene practices at a young age. Stop by your local pediatric kid friendly office to make an appointment!
A question that parents always have in mind with a child that is less than a year old is when to take them for their first dental visit. The American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry say that the first dental visit should occur within six months after the baby's first tooth appears, but no later than the child's first birthday.
Though it is not known the exact reason why a child may grind their teeth, there have being studies to understand more about this behavior. According to the Nemours Foundation, an estimated 2 to 3 out of every 10 children will grind or clench their teeth. The good news is, some children grow out of it very early and it may not be anything serious that causes it in the first place. While there are some children who grind their teeth due to teething, an ear infection, or to relieve stress or anxiety, there could be medical reasons for this matter such as cerebral palsy or medications taken.
If your child grinds his/her teeth constantly throughout the day for majority of the week, you will want to consider taking them to see the dentist. Your pediatric dentist near me will schedule an appointment in order to examine the mouth. What are some of the things that they will be looking for? Signs of wear and tear, like chipped enamel or the teeth may look to be cracked or broken, or possibly even a misalignment of the teeth.
There are some things that can be done to help allocated the urge for teeth grinding. Start buying your baby some toys to assist him/her with this issue, experts stated, teeth grinding can be caused by teething and grinding of the teeth help them with the pain. There are so many outlets available to use these days to get help. As always, you want to consult with your pediatric dentist in Wellington for a professional opinion.
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It’s recommended by the American Dental Association to begin brushing your child’s teeth as soon as the first tooth erupts. It’s also important to have them brush both in the morning and at night. A child typically can’t handle brushing their own teeth until they have been able to develop skills like tying their own shoe. Until then it’s important to allow the child to brush their own teeth, but have an adult follow up and brush them again afterwards. It’s important to use a soft child’s toothbrush with a small dab of toothpaste.
Up until three years the child should be using a rice sized amount and from 3-6 years old they should use a pea sized amount.
Here are 5 steps to brushing correctly
- Start at the upper right side of the mouth and brush the outside of the teeth and gums using a small circular motion. Slowly work your way toward the front teeth and over to the left side of the mouth.
- Slowly brush the inside of the upper teeth and gums working the brush forward and over to the right side of the mouth.
- Make sure to brush the biting surfaces of the teeth.
- Repeat steps 1-3 on the bottom teeth.
- Make sure to floss at bedtime. Floss between all teeth that touch and do so in an up and down motion in order to gently clean teeth and under gums.
Make sure to also only give your children water before bed! Letting children have milk or juice can cause baby teeth caries. Visit a Pediatric Dentist in West Palm Beach to learn more about brushing and flossing in kids.
If you’d like to learn more head over to our blog at www.mytoothtown.com
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1037 S. State Road 7 Suite 215
Wellington, FL 33414