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Wellington/West Palm Beach
1037 S. State Road 7 Suite 215
Wellington, FL 33414
561-333-4568
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Posts for: March, 2019
Baby teeth may be small, but they're important. They act as placeholders for adult teeth. Without a healthy set of baby teeth, your child will have trouble chewing and speaking clearly. That's why caring for baby teeth and keeping them decay-free is so important.
Having healthy baby teeth will help your child grow strong permanent teeth. Baby teeth are much smaller and have thinner enamel than permanent teeth, so they are more vulnerable to bacteria and cavities. Without proper daily dental hygiene, cavities spread quickly in baby teeth. Cavities in baby teeth can develop an infected abscess at the root, causing serious damage to the gums and permanent teeth close by. When you are taking care of your child’s baby teeth, you are really taking care of their permanent teeth as well.
Avoid giving your child fruit juices, sodas, and other sugary drinks. Sweet drinks-even milk can settle on the teeth. This can lead to baby tooth decay, also known as "baby bottle tooth decay." Bacteria feed on the sugar from sweet drinks and produce acid, which attacks baby's teeth.
If you must send your baby to bed or naps with a bottle or sippy cup, fill it with water only. Also avoid putting anything sweet, such as sugar or honey, on your baby's pacifier.
Regular check-ups and cleanings in a kid friendly dentist office can help your kids to have good oral hygiene. A local pediatric dentist can help you with the important information you should know to keep your kids’ teeth healthy.
In general, children tend to do best when their life is predictable. They are more likely to tolerate a procedure when they have been told in advance what to expect. Providing information is particularly important in the case of an anxious child. It helps to describe what is about to happen and what sensations the child will experience (what type of noise he or she will hear, what type of vibrations he or she will feel, what it will taste like etc.).
For the child who is visibly anxious or reports feeling anxious to the clinician, relaxation strategies are quite useful. Many children will experience relief following a simple deep-breathing exercise, which involves deep inhalation and slow exhalation. Asking the child to blow bubbles through a wand (the type bought commercially during summer months) produces a similar effect and sometimes provides distraction as well.
If your child has a favorite stuffed animal or other small toy, suggest that they bring it along with them to the appointment provided it will not interfere with the dentist's work. Sometimes the dental office has a special collection of toys for kids to hold during appointments, which may increase your child's comfort level as well. If you choose to call the office ahead of time to alert the kid’s dentist to your child's nervousness, ask about bringing a small blanket or other comfort item from home.
Before a visit to the pediatric dentist in West Palm Beach, try reading to your child from a selection of books geared toward their age level. Many televisions show also have episodes dealing with first dentist or doctor visits. You may also want to role play using a toy dental kit.
Reinforcing good oral care habits, including routine dental appointments, at an early age will help children develop a positive attitude toward dental care. Kids should understand that the dentist wants to help keep their teeth healthy and that visiting a dental office should not be a scary experience.
- PARENTS!! READ THE LABELS!!
This is weird at first, but quickly becomes second nature. It is shocking how many products have added sugar…salad dressing? Bread? Ketchup? Pasta Sauce? A lot!!! Try to choose products that do not have any added sugar. Be aware of the different sources of sugar. Interestingly enough, sugar is not usually listed on the ingredients list! Manufacturers can use multiple sources of added sugar, and will list them all separately. Your body metabolizes all added sugar the same, so it doesn’t distinguish between brown sugar and honey.
- DO IT GRADUALLY..KIDS NEED TIME
Your kids are accustomed to a certain diet, so.. start by slowly swapping out items with added sugar for ones without. Start introducing healthier choices with every meal. Swap out fruit juices for real juices or a whole fruit. And importantly, talk to your kids about what you’re doing and why you’re doing it!
- FAKE STUFF? NEEDS TO GO!
It’s important that you don’t swap out added sugars for added fake sugars. Sure, they are low in calories, but they have no health benefits. Instead, your overall goal should be to cut the sugar addiction. And, that’s what it is… an addiction! You want your child to crave what is good for them, not junk.
- LIMIT IT
When they go to a birthday party, of course they can have a cupcake. At a family dinner, it would be a DISASTER if they didn’t get a piece of Grandma’s apple pie. But on the majority of nights around, dessert is not happening. It just isn’t. A treat is just that a treat and nothing more. It should be rare and special, not something that they get every day. They will eventually get used to if if you are consistant and strong.
For more information contact a pediatric Dentist in West Palm Beach.
Developing good oral hygiene is also the first line of defense against many common dental issues, such as plaque, gum disease and cavities. Studies show that dental decay is the most common chronic childhood disease in the U.S., and left untreated, may lead to pain and infection that cause problems with speaking, eating and overall health.
The good news is that cavities are almost completely preventable with regular visits to the pediatric dentist in Wellington and consistent dental care at home. Parents can help their children maintain healthy teeth and gums by encouraging the following habits:
- Begin good oral health habits as soon as your baby’s teeth are visible. Start by using a washcloth to gently clean your children’s teeth and gums.
- Teach your children to brush all surfaces of their teeth for two minutes, twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. Assist your children until they are able to brush by themselves.
- Floss between your children’s teeth and along the gum line to remove trapped food and plaque that lead to gingivitis and decay.
- Make oral hygiene fun by letting your children choose their kid-friendly toothbrush and toothpaste in their favorite color, character, or flavor. Sing a song or play a video while brushing to make time pass quickly and to ensure your children are brushing for the full two minutes.
- Encourage your children to brush their teeth immediately after drinking juice or eating candy to prevent decay.
- Avoid giving children too many sugary foods and drinks, especially between meals, which promote decay and cause enamel damage.
- Increase water intake throughout the day to help neutralize the acids that cause cavities.
- Visit a friendly kid’s dentist every six month for checkup and cleaning in order prevent cavities and other dental problems.
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1037 S. State Road 7 Suite 215
Wellington, FL 33414