One of the most widespread diseases among children today is tooth decay. Many people do not consider tooth decay when they are thinking about diseases but it is indeed a disease. Tooth decay is the destruction of your tooth enamel. Tooth enamel is the hard, outer layer of your teeth. Tooth decay is five times more common than asthma, four times more common than childhood obesity, and 20 times more common than childhood diabetes. The good news about tooth decay is that it is almost entirely preventable! Today here at Smile Reef we want to give you some information about tooth decay and how to prevent it.
What Causes Baby Bottle Tooth Decay?
One large source of tooth decay in children comes from the baby bottle. Baby bottles are used to feed infants who cannot eat solid food yet. They are a fabulous tool for parents to be able to use with their babies. Baby bottle tooth decay occurs when the sugar from milk, formula, or fruit juice cling to an infant’s teeth for long periods of time. Bacteria in the mouth will thrive on this sugar and turn it into acids that will attack the child’s teeth. Another frequent cause of baby bottle tooth decay is when parents or caregivers lay a baby down to sleep at nighttime or naptime with a bottle that has anything except water in it. It is extremely common for parents to lay their sweet baby down for a nap with a bottle of milk. As the baby gets older many times the bottle of milk will turn into a sippy cup of juice. As the baby is sleeping the sugar from the milk or juice sits on their teeth and decay starts to form. You should not send your baby or toddler to bed with a bottle or sippy cup full of anything but water.
How to Prevent Baby Bottle Tooth Decay
Both pacifiers and bottles can increase the risk of baby bottle tooth decay. Many people dip pacifiers into sugar or syrup to help calm their baby down. This sugar sits in the babies’ mouth and eventually causes decay. Sugar and syrup should not be used on pacifiers. In addition to monitoring the type of liquids that you are giving your baby and toddler you also need to start cleaning their gums after each feeding. You can simply wipe their gums with a clean wash cloth that has been dampened with cool water. Once your child starts to develop teeth you will want to start brushing their teeth and gums. You will want to use a children’s toothbrush that has nice soft bristles. You only need a very small amount of toothpaste. You can also help prevent bottle tooth decay by limiting sugary drinks and foods for your baby and toddler. Repeated or prolonged exposure to sugary foods and drinks can lead to tooth decay. You will want to feed your child a healthy diet with low sugar to help keep their teeth nice and clean.
Pediatric Dentistry
Introducing your child to the dentist at an early age is also an excellent idea. Smile Reef encourages parents to bring their children in to the dentist when their first tooth comes in. Then you should continue checkups and cleaning every six months just like you do for yourself. Give us a call today to schedule your appointment!
Years ago if you had a cavity your dentist would automatically fill it with a silver colored filling. In more recent years white colored fillings have become available. Many people ask us what is the difference between these two fillings and which one is best for their child. Today we will go through all of the details you need to decide what type of filling is best for your kiddos.
Silver Amalgam Fillings
Silver fillings are not actually made entirely of silver. They are a mixture of silver, copper, tin, and mercury. They are called amalgam fillings. The thought of having mercury in your mouth does not make people very comfortable. The FDA has done extensive research on the amalgam fillings and has concluded that they are safe for adults and children over the age of 6.
• Pros:
– Amalgam fillings last between 10 and 15 years.
– They are incredibly strong.
– Amalgam fillings are also cheaper sometimes. Many insurances have a lower rate for patients that choose amalgam fillings.
– This type of filling takes less treatment time when you are at the dentist.
• Cons:
– The first one that most people will mention is that they do not look as good as a tooth-colored option.
– Amalgam requires more of your healthy tooth be removed to make room for the filling.
– When the temperature in your mouth changes amalgam fillings expand and contract. Over time this decreases the integrity of the tooth.
– Amalgam fillings do not work well if the cavity is too small.
White Composite Fillings
Over the years a new type of filling was introduced. A composite filling is tooth-colored. There are no health dangers associated with the white composite fillings.
• Pros:
– A composite filling lasts for 7 to 10 years. This is less than amalgam fillings but is still a large amount of time. If you have excellent oral hygiene sometimes they can last even longer than 10 years.
– Your fillings will blend in with the color of your teeth. Many people are extremely embarrassed about their amalgam fillings. People choose to replace their amalgam fillings with composite fillings just for aesthetic reasons.
– More of your healthy tooth can be saved during treatment than when amalgam fillings are used.
– Your tooth and the composite material bond together and make for a stronger surface.
• Cons:
– They may cost more than amalgam fillings. Some insurances do not cover composite fillings at all.
– Treatment will take a little bit longer to complete.
– Risk of chipping is higher than with amalgam fillings.
Pediatric Dentistry
We hope that this information has been educational for you. If you still have questions about what type of filling to choose for your children please give Smile Reef a call. We would be happy to talk over the options with you. We know the kind of love and protection parents feel towards their children. We want to ensure that you are completely comfortable with whatever decision you make.
Las Vegas Children's Dentist
Most parents and guardians of little children, if not all, are greatly concerned about the growth and development of children's teeth especially in this day and age where almost any food available in groceries and restaurants are loaded with sugar and or sucrose which greatly contribute to the formation of cavities, eventually resulting to tooth decay. From the time that the first set of baby teeth comes out, pediatric dentists would already heavily advise parents to start a religious and proper care routine of their children's teeth to ensure that the proper development of these important part of a child's mouth are done with the right techniques and required consistency. Caring for baby and children's teeth takes a lot of effort since children are not expected to care for their own set due to their limitations in capacity and information. That is why until children reach the stage where they are capable to care for their own teeth comes, the weight of the call rests on the shoulders of the parents. It is for this reason that proper oral care for children begins with choosing the right dental office which houses the best pediatric dentists who will be the partner of parents in ensuring that their children's oral care are safeguarded. Las Vegas Children's Dentist is a dynamic and vibrant supporter in the campaign against early onset of tooth decay in children's teeth. Certified and competent, this Dentist for kids in Las Vegas, very carefully and thoroughly instruct and teach good oral care to parents and children. This dentist follows the best practices in worldwide standards and features state of the art dental equipment that allows not only for the best oral care of each patient but also creating an environment that is friendly and accommodating to kids and children who frequent this pediatric dentist office in Las Vegas.
To begin early oral care for babies, a competent and friendly Las Vegas dentist from a reputable pediatric dentist office will advise that even before the eruption of the teeth, a child's mouth and gums should be wiped after meals with a clean, soft damp cloth to make sure that excess food would not linger in the mouth. These excess foods when left in a moist area like the mouth would form bacteria which would eventually get lodged in the baby's first set of teeth triggering the beginning of tooth decay. A meticulous and caring kids dentist in Las Vegas would also advise that to prevent the onset of pre-mature cavities, it is best to give babies plain water when sipping at bedtime to prevent baby formula - which sometimes contain sugar - from settling in the mouth which also invites cavity formation. Once the first set of baby teeth comes out, the practice of brushing should also commence, normally beginning with soft bristled baby toothbrush combined with a non-fluoride toothpaste or even just plain warm water to gently clean every part of the emerging teeth. A licensed Las Vegas children's dentist is a strong support in making sure that these early oral care regimens are done by the parents regularly to avoid unnecessary formation of tooth decay that could prove to be costly to take away using dental procedures. Children's dentist in Las Vegas recommends that children's toothbrushes should be replaced every two to three months taking special note of the appearance of the head bristles to make sure that they still serve their purpose of thoroughly cleaning the teeth. There are several pediatric dentist in Las Vegas so one must be very careful to choose the best, and the best pediatric dental clinic must not only be concerned about treatment but more so on prevention methods. So far Las Vegas pediatric dentistry is a cut above all other pediatric clinics because of its practices on preventative measures that do away with costly teeth drilling and fillings.
Children develop their baby teeth as preparatory ground for the eruption of the final adult teeth which they would use for the rest of their lives. Many parents feel that since baby teeth would still be replaced, they could be more relaxed in spearheading for their children's oral care. But this is very far from the truth since the condition and health of the baby teeth would also greatly determine the condition and health of the permanent teeth. Parents are advised that the first visit of their children to the dentist should happen when babies are 12 months old and prior coaching such as open your mouth or saying 'ahhh' must be done to avoid too much time on the dental chair which might be very scary for some kids. Dental patients could rest assured that reputable pediatric dentist in Las Vegas would be more concerned with prevention but would also be very competent when treatment is necessary. A parent could expect that a children's dentist in Las Vegas is well trained in handling children especially the first timers who might have reservations in seeing a dentist for the first time let alone open their mouth for a stranger. But the first visits to the dentist are crucial because those are the times when good oral plan is discussed aside from giving out the message to the children that dentists are friends not enemies to increase their trust and confidence with them. A well trained dentist for kids in Las Vegas would also discuss the availability of important pediatric care such as the application of fluoride and sealants that help protect baby teeth from plaque and cavities. The substance fluoride help make the teeth stronger by protecting them from the initiation of dental caries and tooth decay while at the same time re-mineralizing areas of the teeth that get weakened by acid coming from leftover food or juices which the children consume.
Las Vegas pediatric dentistry is known as one of the best pediatric dentistry all over the United States which practices not only the best dental techniques using state of the art equipment, a Las Vegas dentist also has the best techniques and rapport with children patients giving them a wonderful experience inside the clinic that helps ensure repeat comebacks for consistent and thorough oral care. Las Vegas pediatric patients could expect that as they step inside a Las Vegas pediatric dentist office they would experience the best pre and post care evaluations not to mention above standard procedures including the application of necessary treatments that are non-threatening, very friendly and truly professional. Las Vegas pediatric dentistry is unchallenged when it comes to everything that makes oral care for children fantastic and something to look forward to and having children as clients that speaks highly of the credibility and expertise that a kids dentist in Las Vegas has to showcase and bring to the table. So next time you are in great need of an expert in oral care for you and especially for your young children - including those cute toddlers- consider pediatric dentistry in Las Vegas and you might not go anywhere else after trying its services. With the rising cost of dental care each year, wouldn't you want every dime you spent on it to be truly worth it? And wouldn't you want to see those beautiful and sparkly teeth on your children as they flash you their beautiful smiles? All of these and more could be yours by just visiting a reputable Las Vegas pediatric dental clinic. Check your directory for assistance or better yet take the word of our loyal customers who have given their generous testimonials of how happy and satisfied they are with our services. We assure you that you will have the best oral care on our hands and we will ensure that your children's teeth are not only taken cared of, they will also pass on the legacy of consistent and excellent oral care with their children and their children's children.
The Las Vegas Dentist Office
One of the best kid friendly dental offices you will find in the state of Nevada is the Las Vegas Pediatric Dentist Office. It's got the best ways and practices of making sure pediatric patients are well taken cared of and assured of warm, non-threatening dental procedures that help them ease up and become comfortable in this environment. Many parents regard a beautiful pediatric dental experience as part of the success why children stick to proper oral acre and why they regards a dental visit as an exciting adventure rather than a traumatic one. The Las Vegas pediatric dentistry is one of the top pediatric dental practices not only in the whole State but could also be compared, if not above, other dental pediatric practices in the United States. Parents coming from other nearby States bring their children to experience pediatric dentistry in Las Vegas because of its very popular kid-friendly atmosphere that children would sometimes forget they are inside a dental office. Parents love that their children are having a great time while having their excellent oral check up or procedures and children enjoy because it's like going to the zoo or the park where the environment is fun and lively and not scary at all. From themed rooms with matching themed cups and bibs, the pediatric dentist office in Las Vegas is a must see and must experience for all children. The pediatric dentists are well trained and well equipped to handle pediatric patients but the thing that endears all of them to their kid patients is the way they make cleaning teeth an exciting and fun thing to do rather than a boring chore that must be done regularly. And if dental procedures are needed such as drillings and putting of sealants, the expertise of a Las Vegas Dentist would surpass everyone's expectations including adults and parents who often have had traumatic experiences inside a dental office. So come now and visit us and see and feel the difference or better yet let your children tell you the difference with their exciting dental experience Truly it is like not going to the dentists at all!
