Varnished Teeth Have Fewer Cavities

More than 10% of all children suffer from early childhood caries (tooth decay in the primary teeth). Although this condition used to be called “baby bottle tooth decay,” based on the idea that it was caused by frequent consumption of drinks such as juice and soft drinks containing sugar from a baby bottle, dentists now recognize that early childhood caries is caused by multiple factors, including the presence of bacteria that cause caries.

Teeth both lose and gain enamel constantly. One way to encourage tooth remineralization is through the use of fluoride products. We may apply a fluoride varnish to your child’s teeth semiannually or annually during well-care visits.

A recent study reconfirmed that fluoride varnish can help reduce caries in young children. The children received fluoride varnish on all surfaces of their primary teeth at six well-child visits. When the children were 4½ years old, their teeth were checked on all surfaces for evidence of caries. The results were compared to a similar group of children who had not received fluoride varnish.

·         Children who received no fluoride varnish treatments averaged more than 23 tooth surfaces with evidence of early childhood caries.

·         Children who received 1, 2 or 3 treatments had results similar to the children who did not receive any treatments.

·         Children who received 4, 5 or 6 treatments had approximately 35% fewer tooth surfaces with caries

·         These results were consistent regardless of the child’s sex or age when the treatments began.

Compared with the cost of dental work, fluoride varnish is an inexpensive preventive measure. Although it cannot eliminate tooth decay by itself, fluoride varnish can help protect the primary teeth by reducing the amount of early childhood caries. Talk to us about this dental treatment at your child’s next visit.

Mouth Breathing: Why It Matters

Let’s say your child has a stuffy nose for a few days and you notice that, understandably enough, he or she is breathing mostly through the mouth rather than through the nostrils. No long-term harm will result from that temporary change.

But if a child breathes through the mouth as a matter of course, week in and week out, cold or no cold, that is a cause for significant concern.

Here’s why. If left untreated, chronic mouth breathing can cause:

o    abnormally elongated facial development
o    crowded, crooked permanent teeth that are prone to decay
o    a “gummy” smile (gums more prominent than in the average smile)
o    frequent upper respiratory infections
o    poor school performance due to sleep deprivation caused by snoring or apnea
o    possible erroneous diagnosis of ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder)
o    bad breath, chronically chapped lips and abnormally fibrous gums

Mouth breathing almost always has a physiological cause rather than being a “habit.” The most common causes include chronic nasal obstruction, enlarged adenoids and/or tonsils, and allergies. If the underlying cause can be successfully treated, the mouth breathing will likely subside, with no or few permanent effects. If still breathing through the mouth by age 7, your child should see our orthodontist, who may recommend palate expansion to correct misaligned teeth and abnormal facial development. We will help your child by working in conjunction with your other medical professionals, including an ear, nose and throat doctor, an allergist and, of course, an orthodontist.

If you are not sure whether your child is a mouth breather, look for these signs:

o    frequently has his or her mouth open at rest, especially while sleeping
o    dark circles under the eyes
o    subtle changes in facial shape
o    tends to be more tired and listless than others the same age

When in doubt, err on the side of caution. Bring your concerns to us and to your pediatrician. Make appointments for evaluations and get your questions answered. Sadly, mouth breathing is often underreported and undertreated. But diligent observation and action can keep your child from suffering any long-term effects from mouth breathing.