Should I be ‘brushing’ for my child even though they don’t have teeth?

The health of the gums can affect of the erupting baby teeth also known as primary teeth. An early oral hygiene routine should begin before teeth even erupt. You can start by cleaning the gums with a soft piece of wet gauze to remove any excess milk residue. You can start this at least once a day from 2 months of age. There are also soft tooth and gum cleaners that can be placed on your finger to help make things easier. Some even come with Orajel® to help during those difficult times that your child’s teeth may be erupting. Lastly, don’t forget to wipe the tongue as well. 

Tooth Decay - Poor School Performance

Recent studies indicate that children who experience oral health problems such as tooth decay are more likely to have poor academic performance, in part because of an increase in the number of absences they experience.

Studies have shown that those missed hours can have a significant effect on overall school performance. Researchers found that children with oral health problems were three times as likely to miss school as their peers with good oral health. They also found that children who suffer infection and discomfort due to oral health problems had lower grades compared with children who had routine dental care—even if that routine care resulted in absences from school.

Beyond the issues of poor grades and missed school days, research has shown that children with poor oral health are more likely to have tooth and mouth problems as adults, which can wind up affecting their job performance.

Parents who want to maximize their child’s chances of success now and in the future need to make sure their child’s oral health is a priority. Regular examinations and preventive treatments are the first lines of defense in preventing decay, gum disease and other problems that can plague both children and adults.

If your child has missed school due to tooth or mouth pain, don’t delay: Call Dental Works 4 Kids today and schedule an appointment so your child can get the care needed to feel better and do better—academically, socially and in every area of life.

Keep Molar Decay at Bay

Tooth decay occurs when bacteria in the mouth make acids that eat away at the teeth, causing a hole or a cavity that can cause pain, infection and tooth loss. Helping your child protect his or her permanent molars from the effects of decay can save a world of hurt down the road. Here are some tips to help you ensure that those hard-to-reach back teeth stay as healthy as possible:

• Make sure your child brushes his or her teeth twice each day with toothpaste that contains fluoride. You may need to help your child brush until the age of seven or eight years to ensure he or she is reaching all teeth properly. Also, make sure your child rinses thoroughly and does not swallow the toothpaste.
• Limit your child’s intake of snacks, sugary beverages and even fruit juice, which can contain acids that erode tooth enamel. Have your child rinse after drinking juice or a beverage containing sugar, or after eating a snack that contains sugars or starches, both of which can increase the amount of acid in the mouth.
• Delay brushing until at least 30 minutes after a meal. Thanks to an increase in the production of food-dissolving acids, tooth enamel can soften when we eat. It takes about 30 minutes for it to re-harden. After that time has passed, your child can brush without fear of damaging the softened enamel.
• Bring your child to us for regular checkups. Your child may not care for visits to the dentist, but you aren’t doing him or her any favors by giving in and postponing care or cancelling visits. Regular checkups can spot early signs of decay and other oral health problems that are best treated in their earliest stages. We can also provide fluoride treatments to help protect your child’s teeth from decay.
• Use dental sealants on your child’s molars. Dental sealants are clear, protective coatings we brush onto tooth surfaces. Most commonly used on molars, they can be beneficial when used on any tooth surface that’s grooved or ridged. Sealants should be applied as soon as molars emerge, before decay has a chance to get a foothold. Watch for the emergence of your child’s molars, which typically come in between the ages of five and seven and again between the ages of 11 and 14 years.

We can help you learn more about how to protect your child from tooth decay. Schedule an appointment for him or her today. Together, we can combat decay on your child’s permanent molars.

Why Age 7 is the Right Time to See an Orthodontist

While your child’s teeth might appear to be straight, however there may actually be a problem that needs to be evaluated by an orthodontist. If you recognize any of the following issues with your child, please schedule a check-up with our orthodontist. It may be one of the most important actions you can take to ensure your child’s healthy and happy smile.

•  Early or late loss of baby teeth
•  Difficulty in chewing or biting
•  Mouth breathing
•  Jaws that shift or make sounds
•  Speech difficulties
•  Biting the cheek or the roof of the mouth
•  Facial imbalance
•  Grinding or clenching of the teeth
•  Thumb or finger sucking

Orthodontists are specialists in straightening teeth and aligning your bite.  At Dental Works 4 Kids our Orthodontists have three years of education beyond dental school. So they’re experts at helping you and your child not only gets a great smile but feel great too!