Did You Know?
A nice smile isn’t the only benefit of having straight teeth.
Straight teeth provide a healthier, more attractive smile
and can increase self-esteem, but the benefits go well
beyond that. Crooked and crowded teeth are hard to clean
and maintain. This may contribute to conditions that cause
not only future tooth decay, but also eventual periodontal
disease and potential tooth loss. Orthodontic problems can
also contribute to abnormal wear of tooth surfaces,
inefficient chewing or misalignment of the jaw joints,
which can result in chronic headaches or facial pain. If
left untreated, many orthodontic problems may become worse.
Treatment by an orthodontist[orthodontists/] to correct the
problem is often less costly than dental care to treat
problems that can develop in later years.
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Pediatricians advise visiting a pediatric dentists starting at age one.
Infant and toddler examinations are comparable to well baby
visits with a pediatrician. The ideal time is at age one or
six months after your child’s first (primary) teeth erupt.
High-risk infants should be seen shortly after the eruption
of the first tooth. The pediatric
dentist[pediatric-dentists/] will carefully examine the
development of your child’s mouth and can provide or
recommend preventive care to safeguard against problems
such as baby bottle tooth decay, teething irritations, gum
disease, and prolonged thumb sucking.
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Gum disease affects at least 60% of adults.
According to the American Dental Association, at least 60%
of adults in the United States have moderate-to-severe gum
disease. You may have heard some of the terms: plaque,
tartar, calculus, gingivitis, periodontitis, pyorrhea,
periodontal disease, and gum disease. But what does it all
mean? Quite simply, gum disease starts when plaque and
tartar are allowed to accumulate at the base of your teeth.
The bacteria in the plaque lead to an infection in the gums
called Gingivitis. Left untreated, the infection spreads to
the tissue and bone that holds your teeth in place, a
condition called Periodontitis. Speak with your
periodontist[periodontist/] about ways to prevent and treat
gum disease.
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Sealants are recommended for children’s permanent molars.
The most common area for children to develop tooth decay is
on their permanent molar teeth. Molars typically have deep
grooves and pits where food and bacteria can collect and
create cavities. Sealants are tooth-shaded materials that
are bonded to the chewing surfaces of the molar teeth. The
sealant acts as a physical barrier, blocking out bacteria
and food and helping to prevent decay. The application of a
sealant is a non-invasive procedure and well tolerated by
most children. Pediatric dentists[pediatric-dentists/]
recommend sealants for children when they erupt their
permanent first molars (around age 6) and their permanent
second molars (around age 12).
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Braces aren’t just for kids.
Adults are finding that having braces isn't kid stuff
anymore. Many adults are turning to braces to correct
problems with their teeth. They recognize the many health
benefits of having well aligned teeth, including tooth wear
and easier oral hygiene. Adults also enjoy the great smile
that orthodontic treatment can provide. Speak with an
orthodontist[orthodontists/] about the range of treatment
options available for adults.
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It is important to fix baby teeth that have decay.
It is important to maintain baby teeth because they function
to provide the foundations for speech, chewing, swallowing,
and esthetics. In addition, baby teeth hold space and guide
the emerging permanent teeth into the proper location. Tooth
decay in baby teeth can lead to unnecessary pain and
infection. A chronic infection surrounding the root of the
baby tooth can damage the surface enamel of the adjacent
developing permanent tooth. If a baby molar is lost early,
space for the permanent tooth may be lost leading to
crowding and malocclusion. This can compromise
orthodontic options and increase expense. It is important
for children to see a pediatric
dentist[pediatric-dentists/] regularly and have a
comprehensive oral health plan including prevention of
tooth decay and treatment of any oral anomalies.
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An orthodontic evaluation is recommend for children by age seven.
Early orthodontic evaluation by age 7 allows the
orthodontist[orthodontists/] to suggest the ideal time to
start treatment to achieve the best possible results. An
orthodontist[orthodontists/] will determine the appropriate
timing of orthodontic treatment based on the type of bite
problem and your child’s individual needs. Some problems
of jaw alignment benefit greatly from early intervention to
help the jaws grow to fit correctly. In some cases
orthodontic treatment may be delayed to allow for eruption
of all the permanent teeth.
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Flossing increases the chance of keeping your teeth for a lifetime.
Floss removes plaque and debris that stick to teeth and gums
in between teeth, polishes tooth surfaces and controls
reduce bad breath. Flossing is the single most effective
weapon against plaque. By flossing your teeth daily, you
increase the chance of keeping them for a lifetime and
decrease the chance of getting gum disease. Speak with a
member of our dental team of pediatric
dentists[pediatric-dentists/], general
dentists[general-cosmetic-dentists/],
orthodontists[orthodontists/] and
periodontist[periodontist/] to lean more about keeping your
teeth and gums healthy.
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Tooth brushing should begin when a child’s first tooth emerges.
Pediatric dentists[pediatric-dentists/] recommend you begin
tooth brushing as soon as your child’s first tooth
emerges. In the beginning, it can be as simple as using a
clean wet washcloth or, if you prefer, an infant
toothbrush. Your pediatric dentist[pediatric-dentists/] can
recommend additional techniques to make the brushing
experience more enjoyable for your children.
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Community water fluoridation and fluoride toothpaste work together.
Except for the toddler age group, tooth decay rates have
continued to decrease for decades. Toddlers have seen a 4%
increase in decay in the last national health survey.
Fluoride is recognized as one of the major preventive
factors. The frequent exposure of teeth to tiny quantities
of fluoride is most critical to maximize its protective
effects. Fluoride can inhibit the ability of cavity germs
to produce acid, make teeth more resistant to the acid
produced by the cavity germs, and promote natural healing
(remineralizing) of early enamel cavities. Fluoride in
our water in conjunction with fluoride-containing
toothpaste can provide that frequent preventive effect
throughout the day. According to the American Academy of
Pediatric Dentistry, toddlers should use only the tiniest
smear of fluoride toothpaste two times per day. When
children can effectively spit, a pea-size amount of
fluoride toothpaste is appropriate. Our pediatric
dentists[pediatric-dentists/] recognize brushing two times
per day is more effective than one time per day. Ideally,
fluoridated water then fills the voids in the middle of the
day.
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