Denver dental implant specialist tells 10 things you must know
About your child’s dental health
1: Prevent cavities with sealants.
Sealants work by filling in the crevasses on the chewing surfaces of the teeth. This shuts out food particles that can stick in the teeth, causing cavities. We can quickly and comfortable apply sealants and effectively protect your kids teeth for many years.
2: My kids love chewing gum. What should I give them?
Look for any gum that uses Xylitol it as a sweetener. Xylitol is a new sweetener that promotes dental health. Trident, Carefree and Hershey’s ice cubes are what we recommend.
3: Call the water company.
Homes throughout the treasure valley have different levels of fluoride in their tap water. Call your water company and ask about the levels of fluoride in your water. Children older than six months need fluoride supplements if their drinking water does not contain enough fluoride. Fluoride supplementation in infants can reduce tooth decay by as much as 50 percent.
4: How young should I start my child’s dental care?
We suggest wiping your baby’s gums with a soft, damp cloth after feedings to develop healthy habits. This helps prevent the buildup of bacteria.
5: Head start on orthodontics.
By age seven, the orthodontist can see and fix potential problems areas in your child’s mouth. After age 7, changes to the mouth can be more difficult and expensive.
6: Infants and children are not immune to oral health problems.
In 2002, “Oral Health in America: A Report of the Surgeon General” found that dental decay or cavities is the most chronic childhood ailment – five times more common than asthma and seven times more common than hay fever.
7: Dancing, singing and brushing?
Brushing, flossing, and rinsing are all rhythmic activities. Play music to help kids enjoy oral care routines. On average, brushing should last two minutes and rinsing 60 seconds. Together these activities last the length of a typical song.
8: Recognize potentially unsafe imported toothpastes.
To find out if toothpaste is imported look on the label for the manufacturer’s or distributor’s name, followed by the city and state. If the above information is not there, or the label states another country name, it’s most likely imported.
9: When should I take my child to the dentist?
The rule of thumb is when their first tooth begins to show or by their first birthday.
10: My child is scared to visit the dentist.
Don’t let that stop you. We have developed techniques to help ease the fear of anxious children. In some situations we even offer sedation dentistry for extremely fearful patients.