Fluoride Supplements

The most effective way for your child to get fluoride’s protection is by drinking water containing the right amount of the mineral… about one part fluoride per million parts water. This is of special benefit to children, because fluoride is incorporated into enamel as teeth form. Children who, from birth, drink water containing fluoride have up to 40% fewer cavities. Many of them remain cavity-free through their teens.

Fluoride is one of the most effective elements for preventing tooth decay. This mineral combines with tooth enamel to strengthen it against decay. Fluoride may also actually reverse microscopic cavities by enhancing the process by which minerals, including calcium, are incorporated into the teeth.

Even though your regular water supply may be fluoridated, it is still important to discuss with your Dentist any additional fluoride needs your child may have. Look for fluoride toothpastes and over-the-counter fluoride mouth rinses that carry the ADA seal. They have been proven safe and effective for their intended use. The advertising claims for these products have been reviewed by the ADA so the claims are accurate and not misleading.

Your Dentist may recommend various ways to get fluoride protection, including:
- Drinking fluoridated water at school.
- Taking prescribed fluoride tablets or drops.
- Brushing with a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste after age two.
- Using a fluoride mouth rinse for children over age six.

Simple Warning Signs of a Serious Condition

1. Do your gums sometimes bleed when you brush?
2. Do you have places in your gums that get red or sore?
3. Will bad breath just not go away?

These symptoms might not seem like much, but they could be the first signs of gum disease.

Every mouth has good and bad bacteria. Gum Disease occurs when millions of harmful bacteria have multiplied under your gumline and started an infection. Because the bacteria live and grow in pockets below the gumline, brushing and flossing cannot stop the infection. The best way to fight back is to visit a Dentist.

Consistent oral hygiene at home and regular visits to our office will keep your gums healthy. If left untreated, gum disease will get serious and could potentially lead to tooth loss or more serious health issues.

If you notice any bleeding or soreness in your gums, schedule an appointment with our office. Together, we can fight back against gum disease and keep your whole smile healthy.

"Timely, professional treatment is the only way to stop gum disease before it gets serious."

What is Baby Bottle Tooth Decay?

Baby bottle tooth decay is a form of decay than can destroy the teeth of an infant or young child. The teeth most likely to be damaged are the upper front teeth. These teeth are critical to you child’s smile. Other teeth may also be affected by this condition.

What Causes Baby Bottle Tooth Decay?

Baby Bottle Tooth Decay is caused by frequent and long exposure of a child’s teeth to liquids containing sugars. Milk, formula, fruit juices, and other sweetened liquids help to create this problem. The sugar in these liquids is used as an energy source by the bacteria in plaque.

Plaque is a thin, almost invisible film of bacteria and by-products that constantly form on everyone’s teeth. In the decay process, the bacteria produce acids which attach tooth enamel. The length of time these liquids are in contact with the teeth is critical. Longer and frequent exposures allow greater damage to occur.

Offering your child a bottle containing these liquids many times a day, as a pacifier, isn’t a good idea. Allowing your child to fall asleep with a bottle during naps or at night can cause serious harm and damage to your child’s teeth. During sleep, the flow of saliva decreases. This allows the liquids in the nursing bottle to pool around your child’s teeth for long periods of time.

Prevention

Sometimes parents do not realize that a baby’s teeth are susceptible to decay as soon as they appear in the mouth. By the time decay is noticed, it may be too late to save the child’s teeth. You can prevent this from happening to your child’s teeth by learning how to protect them:

- After each feeding, wipe the child’s teeth and gums with a damp washcloth or gauze pad, to remove plaque. Begin brushing your Child’s Teeth as soon as the first tooth erupts. Remember to continue cleaning and massaging the child’s gums in all other areas that remain toothless. Flossing should begin when all primary teeth have erupted, usually by age 2.

- Never allow your child fall asleep with a bottle containing milk, formula, fruit juices or sweetened liquid.

- If your child needs a comforter between regular feedings, at night, or during naps, fill a nursing bottle with cool water or give the child a clean pacifier recommended by your Dentist or pediatrician. Never give your child a pacifier dipped in any sweetened liquid.

- Avoid filling your child’s nursing bottle with any liquids such as sugar water, sweetened gelatin, and soft drinks.

- Make sure your child gets the fluoride needed for decay-resistant teeth. If you are not sure that your local water supply contains the right amount of fluoride, ask your Dentist about fluoride supplements.

- Start Dental Visits between six and twelve months of age. Make appointments regularly. If you suspect that your child has a dental problem, take the child to see a dentist as soon as possible.