Can a Child Lose a Baby Tooth too Soon?

March 28th, 2019

Baby teeth aren’t permanent, but did you know that it’s possible to loose a baby tooth too soon? Here’s everything parents need to know about losing a baby tooth too soon.

It's too Soon When...

If your child loses a tooth before the age of 4, then you need to schedule an appointment with your pediatric dentist. Usually, natural tooth loss begins around age 6, and concludes around age 12.

Risks of Losing Teeth too Soon

If a baby tooth is lost too early, it can cause serious crowding problems for the developing adult teeth, as well as negatively impact the jaw’s muscle and bone development. This can lead to necessary orthodontic treatment later in life to correct a bite and alignment issues.

Common Causes of Tooth Loss

The most common causes of premature tooth loss are traumatic facial injuries and tooth decay. It’s impossible to prevent accidents from happening, but you can prevent tooth decay by ensuring your child follows a healthy brushing and flossing regiment, and enjoys mouth healthy foods and plenty of water.

When is it Okay to Lose a Baby Tooth?

 

Baby teeth usually begin to fall out around age 6, and the process usually lasts 6 years until ages 11-12. Baby teeth will naturally become looser, and fall out on their own to make room for adult teeth erupting beneath them. Usually, teeth fall out in the order that they first arrived, but that’s not always the case.

Can You fix a Tooth lost Too Early?

Fortunately, there are plenty of options for those that lose teeth too soon! Spacers and space maintainers are placed in the gap of the lost tooth to help prepare for the arrival of the incoming adult tooth. Spacers come in many shapes, sizes and colors, and can make an un-fun situation more enjoyable for your child.

Schedule an Appointment with Our Office

If you think that your child has lost a tooth too soon, then call our office to schedule an evaluation. We’ll provide your child with the necessary treatment that best prepares their mouth for a healthy, adult smile.  

Kid-Friendly St. Patrick Treats that are Great for Teeth

March 14th, 2019

St. Patrick’s day can be a fun holiday for the whole family to celebrate. This year, try making some mouth-healthy green treats that your family will love so much they may pinch you!

Super Green Super Food Smoothie 

This super green smoothie is fantastic for cooling down on a warm spring day. The kale gives it a mouth-healthy kick with calcium and vitamin-B. Calcium strengthens teeth, and B vitamins help treat and prevent gingivitis, often called gum disease.

Ingredients:

  • 2 frozen bananas 

  • 2 cups kale, packed 

  • tbsp chopped mint, packed 

  • 1/2 tbsp cocoa powder 

  • 2 cups coconut milk 

  • 1/2 cup of apple juice

Directions:

Add all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. You can add more ice to the mixture to give it more of a frozen body, if required. You can also add more mint to your liking, or garnish with fresh mint leaves. 

Yogurt and Kiwi Popsicles

Yogurt is high in calcium and casein, but it also contains a high amount of healthy bacteria. Healthy bacteria in yogurt helps fight the bad bacteria that can stick to your teeth, and lead to cavities. The best news is that yogurt and fruit popsicles are a fun way to get a healthy serving of calcium and super easy to make. Kiwi is a great, green fruit that is high in vitamin C, which helps boost gum health.

Ingredients: 

1 cup frozen kiwi 

1 cup nonfat plain yogurt 

3 tablespoon honey 

Directions: 

1 - In a blender, combine frozen kiwi and 2 tablespoons of honey and purée.  

2 - In a separate bowl, combine yogurt with one tablespoon honey and mix.  

3 – Place alternate layers of yogurt and fruit puree in small paper cups, or ice cube tray. Place a popsicle stick in the center of the cup, and put them in the freezer until they are solid.

A Healthy Diet is Important for Strong Teeth

A proper oral health routine should incorporate a mouth-healthy diet for the best results. Try giving your child more leafy green vegetables, healthy proteins like nuts and yogurt, and encourage them to drink more water, which keeps teeth clean and helps fight cavities. If you have questions about your child’s diet, then visit our office. We’ll discuss mouth-healthy options that can help your child earn a healthier smile.

The 4 Essential Tools to Keep Teeth Clean and Healthy

February 28th, 2019

Caring for teeth is a full-time job that lasts a lifetime. But, you can make that job a lot easier (and more successful) by using the four most essential tools for optimum oral health.

1 - Toothbrush 

Often overlooked and under considered, it is vital that you take the time to buy the right toothbrush for your child. By selecting the proper toothbrush, you can help your child get a healthier smile with ease and comfort. Be sure that the head of the brush easily fits into your child’s mouth, and that they can comfortably grip the handle. Change out their toothbrush every six months, or immediately after they’ve overcome an illness like a cold or flu.

2 - Dental Floss 

Brushing only cleans about 1/3 of the total surface area of teeth which leaves most of the teeth unclean! Your child should floss once per day, and clean between every space in their teeth. For young children, flat dental tape works well as a beginner’s floss, and a set of floss picks can also help young children floss more easily.

3 - Water 

Water is fantastic for a healthy mouth in a lot of ways. For instance, water helps clean teeth of food debris that can lead to tooth decay and cavities. But, did you know that saliva is critical in keeping tooth enamel strong? Saliva is the body’s natural way to rid teeth of food debris and keep the mouth at a healthy Ph level. Saliva is also 99% water, so make sure that your child drinks plenty of water to keep their teeth debris-free and clean.

4 - Toothpaste 

For more than 50 years, the American Dental Association has recommended using toothpaste containing fluoride to prevent cavities. Fluoridated toothpaste does an excellent job of cleaning teeth, but make sure that you spit all of it out and rinse your mouth thoroughly after brushing. When shopping for toothpaste, avoid abrasives, and look for the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) seal of approval on the packaging to ensure that you’re getting the best toothpaste available.

The ADA Seal of Approval 

Look for the American Dental Association’s seal of approval when buying any dental or oral care products. The seal will be easily viewable on the box. The ADA’s stringent testing procedures help ensure that you’re buying a useful product that actually works.

Make Sure Your Child Brushes Twice per Day 

To prevent cavities and tooth decay, your child should be brushing twice per day for two minutes at a time, and floss once per day. If they are complaining of sensitive or painful teeth, then visit our office for further evaluation. Our team will check their mouth for signs of tooth and provide them with a treatment plan that will get them a healthy smile that lasts a lifetime.

The Three Threats to Teen Teeth

February 14th, 2019

Growing a healthy, adult smile takes a lot of work and maintenance, but your teenager can earn a healthy mouth by avoiding some the greatest threats to teen teeth.  

1 - Cavities 

Cavities are the most prevalent disease affecting children and teens in the United States, but cavities are nearly 100% preventable. Your teen can fight cavities by avoiding eating and drinking too much sugar, adding high fiber fruits and vegetables to their diet, and brushing twice per day for two minutes at a time and flossing once per day.  In addition to a proper oral care routine, your teen should have an oral health checkup every six months in our office so that we can help them navigate growing a healthy, adult smile. 

2 - Sports Injuries 

The CDC estimates that more than 3 million teeth are knocked out at youth sporting events. Mouth guards – sometimes called mouth protectors – work by helping cushion a blow to the face, and minimizing the risk of breaking teeth, or lacerating a lip, tongue or cheek. Mouth guards work to prevent tooth loss and other facial injuries.

Without a mouth guard, young athletes are susceptible to jaw damage, lacerated lips and tongue, broken teeth, and even concussions. If your child is playing any contact sport, then buy them a mouth guard that will provide adequate protection for their sport. If you’re unsure, just check online too see if their sport requires – or even suggests – using a mouth guard to prevent an injury.  

3 - Tobacco and Nicotine 

90% of adult smokers began smoking as teens, and each day more than 3,200 Americans younger than 18 try their first cigarette. Tobacco use harms teeth and health in many ways. It can lead to oral cancer, periodontal disease, delayed healing after oral procedure, bad breath, stained teeth and gums and damage the ability to smell and taste. The health risks related to tobacco use are serious, and negative oral side effects are chilling. Unfortunately, teen use of e-cigarettes and nicotine vaporizers is on the rise, and they’re also terrible for teeth.

Most studies find that teens that are actively discouraged from smoking, or that live in an environment where smoking is not normalized, are less likely to use tobacco as an adult, so encourage your children to stay away from all nicotine and tobacco products.

Visit Our Office 

Call us today to schedule an appointment so that we can evaluate the state of your children’s teeth, and help them reach healthier smile this year.

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