Six Simple Steps to Keep Baby’s Mouth in Tip-Top Shape

Looking at your infant’s toothless—or near toothless—smile, you may wonder why there is any reason to worry about establishing good dental health practices at such a tender age. The fact is that even before teeth emerge, a baby’s mouth is subject to the same sorts of bacteria found in the adult mouth. Failure to keep your child’s gums and emergent teeth healthy and clean can result in dental problems down the road.

Baby bottle tooth decay is the name given to one of the most common dental problems faced by infants and very young children. Sugars from both sweetened and unsweetened drinks, such as fruit juice, formula and even milk, provide an ideal habitat for harmful bacteria to thrive.

Long ago, many parents felt that because they were not permanent, baby teeth were expendable and there was no need to address cavities that might develop in them. In fact, healthy baby teeth play a critical role in helping a young child develop chewing and speaking skills, while serving as placeholders for the adult teeth that will eventually replace them. Baby teeth that are not cared for properly can cause pain and infection and may need to be extracted. Missing baby teeth can cause adult teeth to come in crooked or cause deformation of the oral cavity.

Fortunately, caring for a baby’s gums and teeth is a pretty simple process:

• Even before teeth emerge, wipe the baby’s gums with a soft cloth after each feeding.
• Establish regular brushing after the first tooth emerges, but avoid toothpaste until your child is able to keep from swallowing it.
• Avoid beverages with added sugar.
• Never allow your baby to sleep with a bottle that contains anything other than water. If your child already has sugary drinks in his or her bottle, wean your child from the practice by diluting the beverage until it is all water.
• Focus on healthy snacks rather than sugary between-meal treats.

And the most important step: Bring your child into KiDDS Dental before the age of one year to help us identify any potential problems and provide guidance that can help ensure that your child enjoys a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.

Click here to schedule an appointment with Dr. Jared. Or give us a call at (509)891-7070.

Special Patients, Special Care: Dentistry and Your Special Needs Child

While going to the dentist can be daunting for anyone, children with developmental disabilities may find it particularly challenging. The sounds, smells and sights of a dental office can be frightening when children have sensory issues or trouble understanding the world around them. Luckily, we are specially trained to treat young patients who might need a bit of extra attention and special care.

Since people with disabilities can be at higher risk for oral health problems, it’s especially important that parents and our office work together to establish a level of comfort and routine when it comes to dental care. Consider the following tips that can help lead to happy, healthy dental visits for children with special needs:

1. Let us know in advance exactly what your child’s needs are, so that we can better prepare for his or her visit. Make a date to come by our office prior to the appointment. We can introduce ourselves to you and your child and give you a “tour” of all the rooms and the dental equipment.

2. A few weeks before your appointment, start reading stories or watching television programs about visiting the dentist. If possible, talk about what will happen in easy-to-understand terms.

3. If your child is sensitive to noise, bring noise-cancelling headphones and music he or she can listen to during the examination. A stuffed animal, blanket or other comforting object can also help children feel more secure.

4. We might recommend sedation in certain circumstances, sometimes even for simple cleanings and examinations. Consider whether your child can sit still for the examination or if being asleep might make things easier for him or her.

5. Keep up with routine visits. Familiar faces can minimize some of the anxiety your child―and you―might feel about dental appointments.

Dental examinations are only part of the battle. You need to help your child care for his or her teeth between visits. Ask us for suggestions on improving oral health at home―then rest assured that you’re doing all you can to serve the dental needs of your child.

Click here to schedule an appointment with Dr. Jared. Or give us a call at (509)-891-7070.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly Side of Candy

For better or for worse, children love candy. Sweets are, well, sweet. While common knowledge says that candies aren’t good for your children’s teeth, not all candies are created equal.

Some “good” choices of sweets include the following:

• Fruit: “Fruit isn’t candy,” you might say. Well, that depends on your definition of candy. Fruits are nature’s candy. They are richer in fiber and nutrients than any other sweets you can give a child, and their sugars are all natural. If you can satisfy your child’s sweet craving with fruit instead of candy, you’ve won a major battle for their dental health.
• Sugar-free gum: Sugar-free gum increases saliva flow and doesn’t leave plaque on your child’s teeth. Some sugar-free gums are sweetened with xylitol, which counteracts acid formation on teeth.
• Citrus-free sugar-free hard candies: Similar to any sugar-free candy, these sweets are gentle on the teeth. But be warned: Lemon-, lime- and orange-flavored sucking candies are loaded with acid that can burn away tooth enamel.

Now for the “bad” and the “ugly” choices:

• Chocolate: The bad news is that chocolate is loaded with sugar. The good news is that it is low on acid and, because it melts, it won’t stick between the teeth.
• Powdered candy: These candies are basically pure sugar. The powder gets lodged in your child’s gums easily and forms plaque quickly. The purity of the sugar invites bacteria to come live on your child’s teeth.
• Sour candies: Sour candies are acidic, meaning they eat away at your tooth enamel, and sugary, which means they encourage plaque growth. And some are sticky, which means they get caught in the teeth. Have your child stay far, far away from sour candies of all types.
• Taffy, caramel and other sticky candies: These sticky disasters get caught between teeth and can stay there for a very, very long time. In the process, they leave deposits of plaque in places where it can be very difficult to remove them. Candy doesn’t get much worse than this.

This is not a comprehensive list, by any means. If you want to know more about any other snacks, ask Dr. Jared during your child’s next visit at KiDDS Dental.

Click here to schedule an appointment with Dr. Jared. Or give us a call at (509)-891-7070.

Stick to It: The Benefits of Chewing Sugarless Gum

Let’s pop one myth: it’s not cracking, popping or blowing bubbles with gum that can make it something of a health boost to your kids. Simply chewing it, though, actually can help prevent cavities.

Here’s how it works: The gum, to start, has to be sugarless. The only chewing gums endorsed by the American Dental Association shown to prevent cavities are those that contain the sugar substitute xylitol. Studies show that when children as young as five and six chew xylitol-sweetened gum after meals, the cavity-prevention benefits can last for years, even after the habit has been discontinued.

Next, your child has to chew the gum for a good solid while, approximately 10 to 20 minutes after a meal. The goal is to increase saliva flow, which will happen as your child chews.

This added saliva has numerous benefits. First, it physically helps to wash away small particles of food left on the teeth. Less food means less sugar for cavity-causing bacteria to feed upon. Too, compounds in the saliva can neutralize acids in the mouth—produced by those pesky bacteria—that can otherwise cause tooth enamel to deteriorate. The saliva also transports to the teeth some general antibacterial compounds, as well as tooth strengtheners like calcium and phosphate.

Is there a downside to gum-chewing (besides the possible audible annoyances)? You and your children should avoid fruit-flavored sugarless gum, because the acids in the flavorings can contribute to decay, instead of helping to prevent it.

It’s crucial, in the end, that your whole family remember this: Chewing sugarless gum absolutely does not substitute for brushing at least twice a day and flossing once daily. It is only an additional tool to help prevent cavities.

If you have further questions regarding the benefits of sugarless gum, click here to schedule an appointment with Dr. Jared. Or give us a call at (509)-891-7070.