Tooth decay in childhood is no longer a must. At our office, we are most concerned with all aspects of preventive care. This includes;
• Use of fissure sealants to protect your child's teeth. Sealants are plastics that are bonded to the chewing surfaces of decay prone back teeth. These will release fluoride and prevent food stagnation at the surfaces minimizing the risk of decay onset or can sometimes arrest caries at its beginning. This is just one of the ways we will set the foundation for your child's lifetime of good oral health.
Studies show that pit and fissure decay accounts for 80 to 90 percent of cavities in permanent back teeth and 44 percent in baby teeth. Since these are the areas that sealants protect, it is easy to see why sealants benefit children. Sealant placement in children and adolescents has shown a reduction of cavities incidence of 86 percent after one year and 58 percent after four years. With appropriate follow-up care, the success rate of sealants may be 80-90 percent even after a decade.
• Diet Advice Our pediatric dental specialist encourages a balanced diet to help your child’s teeth and gums develop properly. A diet high in sugar and starches (including carbohydrates!) may place your child at risk for tooth decay. These foods are safer for teeth if they are eaten with a meal and not as a snack. Sticky foods, such as fruit roll ups, raisins and gummy bears, tend to stick on
the teeth and are not easily washed away by saliva, water or other drink. These sticky foods have more potential to cause cavities. Don’t put your child to sleep with a bottle of milk, formula, juice, or sweetened liquid, or without brushing their teeth as the last thing before sleeping! Any un-swallowed liquid in the mouth supports bacteria that produce acids and attack the teeth. Putting your infant to bed with nothing more than a bottle of water will protect him/her from severe tooth decay.
Food does not cause tooth decay, eating does. Children’s dental health depends less on what they eat and more on how often they eat it. About 90 percent of all foods contain sugars or starches that enable bacteria in dental plaque to produce acids. This attack by bacterial acid, lasting 20 minutes or more, can lead to loss of tooth mineral and to cavities. Constant and frequent food munching even in small quantities will keep teeth under the acidic attack. A child who licks a piece of hard candy every few minutes to make it last longer or slowly sips a sugared drink while studying, is flirting with a high risk of tooth decay. Such long-lasting snacks create an acid attack on teeth for the entire time they are in the mouth. A food with sugar or starch is safer for teeth if it is eaten with a meal, not as a snack “to minimize exposure of teeth to the acid attack”. Accordingly, provide a balanced diet and save foods with sugar or starch for meal times.
Snacks, served no more than three times a day, should contribute to the overall nutrition and development of the child. Some healthy snacks are cheese, vegetables, yogurt, peanut butter and chocolate milk.
Certain cheeses have been shown to have characteristics that disrupt the development of cavities when eaten alone as a snack or at the end of a meal. Cheeses such as aged cheddar, swiss, mozzarella and monterey jack stimulate the flow of saliva, clearing the mouth of food debris and acting as a buffer to neutralize the acids that attack teeth. The calcium and phosphorous found in cheese also reduce or prevent decreases in pH levels of saliva and promote remineralization of tooth enamel.
Acids present in carbonated beverages can have a greater negative effect (i.e., erosion) on enamel than the acids produced by bacteria from the sugars present in sweetened drinks.
Sugars are essentially the same, whether natural or processed, to cavity-causing bacteria in the mouth. All types of sugars and the foods that contain them can play a role in tooth decay.
Cooked starches (fermentable carbohydrates) can lead to cavities just as sugars can. In fact, such cooked starches as breads, crackers, pasta, pretzels and potato chips frequently take longer to clear the mouth than sugars. So the decay risk may last even longer.
Shop smart. Do not routinely stock your pantry with sugary or starchy snacks. Buy “fun foods” just for special times.
If your child chews gum or sips soda, select products that are sugar-free. Recent evidence suggests the use of xylitol chewing gum can decrease a child’s caries rate.
• Teeth Brushing Your child should brush after breakfast and in the evening prior to going to bed. Depending on the child’s age, teeth brushing can be done by your child or done by yourself on his/her behalf.
• Oral Habits – Thumbs, Fingers and Pacifiers
It is normal for babies and young children to suck on fingers, pacifiers or objects. It provides security. For young babies, it’s a way to make contact with and learn about the world. Most children stop their habit on their own between one and two years of age. By that time, no harm is done to their teeth or jaws. Some children who retain a habit past three years old may result with upper front teeth that tilt out and lower front teeth that tip inwards. The key time to stop with the habit is by age three. In some cases children need the help of their parents and their pediatric dentist to help them stop. The last resort is for their pediatric dentist to fabricate a mouth appliance that blocks the sucking habit. The thumb, finger and pacifier all affect the teeth essentially in the same way. The pacifier habit is however often easiest to break.
• Cavity Prevention Most of the time teeth cavities are due to a diet high in sugary foods and a lack of brushing. Limiting sugar intake and brushing regularly, of course, can help. The longer it takes your child to chew their foods the longer the residue stays on their teeth, the greater the chances of getting cavities. Every time someone eats, an acid reaction occurs inside their mouth as the bacteria digests the sugars. During this time the acid environment can destroy the tooth structure, eventually leading to cavities. Accordingly, we advice you to limit frequency of meals and snacks, encourage brushing and rinsing, watch what your child drinks, avoid sticky foods, choose nutritious snacks and make treats part of the meals. This way you can limit snacking frequency and reduce teeth exposure to acidity and reduce incidence of teeth decay.
• Habitual Advice Early childhood caries (also known as baby bottle decay, nursing caries or bottle feeding syndrome)can be prevented by encouraging your child to drink from a cup as they approach their first birthday. Children should not fall asleep with a bottle containing anything sugary as their last drink. Night-time breast feeding should be avoided after the first baby tooth begins to erupt (breast milk is very high in sugar). Drinking juice from a bottle will also cause decay. Note that “watering juice down” does not decrease the risk for decay but may help you and your child get rid of their favorite night drink because of wasted taste. Bottle-feeding should be weaned at 12- 14 months of age.
• Regular Dental Check-Ups Dental check-ups should be at least twice a year for most children. Some children need more frequent dental visits because of increased risk of tooth decay due to poor oral hygiene. During the check up, our pediatric dental specialist will review your child’s medical and dental history, will gently examine your child’s teeth and oral tissues. Their teeth will be cleaned by removing debris from both the teeth and gums, apply fluoride to the teeth to renew the fluoride content in the enamel, thus strengthening the teeth and preventing cavities. Hygiene instructions will improve your child’s brushing skills and motivation. X-rays are only taken when necessary to protect your child’s dental health. Parents usually request that we speak to their child about “letting mom or dad help with their brushing at home.” Hearing this directly from our specialist works well for most kids.
Take Care of Your Own Teeth. Babies can “catch” cavities from their caregivers. In majority of the cases, the mother is the source. Research indicates that the cavity-causing bacteria can be transmitted from mothers to infants even before teeth erupt. The better the mother’s oral health, the less the chance the baby will have problems.
Parent Tips: Healthy Teeth for Babies
• Before the teeth erupt, clean the baby’s mouth and gums with a soft cloth or infant toothbrush at bath time. This helps ready the baby for the teeth cleaning to come.
• When the teeth erupt, clean the child’s teeth at least twice a day with a toothbrush designed for small children.
• Take the baby to see a pediatric dentist by the baby’s first birthday. The earlier the visit, the better. It is important to establish a dental home to ensure that the child’s oral health care is delivered in a comprehensive, ongoing, accessible, coordinated and family-centered way by the dentist.
• If the baby is placed to sleep with a bottle, use nothing but water. When a child is given a bottle containing sugary liquids such as milk, formula or fruit juice, the teeth are under attack by bacterial acid for extended periods. This can cause cavities in babies called “early childhood caries,” formerly known as baby bottle tooth decay or nursing bottle syndrome.
• Breast-feeding has been shown to be beneficial for a baby’s health and development. However, if the child prefers to be breast-fed often or for long periods once a tooth appears and other foods/beverages have been introduced into her diet, she/he are at risk for severe tooth decay. Clean the baby's mouth with a wet washcloth after breast-feeding, and encourage a bottle with plain water during the night time.
• Never dip a pacifier in anything sweet; it can lead to serious tooth decay.
• Wean the infant from the bottle by one year of age.
Pacifier or Thumb?
Babies suck even when they are not hungry (a natural reflex called non-nutritive sucking) for pleasure, comfort and security. In fact, some babies begin to suck on their fingers or thumbs even before they are born.
In the pacifier-versus-thumb debate, the AAPD votes for pacifiers over thumbs to comfort new babies. A pacifier habit is easier to break at an earlier age. The earlier a sucking habit is stopped, the less chance the habit will lead to dental alignment, jaw and orthodontic problems.
Sucking on a thumb, finger, or pacifier is normal for infants and young children; most children stop on their own. If a child does not stop by herself, the habit should be discouraged after age three.
Thumb, finger and pacifier sucking all can affect the teeth essentially the same way. If a child repeatedly sucks on a finger, pacifier or other object over long periods of time, the upper front teeth may tip outward or not come in properly. Other changes in tooth position and jaw alignment also may occur.it should be noted that orthodontic pacifiers are much better than regular round end pacifiers on the negative side of use. They are designed in a way to fit better on upper jaw and allow normal tongue movement, minimizing jaw changes effect.
Some oral changes caused by sucking habits continue even after the habit stops. Prolonged sucking can create crooked teeth or bite problems. Early dental visits provide parents with information to help their children stop sucking habits before they affect the developing permanent dentition.
A pediatric dentist can encourage the child to stop a sucking habit and discuss what happens to the teeth and mouth if the child does not stop. This advice, coupled with support from parents, helps many children quit. If this approach does not work, a pediatric dentist may recommend behavior modification techniques or an appliance that serves as a reminder for children who want to stop their habits
Parent Tips for Safe Pacifiers
• Never dip the pacifier into honey or anything sweet before giving it to a baby.
• A pacifier’s shield should be wider than the child’s mouth. Discontinue use if the child can fit the entire pacifier in his mouth.
• Inspect pacifiers frequently for signs of wear or deterioration; discard if the bulb has become sticky, swollen, or cracked.
• Never leave an infant unattended with a pacifier in her mouth, or let her sleep with a pacifier.
• Never substitute a bottle nipple for a pacifier
Fluoride and your Children’s Teeth
Children aged 6 months to 16 years may need fluoride supplements if they drink water that is not optimally fluoridated. Our pediatric dentist considers many different factors before recommending a fluoride supplement. Your child's age, risk of developing dental decay and the different liquids your child drinks are important considerations.
Fluoride for infants is available in fluoride drops or in combination with prescription vitamins. Fluoride sources for children include fluoride toothpastes, fluoride mouth rinses and fluoride applications in the pediatric dental office.
Your child should use toothpaste with fluoride and should not swallow any toothpaste. Careful supervision is encouraged. For children under 3-years-old, use a smear or rice-size amount of fluoridated toothpaste. For those 3 to 6-years-old, no more than a pea-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste on the brush is recommended.
When a child develops a cavity, the pediatric dentist may use certain types of tooth-colored filling materials (such as resin ionomer or compomer) that contain time-release fluorides. This extra fluoride targeted to the child’s problem area can prevent decay and the need for future fillings. Children who benefit the most from fluoride are those at highest risk for dental decay. Risk factors include a history of previous cavities, a diet high in sugar or carbohydrates, orthodontic appliances and certain medical conditions such as dry mouth.
Topical fluoride is a preventive agent applied to tooth enamel. It comes in a number of different forms. A dental professional places fluoride gels and foams in trays that are held against the teeth for up to 4 minutes. Topical fluoride also can be applied as a varnish.
Parents should supervise their preschoolers’ tooth brushing. Use a small smear or rice-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste for children under three-years-old. For those aged 3 to 6 years, use no more than a peasized amount of fluoridated toothpaste when helping your children brush.
Studies have shown that caries increments in 3-year studies were approximately 20-30% greater in subject brushing once or less per day .compared with those brushing twice or more a day.
Baby Teeth & Tooth Brushing
Toddlers can and should be encouraged to help brush their teeth as soon as they can hold a brush.
Parents should brush preschoolers’ teeth and supervise the brushing for school-age children until they are 7 to 8 years of age (about the same time they can tie their own shoelaces or write in cursive).
Choose a toothbrush designed for children’s smaller hands and mouths. Look for large handles that help children control the toothbrush.
The best toothbrushes have soft, round-ended (polished) bristles that clean while being gentle on the gums. Remember to throw out a toothbrush after 3 months or sooner if the bristles are fraying. Frayed bristles can harm the gums and are not as effective in cleaning teeth.
The best times to brush are after breakfast and before bed.
The child should use toothpaste with fluoride and the American Dental Association Seal of Acceptance. Young children, especially preschool-aged children, should not swallow any toothpaste. Careful supervision is encouraged.
For children under 3-years-old, use a smear or rice-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste. For those 3 to 6 years old, nor more than a pea-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste on the brush is recommended.
Your child needs to start developing a relationship with their dentist at a young age. They need to see how a dental office can be and allow them to get familiar with the office staff. Kids develop trust with consistency. The goal is to start them early in order to develop a relationship in which they progress from an exam to a cleaning to sealants and any restorative treatment that needs to be done. Kids usually don’t do well if their first visit to the dentist is at age four with cavities. They tend to get overwhelmed with new noises, vibrations, and of course local anesthesia.
The initial visit is informative for the parent. Parent(s) develop an individualized preventative program with our pediatric dental specialist. Questions will be answered about diet, brushing and any habits your child may have. As the kids get older, parents will be informed about growth and development. Referrals may be given to other dental specialists, such as orthodontists, due to crowding. A pediatric dentist can identify crowded or crooked teeth and actively intervene to guide the teeth as they come in the mouth. Not only will this improve the look of the child’s smile, but early orthodontic treatment may prevent more extensive treatment later. The advantages of orthodontic care far surpass appearance. Braces and other orthodontic appliances can straighten crooked teeth, guide teeth into proper position as they come in, correct bite problems, and even prevent the need for tooth extractions. Straight teeth not only look better, but are easier to keep clean and therefore less susceptible to tooth decay and gum disease. Last but not least, parents will be able to contact us for any emergency dental trauma. Believe it or not, the kids we care for love coming to the dentist to see us! Their perceptions of dentistry are much different than their parents’. Our pediatric dentist is friendly, caring and professional.
Primary teeth may be temporary, but they deserve good care. A child needs strong, healthy primary teeth not only to chew food easily, pronounce words properly but believe it or not for her psychological make-up .Our mission is to provide specialized and comprehensive care for infants, children, and adolescents in a friendly, safe, and state-of-the-art environment with a focus on prevention and education for the families. If you’re looking for an experienced dentist for kids in Amman-Jordan, contact us today to schedule an appointment for your child and we will help her maintain healthy teeth and gums from her early life beginnings.
• Use of fissure sealants to protect your child's teeth. Sealants are plastics that are bonded to the chewing surfaces of decay prone back teeth. These will release fluoride and prevent food stagnation at the surfaces minimizing the risk of decay onset or can sometimes arrest caries at its beginning. This is just one of the ways we will set the foundation for your child's lifetime of good oral health.
Studies show that pit and fissure decay accounts for 80 to 90 percent of cavities in permanent back teeth and 44 percent in baby teeth. Since these are the areas that sealants protect, it is easy to see why sealants benefit children. Sealant placement in children and adolescents has shown a reduction of cavities incidence of 86 percent after one year and 58 percent after four years. With appropriate follow-up care, the success rate of sealants may be 80-90 percent even after a decade.
• Diet Advice Our pediatric dental specialist encourages a balanced diet to help your child’s teeth and gums develop properly. A diet high in sugar and starches (including carbohydrates!) may place your child at risk for tooth decay. These foods are safer for teeth if they are eaten with a meal and not as a snack. Sticky foods, such as fruit roll ups, raisins and gummy bears, tend to stick on
the teeth and are not easily washed away by saliva, water or other drink. These sticky foods have more potential to cause cavities. Don’t put your child to sleep with a bottle of milk, formula, juice, or sweetened liquid, or without brushing their teeth as the last thing before sleeping! Any un-swallowed liquid in the mouth supports bacteria that produce acids and attack the teeth. Putting your infant to bed with nothing more than a bottle of water will protect him/her from severe tooth decay.
Food does not cause tooth decay, eating does. Children’s dental health depends less on what they eat and more on how often they eat it. About 90 percent of all foods contain sugars or starches that enable bacteria in dental plaque to produce acids. This attack by bacterial acid, lasting 20 minutes or more, can lead to loss of tooth mineral and to cavities. Constant and frequent food munching even in small quantities will keep teeth under the acidic attack. A child who licks a piece of hard candy every few minutes to make it last longer or slowly sips a sugared drink while studying, is flirting with a high risk of tooth decay. Such long-lasting snacks create an acid attack on teeth for the entire time they are in the mouth. A food with sugar or starch is safer for teeth if it is eaten with a meal, not as a snack “to minimize exposure of teeth to the acid attack”. Accordingly, provide a balanced diet and save foods with sugar or starch for meal times.
Snacks, served no more than three times a day, should contribute to the overall nutrition and development of the child. Some healthy snacks are cheese, vegetables, yogurt, peanut butter and chocolate milk.
Certain cheeses have been shown to have characteristics that disrupt the development of cavities when eaten alone as a snack or at the end of a meal. Cheeses such as aged cheddar, swiss, mozzarella and monterey jack stimulate the flow of saliva, clearing the mouth of food debris and acting as a buffer to neutralize the acids that attack teeth. The calcium and phosphorous found in cheese also reduce or prevent decreases in pH levels of saliva and promote remineralization of tooth enamel.
Acids present in carbonated beverages can have a greater negative effect (i.e., erosion) on enamel than the acids produced by bacteria from the sugars present in sweetened drinks.
Sugars are essentially the same, whether natural or processed, to cavity-causing bacteria in the mouth. All types of sugars and the foods that contain them can play a role in tooth decay.
Cooked starches (fermentable carbohydrates) can lead to cavities just as sugars can. In fact, such cooked starches as breads, crackers, pasta, pretzels and potato chips frequently take longer to clear the mouth than sugars. So the decay risk may last even longer.
Shop smart. Do not routinely stock your pantry with sugary or starchy snacks. Buy “fun foods” just for special times.
If your child chews gum or sips soda, select products that are sugar-free. Recent evidence suggests the use of xylitol chewing gum can decrease a child’s caries rate.
• Teeth Brushing Your child should brush after breakfast and in the evening prior to going to bed. Depending on the child’s age, teeth brushing can be done by your child or done by yourself on his/her behalf.
• Oral Habits – Thumbs, Fingers and Pacifiers
It is normal for babies and young children to suck on fingers, pacifiers or objects. It provides security. For young babies, it’s a way to make contact with and learn about the world. Most children stop their habit on their own between one and two years of age. By that time, no harm is done to their teeth or jaws. Some children who retain a habit past three years old may result with upper front teeth that tilt out and lower front teeth that tip inwards. The key time to stop with the habit is by age three. In some cases children need the help of their parents and their pediatric dentist to help them stop. The last resort is for their pediatric dentist to fabricate a mouth appliance that blocks the sucking habit. The thumb, finger and pacifier all affect the teeth essentially in the same way. The pacifier habit is however often easiest to break.
• Cavity Prevention Most of the time teeth cavities are due to a diet high in sugary foods and a lack of brushing. Limiting sugar intake and brushing regularly, of course, can help. The longer it takes your child to chew their foods the longer the residue stays on their teeth, the greater the chances of getting cavities. Every time someone eats, an acid reaction occurs inside their mouth as the bacteria digests the sugars. During this time the acid environment can destroy the tooth structure, eventually leading to cavities. Accordingly, we advice you to limit frequency of meals and snacks, encourage brushing and rinsing, watch what your child drinks, avoid sticky foods, choose nutritious snacks and make treats part of the meals. This way you can limit snacking frequency and reduce teeth exposure to acidity and reduce incidence of teeth decay.
• Habitual Advice Early childhood caries (also known as baby bottle decay, nursing caries or bottle feeding syndrome)can be prevented by encouraging your child to drink from a cup as they approach their first birthday. Children should not fall asleep with a bottle containing anything sugary as their last drink. Night-time breast feeding should be avoided after the first baby tooth begins to erupt (breast milk is very high in sugar). Drinking juice from a bottle will also cause decay. Note that “watering juice down” does not decrease the risk for decay but may help you and your child get rid of their favorite night drink because of wasted taste. Bottle-feeding should be weaned at 12- 14 months of age.
• Regular Dental Check-Ups Dental check-ups should be at least twice a year for most children. Some children need more frequent dental visits because of increased risk of tooth decay due to poor oral hygiene. During the check up, our pediatric dental specialist will review your child’s medical and dental history, will gently examine your child’s teeth and oral tissues. Their teeth will be cleaned by removing debris from both the teeth and gums, apply fluoride to the teeth to renew the fluoride content in the enamel, thus strengthening the teeth and preventing cavities. Hygiene instructions will improve your child’s brushing skills and motivation. X-rays are only taken when necessary to protect your child’s dental health. Parents usually request that we speak to their child about “letting mom or dad help with their brushing at home.” Hearing this directly from our specialist works well for most kids.
Take Care of Your Own Teeth. Babies can “catch” cavities from their caregivers. In majority of the cases, the mother is the source. Research indicates that the cavity-causing bacteria can be transmitted from mothers to infants even before teeth erupt. The better the mother’s oral health, the less the chance the baby will have problems.
Parent Tips: Healthy Teeth for Babies
• Before the teeth erupt, clean the baby’s mouth and gums with a soft cloth or infant toothbrush at bath time. This helps ready the baby for the teeth cleaning to come.
• When the teeth erupt, clean the child’s teeth at least twice a day with a toothbrush designed for small children.
• Take the baby to see a pediatric dentist by the baby’s first birthday. The earlier the visit, the better. It is important to establish a dental home to ensure that the child’s oral health care is delivered in a comprehensive, ongoing, accessible, coordinated and family-centered way by the dentist.
• If the baby is placed to sleep with a bottle, use nothing but water. When a child is given a bottle containing sugary liquids such as milk, formula or fruit juice, the teeth are under attack by bacterial acid for extended periods. This can cause cavities in babies called “early childhood caries,” formerly known as baby bottle tooth decay or nursing bottle syndrome.
• Breast-feeding has been shown to be beneficial for a baby’s health and development. However, if the child prefers to be breast-fed often or for long periods once a tooth appears and other foods/beverages have been introduced into her diet, she/he are at risk for severe tooth decay. Clean the baby's mouth with a wet washcloth after breast-feeding, and encourage a bottle with plain water during the night time.
• Never dip a pacifier in anything sweet; it can lead to serious tooth decay.
• Wean the infant from the bottle by one year of age.
Pacifier or Thumb?
Babies suck even when they are not hungry (a natural reflex called non-nutritive sucking) for pleasure, comfort and security. In fact, some babies begin to suck on their fingers or thumbs even before they are born.
In the pacifier-versus-thumb debate, the AAPD votes for pacifiers over thumbs to comfort new babies. A pacifier habit is easier to break at an earlier age. The earlier a sucking habit is stopped, the less chance the habit will lead to dental alignment, jaw and orthodontic problems.
Sucking on a thumb, finger, or pacifier is normal for infants and young children; most children stop on their own. If a child does not stop by herself, the habit should be discouraged after age three.
Thumb, finger and pacifier sucking all can affect the teeth essentially the same way. If a child repeatedly sucks on a finger, pacifier or other object over long periods of time, the upper front teeth may tip outward or not come in properly. Other changes in tooth position and jaw alignment also may occur.it should be noted that orthodontic pacifiers are much better than regular round end pacifiers on the negative side of use. They are designed in a way to fit better on upper jaw and allow normal tongue movement, minimizing jaw changes effect.
Some oral changes caused by sucking habits continue even after the habit stops. Prolonged sucking can create crooked teeth or bite problems. Early dental visits provide parents with information to help their children stop sucking habits before they affect the developing permanent dentition.
A pediatric dentist can encourage the child to stop a sucking habit and discuss what happens to the teeth and mouth if the child does not stop. This advice, coupled with support from parents, helps many children quit. If this approach does not work, a pediatric dentist may recommend behavior modification techniques or an appliance that serves as a reminder for children who want to stop their habits
Parent Tips for Safe Pacifiers
• Never dip the pacifier into honey or anything sweet before giving it to a baby. • A pacifier’s shield should be wider than the child’s mouth. Discontinue use if the child can fit the entire pacifier in his mouth.
• Inspect pacifiers frequently for signs of wear or deterioration; discard if the bulb has become sticky, swollen, or cracked.
• Never leave an infant unattended with a pacifier in her mouth, or let her sleep with a pacifier.
• Never substitute a bottle nipple for a pacifier
Fluoride and your Children’s Teeth
Children aged 6 months to 16 years may need fluoride supplements if they drink water that is not optimally fluoridated. Our pediatric dentist considers many different factors before recommending a fluoride supplement. Your child's age, risk of developing dental decay and the different liquids your child drinks are important considerations.
Fluoride for infants is available in fluoride drops or in combination with prescription vitamins. Fluoride sources for children include fluoride toothpastes, fluoride mouth rinses and fluoride applications in the pediatric dental office.
Your child should use toothpaste with fluoride and should not swallow any toothpaste. Careful supervision is encouraged. For children under 3-years-old, use a smear or rice-size amount of fluoridated toothpaste. For those 3 to 6-years-old, no more than a pea-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste on the brush is recommended.
When a child develops a cavity, the pediatric dentist may use certain types of tooth-colored filling materials (such as resin ionomer or compomer) that contain time-release fluorides. This extra fluoride targeted to the child’s problem area can prevent decay and the need for future fillings. Children who benefit the most from fluoride are those at highest risk for dental decay. Risk factors include a history of previous cavities, a diet high in sugar or carbohydrates, orthodontic appliances and certain medical conditions such as dry mouth.
Topical fluoride is a preventive agent applied to tooth enamel. It comes in a number of different forms. A dental professional places fluoride gels and foams in trays that are held against the teeth for up to 4 minutes. Topical fluoride also can be applied as a varnish.
Parents should supervise their preschoolers’ tooth brushing. Use a small smear or rice-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste for children under three-years-old. For those aged 3 to 6 years, use no more than a peasized amount of fluoridated toothpaste when helping your children brush.Studies have shown that caries increments in 3-year studies were approximately 20-30% greater in subject brushing once or less per day .compared with those brushing twice or more a day.
Baby Teeth & Tooth Brushing Toddlers can and should be encouraged to help brush their teeth as soon as they can hold a brush.
Parents should brush preschoolers’ teeth and supervise the brushing for school-age children until they are 7 to 8 years of age (about the same time they can tie their own shoelaces or write in cursive).
Choose a toothbrush designed for children’s smaller hands and mouths. Look for large handles that help children control the toothbrush.
The best toothbrushes have soft, round-ended (polished) bristles that clean while being gentle on the gums. Remember to throw out a toothbrush after 3 months or sooner if the bristles are fraying. Frayed bristles can harm the gums and are not as effective in cleaning teeth.
The best times to brush are after breakfast and before bed.
The child should use toothpaste with fluoride and the American Dental Association Seal of Acceptance. Young children, especially preschool-aged children, should not swallow any toothpaste. Careful supervision is encouraged.
For children under 3-years-old, use a smear or rice-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste. For those 3 to 6 years old, nor more than a pea-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste on the brush is recommended.
Your child needs to start developing a relationship with their dentist at a young age. They need to see how a dental office can be and allow them to get familiar with the office staff. Kids develop trust with consistency. The goal is to start them early in order to develop a relationship in which they progress from an exam to a cleaning to sealants and any restorative treatment that needs to be done. Kids usually don’t do well if their first visit to the dentist is at age four with cavities. They tend to get overwhelmed with new noises, vibrations, and of course local anesthesia.The initial visit is informative for the parent. Parent(s) develop an individualized preventative program with our pediatric dental specialist. Questions will be answered about diet, brushing and any habits your child may have. As the kids get older, parents will be informed about growth and development. Referrals may be given to other dental specialists, such as orthodontists, due to crowding. A pediatric dentist can identify crowded or crooked teeth and actively intervene to guide the teeth as they come in the mouth. Not only will this improve the look of the child’s smile, but early orthodontic treatment may prevent more extensive treatment later. The advantages of orthodontic care far surpass appearance. Braces and other orthodontic appliances can straighten crooked teeth, guide teeth into proper position as they come in, correct bite problems, and even prevent the need for tooth extractions. Straight teeth not only look better, but are easier to keep clean and therefore less susceptible to tooth decay and gum disease. Last but not least, parents will be able to contact us for any emergency dental trauma. Believe it or not, the kids we care for love coming to the dentist to see us! Their perceptions of dentistry are much different than their parents’. Our pediatric dentist is friendly, caring and professional.
Primary teeth may be temporary, but they deserve good care. A child needs strong, healthy primary teeth not only to chew food easily, pronounce words properly but believe it or not for her psychological make-up .Our mission is to provide specialized and comprehensive care for infants, children, and adolescents in a friendly, safe, and state-of-the-art environment with a focus on prevention and education for the families. If you’re looking for an experienced dentist for kids in Amman-Jordan, contact us today to schedule an appointment for your child and we will help her maintain healthy teeth and gums from her early life beginnings.