Parents and caregivers play a role in reducing the risk of early childhood caries in children.
Cavities in children ages 2 to 5 increased from 24 percent to 28 percent between 1988-1994 and 1999-2004 and are still on the rise. Parents and caregivers should provide a well-balanced diet but stop un-restricted, at-will consumption of liquids, beverages, and foods containing fermentable carbohydrates, which can contribute to decay after the eruption of the first tooth. Provide proper oral hygiene practices, such as cleaning an infant’s teeth after consuming foods and liquids containing fermentable carbohydrates. Periodically check your child’s teeth at home as directed by your child’s dentist. A baby should have their first dental visit by the time their first tooth erupts or by their first birthday
Early Childhood Caries is the presence of one or more decayed, missing, or filled tooth surfaces in any primary tooth in a preschool-age child between birth and 71 months. Whereas the term “Severe Early Childhood Caries” refers to “atypical,” “progressive,” “acute,” or “rampant” patterns of dental caries. A child’s teeth are susceptible to tooth decay as soon as they erupt. Many aspects of early childhood caries, such as baby bottle tooth decay, are recognized as one of the more severe manifestations of this syndrome.
There have been cases where people have died due to untreated dental infections. Dental care costs are one reason dental services get continuously delayed. Yet by having proper preventive dental care before more significant issues can develop, price does not have to be a factor. Many good low-cost dental insurance plans offer free to very low-cost preventive care services.
Another problem is that many people (even those with dental benefits) don’t take dental care seriously and will avoid even simple dental check-ups altogether. Stating that they do not have the time or their teeth are not hurting them, so why bother? Sadly, that is a typical attitude even regarding health care. Many people only see a doctor if something is bothering them. Preventive maintenance can save not only your teeth but your life as well.
What are supplemental dental insurance plans? Supplemental dental insurance plans are intended to fill the gaps in coverage that may be present in dental benefits offered as part of an existing health insurance plan. Some health insurance benefits packets provided through employment may not offer dental benefits; if they do, they are minimal. Picking up a supplemental dental insurance plan will help fill your coverage gaps. Generally speaking, such additional dental coverage is purchased to address out-of-pocket expenses for regular, annual visits to the dentist for teeth cleanings, routine X-rays, and other aspects of preventive care.
Many people don’t receive dental benefits through work and will go without. Some feel the dental insurance is not worth the cost since they may not see the dentist even once a year, let alone twice. Other people may feel the dental insurance cost needs to be lowered to buy independently.
For the people that only go to the dentist occasionally, it can be hard to convince them that seeing a dentist for twice a year checks and cleanings is essential even though many studies have proven that dental and oral health care can affect your overall health care as well. Having dental insurance is a way to be able to have your preventive dental care for free. Dental insurance will make going to the dentist worth it regarding cost factors. Preventive dental care services are much less than major restorative dental care, which may be needed if you are not seeing a dentist. Dental insurance will also make major dental care services more affordable.
Depending on the type of dental insurance dental plan you may want, you can rely on the cost factor for insurance. Not all dental plans are costly. There are many low-cost dental HMO insurance plans and dental discount plans. Both types of dental plans will help to make dental care much more affordable at an affordable cost.
Gum Disease in Elderly Linked to Low Protein Levels. In a new study published by Nature Immunology, low protein levels known as Del-1 may cause gum diseases in older people. The Queen Mary University of London researchers conducted the study on a group of young and old mice and found that low levels of Del-1 in older mice led to severe gum disease and bone loss. Del-1 has been found to make the immune system prevent white blood cells from sticking to and attacking the mouth tissue.
The Association Between Oral Health and Heart Health Researchers have discovered that the association between heart health and dental health is much stronger than previously imagined. New studies suggest that people with some dental issues can be at risk for developing heart disease and that medical and dental professionals should check certain clinical aspects.
The reason why you may have bad breath. Many people suffer from bad breath, and although food can directly explain why some may have bad breath for the day, what about chronic bad breath? Some reasons for chronic bad breath are:
Dry Mouth
Smoking
Routine illnesses: such as colds, sore throats, coughs, and sinus infections
Poor Dental Hygiene
Gum Disease
Tooth Decay
Chronic Diseases or Conditions
Medications
If you feel your bad breath is more than just the foods you eat, talk to your doctor and dentist for help controlling foul breath odor.
Dental Schools Help to Make Dental Care More Affordable.
Generally speaking, the cost to have a root canal and a crown can run as high as $2000. In most cases, the dentist will want his money at the time of service rendered. What are some options for dental care if you do not have that kind of money? Consider considering visiting a local university that has a school of dentistry. Many dental schools offer reduced-cost services to needy patients based on income. There is still a cost to restorative dental work, but it can help reduce costs significantly.
New Technology Provides Relief for Sensitive Teeth.
A new ingredient in toothpaste, developed by dentists, called Novamin, can dramatically reduce teeth sensitivity. Teeth become sensitive when the gum tissue recedes, or tooth enamel wears down, exposing a tooth’s roots. Roots contain small holes or tubules that lead to nerves. Novamin plugs up the holes cutting off contact with nerves and eliminating pain.
Warning signs that you may have gum disease include bleeding gums when brushing your teeth or bad breath. Both of these conditions are gum disease indicators and should be checked by your dentist. Studies show gum disease can provoke heart disease, stroke, and diabetes and may worsen osteoporosis. Do not ignore the warning signs and see a dentist because there is more to lose than just your teeth.
A more common postoperative complication for tooth extraction is a dry Socket. A dry socket can delay the normal healing process and results when the newly formed blood clot in the extraction site does not form correctly or is prematurely lost. This blood clot lays the foundation for new tissue and bone to develop over a two-month healing process. A dry socket can be very painful, and you should see a dentist immediately if you feel you may have a dry socket after tooth extraction.
Dental braces help to straighten crooked or misaligned teeth. Braces are used in many cases of malocclusion, such as open bite, deep bite, crossbite, and other structural and cosmetic flaws. Different braces depend on your needs and what is best advised by an Orthodontic dentist. When people think of traditional braces, they have visions of stainless steel wire covering the whole mouth with metal brackets. These types of braces usually are not the preferred option.
Though these braces are now outdated, they still present a more affordable dental option for those interested. There are Ceramic Braces that are not as apparent as the more traditional braces, but they are susceptible to damage by accidental blows or trauma. Lingual braces are fitted from behind the teeth, therefore not as apparent from the outside. The more popular braces are Invisalign. Invisalign are clear braces resembling tooth color. They blend in with the teeth, making them virtually invisible. Invisalign is removable, enabling the wearer to snap them on and off when required.
Flossing is essential because it helps to remove plaque lodged between the teeth. As plaque hardens, it turns into tartar which an oral hygienist or dentist can only remove. Tartar harbors bacteria that produce acids that can damage your gums and cause swelling and bleeding. This is a condition known as gingivitis. Gingivitis, if left untreated, can lead to periodontal disease, which eventually causes bone deterioration and tooth loss.
Studies suggest that even in a well-developed country such as the United States of America, only 12% floss their teeth daily. Many people sadly believe regular brushing is enough to keep their teeth and gums healthy.
In a study of 51 twins: one set of twins was instructed to brush, while the other set of twins was to brush and floss. Their dental health was examined before and after the study. The study results showed the group that flossed had 38% fewer bleeding gum sites than before the intervention, and overall gum bleeding improved by an average of 42%. If your child is only brushing their teeth, then they are only cleaning their teeth about 65%, leaving 35% dirty. Ensure your children brush and floss daily for proper dental health care habits.
Knowing how to brush effectively is essential to have proper dental care habits. When first learning how to brush their teeth independently, kids tend not to brush correctly. Therefore dental decay issues may still arise. Brushing your teeth at least twice a day is the standard advice.
Some dental experts recommend brushing after every meal whenever possible. The standard brushing time is at least three minutes. However, for children, that can seem like a very long time, so here are some tips.
If you have a fun kitchen timer that they like, you can set it for three minutes. Another option is to play a song on the radio. There are kids-friendly stations like Radio Disney average song time is 3 1/2 minutes. Teach your child to brush their teeth thoroughly. Show them to brush along the gum line and to angle the toothbrush slightly towards the gums. It can be hard to tell but try your best to tell them not to brush too roughly.
Get them to focus on cleaning every tooth surface and teach them to gently brush their tongue to scrape off bacteria that can cause bad breath. You want to replace their toothbrush every three to four months. If necessary, have their dentist show them how to brush their teeth at their dental check-up.
You can take steps to ensure your child is getting the most out of their dental checkups. Since their oral health is also closely related to their overall health care, communicate with their dentist any concerns or problems they have.
Your child’s dentist should know about any new health problems they may have since their last visit. As an example: diabetes affects teeth and gum health. Make a list of any medication or supplement to take to the dentist since some medicines and supplements can affect teeth health.
Let your child’s dentist know ahead of time if they have any dental anxiety. Dental fears are common in children, and most dentists can work to make your child more comfortable during the checkup process. Lastly, talk to your child’s dentist about any changes you may have noticed with your child’s teeth or gums. The sooner the dentist knows about pain, sensitivity, or suspicion you may have seen, the earlier they can diagnose and treat it.
In addition to teaching your children about daily brushing and flossing habits seeing their dentist regularly for checkups is vital in maintaining their oral health care. Checkups are more than just basic cleaning. Here is what you can expect from a dental checkup.
X-rays: (if you have not had them in the past year) are the dentist’s tool to look for gum disease or other dental problems.
Examination: The dentist will examine your teeth, gums, and mouth to look for changes or signs of a problem.
Education: After X-rays and an oral examination, the dentist will review any dental or hygiene problems detected.
Cleaning and Polishing of your Teeth: After reviewing your child’s teeth, the dentist or a dental hygienist will remove tartar build-up by cleaning and polishing them.
They may go over dental hygiene care with your child if they see they are not brushing or flossing well. Teach them how to floss or point out areas they need to focus more on.
Many dental insurance plans do not offer dental benefits on dental veneers. Therefore you want to ensure proper care to not damage them. Dental veneers can last up to 10 years or more with good care. However, dental veneers are thin and can break, chip, or even fall off if you do not care for them.
To avoid this from happening to your dental veneers, do not bite your nails or chew on objects like pencils or ice cubes. Do not use a hard bristle toothbrush, and avoid toothpaste with abrasives like baking soda. Maintaining proper dental hygiene and seeing your dentist regularly for your checkups is still essential.
Are dental veneers the right option for you? Veneers may be a good option for people with gaps between their teeth, chipping, cracks, or even uneven teeth. Dental veneers can also help people with darkly stained teeth that whitening doesn’t help. However, veneers are not for teeth that have tooth decay, fractures, and or large fillings.
In cases like those, you will need to address the dental issues of tooth decay, and crowns may be the better option. Also, veneers aren’t for people who clench or grind their teeth, as veneers can crack or chip. To find out if veneers are the best dental option, talk to your dentist and review the best options for you and your dental care needs.
