Month: April 2020

Who doesn’t like to have bright white teeth! After all, a bright smile with shining teeth is the best combination for any face. That’s why a lot of people across the world use teeth whitening products. But, the question here is whether children should use whitening products or not? A straight answer to the question would be, wait until they reach the right age or consult with a dentist. As per the pediatrics dentists, 13+ is the minimum age when children can start using teeth whitening products. However, a lot of other researchers say otherwise. Let’s dig deep into the question to find the most appropriate answer as it’s about the dental health of your children.

Possible Effects of Teeth Whitening Treatment on Kids

Kids below 13 have baby teeth which are extremely sensitive towards the use of whitening products. That’s why the following points need special attention from the parents across the globe who wish to use these products on their children.

• Some research related to the use of whitening products in kids has revealed that children using teeth whitening products may face increased teeth sensitivity, variations in teeth colour, and dentin demineralization.
• For the best dental health, it’s also suggested that children should wait until they reach the age of 18 before using any kind of teeth whitening product. The reason behind is the concentration of Hydrogen peroxide in teeth whitening products such as pens, gels, whitening strips, etc. that can damage the dental health of teens.
• Other strong chemicals used in teeth whitening products may cause damage to gum tissue and tooth nerves in kids.

In the context of this question, there are certain things you need to be aware of.

Criteria for Kids to Use Teeth Whitening Products

Make sure that your children fit the following criteria before using the whitening products:

• They should not have any baby teeth left. You must know that teeth whitening kits are designed and tested on adult teeth. So if you expose your child to whitening products before s/he gets all adult teeth, your child may not have the dental health s/he deserves.
• They must have got all adult teeth and all of them should be in place.
• If your kid is going through any kind of orthodontic treatment, make sure it’s completed before starting teeth whitening treatment.
• Do not use any kind of whitening product on your child’s teeth without the dentist’s suggestion.
• For the best possible dental health of your kid, always buy teeth whitening products recommended by your dentist.

Instruction to Use Teeth Whitening Products

• Each teeth whitening product has certain instructions mentioned on it. Make sure to follow them when using the product on your child. Also, discuss with your dentist whether it’s suitable for kids or not.
• Teeth bleaching products should be strictly avoided for kids below 13 as they can cause unnecessary dental problems for your kids including gingival irritations that happen after teeth bleaching.
• You should not try attempting any kind of teeth whitening treatment on your kids at home if you are not completely aware of the process. Always consult with a dentist first about it.
• Dentists recommend that Hydrogen peroxide in teeth whitening products should not exceed 0.1% as far as kids are concerned.

Although teeth whitening among kids is becoming common these days, you need to be a little patient and let your child reach the right age. The bottom line is kids should not be using these products unaided and parents are supposed to discuss with a dentist before using such products on their kids.

Book Appointment to find out which treatment might be best for you.

As a parent, you are always worried about your child. No doubt, you try every aspect to give him comfort, even at the risk of some habits that may be harmful to him later—thumb-sucking is one such act used by infants to calm themselves. Many people might say that it’s a common thing and cause no harm. However, it may have adverse effects if the habit stays longer than needed.

Thumb sucking becomes an essential part of the schedule of infants and toddlers as a medium of learning to accept nourishment. For some unknown reasons, this habit goes along with them even when they are grown up, while for some, it becomes a lifelong habit.

Side-effects of thumb sucking

The fact that thumb sucking is a reflex cannot be overlooked. A passive thumb sucking, which involves taking the thumb or the finger into the mouth, often may not be harmful, but what may be dangerous to the teeth is the active or vigorous thumb sucking, especially to the baby teeth. Moreover, taking the thumb into the mouth before bedtime in the age when the child has just been devoid of breastfeeding, can make the child feel secure, inducing sound sleep. In other cases, it might have become merely an activity to kill boredom and stress.

Now, Thumb sucking may not be problematic to the baby teeth, but once the permanent teeth come in, they can be problematic, especially for the tooth alignment. The adults, thus, need to be careful, if somehow, they have such a habit of sucking the finger. The following are the side-effects:

• Misalignment: It is the most common and permanently staying side-effect of thumb sucking. The exact term for this is dental malocclusion. The misalignment can take in two forms; open bite and overbite. Open bite is a condition in which the top and bottom teeth grow outwards, which is visible even when the mouth is closed. On the other hand, in the overbite malocclusion, the upper front teeth grow such that they cover the bottom teeth. These misalignments affect the shape of the child and also his smile, inviting the feeling of inferiority in him.
• Severe skin problems: Sucking the thumb can also cause various other issues over the years, including serious skin problems. Due to the prolonged exposure of the hand to the moisture in the mouth, the skin may develop cracks and bleed, increasing the vulnerability to various infections. Hence, if you find your child growing any of such symptoms, use a bandage or glove to prevent the disease.
• Speech stuttering: As the regular thumb sucking can affect the jaw, teeth, and palate, it can make a big difference in how they speak and eat. The addition to the problem is that even high-quality speech therapies cannot cure it, which calls for appropriate dental care.

Undoubtedly, anything done in an excessive amount is harmful to health. Likewise, thumb sucking can prove to be disastrous for your teeth and overall looks. Thus, see your dentist as soon as you notice the above signs.

Book Appointment to find out which treatment might be best for you.

Have you also been a part of a debate discussing the right brush timings with your friends or family? Or have you faced allegations of being called a lazy human, when you picked your brush after breakfast? Well, everyone has a different version of a perfect routine. You have yours. However, you should have a good knowledge of a few things affecting your health, so that you keep it at the best state. Dental hygiene is one of those important aspects.

Does the brushing time matter?

Food, especially those which are rich in carbohydrates and sugars generates bacteria that form plaque which then strike your tooth enamel and damage them further. So, brushing your teeth after consuming them may save your teeth from this damage.

However, you must also consider that brushing your teeth just post eating can be harmful to your tooth enamel. Want to know why? Your breakfast is generally having some acid in it, and acidic foods weaken the enamel. In this state, it is advised not to brush the teeth for at least 30 minutes after breakfast. As the brushing may harm the enamel in its weakened state.

Hence along with following the guidelines to keep away the acidic and sugary food, you must also know about the ideal dental hygiene regarding them.

Thus, what time you brush can surely make a difference in your dental health.

Why should you prefer brushing before breakfast?

Now, many people speak of options like skipping breakfast. But, that is not a healthy option as the morning breakfast contributes effectively to regulating your metabolism. Instead, you should try taking foods that have a good calcium amount as they are kind on your teeth. Also, foods with vitamin A and C will give you healthy gums.

The right time for brushing is thus, when you wake up in the morning, before having your breakfast. This is because it will remove the plaque formed by the food overnight. The bacteria existing in your mouth in the night also causes bad morning breath, which seems an addition to it. Brushing before breakfast will ensure the good health of your teeth and prepare them for the day.

You might now think how you will remove the taste of the morning breakfast and feel fresh. Well, for that, you can just have a glass of water after the food. Fluoride Mouthwashes are also a solution to it, provide you use them adequately. Choose the correct time like post-lunch and avoid consuming anything for 30 minutes then. These will wash the sugar and acids you consumed. Nonetheless, anyhow, if you still want to brush your teeth post-breakfast; remember to wait for 20-30 minutes after you eat the food. Only then, pick your brush, so that you prevent the hardest part of your body (enamel) from weakening.

So, brushing teeth twice a day definitely keeps them healthy, provided you do it at the right time. For mornings the right time is before your breakfast.

Book Appointment to find out which treatment might be best for you.

There are so many different stories by people on the teething of their baby. Some say, their baby had his first tooth after his first birthday while some experience it at the age of 6 months. Though every child is different, almost all will have their 20 primary teeth by three years. These primary teeth are essential for your child. They help to shape your child’s face, guide the positioning of permanent teeth and play a crucial role in eating and speaking. Thus, it’s essential to take good care of them.

Also, healthy teeth are a crucial part of your child’s complete health and assisting your child in developing good health begins right from the moment he is born.

Check if your child’s primary teeth are prone to decay?

As the child’s primary teeth have thinner external covering i,e. Enamel, they are prone to early childhood decay. Remember, the decay can start even before the first tooth has appeared. The cause of this decay is Bacteria which attacks quickly due to frequent contact of the teeth with sweet liquids like juice, milk, ( even the breast milk), and no cleaning afterwards.

This early childhood decay can be very painful to your child. It may affect his sleep too. This will further be a disturbance in his concentration on his daily life activities such as studies, games, etc.

How to detect your child’s dental issue?

You may be relieved to think that your child is brushing his teeth daily. But, you, as a parent, need to be careful at this point. Keep a watch on them whether they are doing the job properly to ensure good health of their teeth.

You can check a few signs that would hint you of the unhealthy state of their teeth. Check if-

• They have dark patches on their teeth.
• There are holes in the enamel.
• They are complaining of pain in their teeth.
• Their teeth are sensitive to some specific temperature or food.
• They face sensitivity to chewing.
• They feel their gums are pulling away from teeth.

Any of these issues is an invitation to your child’s teeth problems. Therefore, as soon as you find any one of them, schedule a visit with your dentist. Keep in mind that early treatment will save you from degraded health.

How can you keep the cavities away?

Prevention is always better than cure. Therefore, following some good habits will help you ensure the safety of your child’s teeth.

Begin early with healthy oral habits- Make your kids brush two times a day regularly, that too with fluoride toothpaste.

Have enough fluoride- Constant use of fluoride hardens the enamel and helps to prevent the penetration of acids. For this, you also have options to use fluoride supplements, but beware of too much consumption of fluoride as it may discolour the teeth.

Avoid too much sugar or acid- This is a known fact that a lot of sugary foods such as juices, candy, etc. are not suitable for your child’s teeth. If your child is accustomed to consuming too much of these, ask them to rinse their mouth or brush their teeth after eating them. This will wash the sugar and prevent their teeth from decay.

Check out the above-listed factors to find whether your child’s teeth need a dentist or not?

Book Appointment to find out which treatment might be best for you.