What You Can Do to Support Your Child’s Dental Development

Your child’s teeth and gum development is truly a wonder. In just a little more than two decades they’ll gain and lose one set of teeth, while the subsequent permanent set will grow in coordination with other facial and oral structures. All of these structures will finally reach maturity sometime in early adulthood.

Sometimes, though, obstacles can arise: disease, trauma or even genetics can derail normal development and endanger future health. So although nature does most of the heavy lifting, there are things you should do to keep your child’s dental development on track.

For instance, begin oral hygiene practices before their first teeth come in. By wiping their gums after feeding with a clean damp cloth, you can help reduce the numbers of disease-causing bacteria in the mouth. Once teeth appear switch to brushing.

There are also habits to avoid. Don’t kiss your baby directly on the lips—you may transfer to them your own mouth bacteria, which their young immune system can’t yet adequately handle. Also, avoid putting them to bed with a sleep-time bottle filled with sugary fluids (including milk or formula) because the constant contact between the sugar and their teeth could increase their risk for tooth decay, the number one dental disease in young children.

Of course, not all prevention efforts depend on you alone—we’re your partner in helping to keep your child’s dental development progressing normally. We can provide preventive treatments like sealants or topical fluoride to reduce the risk of tooth decay, while continually monitoring for signs of the disease that may require treatment. We also look for signs of emerging bite problems that may require intervention before their effects worsen.

This is all part of regular dental visits, usually at six-month intervals, which are best begun around your child’s first birthday. Not only does this enable us to stay ahead of dental problems, it also helps your child become more comfortable with dental visits and increase the likelihood they’ll continue the habit in adulthood.

As we said, nature is responsible for most of this amazing development without any help from us. But we can assist development and hopefully prevent issues that could diminish their dental health in years to come.

If you would like more information on supporting your child’s dental development, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation.

Don’t Take a Vacation From Oral Hygiene This Summer!

What are you most looking forward to this summer? Maybe you’re planning a trip to the beach, or a getaway in the woods…maybe even a journey to a faraway city or a foreign land. Wherever your holiday travel leads you, we hope it’s enjoyable and safe. And while you’re packing your bags, don’t forget to take a trio of important items that can help keep your vacation trouble-free: namely, a soft-bristled toothbrush, a tube of fluoride toothpaste, and a roll of dental floss.

If you have been careful about keeping up your oral hygiene all year, you’ve probably already noticed the rewards it can bring—like a sparkling smile, fresh breath, and good dental checkups. But even if you’re planning to get away from it all this summer, don’t take a vacation from oral hygiene. And if your oral hygiene routine could stand some improvement, maybe this is the time to make a fresh start.

Maintaining good oral health while you’re on the go doesn’t have to be a high-tech pursuit. You don’t need broadband service or a good mobile signal; you don’t even need electric power. Running water is nice, but not essential. And all the tools you need can fit easily in a travel bag.

The benefits of good oral hygiene are clear. Brushing twice every day and flossing once a day can effectively fight the bacteria that cause tooth decay and periodontal disease. That’s important any time of year, but perhaps even more so when you’re traveling because it’s harder to keep a healthy diet. Grabbing a sugary drink or a snack to go is convenient, but it provides food for the bacteria that can cause dental diseases; also, the acid in some soft drinks (even diet sodas) can wear away tooth enamel, leaving you with less protection against cavities.

Summer vacations can bring welcome surprises and unforgettable experiences. But needing urgent dental care in an unfamiliar place is the kind of surprise you can do without. So even though you may be far away from the routines of home, don’t take a vacation from your oral hygiene routine.  It takes just a few minutes, but it can keep your smile bright and healthy wherever you go.

If you would like more information about oral hygiene, please contact us or schedule an appointment.

Fifth Harmony’s Camila Cabello Chips a Tooth, but Concert Still “Worth It”

Everyone loves a concert where there’s plenty of audience participation… until it starts to get out of hand. Recently, the platinum-selling band Fifth Harmony was playing to a packed house in Atlanta when things went awry for vocalist Camila Cabello. Fans were batting around a big plastic ball, and one unfortunate swing sent the ball hurtling toward the stage — and directly into Cabello’s face. Pushing the microphone into her mouth, it left the “Worth It” singer with a chipped front tooth.

Ouch! Cabello finished the show nevertheless, and didn’t seem too upset. “Atlanta… u wild… love u,” she tweeted later that night. “Gotta get it fixed now tho lol.” Fortunately, dentistry offers a number of ways to make that chipped tooth look as good as new.

A small chip at the edge of the tooth can sometimes be polished with dental instruments to remove the sharp edges. If it’s a little bigger, a procedure called dental bonding may be recommended. Here, the missing part is filled in with a mixture of plastic resin and glass fillers, which are then cured (hardened) with a special light. The tooth-colored bonding material provides a tough, lifelike restoration that’s hard to tell apart from your natural teeth. While bonding can be performed in just one office visit, the material can stain over time and may eventually need to be replaced.

Porcelain veneers are a more long-lasting solution. These wafer-thin coverings go over the entire front surface of the tooth, and can resolve a number of defects — including chips, discoloration, and even minor size or spacing irregularities. You can get a single veneer or have your whole smile redone, in shades ranging from a pearly luster to an ultra-bright white; that’s why veneers are a favorite of Hollywood stars. Getting veneers is a procedure that takes several office visits, but the beautiful results can last for many years.

If a chip or crack extends into the inner part of a tooth, you’ll probably need a crown (or cap) to restore the tooth’s function and appearance. As long as the roots are healthy, the entire part of the tooth above the gum line can be replaced with a natural-looking restoration. You may also need a root canal to remove the damaged pulp material and prevent infection if the fracture went too far. While small chips or cracks aren’t usually an emergency (unless accompanied by pain), damage to the tooth’s pulp requires prompt attention.

If you have questions about smile restoration, please contact us and schedule an appointment. You can read more in the Dear Doctor magazine articles “Porcelain Veneers: Strength & Beauty As Never Before” and “Porcelain Crowns & Veneers.”

Signs You May Need a Root Canal

Have you been ignoring changes in a tooth because you’re afraid you may need a root canal? Despite the jokes about the therapy, rootroot canal canals aren’t painful and can save your tooth. Recognizing the symptoms that may mean you need a root canal can ensure you receive treatment before it’s too late to save your tooth. Root canal therapy is just one of the treatments that London, ON, dentists – Dr. Adam Burton, Dr. Viviana Pinto, and Dr. Alexandre Santi – offer at Northland Dental Centre.

Pain in a tooth

Pain in a tooth doesn’t necessarily mean that you need a root canal, but it’s never a good sign. That uncomfortable ache in your tooth may happen if the pulp is inflamed or infected. Pain may be constant or intermittent and may worsen if you chew, push on your tooth, or expose it to hot and cold beverages and foods. Although you may need a root canal, pain in a tooth can also be caused by tooth decay, sensitive roots, a crack, or a loose filling.

Little changes in your mouth

An inflammation or infection can cause subtle symptoms that are easy to overlook. For example, if your gum is swollen and red, you may assume that you brushed your teeth a little too vigorously. In some cases, your tooth may become darker. Although it’s not unusual for teeth to become a little duller if you smoke or drink beverages that stain the teeth, it’s always a cause for concern when one tooth becomes darker than the others.

Dental abscess symptoms

If your tooth hurts, your face is swollen, and you have a fever, you may have a dental abscess. Without prompt treatment, the bacteria can find its way to other parts of your body. Other abscess symptoms can include a pimple on your gum, a collection of pus around your tooth, or a swollen lymph node.

How root canals therapy can help

Your pulp is removed during a root canal, eliminating the inflammation or infection. The procedure is similar to the one used to remove tooth decay, although it’s a little more complicated. You’ll receive a local anesthetic before your root canal begins to ensure that you feel no pain. Once your tooth drains, you’ll return to your London dentist and receive a rubber-based filling that will restore your tooth. A crown may also be recommended to protect your tooth.

Protect your tooth with root canal treatment! Call our London, ON, dentists – Dr. Burton, Dr. Pinto, and Dr. Santi – offer at Northland Dental Centre at (519) 455-2551 to schedule an appointment.