8 Ways to Help Ease Your Child's Fear of the Dentist

Dentist. Just saying that word and reading that word brings up a lot of anxiety for people. Even for grown adults who have been visiting dentists their whole lives, or avoiding them their whole lives. I don’t know what it is about the profession that makes many people afraid (myself included), but I do know it’s quite common.

When it comes to our kids, being afraid of the dentist can be a difficult thing. We want to teach them the importance of oral care and want their experiences with the dentist to be easier than ours, but sometimes their anxiety and fear gets in the way. I know my kids are always anxious before their appointment, and it’s hard as a parent to watch.
If your child struggles with anxiety and fears about dental visits, they’re not alone. In a study published in the Eurpoean Journal of Dentistry in 2011, titled “Children’s Perception of Their Dentists“, out of the 583 children in the study, 11% didn’t like their visit to the dentist, and 12% stated that they were afraid — that’s a big number so you can see it’s quite common.
Here are some simple tips on how to help ease the fear your child has of the dentist that will make the process easier on all of you:

Easing Your Child’s Fear of the Dentist 

Keeping in mind that being afraid of the dentist and unknown things is normal, there are ways you can help ease your child's fears.

1) Find a Dentist Who’s Good With Kids

A good dentist really goes a long way when it comes to dental fears. Find someone through recommendations who is good with kids. Usually pediatric dentists are great with kids and have great offices set up.

2) Explain Often the Importance of Oral Health

Have regular conversations about why it's important to brush and floss and visit the dentist. Talk regularly, because then it won't seem so out of the norm to take care of your teeth. 
Have regular conversations about why it's important to brush and floss and visit the dentist. Talk regularly, because then it won't seem so out of the norm to take care of your teeth.

3) Meet and Greet Time

Before your child goes in for their first appointment, have a meet and greet first. Take your child to the office to see the place, meet the dentist and try out the chair before any procedures are done.

4) Make Regular Dental Visits

The more regularly they visit (every 6 months), the less afraid they will be because it will become less unknown.

5) Explain in Terms They Understand

Let your child know what to expect, but in terms they understand. Tell them, or ask the dentist to tell them, what they're doing and what to expect so they won't be so afraid.

 6) Don’t Share Your Own Fears

I personally am not a fan of the dentist, never have been, but I am careful never to share that with my kids. If you do, it could very well make them more afraid and stressed.

 7) Tell Your Child’s Dentist

If your child is feeling anxious or afraid, let the dentist know. They may be able to help ease their fear and treat them with a little more care.

8) Avoid Scary Words

 Kids and scary words don't really get along well. Avoid using words like "hurt" or "freezing" or "shot" with your kids if you think it could make them more anxious.

5 Reasons to Floss Daily

Flossing is a commonly overlooked aspect of maintaining good oral health. Unfortunately, it is also quite important in preventing serious complications or infections, and is one of the best things you can do to keep your mouth healthy and happy for years to come.

For anybody skipping this essential step, here are the top fine reasons why you should be flossing daily:

1. Prevent periodontitis
Flossing is by far the most beneficial technique you can use to prevent serious gum disease. When food debris gets caught in between teeth or in pockets between the teeth and gums, it begins to break down and get attacked by the bacteria in your mouth. This causes the body to initiate an immune response which can lead to a number of complications. Flossing removes the debris that toothbrushes can’t get to in order to help keep the mouth health and free of leftover food.


2. Remove buildup of tartar
Removing tartar from around the teeth is crucial to preventing gingivitis and other inflammations, but brushing alone cannot do it. This is why flossing was invented, to get into the small spaces between teeth that your brush cannot reach.


3. Maintain general health
Your dental health is an important aspect of your overall health, and the bacteria that may form in an unhealthy mouth can have serious impacts on several other bodily systems leading to cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, and diabetes.


4. Have a whiter smile
Flossing regularly can help remove stains before they set, keeping your teeth whiter and preventing damage to your enamel.


5. Prevent bad breath
Food particles that get caught in the mouth and begin to break down are the most common cause of bad breath so clean your mouth out properly if you want to avoid the embarrassment of stinky breath.

Preventing dental diseases and cavities is much easier and more cost effective than relying on treatments once damage has already occurred, and the best way to prevent damage is to floss every single day before bed.

To floss effectively, use a piece of floss about 15-18” long. Slide it between the teeth and wrap around partway, moving it up and down against the curves. If your gums bleed during flossing, that is generally a sign that they are inflamed due to plaque buildup. If it continues to happen after two weeks of flossing regularly, it is a good idea to visit your dentist and get a professional cleaning if required.

Are Cavities Genetic?

With the high-tech research and cutting edge computing power available, it seems that the answer to many questions still lies in genetic makeup. Simply put, it’s hard to say whether cavities are hereditary. Genetic factors can play a part in oral health, but cavity formation is a complex and interesting story.

The Genetic Instructions for your Teeth

People will generate different amounts of saliva in their mouths, which is a genetic trait. Of course, saliva has benefits such as washing away germs and containing proteins and minerals that protect teeth from damage.

The germs that remain will generate acid to deteriorate your teeth, and saliva will neutralize the effects.

The durability of tooth enamel, the strong, outer coating of teeth, is also controlled by genes. When your teeth are formed, a calcium-rich layer coats the outside, and proteins surround the teeth to make the enamel.

For some people, their genes leave their enamel thin, soft, and possibly discolored.

Crooked teeth can make it more difficult to floss, deterring young children and adults from removing harmful bacteria hiding out in the nooks and crannies of the mouth.

These factors mean that teeth can be more or less susceptible to damage, but there’s still more to how cavities form.

Germs Can Travel Between People

A study was conducted on the germs that form cavities and they discovered that when mothers of young children had cavities, their children tended to as well. Germs can be transmitted when sharing utensils, sharing food, or warming pacifiers using the mouth. Mothers with genetically weak enamel and insufficient saliva are more susceptible to cavities, which in turn can mean greater transmission to their children. Knowing this, there is a way to prevent this from happening by being careful about sharing and hygiene.

Family Eating Habits

As a family groceries are often shared, which means foods on the shopping list high in sugar will be consumed by various family members. While a shared diet isn’t hereditary, it’s clear that is will have an effect on people who share a genetic background, contributing to the correlation of cavities between people who are related.

Good Oral Health Care Counters Predispositions

Even with all the above factors described, it’s often possible to work past these hurdles – proper dental care along with regular checkups can tip the balance. Someone born with a great set of teeth may have more cavities in the end than a person with mediocre teeth and great brushing and flossing habits.

5 Weird Reasons Your Teeth Hurt

Exercise is great for your body (and mind!), but could it be hurting your teeth? Maybe, suggests a study in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports. The researchers found that triathletes who did endurance training had a greater risk for tooth erosion (a loss of enamel due to acid on the teeth) compared to people who didn’t exercise. And the longer they worked out each week, the more likely they were to have multiple cavities. Dentists suspect it might have something to do with saliva—or a lack thereof.

 

“Saliva is more than 90% water, so you breathe it out through your mouth,” says Gigi Meinecke, DMD, a spokesperson for the Academy of General Dentistry. “Any time your mouth is dry, you put yourself at risk for cavities because bacteria thrive vigorously in that environment.”

That could be a problem if you often do long, intense sweat sessions where you breathe heavily and don’t hydrate enough or don’t replenish fluids lost afterward. But even if you don’t work out like crazy, there could be other surprising problems plaguing your mouth. Here are five more reasons your teeth might hurt:

1) Your have a sinus flare-up

 

If you have an ache in your teeth during a bad cold or around hay fever season, it could be related to your sinuses. “The sinus floor sits right on top of the roof of your teeth,” Meinecke says. “If the sinuses are full, people usually come in with pain in their upper teeth behind the eye.” Another common way to tell: the pain isn’t limited to just one tooth. If it’s your sinuses, several in the area will be sensitive. Your best bet in this case is to clear up the infection, so you should see a doctor.

2) Your gums are receding

Some people with sensitive teeth have gum recession that’s caused the enamel at the gum line to wear away. “It’s like it doesn’t have a coat, so it’s exposed to all the elements,” Meinecke says. The pain doesn’t linger, but will pop up every time the tooth hits hot or cold foods, even a fork or spoon. Most dentists recommend brushing with a sensitive toothpaste, like Sensodyne, but you need to use it exclusively. The toothpaste can help strengthen enamel over time, but you’ll disrupt the process if you stop using it, Meinecke says. (So take it with you when you travel, too.)

3) You have an abscess

That kernel of popcorn that got stuck in your teeth at the movies could come back to haunt you. An abscess is a tooth infection in a pocket filled with food or debris. Proper flossing can help keep abscesses at bay, but not everyone does it regularly. Sometimes patients come in with bits of food that have been sitting between their teeth, Meinecke says. That could lead to serious inflammation, with swelling, pus, and pain that lasts hours. The sooner you get one treated the better, as an untreated abscess can lead to gum disease. Here’s our friendly reminder: floss daily.

4) You grind your teeth at night

Most nighttime grinders don’t even realize they’re doing it. “People who grind suddenly bite down and get a lightning bolt of pain,” Meinecke says. Teeth grinding is also associated with symptoms like headaches, pain in the facial muscles, and a stiff jaw, according to the National Institutes of Health. It can even lead to broken teeth, Meinecke says. While some patients may be instructed to wear night guards, those aren’t always effective. “People can wake up next to it and not even know it was pulled out,” she says. In that case, Botox might be a good option. (Really.) It can stop the muscle that moves your jaw from generating the same amount of force, Meinecke says. Many dentists are trained to administer Botox, which should be given every 3-4 months.

5) Your filling fell out

A cavity filling can fall out if too much force is applied to the area, or the material breaks down, she says. Decay around or under a filling can also cause breakage. Some patients may not even feel something missing until they bite down. “Food can get pushed into the area as they chew,” Meinecke says. “The space can start packing food where the filling left a void and cause pressure.” The area could also be sensitive to temperature until it’s fixed. Be sure to see your dentist right away to patch it up.

The "Permanent" Filling

One of the most frequent questions patients ask is, "Is this a permanent filling?" Without getting too involved in technical aspects of modern restorative materials, the answer is usually no. All filling materials have a life span of several to many years, depending on the restorative material used. As a rule of thumb for moderate to large restorations, the more it costs, the longer it will last.

Types of fillings

Dental restorative materials constructed and processed in a dental laboratory will be stronger and harder and will last longer than silver amalgam (metal) fillings and office-placed composites (tooth-colored/bonded) filling materials. These laboratory-constructed materials include indirect restorations such as full cast crowns, inlays and onlays of porcelain, gold and gold alloys, ceramics, and resins. While the dentist will have certain preferences, you have the final decision over which material is to be used. To make the decision process easier, here is a brief summary of the advantages and disadvantages of materials commonly used in partial coverage restorations. Porcelain fused to gold alloy crowns are not included here as they are in a different category.

Cast Gold: The color of the cast gold is yellow, the same as a wedding ring. It can last 25 to 40 or more years - the longest of any dental material. Gold has a long history of success. Esthetics are poor to fair. The cost is high. However, the use of cast gold results in the fewest postoperative problems. It is excellent for medium to large tooth restoration. Two appointments are necessary to complete the restoration.

Technique Requirements: High

Laboratory-Processed Bonded Porcelains, Ceramics, and Resin: These materials produce excellent esthetics: they match the tooth color almost perfectly. The cost is moderate to high. With respect to longevity, it is probably not as long as cast gold, but should last for 12 or more years. Usually, less tooth preparation (drilling) is required than when using gold. These are relatively new dental procedures. They do not have the long-term history of success enjoyed by gold. These materials can break if overstressed. Resin is easier to repair than porcelain, is less expensive than porcelain and ceramic, and is an excellent choice for medium to large restorations. Two appointments are needed to complete these restorations.

Technique Requirements: High

Direct Resins: Direct resins also provide excellent esthetics. Minimal tooth preparation is involved. These are the best materials for small to medium tooth restorations. Direct resins are less costly than gold or porcelains. They are bonded to the tooth. Life expectancy of the material is 12 or more years, and this newer technology strengthens the tooth. Direct resins can be completed in one visit.

Technique Requirements: High

Silver Metal Amalgam: Silver amalgam was first used as a filling material in 1816. Proven longevity of 14 years, plus or minus 14 years. Silver amalgam does not strengthen the tooth. It is not conservative in tooth preparation. The esthetics are poor. It blackens, corrodes, and expands over time. It is the lowest in cost of all the restorative materials.

Technique Requirements: Low

We will select and recommend the restorative materials best suited to meet your dental needs. Insurance coverage (or lack of it) will never dictate what dental treatment we feel you need and deserve. Our goal is to be able to provide for you the best and longest lasting restorations possible. We will be glad to discuss these options with you.

If you have any questions about "permanent" fillings, please feel free to ask us.
 

Give Yourself A 60-Second Dental Check-Up

Regular visits to your dentists are absolutely essential to prevent serious dental problems. But it is also important to give yourself an oral check-up from time to time. This simple process just takes a minute, but it can yield valuable clues to the health of your mouth, teeth, and gums.

Stand before a well-lit mirror and open your mouth wide.

1. Check your gum line and the lines between your teeth
Good: There should be no brown lines here
Bad: If you see brown lines, that is a sign of tartar build-up
What to do: Time to go to the dentist. Once the brown lines are cleaned up at the clinic, regular flossing will keep tartar away.

2. Stick out your tongue. What does the surface look like? 
Good: A healthy tongue should be pink
Bad: If it is coated with white, it can be an indication of poor digestion. This coating also results in bad breath.
What to do: Use a stainless steel scraper to clean your tongue every morning. 

3. Are there ridges along your tongue? 
Bad: This is often a sign of tooth grinding. People may not be aware they grind their teeth, but it can happen when they are stressed. 
What to do: If you wake up with an aching jaw, you should see a dentist.

4. Take a look at the inside of your cheeks. 
Bad: Do you see white patches? These can occur if you chew the inside of your mouth when you bite and chew your food. 
What to do: These should be checked by your dentist because a wound inside the cheek can not only get infected, but may also be a sign of pre-cancerous changes, especially in smokers. An ulcer that does not heal within three weeks should also be investigated.

5. How do your gums look?
Good: If they are pink and rosy, your gums are in good health. 
Bad: But if they are red, it is a signal that gingivitis or gum inflammation has turned into gum disease. Another clue: gums that bleed when you brush your teeth. 
What to do: Your dentist can help you with a course of antibiotics and dental hygiene guidance on how to rebuild gum health. 

Bad: Pale gums can indicate iron deficiency - a warning sign of anemia. 
What to do: Up your intake of green vegetables, tofu, chickpeas, lentils, and dried fruits such as raisins and prunes.

Why Do We Have Morning Breath?

Morning breath, halitosis, can be unpleasant and it probably isn't the way you want to greet your partner, or your day. But, everyone has morning breath to some degree. 

 

Why? When you sleep, your mouth dries out because your normal flow of saliva decreases. When your mouth dries out, odor-producing bacteria proliferate. 

If you snore or breathe through your mouth at night, you are more likely to have bad breath in the morning that those who don't. In both situations, your mouth is even more prone to drying out, setting the stage for bacteria to grow.

 

Other causes of bad breath:

 

- Medications: Some medications can cause your mouth to become dry overnight, worsening your halitosis. This is why older people, who are often on medications, frequently find their breath more unpleasant in the morning.

- Smoking: Smoking not only causes your saliva - your natural mouth rinse - to dry up, but also can raise the temperature of your mouth, making it a breeding ground for that dreaded bacteria that causes bad breath. 

- Allergies: The mucus that drips down the back of your throat becomes a food source for bacteria. Should your postnasal drop become infected, it can put more odor-causing bacteria in your mouth.

 

How to treat bad breath:

- Brush: Odor-causing bacteria accumulate between your teeth and on your tongue, so practicing good dental hygiene will do a lot to improve your morning breath. 

• When you brush your teeth, brush your tongue too. Another favorite repository for odor-causing bacteria is the back of your tongue. You will notice your breath is fresher in the morning if you brush your tongue before you go to bed.

• Brush for at least two minutes - not the 35 or 40 seconds that many people do.

• After you brush, go directly to bed. Do not eat or drink anything, so that you are not leaving  food in your mouth. 

- Floss: Click here for our blog post on how to properly floss your teeth. Brushing alone will not remove the food particles that can become stuck between your teeth and gums. It is just as important as brushing. Click here for our blog post on common flossing mistakes.

- Rinse: Mouthwash will get rid of the odor, but only temporarily. When you are buying mouthwash to kill the germs that can cause bad breath, look for one that has a seal of approval from the American Dental Association.

• A quick swish will not do it. If the direction say rinse for 30 seconds, then you must. The mouth rinse has to be in there long enough to kill the bacteria. You are not going to get the full effect if you rinse for 5 to 10 seconds 

http://www.everydayhealth.com/dental-health/why-do-we-have-morning-breath.aspx