Dental Care for Toddlers: Give Your Child a Lifetime of Smiles

When your toddlers teeth start erupting into their mouth it is really time to step up their home care if you haven’t already. First, give toddler plenty of good-for-you foods and beverages to keep his or her teeth healthy and strong. It is very important to avoid sugary snacks for your toddler.  It is not good for their overall health or their dental health.  It is important to extablish a good habit of limiting sugary snacks to immediatley following a meal.  Toddlers should no longer be using a bottle or a pacifier. Continued use can have detrimental effect on their developing jaw.  Sippy cups should be used on a limited basis and only contain water if the toddler is allowed to drink from it between meals.

Tooth brushing

Baby teeth are susceptible to decay as soon as they break through the gums. Dr. Holly Scott-Hetchler suggests you start good tooth brushing habits early with your toddler.  You should brush twice a day, always before bed and then whatever other time works best for your schedule.  Be prepared to help your toddler.  He or she won’t have the motor skillsto brush on their own until around eight years old. Let your toddler brush and maybe even try tooth brushing gamesto make cleaning teeth a more fun.  Sing songs or tell a story for the two minutes and it won’t seem like such a long time.

You should not use regular adult or child tooth paste with your toddler.  Use water only or fluoride-free toothpaste until your child won’t swallow it (probably not before two). When he or she is older and won’t swallow the tooth paste your toddler can start using a pea-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste.

Brushing technique is important too!You want to teach good brushing techniques to help establish good habits for your toddler.  Have your toddler stand on a step stool in front the mirror and brush his or her teeth with your hand over theirs hand. That helps them to learn the proper motion and to get all areas of their mouth.  Use a circular motion and hold the brush at a 45-degree angle when brushing the sides of the teeth. On areas that don’t have teeth you should still lightly brush the gums.  It is also important to brush the tongue.

Regular dental visits are important in the toddler years to prevent any problems from happening.  Dr. Holly Scott-Hetchler recommends that your toddler visit her office twice a year for a professional dental cleaning, exam, and any needed radiographs.

Dental Care for Babies: Give Your Child a Lifetime of Smiles

    Your children are precious, and so are their constantly evolving smiles. Proper oral care begins even before you see that first tooth emerge.  It is important to know how to properly take care of your child’s smile at every age – from brushing your toddler’s teeth to eating for better oral health.  As children grow from toddlers to teens, their dental care needs continue to evolve.  Between contact sports and sugar-laden sweets and sodas, it is important to know how can you protect their teeth and preserve their smiles. 

Your Child’s First Visit to the Dentist

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends bringing your child to the dentist before his or her first birthday.  At your child’s first dental visit, your dentist will:

• Check your child’s teeth for decay and signs of early developmental problems
• Explain how to care for your child’s teeth
• Answer any questions or concerns you might have

At the office of Dr. Holly Scott-Hetchler we take it at a pace that will work well for your child.  The first visit is normally just an exam by the Doctor.  Once you child is age 2-3 years old we will start professional cleaning appointments with our hygienist.

How do I Begin Care for my Child’s Teeth?

    Putting your baby to sleep with a bottle in his or her mouth may be convenient in the short term, but it can harm the baby’s teeth immensely.  When the sugars from juice or milk remain on a baby’s teeth for hours, they may eat away at the enamel, creating a condition known as “bottle mouth”, which is associated with pocketed, pitted or discolored front teeth.  Parents and childcare providers should help young children develop set times for drinking during the day, as well, because drinking from a bottle throughout the day can be equally as damaging to young teeth.

    Cleaning a child’s teeth should begin when the first tooth is visible because teeth are susceptible to decay as soon as they appear in the mouth.  Wipe your baby’s teeth and gums clean after every feeding with a soft, damp washcloth or gauze pad.  A leading cause of tooth decay among young children is known as “baby bottle syndrome,” which is when an infant is allowed to drink from a nursing bottle containing milk, formula or fruit juice during nap time or at night and the baby falls asleep with the bottle in his or her mouth.  Prolonged exposure to the sugars and acids in liquids that pool around the teeth can cause discoloration and decay in teeth.  Even babies can have problems with dental decay when parents do not practice good feeding habits at home. 

    It is vital to maintain proper dental hygiene for your child from the day he or she is born because it will set the groundwork for appropriate oral health.  Visit Dr. Holly Scott-Hetchler for more advice and for regular dental checkups.  It is never too soon to protect your child’s teeth!  Call us today to ensure your child is getting the best care possible.

Don’t Fear the Dentist, Learn to Overcome Your Dental Anxiety

    Some people do not look forward to dental appointments.  However, it is important to understand that most dental procedures are not painful.  Instead, just being examined can make people feel stressed and uneasy about their trip to the dentist.  If you fear the dentist, you are not alone. What is important is that there is nothing to fear about going to the dentist for check-ups and procedures because advancements in dentistry allow your dentist to provide the care you need without the pain and discomfort that you may be afraid of. Today, procedures are easy to perform and you will exhibit minimal to no pain at all.

Why do I have a Dental Anxiety?

    The causes of dental anxieties are numerous and include factors both related and unrelated to dentistry.  Past experiences will also influence the anxiety you may feel.  This not only includes physically painful dental visits and treatments, but also psychologically uncomfortable experiences, such as being humiliated by dental professionals, family, friends or others.   Be assured that Dr. Holly Scott-Hetchler can help you overcome your anxiety over past dental experiences.  Her team of caring professionals will make you feel at ease every step of the way.

    Some patient’s fear of going to the dentist or getting dental procedures done is so severe that they may lose sleep at night and worry excessively about what might happen at the dentist’s office.  Dental anxiety is common and it is stated that up to 15 percent of Americans avoid seeing a dentist due to their fear. 

Some other reasons contributing to dental anxiety and dental phobia include:

• Fear of pain
• Feelings of helplessness and loss of control
• Embarrassment or shame about the look and condition of the teeth, as well as the fearful behavior itself.
• Past bad experiences, which includes physically painful dental visits, but also psychologically uncomfortable experiences.
• History of abuse
• Observational or vicarious learning
• Post-traumatic stress
• Fear of needles
• Hopelessness that neglect or the condition has made it too late to do anything
• Adverse effects of medication or their ineffectiveness in providing relief from anxiety and pain

How do I overcome my Dental Anxiety?

    If you have a dental anxiety, you should always communicate with your dentist.  The best thing you can do to get over your dental anxiety is to talk with your dentist about it.  If you are anxious about something, come right out and talk to Dr.Holly Scott-Hetchler about it because she will take the time to hear your fears and help make you comfortable.  We offer many options such as relaxation gas or oral medications to calm your nerves.

During a procedure, talk with your hands.  It is often difficult to speak with your mouth while you are undergoing treatment, so talk to your dentist before your procedure on how you will communicate if a problem arises or you feel discomfort.  A simple raise of the hand could signal discomfort, allowing your dentist to adjust the anesthesia appropriately.  Additionally, you can benefit from distracting yourself.  Let your mind wander and try focusing on another thought or a feature that stands out in the office.  Letting your mind wander can help ease some of your anxiety. 

Talk to Dr. Holly Scott-Hetchler for more information on how to eliminate your dental anxiety so that you can receive the care you need once and for all.  

Dental Filling Options

When it comes to having a cavity filled, it’s important to know that you have options as to what kind of filling you can have. It is a good idea to have a consultation with your dentist, as to what treatments and materials are used for your dental care. Dr. Holly Scott-Hetchler considers materials to use on an individualized basis, taking into account the size and location of your cavity. Cosmetic considerations, how long the filling could last, insurance coverage and out of pocket costs are some other factors you might want to consider. We encourage you to talk with your Dr. Holly Scott-Hetchler, so that together you may choose the material that’s right for you.  Everyone is different and what is right for one person, may not be right for another.

Here are some common dental filling options:

• Composite resins, or tooth-colored fillings, are a mixture of glass or quartz filler that provide good durability and resistance to fracture in small- to mid-size fillings that need to withstand moderate pressure from chewing. They can be used on either front or back teeth.
• Dental amalgam, sometimes described as "silver-colored" fillings, is made from a combination of metals that include mercury, silver, tin, and copper. Dental amalgam has been used for generations by dentists. Amalgam is very durable and more affordable than tooth-colored or gold fillings; however tooth-colored materials are more natural looking.
•  Gold fillings, also called inlays or onlays, are composed of an alloy of gold, copper and other metals. Gold has been used in dentistry for more than 1,000 years due to its durability; however, gold is more costly than amalgam and not natural looking like tooth-colored fillings.  

Is Your Diet Helping, or Hurting Your Oral Health?

We are often told that it is important to maintain a healthy diet in order to keep our bodies healthy as well.  Many of us often undergo weight loss programs, which include both exercise and dieting, but did you know that your diet could also reflect the health of your teeth and gums? Your body is like a complex machine, and the foods that you choose to fuel your body, and how often, can affect your general health and that of your teeth and gums. 

The foods that you choose to eat come into contact with the germs and bacteria in your mouth.  If you do not brush your teeth, plaque, which thrives on the starches and sugars found in many of the foods you might consume, will accumulate on your teeth.  Additionally, when plaque combines with the sugars and starches, an acid is produced that attacks the enamel on your teeth, eventually causing decay.

Choose a Healthy Diet

It may seem like an easy task to choose a healthy diet, but fruits, milk, cereals, bread and some vegetables contain sugars and starches that can harm your teeth.  It is also important to limit the consumption of carbonated sodas, sweet fruit drinks and sugary snack foods.  You may not need to avoid these foods, but you will need to keep in mind that a well-balanced diet is important, as well as brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing daily. 

Here are some healthy tips to consider when altering your diet:

• Drink plenty of water
• Eat a variety of healthy foods from the five major food groups
• Limit snacking between meals
• Brush twice a day
• Floss daily
• Visit your dentist in Lansing, MI regularly

For a healthy mouth, enlist the following healthy foods into your diet:

• Fiber-rich fruits and vegetables
• Cheese, milk, plain yogurt, and other dairy products
• Sugarless chewing gum
• Water
• Lean red meat
• Chicken and fish

Food to Watch Out For

Foods that cling to your teeth promote tooth decay.  So when you reach for a snack be sure to avoid soft, sweet, sticky foods such as cakes, candy and dried fruits.  Instead of these snacks, choose dentally healthy foods such as nuts, raw vegetables, plain yogurt, cheese and sugarless gum or candy.

If you consume the following list of foods, do so in moderation, and be sure to practice good oral health care:

• Carbohydrates – bacteria feed on leftover foods in the mouth, which can produce acid.
• Sticky, chewy foods – raisins, granola bars, jelly beans, caramel, honey, and syrup stick to teeth and make it difficult for saliva to wash the sugar away.
• Sugary snacks – cookies, cakes, or other desserts contain a high amount of sugar, which can lead to tooth decay.
• Gum and candy – chewing gum and eating candy is very harmful to your teeth, as the sugar can coat your teeth.
• Carbonated soft drinks – soda contains an extremely high amount of sugar, which wears away the enamel on your teeth.
• Fruit or vegetable juices – these drinks tend to be high in sugar, which can damage tooth enamel.

In addition to eating healthy foods and avoiding snacks and drinks that are high in sugar, it is important to maintain a proper dental regime.  Talk to Dr. Holly Scott-Hetchler and her team for more information on what to eat for a tooth friendly diet, and how to maintain a good oral health care regimen.