Some parents are unaware of the fact that they need to be keeping their baby’s teeth healthy because they think that even if their baby’s teeth break down and they are pulled out, permanent teeth will replace them. But they do not know that tooth decay and extraction causes the non-eruption of permanent teeth.

Parents should be fully aware of their baby from an early age and should monitor every part of their body to take action if there is a problem, such as cavities as cavities cause tooth decay. Cavities in baby teeth are one of the most important dental problems in childhood and the most common cause of them at a young age is night feeding.

Cavities in baby teeth are most often noticed by parents between the ages of one and two when the pain usually begins. On average, 6 decayed baby teeth can be seen in a 4-year-old child, but sometimes it is observed that all the teeth of a child have cavities, to the point where it is rare to see a child who does not have decayed teeth.

These cavities eventually lead to denervation or tooth extraction, and because young children are not able to work with their dentist enough. General anesthesia is often required for dental treatment.

Deciduous tooth decay is more common in the first two years of life because mothers put their baby to sleep with milk and several servings of milk during the night. The cause is from lactose in the milk, and when it’s not removed from the teeth, it can cause them to break down.

However, if mothers give their baby some water after feeding or clean their teeth with an ear cleaner or wet cloth, the incidence of such caries is minimized.
At an older age, when the baby eats food, another mistake that mothers make is to give their children sugary meals in multiple servings. However, if they reduce the number of sugary foods to one to two meals a day and then give their child water to brush their teeth, it will help prevent tooth decay.

Plaque and tartar are technically the same thing, just a different stage of the same issue since plaque, if left alone, will eventually turn into tartar.

Plaque is the sticky film that develops over the surface of your teeth. It often goes unnoticed as it’s normally colourless, but it can be a pale yellow as well. Inside the plaque lives bacteria that feeds on sugar and carbohydrates, and if left alone has the potential to cause tooth decay, and swelling in the gums. Plaque, however, is able to be easily removed with regular brushing throughout the day, but if it’s not removed, it turns to tartar.

Tartar unfortunately cannot be removed with brushing alone as it’s the hardened version of plaque and can only be removed by a dentist by means of a sharp tool. Therefore, it’s much better to brush the recommended twice a day to avoid the build-up.

The third and final stage can become many things, but some of the things that tartar can turn into, if not treated in a timely manner include:

• Cavities
• Gingivitis
• Halitosis (commonly known as bad breath)

To prevent the buildup of calculus, regular brushing and bi-yearly trips to the dentist can keep your mouth free of harmful bacteria. Schedule your next appointment with your dentist as soon as possible if you have not already done so for a cleaning, or feel free to ask any further questions you have about plaque, tartar, and what you can do at home to prevent them.

Brushing begins after flossing. That way, all of the food particles that were stuck in between the teeth where the toothbrush cannot reach are able to be removed during the brushing process. Brushing and flossing should be done after every meal preferable, but if your schedule does not allow it, it can be done once before bed to get rid of the day’s food and bacteria. However, in order to do this properly, there is a right and a wrong way to brush your teeth. To brush your teeth effectively, follow these steps:

1. Put a pea-sized amount of toothpaste on your toothbrush.
2. Angle your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle.
3. Using a gentle, circular motion, brush the surface of each tooth, making sure to do this carefully as overly aggressive brushing can lead to bleeding gums and early gum recession. Be sure to get the backs of the teeth as well.
4. Repeat this for 2-3 minutes.
5. Finish the process by swirling mouthwash in your mouth to get rid of anything leftover. Do not swallow the mixture.

If you’re still struggling to get your teeth clean or have an unusual build up of plaque, contact your dentist for a personalized oral hygiene plan that will best suit your needs.

You may think that you’re cleaning your teeth enough by keeping up with brushing them daily, but that’s only scratching the surface of oral hygeine. For a complete clean, you need to floss as well. According the dentists, flossing may be even more important than brushing because it can remove bacteria and food particles that toothbrushes cannot reach. If that bacteria is left alone, it can transform into plaque, and if that isn’t taken care of, tooth decay can occur.

Here are some other problems that can occur because of lack of flossing:

• Halitosis (bad breath)
• Gingivitis (Inflammation of the dums)
• Periodontal Disease
• Gum disease
• Cavities
• Heart problems
• Increased risk of dementia
• Increased risk of head and neck cancers

While the last few on the list may seem extreme, they have been linked to those who have an improper oral hygeine routine. It’s never too late to develop a flossing routine, so dig out that sample pack the dentist gave you on your last trip and start today!

Dental implants are used when a patient is missing one or more teeth and needs them to be replaced for both aesthetic and for functionality purposes. Over the course of six months, an artificial tooth root that the dentist will insert into the jaw bone will become infused with the surrounding tissues in order to create a solid base for the new tooth. In this time, a temporary crown will be placed on top until the root has had time to fuse. During this time, the gums of the patient will also move and form around the root so that once the implant is placed, it looks completely natural. After the time has elapsed, the temporary crown will be replaced with a permanent one.

Can I Get a Dental Implant?

A consultation with your dentist will be the only sure way to find out whether or not an implant is right for you, but there are a few general requirements.

For starters, children and those who are still going through developmental bone growth are not able to get implants as their jaws may not be strong enough to support the implant or will move it out of place as they continue to grow and develop. Patients who are heavy smokers will be asked to quit before an implant can be placed as smoking increases the risk of implant rejection or total failure. Patients who are going through conditions such as cancer, diabetes, and other diseases may need to take extra steps in order to qualify for an implant.

Cost of Dental Implants

Implants are costly, and depending on the purpose of them, they may not be covered by insurance. Paying out of pocket for a single implant can range anywhere from $900-$3000. These costs are only for the implant as well. Any subsequent appointments related to the implant or adjustments that need to be made will come at an additional cost. Your dentist will be able to break down the cost for you when you go in for a consultation, and financing may be available depending on your location and dentist office.

However, many people justify the cost because of the overall result of the implant. Implants typically last up to 40 years and are incredibly durable so long as you take care of them properly.

Schedule a consultation with your dentist today to learn more about implants.