Thursday 24 April 2014

Top Dental Symptoms: Sensitive Teeth

If your teeth hurt when you drink hot or cold beverages, you may have sensitive teeth. This can be the result of tooth decay, fractured teeth, worn fillings, gum disease, worn tooth enamel or an exposed tooth root due to gum recession. Treatment will depend on the source of sensitivity. If youíre concerned about the sensitivity of your teeth see your dentist for diagnosis and treatment options.

Above article from: MouthHealthy.org 


A Family Practice 
7764 Armistead Road, Suite 100
Lorton, VA 22079
(703) 635-3400

Wednesday 23 April 2014

Myths about Children's Dental Health #7

7. Fluoride isn’t safe to swallow and may harm my child.

A lot of research has been conducted regarding the safety of

fluoride use. Scientific evidence indicates that, as with other nutrients, fluoride is safe and effective when used and consumed properly. In fact, fluoride has been proven to be one of the most effective ways to prevent tooth decay and is often added to community water supplies to topically apply fluoride and prevent cavities to millions.  

Friday 18 April 2014

Myths about Children's Dental Health #6

6. It’s okay to soothe your child to sleep by putting them to bed with a bottle of milk.


Milk also has sugar which can ultimately cause tooth decay. Like juice, milk is okay to drink but in limited quantities. It is also best to drink milk at mealtime only so your child’s teeth don’t have prolonged exposure to the sugar.

Thursday 17 April 2014

Top Dental Symptoms: Mouth Sores

Types of mouth sores include canker sores, cold sores, leukoplakia and candidiasis. They vary in their severity and causes. Mouth sores could be the symptom of a disease or disorder; infection from bacteria, viruses or fungus or result from irritation caused by braces, dentures or the sharp edge of a broken tooth or filling. Your dentist should examine any mouth sore that lasts a week or longer.

Above article from: MouthHealthy.org


A Family Practice 
7764 Armistead Road, Suite 100
Lorton, VA 22079
(703) 635-3400

Wednesday 9 April 2014

Myths About Childrens Dental Health #5

 5. My child won’t drink plain water. Flavored water and “all
Natural” juices won’t cause tooth decay.



Any drink besides water is most likely going to contain sugar – which ultimately feeds the cavity-causing bacteria in your child’s mouth. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children under 6 should limit their juice intake to 4-6 ounces of juice a day (one cup). It is also recommended that your child drink the juice during a meal and if they are thirsty in between meals, to drink water. Water is healthy for your body, healthy for your teeth, and best of all, it’s FREE! 
  

Friday 4 April 2014

Top Dental Symptoms: Cracked or Broken Teeth

A cracked or broken tooth can happen for a variety of reasons—brittle teeth, teeth grinding, injury. The crack may be invisible to the naked eye and even X-ray, but they can be incredibly painful and create bigger problems if left untreated. If you experience pain when chewing see your dentist. They can diagnose the cause and develop a plan for treatment.

Above article from: MouthHealthy.org


A Family Practice 
7764 Armistead Road, Suite 100
Lorton, VA 22079
(703) 635-3400

Myths About Childrens Dental Health #4


4. I don’t need to take my child to the dentist until she starts
School.

There are many reasons why finding a dental home for your child is beneficial to your family. It’s important of course, to have the dentist count and check all their teeth for cavities. It’s also important for the dentist to establish a relationship with your child to help allay any fears of the dentist, to help establish a preventive plan to help fight tooth decay, and to have a dentist to contact in case of a dental emergency.


Wednesday 2 April 2014

Study Connects Mother's and Child's Oral Mircoflora



The bond between mother and child is strong indeed, with this connection beginning during pregnancy and developing throughout a child's lifetime. Tender moments shared, however, may include the exchange of salivary bacteria, which can increase a child's risk of dental caries. Researchers have found that maternal bacterial challenges not only raise the likelihood of oral decay among children, but also accurately predict the incidence of early childhood caries (ECC).
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry has long suggested that the exchange of saliva between parents and children should be minimized in order to reduce the risk of microbial transmission. Avoiding the sharing of utensils, establishing a dental home by age 1, limiting the consumption of fermentable carbohydrates, and early implementation of twice-daily toothbrushing are all key to maintaining oral health, the organization states. Research has also shown that socioeconomic factors often inhibit access to dental care, as well as the oral health literacy of parents and caregivers.
In a study ("Maternal Oral Bacterial Levels Predict Early Childhood Caries Development") published in March in the Journal of Dental Research, scientists examined the salivary bacterial levels (mutans streptococci and lactobacilli) of low-income Hispanic mothers from pregnancy through their children's second birthdays. The incidence of ECC was surveyed in the children at 36 months. Mothers and children were seen every 3 months to 6 months, at which time the researchers collected information about oral health status, and salivary bacterial, sociodemographic, and behavioral data.
The results revealed that mothers with high salivary mutans streptococci levels were more likely to have children with mutans streptococci in their oral flora. Maternal salivary challenges also correlated to a two-fold increase in the incidence of ECC among children. This led the authors to conclude that high salivary bacterial levels in mothers can predict which children are likely to experience ECC.