FAQs: Preventive Dentistry

Answers on Preventive Dentistry

1. What is preventive dentistry?

   The adage “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” is as true for your child as it is for you. Taking your child to see the dentist early and regularly is an important step to getting your child a lifetime of good health.

   A typical program of preventive dentistry for children includes the following components:

   • brushing
   • regular checkups
   • flossing
   • fluorides
   • oral habits
   • orthodontics
   • parent involvement
   • proper diet
   • sealants
   • sports safety

   During a typical visit to your pediatric dentist, your dentist will examine and professionally clean your child's teeth, and where necessary - apply sealants to protect your child from tooth decay, prescribe customized sports mouth guards to help your child avoid sports related injuries, give fluoride treatments, provide early diagnosis and care of dental problems, as well as catch potential orthodontic issues.

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2. Why is preventive dentistry important?

   Regular checkups and proper prevention today can reduce major dental problems and expensive treatments later.

   Studies have shown that children with good oral health tend to eat better, learn better, do better at school, develop higher confidence, and in general are healthier over all.

   Poor oral health, on the other hand, can cause decreased school performance, development of poorer social relationships, and poorer general health. (Back to top)

3. When should preventive dentistry start?

   Preventive dentistry should begin with the eruption of the first tooth.

   Take your children's oral health seriously. Pain from decayed teeth or unhealthy gum can greatly distract a child's learning abilities as well as eating habits - not to mention quality of life.

   A lifetime of good health should begin early with regular preventive care and development of good oral hygiene habits. (Back to top)

4. What role do parents play in prevention?

   After evaluating your child's dental health, your pediatric dentist will design a personalized program of home care for your child. This program will include proper brushing and flossing instructions, diet counseling, and if necessary, fluoride recommendations. By following these directions, you as a parent can help get your child get a head start on a lifetime of good oral health. (Back to top)

5. What causes tooth decay and how can they be prevented?

   Dental decay is a type of infection of the tooth. Four things are necessary for cavities to form: 1) a tooth; 2) bacteria; 3) sugars or other carbohydrates; and 4) time.

   Your pediatric dentist will discuss with you how to prevent cavity by developing healthy habits that make teeth strong, that keep bacteria from organizing into harmful colonies, and that minimizes the time bacteria is in a form that is most destructive. (Back to top)

6. Can Xylitol gums reduce the risk of cavities?

   The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recognizes the benefits of Xylitol on the oral health of infants, children, adolescents, and persons with special health care needs.

   Studies have shown that use of XYLITOL GUM by mothers (2-3 times per day) starting during pregnancy and until the child was 2 years old, can reduce cavities up to 60% in children by the time the children are 5 years old.

   Studies using Xylitol as either a sugar substitute or a small dietary addition have been shown to slow down existing dental caries. The effects in many cases persisted years after the trials have been completed.

   Xylitol can be found in gum and in natural food. Natural sources include fruits, berries, mushrooms, lettuce, hardwoods, and corn cobs. One cup of raspberries contains a little less than one gram of Xylitol.

   To be therapeutically effective, Xylitol-containing gums should be chewed 3 times a day, each time for a minimum of 5 minutes. The gums should provide at least 6 grams of Xylitol a day. Read the label to make sure that Xylitol is listed as one of the first three ingredients. One of the easiest gum to find is ICE BREAKERS CUBES from Hershey.

7. What is fluoride treatment?

   Fluoride is a mineral that occurs naturally in many foods and water. Every day, fluoride minerals are replenished from the food we eat and water we drink. Every day, however, minerals are constantly lost when acids - formed from plaque bacteria and sugars in the mouth - attack the enamel.

   Fluoride treatment replenishes the proper balance of fluoride minerals in your child's teeth. When appropriate, professional fluoride treatments will renew the fluoride content in the enamel of your child's teeth, strengthening your child's teeth to prevent cavities.

   If your have more questions about whether your child should get fluoride treatment, talk to your pediatric dentist. (Back to top)

8. How can I help my child embark on good dental health?

   The following steps will help your child embark on a lifetime of good dental health:

   1. Reduce frequent snacking
   2. Brush effectively twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste
   3. Floss daily
   4. Have sealants applied when appropriate
   5. Assure proper fluoride through drinking water, fluoride products or fluoride supplements
   6. Control unhealthy thumb, finger and pacifier habits
   7. Seek regular dental check-ups

   Your pediatric dentist will provide you with other helpful information on preventive care during your regular checkup. (Back to top)

9. Can dental injuries be prevented?

   A few precautions during your normal daily routine will go a long way toward reducing the risk of oral trauma to your kid.

   If your kid participates in sports, your child should wear sports mouth guards — preferably ones custom-made to fit by a professional such as your pediatric dentist.

   If your child is a toddler, use a car seat. For older kids, require them (and everyone else for that matter!) to use seat belts.

   You should also childproof your home to reduce the risks of falls, electrical injuries, and choking (i.e. from small objects).

   Finally, take your kid to visit your pediatric dentist regularly. Your pediatric dentist will provide a more detailed and tailored advice based on the unique situations of your child. (Back to top)

10. What are the appropriate techniques for brushing and flossing my child's teeth?

    The best source of information on brushing and flossing is your pediatric dentist during your family's regular visits. For general information purposes, you may find the following animations and videos on brushing helpful.

    • Here is a set of animations on brushing and flossing, as provided by Columbia Univerfsity College of Dental Medicine (see source)
    • Here is a video on brushing, from Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit (see video on youtube). Note that there is some crying toward the end.

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