Posts Categorized: Kids Teeth

Why should my child get a custom dental mouthguard for sports?

The winter sports season is fast approaching and the excitement is building at home. As much as you are looking forward to the early Saturday morning starts and standing on the sideline in the rain, you have nagging concerns around safety.

You appreciate the value the benefits of health, fitness, communication and teamwork that sports like footie, soccer and netball bring to your children. You also know that one second of lost concentration, a mistimed tackle or just being in the wrong place at the wrong time can be dangerous.

Getting hurt can happen to anyone on the field. The most common issues are cracked teeth, a tooth being knocked out, a fractured root or tooth intrusion. While these all sound painful, modern dentistry can now repair the majority of sport related injuries. read more

How Can My Child Get Healthy Teeth?

Healthy kids teeth are built on healthy habits at all ages. These include healthy eating and drinking, good oral care and regular dental visits.

What Food and Drinks are best for Healthy Teeth?

Giving your baby or toddler a bottle of milk at bedtime dramatically increases their risk of getting holes in their teeth. This is known as ‘early childhood caries’ or ‘baby bottle tooth decay’. The milk pools in their mouth as they sleep and the sugar in the milk causes holes in your baby’s teeth. If your baby really needs a bottle at bedtime, fill it with water, not milk. When your baby is 6 months old or when they get their first tooth, introduce a sippy-cup for them to drink from, which forces them to suck the liquid instead of it pooling around their teeth. read more

Do My Kid’s Have Healthy Teeth?

Many parents say things like “will she have bad teeth like mine?” or “will she need lots of fillings because I did?”

There isn’t one simple answer for this, however there are a few factors to consider in regards to your dental health affecting your child’s. Give your child healthy teeth for life by setting good habits.

Genetics can play a role in the shape of your child’s face and jaw – therefore affecting how large or small their mouth is, their jaw positioning and structure, and often the shape of the teeth. For example if you have a square jaw and large, square teeth, it’s possible your child’s mouth will look similar. However, whether or not your child has healthy teeth, is not down to genetics, but is reliant on good habits.

Genetics do not determine whether or not your child will have healthy teeth, but your habits do! If you eat lots of lollies, fruits, sugary snacks and drink soft drink and juice very frequently and slack off with oral hygiene, it’s more than likely your child will do the same. This means your child will be more prone to acid wear and decay, and will not have healthy teeth.

The color and look of your children’s teeth does not necessarily reflect whether they have healthy teeth or not. Baby teeth are naturally very white. If your child’s adult teeth seem to be yellow, discolored or chalky, this is most likely just developmental and will improve over time. If you notice patches of white flecks, brown spots or grey discoloration, it’s important to have your child seen by a dentist to ensure they have healthy teeth.

If you follow a healthy diet, drink lots of water and brush your teeth thoroughly morning and night, it is likely your child will do the same, and have healthy teeth.

Actual DNA and genetics don’t necessarily determine your child’s dental health, but your habits, views and routines definitely do.

If you have had bad dental experiences, needed lots of fillings and struggled with plaque and decay, make sure your child has an easier experience – by ensuring a healthy diet and good oral hygiene.

Protect your kid’s teeth from the Easter Bunny

Two Young Girls Eating Easter Bunny Chocolates

You’ve successfully hidden the chocolate eggs in anticipation of Easter Sunday.

But you’re worried about the effect of so much chocolate on your children’s teeth. So how can you protect their teeth from the effects of excess sugar?

Don’t worry, there are some easy steps you can take to help prevent cavities and dental decay during this holiday weekend.

Sugar is converted to acid by the bacteria in the mouth, and too much acid in the mouth breaks down tooth enamel and creates cavities. By keeping your children’s mouths in a neutral PH balance (through brushing and rinsing), you can prevent cavities from developing.

It’s important for your children to drink plenty of water when they eat their Easter chocolate. Not only does this help to keep them well hydrated, it also has the benefit of neutralizing the effects of excess sugar in the mouth. For added benefit, encourage them to rinse their mouths with water immediately after eating chocolate.

Instead of letting let them snack on their chocolate throughout the day, limit the times your children can eat their chocolate. If your child snacks on sugary foods or drinks throughout the day, their teeth will be exposed to sugar and enamel-eating acids for longer, increasing the risk of tooth decay. Schedule a time for you and your children to eat chocolate together to limit their sugar exposure.

Ensure your children maintain good oral hygiene habits – brushing twice a day for two minutes each time. But don’t send them brushing immediately – wait an hour for the acids in the mouth to be neutralized to ensure the softened tooth enamel is not damaged by brushing immediately.

Finally, remember that there are other healthy alternatives for snacking during the holidays. Dairy foods such as yoghurt and cheese help to regulate acidity and provide calcium to strengthen your children’s teeth and bones.

You don’t need to put a damper on the Easter eggs, just maintain healthy eating and drinking habits throughout the Easter holiday.

Easter Means Sugar! Protect Yourself From Tooth Decay

Easter is a wonderful time of year. School holidays roll around and we have a long weekend. Often, family functions occur and lots of delicious food is consumed. This holiday season can be tough on your teeth. Sugar and acidic foods are really harmful to your teeth. This time of year can mean consuming a lot of these nasties!

Whether you celebrate Easter due to it’s religious significance, or just enjoy some time off with friends and family, this holiday can wreak havoc on your teeth. One thing is for sure across all faiths and backgrounds – and that’s sugar and treats at Easter time. Easter eggs, hot cross buns, lollies, big meals, the list goes on.

Almost all of the foods and drinks we enjoy over holidays are laden with sugar, acids and preservatives. Sugar reacts with your saliva and raises the acidity

Sugar filled treats this Easter can significantly impact your teeth.

within your mouth. This increased acidity eats away at your tooth enamel, causing holes and decay.

Is Sugar Harmful?

We know that sugar is not only bad for your teeth, it’s also bad for your overall health. Sugar interferes with your immune function. It also causes your blood glucose levels to spike and plummet. Sugar also significantly increases your risk of becoming overweight or obese. It can severely affect behavior and cognition in children.

At Easter time, it’s even more crucial to brush twice daily with fluoride toothpaste. It’s impossible to clean between your teeth with a brush, so be sure to floss too.

Those who have braces or orthodontic appliances should be particularly careful when indulging in sweet treats. Particularly those containing caramel or toffees. Orthodontic appliances can be damaged or broken from hard or sticky items. These treats can become stuck and wedged between wires and appliances, amplifying the harmful decay-inducing effects.

It’s easy to get carried away among family functions or outings, but remember to be mindful of how many sugary items you are eating and drinking. For all the sugar you consume, your teeth are suffering as a result.

Public holidays mean businesses close! Be wary that if you have a problem with your teeth – such as a toothache or chipped filling or any other issue, please have it seen to before the Easter break. We are closed from Friday the 30th of March and reopen on Tuesday the 3rd of April.

If you’d like to learn more about the affects of sugar on your teeth, visit this helpful link: https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/conditions/cavities/what-are-the-effects-of-sugar-on-teeth-1214

Gum Disease – The Quiet Health Threat

Sarah considers herself very healthy. She eats well, exercises each day and loves practicing yoga. Sarah is also diligent with her water intake and ensures she eats loads of organic fruit and veggies. She avoids alcohol and refined sugar. To Sarah, health and well-being was always a priority. It came as a huge surprise to Sarah to find out that she had gum disease. Sarah had neglected a very important aspect of her well-being for years – her oral health.

After noticing bleeding whilst brushing her teeth, Sarah booked in an appointment with our team. Following a thorough examination, Dr Finnegan explained to Sarah that she has moderate gum disease. Her gums are puffy, inflamed and have loosened from the tooth structure, allowing harmful bacteria and plaque to enter the blood stream.

Gum Disease is Chronic Inflammation

You can feel healthy and not know you have gum disease!

Periodontal disease or gum disease is an active bacterial infection in the body. We know that any infection in the body is detrimental to our health. However, every day we see patients who have allowed their gums to remain infected for several months or years. Staggeringly, 90% of adults of 30 years old have some form of active gum disease. A further 65% of teenagers aged 15+ already have gingivitis or periodontal disease.

The mouth is an integral part of your body’s immune system. Chronic bacterial infections attack the immune system, causing an inflammatory response. Your body fights to defend against this inflammation. Bacterial infection in the mouth directly impacts your immune and overall health. This is because chronic infection and inflammation weakens the immune system. This significantly affects your well-being. Several serious health conditions have been linked to chronic gum disease. Some of these include stroke, heart disease, diabetes and oral cancer.

How to Treat Gum Disease

Gum disease is very common, but it doesn’t have to be. Simply floss regularly and brush your teeth diligently twice a day. Having regular check-up and professional clean appointments can ensure your teeth and gums are infection free. This means you will no longer be ingesting harmful toxins and bacteria every single day, reducing the inflammation in your body and helping to keep you healthy. Thanks to the friendly team at Vivid Dental, Sarah has gotten her oral health back under control and now takes care of her gums as well as her entire body.

Fluoride – The Controversial Mineral Your Teeth Need!

Fluoride in water was an amazing step forward in strengthening teeth against decay.

Fluoride is a main component in most toothpastes, and in many parts of Australia and around the world, is also a main component in municipal water supplies. Fluoridated drinking water has been proven to make a significant difference in the development of gum disease and dental caries. Fluoride also helps determine whether weakened enamel will be remineralized or will form a cavity. Women who live in areas where water is not fluoridated are often advised to take supplements. If supplements are used, care must be taken not to consume more that recommended amount, as too much can also cause damage to your unborn child’s teeth. Research indicates that this powerful mineral can be transferred through the placenta, meaning that it will reduce the risk of caries in the unborn child as well.

We highly recommend that you introduce fluoridated toothpaste as soon as your child is able to brush without swallowing. It’s important to note that there are many organic toothpastes available in today’s market, most of which contain no fluoride. While you may think that organic is best, using a fluoride-free organic toothpaste can actually significantly compromise your child’s dental health. Without fluoride, tooth enamel is not strengthened. Failing to use fluoride can result in caries, cavities and more complicated dental problems. There are organic toothpastes available that do contain fluoride. If you would like to use an organic toothpaste, please ensure it contains this tooth strengthening mineral.

Regular checkups not only allow patients feel more comfortable with the dentist, they also help your dentist get to know your child and their teeth before any problems occur. There are also many aspects of routine maintenance that a dentist or dental hygienist can perform that cannot be done at home. A dental professional can offer fluoridation treatments, can seal teeth to help prevent cavities, and can remove plaque and tartar that regular brushing will not get rid of. The fluoridation treatment issued by dentists is a of higher grade that is excellent for strengthening teeth against decay.

For more information, check out the Australian Dental Association website: https://www.ada.org.au/Home

Pregnancy Can Significantly Affect Your Dental Health

Prenatal Care and Dental Health
Taking care of your own health and needs while pregnant can have a surprising effect on both the dental and overall physical health of your child. While more research is still needed to provide specific numbers in terms of risk, there is rapidly growing evidence to suggest that there is a link between gum disease and premature birth. It seems that gum disease in pregnant women affects certain fluids and hormones that induce labor, and when gun disease worsens during pregnancy, the chances of premature birth go up accordingly.

Pregnancy Can Change Your Dental Care Needs
While you might think that dental care during pregnancy is just business as usual, you will be surprised to learn that there is actually a need for greater effort to maintain your tooth and gum health during this time. Increased hormone levels make your gums more sensitive to plaque, which greatly increases the chances of gingivitis. Another common problem during pregnancy is a deficiency in calcium, which is required for tooth strength and health. Remember that the calcium you take in is going to be largely diverted to the placenta and ensure that you are using prenatal vitamins and getting enough nutrients for both you and the baby.

What you do during pregnancy can impact not only your teeth, but also your baby’s teeth.

Calcium isn’t the only mineral that expectant mothers should pay increased attention to. You will find that it is also important to take in adequate amounts of vitamins A, D, and phosphorous. This will go a long way in helping to ensure the oral health of your unborn child. When minerals are deficient, this can lead to hypoplastic enamel in your baby’s forming teeth. While children are born without teeth, the tooth buds actually appear in the fetus in only the fifth or sixth week of pregnancy.

Improving Home Dental Care During Pregnancy
In addition to prenatal vitamins, improving your own oral and dental care is essential during pregnancy. This means paying extra attention when brushing and flossing and keeping your teeth exceptionally clean. It also means paying special attention to the gumline during brushing, which can help to prevent gingivitis or to drastically reduce your chances of developing it.

Diet should also be carefully monitored during pregnancy. While this is obviously essential for medical reasons and to aid in the development of the baby, it is also quite important for dental reasons. It is important to try to avoid excess sugars despite cravings during pregnancy. Try substituting those sweets with filling and nutritious foods, such as calcium rich cheese or fruits. Fruit sugars can often help satisfy food cravings while preventing some of the damage done by refined sugar.

While tooth loss was once common with pregnancy, it was not due to an inevitability, but rather that pregnant women are at greater risk of caries and gingivitis because of change in eating habits, increased reflux and hormone changes. Removing plaque at least twice a day and paying attention to fluoride as well as the sugars and fermentable carbs in your diet can help prevent not only tooth loss, but caries and gingivitis as well.

Are You Neglecting Aspects of Your Child’s Health?

As parents, we all want what is best for our children. We work hard to ensure that they receive all of the medical care that they need, from vaccinations to checkups, medication, and anything else that doctors may recommend. For almost all parents, ensuring the health and well-being of our children is a top priority, and one that we will go to almost any length to accomplish. Yet a surprising number of parents overlook a critical element of their children’s healthcare – dental care.

Did you know that oral health is linked strongly to overall physical health? Did you know that teaching the right dental habits early in life can help to greatly decrease the chances of cavities and gum disease in your children as they get older? We all want our children to have healthy bodies as well as natural and confident smiles, and this starts with proper dental care. Not only should you use a finger or gum brush on babies and teach children as early as possible how to properly use a toothbrush and toothpaste, but regular visits to the dentist are critical.

It's important to care for your child's dental health from day one.

Let us care for your child’s dental health from their very first tooth and beyond!

Visiting the dentist at least every six months can greatly improve oral health for children, exposing any problems while they are still small and easily treatable. Of course, prevention is always the best medicine, which means ensuring that kids are brushing and flossing. With fluoride in drinking water and with significant advances in the way we understand the importance of brushing and flossing from the earliest of ages, there is really no reason for today’s children to have dental disease or to experience decay and tooth loss.

While it was once common for older teens to require orthodontic treatment in order to have a healthy and beautiful smile, this is simply no longer always the case. Today’s comprehensive dental care is designed to help ensure future dental health and future jaw alignment and formation starting at an early age. With a modern understanding of how early jaw and facial development will impact bite as well as oral health, it is possible for children to develop healthy and confident smiles with no or minimal orthodontic treatment and to live a full life without dental disease.

Let us look after your child’s dental health and give you that peace of mind that a healthy, confident, natural smile can belong to your child for the rest of their life.

How Can Myobrace Straighten Your Child’s Teeth?

Did you know that 3 out of 4 young children have crowded teeth or incorrectly developing jaws? This can be seen in children as young as age 5. Have you noticed any crowding in your child’s mouth as their adult teeth come through?

By intervening early, we are able to achieve results that are not possible once the face and jaws have stopped growing.

Myobrace is a more natural way help straighten teeth as it harnessing the natural growth process of the mouth. The treatment addresses the poor oral habits that are the main cause of crooked teeth e.g. incorrect tongue position and mouth breathing.

Crowded teeth, incorrect jaw development and other orthodontic problems can be caused by hereditary factors, prolonged bottle feeding, finger/thumb sucking etc. Modern research has shown that myofunctional habits (tongue thrusting and mouth breathing to name a few) are also causes of incorrect jaw development.

Braces are still the most effective way of straightening teeth, but they do not address the cause/s of crooked teeth. Without addressing these as well, even with braces there can be a higher chance or relapse (teeth becoming crooked again).

Myobrace treatment involves using a number of removable appliances that aim to correct these habits causing poor dental development. It also provides enough force to help straighten the teeth and move them into their correct position. This technique is now being used worldwide. The best thing about it is that no braces or any other uncomfortable appliance needs to be worn! The Myobrace simply needs to be work for 1-2hours each day and overnight whilst sleeping. Sound hard? It isn’t! The Myobrace can be worn whilst doing homework, watching TV or even driving from one place to another. Wearing this appliance in combination with a succession of myofunctional exercises each day is all it takes for the changes to happen.

If Myobrace is used in young children, the likelihood of requiring orthodontic treatment later on is quite minimal. However, sometimes in older children, to get those finishing touches, orthodontic treatment may be required, but only for a short period of time.

In addition to straightening the teeth and correcting myofunctional habits, Myobrace also improves overall health. By training patients to breathe through their nose, the air is filtered before entering the lungs, as opposed to mouth breathing, where there is no filter. By filtering out some of the germs, the occurrence of allergies is lessened.

Sore Teeth in Children: Causes and Solutions

What causes sore teeth?

Sore teeth may occur at any age for a variety of reasons. In children, there are a few common causes of sore teeth we see most often.

Teething

Babies and young children often get sore teeth and gums when teeth are erupting. Their teething pain can be soothed with a teething ring (try chilling it in the refrigerator first) or teething gel. Sore teeth during teething may cause your baby to be grizzly, febrile and generally a little unwell. Many parents understand that extra saliva will develop when a child is teething. This is accurate and requires no intervention. However it’s important to note that around 4 months old, all babies can produce excessive saliva in order to assist their digestion of solids. This doesn’t mean your 4 month old is teething, and it is perfectly normal.

Food particles

If food becomes stuck between teeth, this can irritate the child’s mouth and cause pain. If your child complains of a sore tooth or mouth, check for food particles and gently floss to remove from teeth. Check for a chipped tooth or filling, as these can also lead to sore teeth.

Toothache

Toothache or pain may be caused by an infection, resulting from tooth decay, a cracked or broken tooth or periodontal disease. This results from bacteria entering the tooth’s soft tissue (pulp). This can result in sore teeth if they are affected by a trauma, an infection or if the tooth structure itself is compromised.

How are sore teeth treated?

If your child has a toothache, they need to see a dentist to identify the cause and get treatment before the toothache gets worse. If you can’t get to a dentist immediately, try rinsing your child’s mouth with plain warm water or water with salt. Applying an ice pack wrapped in a towel can also be placed on the outside of the mouth over the sore area.

Over the counter children’s pain relievers can help temporarily ease tooth pain, but make sure you follow the dosage instructions for your child’s age and weight. If your child is very young, you may be able to distract them from the pain by reading or singing to them or allowing them to watch a favourite movie.

If your child looks or acts very sick, or has fever or swelling, contact a dentist or doctor immediately. Any abscess needs to be treated by a dentist before it results in serious infection in the teeth, jaw bone or other tissues.

Why Does My Child Have Yellow Teeth?

Some parents are concerned that their kid’s adult teeth are yellow. Most of the time the reason for stained teeth is simple and does not require any treatment.

Why do teeth appear yellow?

The first reason is because they look more yellow next to their baby teeth. Baby teeth are so white that they are sometimes called ‘milk teeth’. When a new adult tooth is next to a baby tooth (milk tooth) they can look quite yellow. In this case it is normal and the colour difference will not be as noticeable when there are more adult teeth and less baby teeth.

Plaque and Dental Calculus

Another reason why kids teeth may appear more yellow is because they have plaque or ‘tooth germs’ on them. Plaque is a sticky yellowish film that forms on teeth. This needs to be removed daily through brushing and flossing to keep kids teeth healthy and prevent cavities. Calculus or tartar on teeth can also cause them to appear yellow. Tartar looks like a hard yellow substance stuck on your child’s teeth. It is more common for this to be on the lower front teeth. This cannot be removed by brushing alone, and the stained teeth need to be professional cleaned by a dentist.

Food and Drink Staining

Food and drink that are highly pigmented, such as blueberries, cherries, soft drinks or soy sauce, will result in stained teeth. The degree of tooth staining in children depends on whether they are regularly eating highly pigmented foods, and whether their tooth enamel was still being formed when during the period they were eating these foods. To prevent teeth yellowing and protect tooth enamel, it’s recommended your child rinse with water after consuming heavily pigmented foods or acidic drinks.

Teeth Trauma

Stained teeth can occur following an accident that damages the nerve in or near a tooth. The stain only forms within the tooth or teeth that the nerve is attached to. If your child has one tooth that is gray or yellow as a result of trauma to the nerve, they need immediate dental attention.

Fluorosis

Fluorosis is an irreversible condition caused by ingesting too much fluoride during the years when teeth are forming. The fluoride damages the enamel-forming cells, resulting in a mineralization disorder that increases the sub-surface enamel. The stained teeth turn a dingy yellow colour that can’t be removed.

Tetracycline (antibiotics)

Tetracycline is an antibiotic medication that can cause yellow teeth in children. These antibiotics are often found in cold medication. If the child takes these antibiotics during the child’s teeth forming years, the enamel can become permanently stained.

The enamel staining may affect the entire tooth, or it may affect parts of the tooth resulting in patches, lines or ribbons across the tooth. The extent and appearance of staining depends on the exposure and what part of the tooth’s enamel was being formed during that time the child took Tetracycline.

Tetracycline stains are impossible to remove without using bleaching techniques. To prevent this discolouration, children less than eight years of age are rarely prescribed Tetracycline.

Iron (Supplements/ Multivitamins)

Some children are susceptible to developing dark stains on their teeth from liquid iron supplements. These stains are temporary, however can be very difficult to remove.

To minimise teeth staining when your child has been prescribed a liquid iron supplement, you dilute the dose with water or juice and get your child to drink it through a straw. Ensure they rinse their mouth with water after taking their supplement, and regularly brush and floss to prevent colour build-up on the stained teeth.

To find out how to manage yellow teeth, read our follow up blog on management strategies and treatment for stained teeth.

Dental Cavities in Baby Teeth

Dental cavities are the most commonly treated tooth problem in both adults and children across the globe. However, few people understand what they are, how they occur. It’s important you know the correct treatment and how your children’s dentist will prevent them. It’s important to understand how your tooth is made up, to understand how cavities are formed. baby teeth cavities

Every tooth has a ‘crown’ (the part you see in your mouth) and roots. The crown is coated in natural tooth enamel, which is a hard surface designed to keep bacteria out. However, children’s tooth enamel is not as strong as fully formed adult enamel. Because children’s tooth enamel is not as strong, cavities can form in baby teeth much more quickly and easily than adult teeth.

Acid, sugars, bacteria and plaque can weaken children’s enamel very rapidly, making it slightly softer. As it softens, a pit or hole forms, where the enamel has been decayed. These holes of the decayed tooth, are cavities. The cavities can get bigger and bigger, affecting more of the tooth, if left untreated.

The most common treatment for cavities is fillings. In the past, fillings have been dark silver and quite unappealing, however today, fillings are almost undetectable. The bacteria, plaque and decay that is in the cavity are drilled out using high-speed instruments and water jets.

The tooth will be numbed, and this process is not painful whatsoever. Once all the decay has been cleaned out from the tooth, the excavation site is then lined with a bonding solution and filling material is shaped into the cavity. Once cured with a UV light, the filling is rock hard.

While cavities can be treated, it is highly detrimental to your child’s future dental health to have decayed teeth through their childhood years. This is why brushing, flossing and regular check-ups are crucial for kids.

Is Organic Toothpaste Better For You?

With a significant movement towards organic lifestyle choices becoming increasingly popular, many patients ask us if organic toothpaste is better for their teeth and their children’s teeth. While some people are concerned about fluoride being ‘toxic’ and chemicals being ingested, organic toothpaste isn’t always a better option.

Vivid Dental supports the controlled use of fluoride for strengthening teeth. Most brands of organic toothpaste don’t contain fluoride to strengthen teeth, or sufficient ingredients to effectively remove plaque and bacteria. While organic toothpaste may sound appealing as a holistic option, the lack of fluoride can mean soft, weak tooth enamel and ineffective removal of bacteria, which ultimately leads to cavities and dental disease.

Brushing with organic toothpaste can be much less effective than brushing with regular toothpaste, especially for children and adults who are prone to tooth decay and a high sugar diet. For kids, we recommend using a children’s toothpaste such a ‘milk teeth’ or ‘stages’ while your child is still young.

Over the age of 6 children can use adult toothpaste – but only a small amount, and should spit and rinse thoroughly. At any age, young or old, so long as you are spitting out all your toothpaste and rinsing afterwards, you won’t ingest anything harmful to you, regardless of whether organic toothpaste or regular toothpaste is used. Fluoride toothpastes are tested by regulatory boards and are not harmful to your health when used correctly. This means organic toothpaste is not required for safety or toxicity reasons, as fluoride is safe.

While organic produce like fruit and veggies can be excellent and higher in health benefits, organic toothpaste isn’t necessarily the way to go. If you have any further questions or concerns, feel free to drop in or give us a call and we would be glad to help.

Sugar Decays Baby Teeth

The number of children under 12 having fillings is rapidly increasing and has more than doubled since 1970. Deciduous teeth (or “baby teeth”) decay more quickly and easily than adult teeth. High levels of sugar and acidity in your child’s mouth can cause their baby teeth to decay.

Monitor how much sugar is in your child’s diet, and remember, this isn’t just ‘bad’ sugars like lollies and biscuit. Fruit, juice, milk, cordial, even white bread, all also contain high levels of sugar. If your child frequently sips from a bottle or cup, make sure they are only having water. The frequency of sugar in take is more relevant than the quantity of sugar itself – eg to sip on cordial or juice over the entire day is more damaging to the teeth than to eat one high sugar chocolate and then have a glass of water.

If you can imagine, the sugar increases the acidity in your child’s saliva – which is then washing over their baby teeth throughout the day. While a treat is okay now and then, encourage your kids to drink water and avoid giving them juices, cordials, milk to sleep or sugary snacks.

Does your child prefer other drinks over water? Many children seem to prefer rather juice, milk, flavoured milks, cordial or even soft drink instead of water. Frequently drinking these high sugar drinks is not only bad for your child’s overall health, it is very bad for their dental health. Baby teeth are not as strong as adult teeth and therefore decay more rapidly.

Juices, cordials and even flavored milks are very high in sugar. While many parents argue that natural sugar isn’t harmful to health, natural or unnatural sugars are damaging to baby teeth and enamel. While we aren’t saying your children can never have these drinks, we promote moderation for these sweet treats.

Children under the age of 12 who have fillings in their baby teeth are three times more likely to need extensive dental treatment in their adulthood, so set your kids up for a lifetime of healthy teeth by brushing, flossing and limiting sugar in take – no matter how young or old.

Baby teeth do matter. Brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and limiting sugary drinks to special occasions are two ways to ensure your children’s teeth stay healthy. Our dental therapist Leanne Smith specialises in seeing children of all ages. Book an appointment with our dental therapist to better your children’s teeth.

Why you have bleeding gums

The general rule is: bleeding gums are unhealthy gums. If you notice bleeding gums when you brush or floss your teeth, this is an indication that your gums are inflamed or infected.

Plaque forms in your mouth over a 24 hour period – from everything you eat and drink and from all the sugars and acids in your saliva. This plaque sits on your teeth at the gum-line and between the teeth. The bacteria from the plaque begins to irritate your gums, causing them to become red, slightly puffy and inflamed or even infected.

Sore, red, puffy gums will often bleed even just with a gentle touch. If you notice that you have bleeding gums when you brush or floss, its crucial to come in for a check up and clean. During pregnancy, bleeding gums can worsen. Professional dental cleans are perfectly safe during pregnancy.

With a professional scale and clean, we are able to remove plaque and hardened tartar from your teeth and below your gum-line. This hardened calculus and tartar is impossible to remove with a toothbrush alone. Ultrasonic vibrations and fine tipped instruments can effectively remove this toxic bacteria.

A prophylaxis polish is then applied and massaged into the teeth and gums, with a special rubber cup, effectively stimulating the gum-line and polishing teeth. This aids in the reduction of bleeding gums.

Bleeding gums are a sign of gum disease, and if gum disease is left untreated, it can eat away the supporting bone structure of your teeth and jaw. A seemingly small issue can have major consequences to your health.

Having a professional dental check up and clean will get your bleeding gums back on the road to recovery. At home, make sure you massage your gums with your toothbrush when you clean your teeth – brush your gums as well as your teeth’s surfaces.

Flossing is the most effective way to improve your gum’s health, so grab some floss and get your bleeding gums healthy!

Fillings in Baby Teeth

When told their child needs fillings on baby teeth, many parents ask us if it’s really necessary, considering the teeth will fall out anyway. While we understand the concept of treating a tooth that will fall out seems strange and unnecessary, it’s actually very important.

Baby teeth will be in your child’s mouth for up to 12 years, depending on how fast or slow your child loses their teeth. If your child develops a cavity when they are very young, for example two or three, this cavity could potentially be in their mouth for a number of years, worsening and decaying further.

A dental cavity can be viewed as an infection – if left untreated, it will worsen. Baby teeth enamel is much weaker than adult teeth enamel and therefore can decay a lot more rapidly. The pulp chamber in baby teeth is much closer to the surface of the tooth, and is less protected.

This means that even a small hole can quickly infect the pulp chamber of the tooth. The pulp chamber is essentially the nerve chamber of a tooth and once infected, must be removed through a pulpotomy procedure.

This involves drilling into the tooth, and cleaning out all of the infected pulp from the tooth, then covering the tooth with a silver crown. This is a major dental procedure and can be stressful for kids. Dental decay is almost completely avoidable – with a controlled diet and with regular thorough brushing and flossing.

If left unfilled, baby teeth can decay through to the nerve chamber, causing pain and infection for your child. This infection and deep decay can even affect the new adult tooth growing underneath. This means that your child’s future adult teeth can be damaged by decay in their baby teeth.

It’s crucial to teach children to take care of their teeth from as early on as possible. We promote the prevention of dental cavities and complications, especially from a young age. Ensure you are helping your child brush their teeth morning and night until they are very dexterous and coordinated and can effectively brush each of their teeth. Encourage flossing from a young age so this becomes part of your child’s routine – that way it won’t seem like a chore when they are told by the dentist to start flossing.

With regular half yearly check ups and thorough home care, there is no reason why your child’s teeth should ever need fillings. However if your dentist recommends a fillings on baby teeth, it’s highly inadvisable to ignore this.

Orthodontic Treatment For Kids

All parents want the best for their children – and this includes a great looking, healthy smile with straight teeth. However, often a little help from orthodontic treatment is needed to straighten a smile.

It’s incredibly common for children and teenagers to have orthodontic treatment such as braces, retainers, plates, or other appliances, to widen or straighten their smile, or even close gaps. Most people are self-conscious about crooked teeth, gaps between their teeth or overlapping teeth.

Sometimes it’s tricky to know whether or not your child may need orthodontic treatment. The best thing to do is book in an orthodontic treatment consultation with our expert team. An orthodontic consultation involves a thorough examination of your child’s mouth space and jaw.

It’s best to have orthodontic treatment done when your child has some or most of their adult teeth – however it is not essential that all adult teeth are present. If you notice severe crookedness, crowding or gaps in your child’s smile, it’s best to start an orthodontic treatment plan as soon as possible.

The reason orthodontic treatment is most beneficial during childhood and adolescence, is due to the extreme growth and change that occurs over these years. Any orthodontic appliance will work with the natural growth of your child – rather than waiting until adulthood when growth has stopped, to then shift everything.

Every mouth is different, therefore every orthodontic treatment is different. However, the first step is always the creation of ‘orthodontic treatment records’ which involves taking photographs, measurements and molds of the mouth. This shows us the current positioning of the teeth, including whether they are crooked, overcrowded or have gaps between them.

Orthodontic Treatment for Kids is best started early.

We can also refer to these models throughout the treatment, to see the teeth become straight, the gaps close, the smile widen and the improvements in face shape.

Your smile is the first thing people notice about you. Give your child the brightest outlook and the confidence to smile big.

Book your child in for an orthodontic treatment consultation and start them on the track to a perfect, straight smile for life.

Flossing: Is It Necessary?

You brush your teeth every morning and night, and use mouth wash, that’s enough right? Wrong. While brushing thoroughly is crucial for your dental health, and mouth wash can help freshen your breath, if you aren’t flossing, you aren’t completing the job.

Think of everything you eat and drink. All those coffees, your breakfasts, lunches and dinners every day – for weeks, months and years… Every time you eat, tiny amounts of debris and plaque get wedged between your teeth.

Even if it doesn’t feel obvious, it’s there. Your toothbrush cleans most surfaces of your teeth, but it can’t get into those tiny spaces between your teeth. That’s where flossing comes in. Flossing draws out built up plaque or food particles that are caught between your teeth and gum line. It promotes healthy gums, prevents gum disease and completes the job of cleaning your teeth.

If you finding flossing a little tricky, try using a longer piece of floss than normal. Take the floss and wrap it around your two middle fingers, then grasp the floss with your index finger and thumb on each side.

This will give you good control to slide the floss between the teeth and hug up and down the side of the tooth and gum line, making flossing easier. If you find your gums bleed, this means they are inflamed and need extra attention. Regular flossing will stop the bleeding within a week.

Flossing twice a day isn’t necessary – once per night, or even a few nights a week is a great benefit to your oral health. Take the challenge – begin flossing each night for one week and notice the huge difference. Start flossing today!

Fluoride in Tap Water

It’s an age old debate – is fluoride in tap water better for our kids health, or is it toxic? Ongoing studies have revealed that the average exposure an Australian child has to fluoride in tap water, is absolutely not harmful at all.

However, a lack of fluoride exposure saw an increase of 49% of children needing dental treatment. Aside from bottled water contributing to a rise in children needing dental treatment, the increased number of children consuming soft drinks, energy drinks, lollies and processed sweetened foods regularly has also seen sky-rocketing figures of dental decay.

This image shows a range of children’s tooth enamel, with varying fluoride exposure. Lack of fluoride exposure causes problems with children’s teeth enamel.

Baby teeth have softer, weaker enamel than fully formed adult teeth. This makes their teeth more prone to rapid decay – a small pit in the tooth can quickly become a large hole that needs to be treated more extensively. Fluoride strengthens and hardens tooth enamel, which protects the inner tooth. Fluoride is the best way to strengthen tooth enamel. Traces of fluoride are in tap water in Australia, and even this tiny, safe amount, can do a world of good for your child’s teeth.

Brushing with fluoride toothpaste is also a good way to ensure your children’s teeth stay strong and healthy. It’s important that your child is able to spit out all the excess toothpaste after brushing, then rinse.

Vivid Dental recommends fluoride toothpaste and tap water, as these minimal amounts of fluoride will do absolutely no harm to your child, but will do a world of good for their teeth!