The Sooner the Better

The Sooner the Better

Pediatric Dentist Chicago

It is always made clear to a parent how often they have to bring their children to the doctor, but what parents are often not aware of is when exactly they should bring their child to the dentist. Many parents don't even think about the dentist for their children until they are going to school and are required to have a check-up. What they don't realize is that oral health is also a part of their child's overall health and has to be prioritized right up there with pediatrician visits.  

It is recommended that children see the dentist before their first birthday. There are many things happening in your child's mouth around this time that parents may not know or see. Children acquire their first tooth around the age of six months. It is important for the pediatric dentist to measure the development of the child's teeth, check for and implement ways to prevent tooth decay, enforce good oral health habits, and build a comfortable anxiety free relationship with the child. 

When you bring your child to a pediatric dentist Chicago a great way for you to learn more about their oral health is to ask questions. The dentist can tell you what you should be doing at home to prevent problems and can give you information to keep your child in good health; preventing future problems such as cavities and tooth decay. 

Seeing a Chicago pediatric dentist early on makes this visit seem more normal to your child. It takes away the stress and fear that many children develop of the dentist office. By doing this, your child will be more willing to tell you when their teeth hurt or if they have a problem with anything in their mouth before it gets bad. Any pediatric dentist Chicago will say that this good relationship between dentist and child helps the child have better oral hygiene down the road. 

Besides just that relationship and trust that is important to develop early on, there is also a great deal developing in the child's mouth that should be monitored by a dentist. A pediatric dentist Chicago can help prevent problems that years of braces and complicated procedures would be needed to fix in the future. The best rule of thumb when trying to decide when is the right time for your child to see a pediatric dentist is "the sooner the better". A pediatric dentist Chicago can help your child love the dentist. 

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Cavities

Dr. Kevin's Thoughts On Cavities

Orthodontist Chicago Pediatric Dentist Chicago Special Needs Dentist Chicago

Some dentists use diagnostic equipment to detect very small cavities. Catching cavities early is always a good thing. If the cavity is really small, Dr. Kevin will often wait before filling the tooth. "Diet can play a significant role in both causing and repairing a tooth, " says Dr. Kevin. "I usually tell the parents to pay particular attention to their child's diet over a 4 to 6 week period while we monitor the decay. Plenty of fruits and vegetables (because they contain cavity-fighting fiber) are advised. Lots of tap water (because it has cavity-fighting flouride in it) and minimal eating of sugary things like sweetened cereals, juice, soda and sports drinks (because they have no sugar neutralizing fiber).
In addition to diet and flouride, your own saliva can also work to help your body repair a small cavity. Dr. Boyd most always asks parents to bring their child back in 2 or 3 months to see if the diet and oral hygiene have been good and will recheck the cavity. "Sometimes," says Dr. Boyd," it's obvious that the tooth decay isn't going away so then I have to fill it." However, many times we find with a changed diet and improved oral hygiene practices we see the tooth has not worsened. In some cases, a small cavity can repair itself through absorbing minerals from the saliva through a process called remineralization. Then, there's no need for a filling!"
"We obviously take a more conservative approach but we believe that there are times when a child's body can work its own magic...especially when it's fed the right stuff!

Please visit us at http://www.dentistry4children.net to make an appointment.

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Pediatric dentist Chicago - Periodontal Disease

In our mouths, we have numerous forms of bacteria. Some are helpful and some are harmful. Bacteria in the mouth can be helpful because it helps to sanitize the mouth and breaks down food particles. However, too much bacteria can lead to the development of gum disease which can be damaging to your oral health.  

When the bacteria start to collect in the mouth, it can create a sticky colorless substance known as “plaque” that sticks on to your teeth. If the plaque is not removed during brushing or flossing, the particle can harden and turn in to tartar. Over time, plaque and tartar becomes more difficult to remove at home so a professional cleaning with the pediatric dentist Chicago is important for maintaining your oral health and preventing decay and periodontal (gum) disease.

The longer the plaque and tartar remain on the teeth, the more harm they can cause to your oral health. Eventually plaque and tartar will create a mild form of gum disease called Gingivitis, which is an inflammation of the gum tissue. Ideally, routine cleanings and proper oral care can prevent gingivitis from developing. Once gum disease is prevalent, only your pediatric dentist chicago il can help to maintain the disease and prevent it from progressing. 

In cases where gingivitis is not treated, it can then advance to periodontal disease. With periodontal disease, the inflammation now affects the soft tissue (gums) and the tooth and if left unattended, it can cause the tooth to loosen or fall out. 

Having periodontal disease also can affect your overall bodily health. In many studies, there have been connections with periodontal disease to diabetes and heart disease. It is important to regularly see the pediatric dentist in chicago for a routine, professional cleaning and examination to prevent gum disease.

With periodontal disease, the pediatric dentist in chicago il has solutions to help you prevent and maintain gum disease. A common solution for controlling periodontal disease is a deep dental cleaning, which can be performed by your Chicago pediatric dentist or certified hygienist.

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Pediatric dentist Chicago - Sensitive Teeth

When you eat hot or cold food does it make you wince? How about brushing or flossing your teeth, do you feel any pain? If so, you may have a condition of sensitive teeth. For many people, sensitive teeth are common. However, if sensitive teeth are frequent and really bother you, you may want to visit the pediatric dentist chicago to determine if it is a result of a more serious condition.

The Pediatric dentist chicago IL commonly see sensitive teeth affecting many people. It tends to develop over time and gradually creates hypersensitivity when using or caring for your teeth. Sensitivity is caused by an exposure of dentin which lies under the enamel of your teeth. Dentin is a soft tissue that is made up of small hollow tubes and canals and is near the nerves and cells inside your tooth. Once food particles or temperature reaches the exposed dentin, it then creates a surge of pain or sensitivity.

Sometimes sensitive teeth can be caused by a variety of dental conditions. If you are brushing too hard or tend to grind your teeth at night, that causes your teeth enamel to wear out and expose the dentin. Or if you have a gum disease such as gingivitis or have receding gums, then the gum tissue can become weaken or inflamed which then also causes the exposure of dentin. Be sure to see the Chicago Pediatric dentist regularly to help ease the pain of sensitivity. 

Sensitive teeth can be easily treated by changing your tooth paste that will help block the sensation of sensitivity from your teeth. Or if you feel that your situation may be more severe, then asking a Chicago IL pediatric dentist for suggestions of treatment would also be helpful.

However proper oral hygiene is the first step in preventing sensitive teeth. Your Pediatric dentist in chicago would be able to provide more information about how to properly maintain a healthy mouth.

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Children's Dentist Chicago - Dry Mouth

Drooling, spitting, licking and swishing are all ways we use saliva. Even though we don’t pay too much attention to the use of our saliva, it is actually a very vital substance for our everyday living. We use saliva to eat more easily, to taste our food, and to disinfect our mouths. However, if we don’t produce enough saliva, we are left to experience an uncomfortable condition the children's dentist Chicago call Xerstomia, or dry mouth. 

Everyone experiences dry mouth at some point in their lives. People experience dry mouth when they are nervous, dehydrated or simply stressed out. Although very common, it can be very uncomfortable and irritating for those who experience it regularly. Frequent dry mouth can not only make your mouth feel uncomfortably dry, it can also create other uncomfortable symptoms. Some other symptoms include problems with eating and swallowing, dry lips, problems tasting food, and gradual tooth decay or bacteria buildup. If you feel you are constantly experiencing dry mouth, be sure to contact Children's dentist Chicago IL for an evaluation.  

One of the main reasons why people may frequently experience dry mouth is because it is a side effect from certain medications that they are taking which the children's dentist in Chicago can help determine. It can also be a side effect from diseases such as diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, or HIV/AIDS. Also, certain treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy can also develop dry mouth symptoms. 

If you are experiencing dry mouth, then there are a couple simple ways you can help ease it. Ensuring that you drink enough water, chewing gum or simply maintaining proper oral care can help with easing the feeling of dry mouth.  If you still feel that the at home treatments are not enough, the Children's Dentist in Chicago IL would be able to suggest other alternative treatment plans to help with dry mouth. Be sure to see the Chicago children's Dentist regularly to ensure the best possible care for your oral health.

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Pediatric Dentist Chicago - Dental Fluorosis

Fluoride is great compound to use to help children and adults prevent tooth decay and fight cavities. We use fluoride in our daily use of tooth paste, mouthwashes or scheduled routine cleaning from our dentist. However, over consumption of fluoride from common household products can lead to a diagnosis called Dental Fluorosis by your pediatric dentist 

What is it?

Dental Fluorosis is a condition that changes the appearance of permanent teeth causing the teeth to look discolored or rough. The teeth may have white lace-like or spotted markings that only the pediatric dentist Chicago can see. In more severe cases, the teeth may appear yellow or have a rough surface to the common-eye.  Fluorosis can only occur in children within their early ages of life up to age 8 because it only affects permanent teeth that are still within the gums and are starting to grow out. Once the permanent teeth grow out, the visual characteristics of fluorosis will appear.

How does fluorosis happen?

As stated earlier, fluorosis occurs when fluoride is overused or consumed. Young children may enjoy the taste of toothpaste or mouthwash and instead of spitting it out, children consume it.  Some other sources that may contain fluoride that children can overly consume may include drinking water, certain beverages or food that use fluoridated water or in some cases dietary tablets. To learn about fluorosis, you can always contact the pediatric dentist in Chicago

What are some treatment methods?

Fluorosis usually is very mild and doesn’t require any treatment. In the rare cases where fluorosis appears more severe, you may want to check in with Chicago pediatric dentist in order to learn about treatment options. These options might include teeth whitening, hard resin coating (bonding), inserting crowns, or veneers. The pediatric dentist in Chicago IL would be able to perform the necessary treatment to fix fluorosis.

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Pediatric Dentist in Chicago - It Starts With What You Eat

Have you ever wondered about natural ways to prevent cavities and tooth decay? Your refrigerator is a great place to look. In addition to getting regular oral exams and cleanings from your pediatric dentist Chicago, the American Dental Association recommends reducing the amount of sugary foods you eat.

One of the many cavity preventers that your Chicago pediatric dentist recommends is cheese. Cheese contains the protein, casein, which helps re-mineralize teeth and increase the calcium levels in the mouth. In addition to cheese, unsweetened kefir or yogurt contains calcium and phosphorus which help strengthen the enamel and other minerals found in your teeth. Another cavity preventer that reduces bacterial growth is apples. Not only do apples and cheese prevent tooth decay, but your local dentist also recommends cranberries as well. Cranberries, like apples, contain traces of flavonoids which help prevent bacteria from sticking to the surfaces of your teeth. Peanuts are another great cavity preventer. Your pediatric dentist in Chicago recommends eating foods that require more chewing because they tend to decrease plaque build-up.

Your pediatric dentist in Chicago IL also firmly believes in drinking properly as well. Drinking water regularly helps your mouth and gums to stay hydrated and provide your teeth with fluoride. Another beverage that can help to prevent cavities is black tea. Black tea contains flavonoids and fluoride to help strengthen the mineral composition of teeth, much like water and apples. Although there are many benefits to drinking tea, drinking too much tea can cause staining and darkening of your teeth, so it is important to maintain good oral hygiene in order to prevent this from occurring.

In addition to eating and drinking a few of these oral promoters, regular visits to your Chicago IL pediatric dentist not only saves money, but it also helps you to maintain a beautiful smile for the rest of your life.

 

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