St. Louis Sedation, Sleep & Special Needs Dentistry :: The Dental Anesthesia Center

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Pediatric Dentistry

Pediatric Dentist: How to Keep Your Child’s Toothbrush Healthy

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If you want your child to have good oral health habits, it is important that they know how to keep their toothbrush healthy.

Kids dentist in St. Louis

Although not everyone thinks about how they store their toothbrush, they should. If you want to make sure to keep your child’s oral health in top shape, it is important that your child knows how to use their toothbrush, how to store it and how frequently they should replace it.

Since you are the example for your child, they watch you to learn how they should manage their oral care. So make sure that you are keeping everything clean and as bacteria-free as possible.

To make sure that you keep your child’s toothbrush clean and safe, help them follow these proper toothbrush care tips by setting the example.

  1. Don’t ever share your toothbrush – Even if you rinse your toothbrush, there is still bacteria that will remain. If you allow someone else to use your toothbrush or you use someone else’s, you are going to introduce foreign bacteria and other microorganisms into your mouth, which can increase the risk of infection. It is also important that you don’t share your toothbrush container with anyone else without first sterilizing it.
  2. Rinse thoroughly after use – Make sure that you thoroughly rinse your toothbrush after each use. Don’t let food particles and built-up toothpaste sit on the bristles. If you do, your toothbrush will just become a breeding grounds for all sorts of bacteria.
  3. Don’t put your toothbrush in a non-ventilated container – If you put your toothbrush in a closed container, you are going to allow for the growth of bacteria and other types of icky microorganisms. Even if you are traveling, try to choose a toothbrush container that has holes for air to pass through.
  4. Change your brush regularly – Because the bristles of your toothbrush can start to wear down, it is a good idea to change your brush about every three months to make sure that it is doing the best job possible. You will also want to change your toothbrush if you have a cold, flu or any problems with oral bacteria. If you don’t change your brush after a bad virus, it is possible to reinfect yourself and go through the illness all over again.
  5. Don’t store your toothbrush on an unclean surface – The reality is that there is often bacteria in a bathroom. Although you can’t eliminate bacteria and germs from making their way to your toothbrush entirely, finding a clean and airy place to store your toothbrush is the best way to limit your exposure to germs.

Teaching your child healthy brushing habits is a good idea. Oral health is about so much more than brushing alone. While brushing gets to many places where bacteria and virus can live and cause tooth decay, oral health can start with the toothbrush before it even enters a child’s mouth.

Tips for Choosing the Right Toothbrush

The oral health habits that your child develops early on will likely set the tone for their oral health well into adulthood. Although it might not seem like a huge concern, the way that you introduce oral care is critical to a growing mind. To leave a fun and lasting impression, finding the best toothbrush to do the job and make them smile is important.

3 Things to Consider if Your Child Needs Sedation for Their Dental Care

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Depending on your child’s circumstances, we will discuss if sedation or anesthesia is right for your child.

Pediatric Dental Sedation

The idea of sedation is one that many parents might not be comfortable with. As parents, you try to limit the amount of risk that your child may encounter, so the thought of dental sedation might seem a bit overwhelming to you. There are times when sedation is merely suggested and other times when it is critical to the success of treatment. Knowing the pros and cons of treatment are important in making a decision that you can feel good about.

If you are debating whether or not you want your child sedated for their next oral visit, here are three things to consider so you understand all that is involved in dental sedation.

  1. There are different levels of sedation – Although sedation might sound like a one-type-fits-all solution, there is a range of sedation options from mild to deep anesthesia. The key, especially for children, is to always go with the less invasive, when possible. In most cases, choosing dental sedation for your child comes with minimal risk if and the benefits outweigh those risks. When you come in for your appointment, Dr. Hoffmann, Dr.Thoms or Dr. Daugherty will decide which level is best for you.
  2. Know what your options are – Ask what other options are available for your child if you are wary of sedation. If the procedure can be done safely without it, it is reasonable to find an alternative to dental sedation that you can feel good about. Voicing your concerns and asking questions is the best way to know you are making the right choice.
  3. Find someone with the right experience – Children can be more vulnerable than adults. Since they have smaller airways and require more monitoring, finding someone who understands the vulnerability of children when sedated is critically important. The Dental Anesthesia Center is a state-of-the-art anesthesia and dental facility. In fact, both of our dentists are currently the only two Dental Anesthesiologist board certified in Deep Sedation in the state of Missouri.

Young children with physical or mental disabilities who are unable to cooperate for dental treatment can benefit from dental sedation.

Pediatric Dentist St. Louis

Your child’s initial oral examination will include a visual examination, charting, diagnosis and treatment recommendations. We work hard to make your child feel at ease by providing exceptional patient care in a relaxed, convenient atmosphere. Depending on your child’s circumstances, we will discuss if sedation or anesthesia is right for your child.

Call us today to schedule your appointment at (314) 862-7844. We look forward to meeting you!

Are Regular Visits to the Dentist Really Necessary for Young Children?

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There are many reasons why regular exams are critical to your child’s dental health – not just early on, but to establish healthy dental habits that last a lifetime.

girl at dentist visit

It might be appealing to put off pediatric dental visits when your children are young. You may figure that they just have baby teeth that aren’t going to stick around very long. However, there are many reasons why regular exams are critical to your child’s dental health – not just early on, but to establish healthy dental habits at an early age.

It Diminishes Anxiety

Introducing your child to the dentist early in their life can diminish the anxiety that can otherwise come with going to the dentist for the first time. Regular dental exams that start early will ease a child into the dentist chair so that it becomes more a matter of routine and less anxiety-provoking. That is a major benefit for your child’s oral care. It also makes it more likely that your child will continue regular dental visits well into adulthood.

Preventative Care Can’t Be Underestimated

If they have regular exams, then your child will be less likely to develop tooth decay. Oral decay is a combination between genetics and dental hygiene; if your dentist notices that your child’s teeth have deep ridges that are more prone to bacteria and decay, then they can recommend preventative care like dental sealants or fluoride treatments. It is always better to head off a problem before it happens than to have to try to solve it once it becomes an issue.

Diagnose Issues

Your dentist may not be the one to fix orthodontic issues, but if they notice early on that a tooth needs to be extracted or that there is a problem with your child’s bite, they can recommend that you seek the experience and evaluation of an experienced orthodontist. When it comes to fixing orthodontic problems, timing can be highly critical. If your child has too narrow of a palate or a tooth that is coming through and is making everything shift, the dentist can send you to the right professional to get the correction needed.

Reinforce Good Dental Habits

When you tell your child that they need to brush and floss, it might not mean as much as a dentist making the child aware of the consequences of ignoring their dental health.

Seeing a pediatric dentist is not only critical to developing good oral habits; it is imperative to avoid bad experiences like having a cavity that needs filling after tooth decay has set in. To make sure that kids get the dental treatment they need, to preempt any problems later on (either dental or orthodontic), and to ease the anxiety that can come from seeing the dentist, regular dental exams are an important part of developing routines and habits that will follow children well into adulthood. Regular maintenance is highly important to your child’s ultimate oral health going forward.

Pediatric Dentist St. Louis

Your child’s initial oral examination will include a visual examination, charting, diagnosis and treatment recommendations. We work hard to make your child feel at ease by providing exceptional patient care in a relaxed, convenient atmosphere. Depending on your child’s circumstances, we will discuss if sedation or anesthesia is right for your child.

Call us today to schedule your appointment at (314) 862-7844. We look forward to meeting you!

Should Parents Worry if Baby Teeth Aren’t Falling Out?

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There are times when the permanent teeth are ready to surface but the baby tooth hasn’t fallen out yet.

Pediatric Dentistry St Louis

One of the most exciting times in a child’s life is losing their baby teeth. Although they are called baby teeth, it is possible for the teeth to remain until a child is at least 12 or 13 years old and in some instances, they can be stubborn enough not to want to come out at all!

Babies rollover, sit, walk, and talk at different stages of their development and the same is true when it comes to a child losing their baby teeth. In most cases, there is no hurry for baby teeth to make their way out. However, there are some developmental issues which require the professional attention of a pediatric dentist. There are times when the permanent teeth resting above or below the temporary ones are ready to surface, but they don’t have the room because there’s no available space.

Don’t Force It

If the tooth is not loose enough to come out, it is best not to try to pull it until the tissue has dissolved enough for it to come out fairly easily. The key is not to force it. Just like most things in life, trying to force something can do more harm than good. The chances that you will get it to come out before it is ready are pretty low. And you can end up hurting your child or causing them anxiety when it isn’t necessary.

It is best to leave your child in control of trying to wiggle away at the tooth. Although they will likely ask you for help, it’s like letting them brush their own hair: allowing them to remove it on their own usually ends up with the least painful result. There might be times when the tooth didn’t fully dissolve and the tooth breaks off; if there are any remaining fragments, they will probably come out on their own without any need for assistance. But if they appear to be of concern and the gums start to swell or cause redness, then it might be time to call your child’s dentist to ensure that there isn’t an infection brewing.

What about the Permanent Teeth in Waiting?

There is always the chance that the baby teeth won’t come out in time to make way for the permanent ones resting behind them. If that is the case and you start to see the permanent tooth emerge before the baby one has come out, then it is time to take your child in for a dental exam. In some cases, the baby teeth not coming out can cause damage or allow your child’s teeth to shift. If the baby tooth won’t come out, then you might have to have them surgically removed, but only a pediatric dentist can make that determination.

St. Louis Pediatric Dentist

If you have any questions or concerns over child’s teeth, make an appointment to come in for a visit. At The Dental Anesthesia Center, we work hard to make your child feel at ease by providing exceptional patient care in a relaxed, convenient atmosphere. Call us today to schedule your appointment at (314) 862-7844. We look forward to meeting you!

Your Child’s Baby Tooth Has a Cavity – Should You Have it Filled?

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Early childhood caries (ECC), is now the most common chronic early childhood disease in the United States.

St Louis Pediatric Dentist

If you’ve had your young child to the dentist and have discovered that he or she has a cavity, you may be wondering if you should hassle with having it filled. You may reason that since the tooth is going to fall out anyway, there’s no need to worry about it.

Why You Should Have Baby Teeth Filled

Although it might be tempting just to let a baby tooth cavity go untreated, it is not a good thing to do. Cavities result from tooth decay, which can be both the result of genetics or of poor dental hygiene. The more porous a tooth is, the more likely it is to succumb to tooth decay. When your child has teeth with more or deeper ridges, it can predispose them to bacteria resting on the surface of the teeth, which can lead to tooth decay.

Although they are called “baby teeth,” there is no set time when children lose them. For some children, so-called baby teeth can last until they are 12 or 13. Tooth decay is an infection. If you don’t get rid of the decay, then it is likely to spread to the teeth surrounding the cavity – which can lead to some serious issues down the line. If you don’t address a cavity when your child is young because you assume that they are going to lose the tooth anyway, it might cause damage to the permanent teeth around it.

Other consequences that can come from not addressing baby tooth decay are that the tooth can become sensitive and cause pain when chewing. That might make your child avoid chewing in certain areas of their mouth, which can lead to misalignment of the jaw. It can also stop them from speaking properly if they are trying to avoid their tongue pushing up against the necessary teeth used to make different sounds.

Exceptions to the Rule

Through a process called remineralization, some small cavities can possibly repair themselves. If the cavity is caught when it has just started, your dentist can give you some tips so that you can better care for your child’s teeth and perhaps prevent the cavity from growing.

In addition, the dentist may be able to determine that the tooth is close to falling out and therefore may not be necessary to fill it.

Ensuring Good Oral Habits

It is important to introduce your child to good oral habits at a very early age. According to a report by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentists, by age 5 nearly 60% of children in the U.S. will have experienced some level of tooth decay. The report goes on to state that “Caries among young children, or early childhood caries (ECC), is a particularly rapid form of tooth decay. ECC was once called baby bottle tooth decay since a key cause of the disease is putting children to bed with a bottle of juice or milk. ECC is now the most common chronic early childhood disease in the United States; for instance, ECC is five times more common than asthma.”

To schedule your child’s next appointment, call us today at (314) 862-7844.

Is Mouthwash Safe for Children? What You Need to Know

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Mouthwash is an asset to your child’s oral health to curb bacteria that they might have missed when brushing.

Pediatric Dentistry St Louis

Helping your child start and maintain good oral health habits can be challenging. It can be frustrating when you have to continually remind your kids to brush their teeth.

Letting them choose their toothbrush and toothpaste is a novelty that might get them on board for the first couple of nights, but it may not last long. If they don’t brush correctly, then they will be missing a lot of the bacteria that leads to dental cavities. If you want to ensure that they have good dental health, then the addition of mouthwash can help to kill any bacteria that they might not have gotten when they were brushing their teeth.

What Does Mouthwash Do?

There have been many studies about whether dental floss is effective or not, and the debate rages on. There is evidence that flossing is effective, but only if done in the right way. This means that whether or not you want to argue over flossing at a younger age is a personal decision. Another question in the dental world is whether mouthwash is beneficial to oral health or not – not just in the adult years, but in younger populations too. Mouthwash works by killing bacteria in the mouth that can sit and penetrate the enamel of teeth.

When Should they Start Using Mouthwash?

Of course, if your child is too young to manage rinsing their mouth out with mouthwash, then it isn’t a good idea. But if they have gotten into a good habit of being able to brush without assistance and understand that toothpaste is not a toy and that it needs to be used with caution and discretion, then they are probably ready for mouthwash. If you are going to encourage mouthwash, then you will want to find one that is specifically designed for children. Modified mouthwash will be an excellent asset to your child’s dental health without compromising their overall health in any way.

It is important to teach them the right amount and how to use it so that they aren’t swallowing too much of it and getting a stomachache. You have to impress on them that it is like a medicine and should be used with caution. Limiting the amount that they put in their mouth will make it more manageable for them to control when swishing instead of risking swallowing it.

The findings are clear: mouthwash is an asset to your child’s oral health to curb bacteria that your child might have missed when brushing. It is also an excellent way to set up lifetime habits for your child that will encourage long-term oral health. Just make sure to monitor their use, teach them that mouthwash is serious and not a toy, and give them the proper amount to make it more manageable.

St. Louis Pediatric Dentistry

Call us today to schedule your child’s appointment at (314) 862-7844. We look forward to meeting you!

At The Dental Anesthesia Center, we value our patient relationships, making it our priority to deliver gentle dental care that you deserve from sedation dentists in St. Louis. We work hard to make you feel at ease by providing exceptional patient care in a relaxed, convenient atmosphere. We strive to develop lifelong relationships with our patients by combining the latest dental technology with a professional and compassionate team.