According to one report, about 42% of kids aged two to 11 get dental cavities.
You are aware of the importance of good oral hygiene habits. So, you brush your toddler’s teeth thoroughly two times a day. You are not giving him any candies or sugary drinks and his diet is overall balanced and healthy. So, why does he keep getting cavities?
The entire team at The Dental Anesthesia Center is exceptional.
Not only is Dr. Hoffmann a 10/10 dentist, but he is very trustworthy and only recommends procedures when necessary.
The dental hygienists are uniformly wonderful. During cleanings, they are gentle but are still able to carry on a conversation as they work.
If i moved an hour away, I would still drive my family here for any dental needs.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful review! We’re so grateful for your trust in our team and are glad your experience with our doctors and hygienists has been a positive one. We truly appreciate your support!
I love this dentist office! Everyone is so friendly and accommodating. Dr. Thoms is an excellent dentist that listens to you and makes sure everything is done to your satisfaction. They do TRUE dental sedation. Not just give you a pill like other offices’s that claim they do sedation. Since I am allergic to medicine a dentist normally uses I have to be truly sedated to have work done on my teeth. They do Botox for teeth grinding and TMJ also
Response from the owner:Thank you for the kind 5-star review! We truly appreciate your thoughtful feedback and are glad you had a positive experience with our team and services. Your trust means so much to us.
If we lived in closer proximity, we would see Dr. Thoms for all of our dentistry needs. As it is, we happily made the 2.25 hour trip three times for my daughter's root canal and crown. Dr. Thoms and the entire team were expert, kind, and compassionate. We could not ask for more!
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your kind words and for trusting our team. We truly appreciate you sharing your experience and are grateful for the opportunity to provide care. Wishing you and your family all the best!
Wonderful place for my special needs daughter. She is not always cooperative. They are very good and patient with her. Thankful she can receive anesthesia at the office and not have to take her for out patient service at a hospital. Thank you to all the staff 😇
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your kind words and 5-star review! We truly appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. Our team is grateful for your trust and is always committed to providing patient-centered, compassionate care.
Best experiences ever. My two special needs children need sedation dentistry and see Dr. Thoms. Dr. Thoms is so kind, caring and reassuring. He truly has a special gift in treating people with special needs. So grateful to be his patients.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind feedback. We’re grateful for the opportunity to provide care in a supportive and reassuring environment.
The first thing that you need to know is that it’s not unusual. According to one report, about 42% of kids aged two to 11 get dental cavities. It happens so often that cavities are more common than conditions like asthma. Lack of proper oral hygiene, as well as an unhealthy diet, play an important role. However, that’s not the full picture.
How Babies and Toddlers Get Cavities
There is a group of bacteria called streptococcus mutans. The bacteria feed on sugar and produce acid that affects the structure of the teeth. It also creates plaque that erodes the teeth even more, depleting it from calcium. In time, the surface of the teeth is affected and eventually collapses. That’s when you get a cavity.
Babies are born without these bacteria but get infected by their caregivers (most often their mother.) Whenever you are kissing your baby on the mouth, eating with the same spoon or letting him use your toothbrush, you are creating opportunities for the bacteria to populate his mouth. And, if you have cavities yourself, then the chances of passing these bacteria on to them increases considerably.
What You Can Do
The first thing you need to do is to make sure that your toddlers brush his teeth correctly. It can be difficult for babies to understand the concept of cavities and why they need to brush. It’s also uncomfortable for them when someone sticks something into their mouth for no apparent reason. So, try to make brushing as fun as possible.
Here are some ideas:
Sing a song and dance while you are brushing
Let them brush the toy’s teeth first
Let them brush their teeth by himself. Praise him for a good job then tell him that you are just going to make sure that he didn’t miss anything.
It’s Never too Soon to Visit a Dentist
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Association (AAPD) recommends that babies see a dentist by their first birthday. If you wait too long, tooth decay may be well on its way and more difficult to prevent. If you haven’t already, then schedule an appointment with your St. Louis pediatric dentist as soon as possible. They can help you understand what you need to know about how to care for your kid’s pearly whites.
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The first two board-certified Dentist Anesthesiologists in the state of Missouri.
