Vitamins and Minerals for Children’s Teeth and Gums

Vitamins and minerals play an integral role in your child’s oral health. Having a proper amount of nutrients in your child’s diet ensures healthy teeth and gums, with reduced risk of oral health complications.

Here’s a list of essential minerals and vitamins to include in your child’s diet to ensure his teeth and gums stay healthy and strong.

Vitamin A

Vitamin promotes saliva production in the mouth. Saliva is essential for cleaning away harmful bacteria and food debris from between teeth and gums. This vitamin is also effective in maintaining healthy mucous membranes that coat the cheeks and gums, reducing their risk for disease.

You can get vitamin A from carrots, citrus fruits, dark leafy green vegetables, as well as proteins like fish and egg yolk.

B Vitamins

B vitamins, especially vitamin B2 (riboflavin) and vitamin B3 (niacin), help prevent oral inflammation and mouth sores. You can find B vitamins in fish, poultry, red meat, almonds, spinach, and dairy products.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant. It combats gum inflammation and promotes gum healing. It works by stimulating increased production of collagen, which helps in cell repair and accelerates the healing. Citrus fruits such as kiwi, grapefruit, and oranges are a great source of vitamin C.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D promotes the absorption of calcium in the body. It also helps strengthen the teeth and improves bone mineral density.

The human body naturally makes vitamin D when exposed to sunlight. However, you can also get vitamin D from fatty fish, Portobello mushrooms, and canned tuna.

Calcium

Calcium promotes numerous processes in the body, including building and maintaining healthy bones and teeth. You can find calcium in dairy products such as milk and cheese. However, it’s best to get this mineral from cheese. Cheese contains a protein known as casein, which promotes enamel strength.

Magnesium

Magnesium plays an integral role in the development of strong bones and teeth. It promotes the absorption of calcium in the body. You can get this mineral from beans, nuts, whole grains, and dark leafy vegetables.

Other essential minerals for your child’s teeth and gums include phosphorous, iron, copper, zinc, chromium, and manganese.

Yeast Infection in Toddlers: How to Treat

While at least 70% of women encounter a yeast infection at some stage in their life, many people are unaware that toddlers can have it too. Yeast infections typically occur in toddlers in the form of diaper rashes and oral thrush.

Fungi of the Candida species cause it. While they aren’t usually dangerous, yeast infections are uncomfortable, especially for younger kids. The infections can be quite irritating, causing excessive itching and burning.

At times, the infection can get into the bloodstream in kids with weakened immune systems. This blood infection can also affect children with medical conditions that require IVs or catheters in their skin for prolonged periods.

Treating Yeast Infections in Toddlers

The most common way of managing a yeast infection in toddlers is by applying antifungal ointment directly to the affected area. Oral antifungal medications, such as fluconazole, are effective in treating yeast infections that develop in the mouth.

Yeast infections usually improve within two weeks after commencing treatment. You can also treat a toddler’s yeast infection by including more leafy green food in their meals.

Another effective natural remedy for a yeast infection is to apply yogurt on the toddler’s bottom. Also, be sure your toddler eats plenty of probiotics as they are effective in combating yeast.

Change your toddler’s diaper frequently to help to improve the condition. Considering that yeast thrives in heat-trapping and moist environments, changing diapers often will prevent the fungus from staying alive.

Wash your child with very mild soap after a bowel movement. Be sure to dry him with a clean, dry towel. Change the towel daily to prevent bacteria buildup on the towel, which could aggravate the condition.

It is advisable to consult a medical professional before using any medication on your toddler. However, you need not consult a doctor when using natural remedies such as including green leafy foods in a child’s meals.

If your child continues to suffer frequent yeast infections, consult a doctor. Recurring yeast infections could be a result of an underlying issue. It’s essential to address the problem at the source to effectively treat the infection.

Ways to Make Dental Hygiene for Kids Fun

Teaching your child about proper dental hygiene early in life is critical. They’ll soon get into the habit of brushing and flossing daily. This habit will stand them in great stead when they’re older. It’ll keep their teeth clean, strong, and healthy.

It’s hard to convince your children to brush or floss at first. Kids get bored quickly, and so the idea of a two-minute brushing session doesn’t appeal to them. That’s why, as parents, you need to get a little creative.

If you’re able to make brushing fun, your kids will look forward to each session. Here are some tips to get you started on making brushing fun.

Take Them Shopping for Their Toothbrush

Let them choose the toothbrush that they like. Also, let them choose the toothpaste. Giving them this choice helps to give your child some sense of control. They’ll look at the exercise more favorably as a result.

Lead by Example

Your kids need to see that you never miss out on brushing or flossing. Take it a step further and brush your teeth together. Brushing with you makes it easy for children to learn the techniques that they need. It is also an excellent way to spend quality time together.

Make it a Party

If you have small kids, this tip might be a lifesaver. Little kids find it hard to stay still. Make it fun by creating a playlist for the child to listen to while brushing. Keep it about two to three minutes long. That way, when the song finishes, they know that time’s up.

While they’re brushing, they can dance around a bit and have fun.

Get a Reward Program in Place

Kids love earning gold stars and awards. Set up a star chart with every day of the month on it. When your child cleans their teeth, give them a gold star. Give them rewards for getting a certain number of stars in a row. Rewards can be anything – a trip to the park or a new DVD, for example.Final Notes

When dealing with your child’s dental hygiene, you have to see things from their perspective. Motivating them using logic is bound to fail. Instead, try motivating them using fun.

Fluoride for Children, Why Use?

Cavities are the most common dental problem in the United States. Fluoride is one of the most effective and safest ways to prevent cavities for children.

How Does Fluoride Work?

Our mouths contain bacteria that feed on the sugars from the foods and drinks we consume. It results in the production of acid that can wear away our tooth enamel. The erosion of the enamel results in cavities long-term.

Fluoride strengthens the teeth, making you more resistant to acid. It not only lowers the risk of cavities but can also help reverse the early symptoms of decay.

How Children Can Benefit From Fluoride

One of the simplest ways for children to benefit from fluoride is drinking fluoridated tap water. The water contains healthy levels of fluoride, which can reduce tooth decay in children by 18 to 40 percent.

Most communities in the U.S. have access to fluoridated tap water. You can also find fluoride from children-friendly fluoride-based toothpaste. Fluoride supplements are also beneficial.

Who Should Get Extra Fluoride?

According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, children aged between 6 months and 16 years should use fluoride every day. If you don’t have access to fluoridated tap water, consult your pediatric dentist for the appropriate fluoride supplements that are suitable for your children’s ages. These are available as either tablets or drops, which are taken each day orally.

The dentist typically prescribes the amount of fluoride based on the age of the child, as well as the amount of fluoride in the drinking water for your area. Your child may also find sufficient fluoride from brushing and from foods prepared with fluoridated tap water.

It’s also worth noting that too much fluoride can lead to dental fluorosis. Children are more prone to dental fluorosis than adults because their teeth are more sensitive to the substance. The condition doesn’t affect the teeth that have already erupted, though.

Don’t hesitate to consult your dentist if you notice unusual changes in your child’s teeth. You want to deal with any dental issues early before they progress into more serious and costly problems.

Pacifier vs Thumbsucking for Baby

According to parenting experts, sucking on the thumb or pacifier is normal behavior for babies. The sucking reflex is a natural soothing behavior for infants. Some kids suck their thumb for comfort, and the habit normally decreases as they grow older.

On the other hand, the American Academy of Pediatrics points out that using a pacifier could help prevent sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Hence, parents should allow their kids to use them. Despite their positive attributes, pacifiers and thumbsucking are not without some downsides.

Prolonged thumbsucking may affect the proper development of the mouth and teeth alignment. Also, it can cause changes in the roof of the mouth. Pacifiers can affect oral and dental health in virtually the same way that thumbsucking does.

However, it usually is easier to break the habit of pacier use compared to thumbsucking. Let’s take a detailed look at pacifier vs. thumbsucking.

Pros and Cons of Thumbsucking

The major reason thumbsucking is better than pacifier use is that your child usually doesn’t need your assistance. Unlike a pacifier, he’ll put the thumb in his mouth on his own whenever he needs to soothe himself.

For a pacifier, you’ll have to get up several times during the night if your baby cries every time it falls out. One of the significant downsides of thumbsucking is that it is a harder habit to break. A sucker can develop a prolonged sucking habit.

Pros and Cons of Pacifiers

The primary advantage of a pacifier over thumbsucking is that you can take it way if your baby becomes addicted to the pacifier. For thumbsucking, the thumb is always there if the child feels like sucking on it.

According to some dental experts, orthodontic pacifiers minimize the risk of dental issues. One of the significant downsides of pacifiers is that they can make your child more susceptible to ear infections, attributable to the fact that sucking can impede airflow through the eustachian tubes.

Now that you understand the pros and cons of both pacifiers and thumbsucking, you can decide what’s best for your child.

Disturbing Side Effects of Chewing Gums

Chewing gum dates back to centuries ago. It was a favorite pastime for many people across the globe, thanks to its wide range of benefits. Ancient Greeks, for example, chewed tree resin to clean their teeth and maintain fresh breath.

In the US, people chew gum as a tool for relieving stress or minimizing food cravings. Research shows that gum containing Xylitol can help prevent middle ear infections in kids, too. Likewise, chewing nicotine gum could help you quit smoking.

Despite its many benefits, chewing gum is not without its disadvantages. Here’s a look at some common debilitating effects of chewing gum:

Tooth Decay

Frequent chewing of sugared gums leads to dental health problems like tooth decay, cavities, and gum disease. The sugar from chewing gum coats your teeth and gradually damages the tooth enamel, especially if you don’t clean your teeth immediately afterward.

Use gum brands that contain little or no sugar to minimize these effects.

Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ)

Chewing gum can result in jaw muscle imbalance or TMJ in your jaw, especially if you chew on one side of the mouth more than the other.

Whenever you overuse a set of muscles, it results in contracted ligaments and debilitating pain. It can also lead to earaches, toothaches, and headaches.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

IBS is a gastrointestinal disorder that causes cramping, abdominal pain, and unusual bowel patterns. While chewing gum, you swallow excess air. It can contribute to IBS, which in turn leads to bloating and abdominal pain.

The artificial sweeteners in gum, such as Mannitol and Sorbitol, have also been found to cause diarrhea.

Mercury Release From Dental Fillings

If you have amalgam fillings that contain mercury as one of their ingredients, chewing gum could cause the release of the mercury into your body. High levels of mercury in the body system may lead to mental disorders, neurological problems, and other health issues.

These are some legitimate reasons you should avoid chewing gum. If you can’t avoid it, however, it’s advisable only to chew sugarless gum made with Xylitol, and be conscious about which side you’re using to chew.

How To Save a Knocked-Out Tooth

If one of your teeth gets knocked out, you must take the right steps to maximize the chances of the tooth being saved or reinserted successfully. According to experts, if the tooth is reinserted into the socket within five minutes of falling out, there’s a high chance of the tooth surviving.

If reinserted between 5 and 60 minutes, there is still a reasonable survival rate provided the tooth is adequately preserved. If the tooth stays out of the mouth for over one hour, the survival rate decreases significantly.

This article provides all the crucial steps you need to follow in the case of a dental emergency involving a knocked-out tooth.

Collect  the tooth, holding the crown

Find the tooth immediately and handle it carefully when picking it up. Be sure you don’t touch the tooth root.

Remove any dirt by gently rinsing the tooth

Use only water to rinse the tooth. Avoid using soap or any other cleansing agent. Scrubbing or drying the tooth is also not recommended.

Reinsert the tooth into its socket

Try replacing the tooth into the socket immediately. Be gentle when pushing it in; don’t force it. If you can’t reinsert it, place it above the socket and close your mouth gently.

Ensure the tooth is moist at all times

The tooth must remain moist. If you can’t replace it in the socket, consider soaking it in milk or placing it in your mouth close to the cheek. You can also use an emergency tooth preservation kit if you can get one.

Visit your dentist as soon as possible

Your dentist will know the best way to replace your tooth, prevent infection, and provide the best treatment for the sensitive area.

Getting your tooth knocked-out can be a traumatizing experience. After all, no one wants a gap in their smile. While following the above steps doesn’t guarantee that you will be able to save your tooth, it increases the chances of the tooth surviving or being reinserted successfully.

Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

If you are bottle-feeding, you should be aware of a specific type of dental condition known as baby bottle tooth decay. This type of tooth decay is common and often affects the upper front teeth, but can also affect others.

Causes of Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

Several factors can cause baby bottle tooth decay. However, exposing a baby’s teeth to sugary drinks for prolonged periods is the major cause. Tooth decay can develop by frequently putting your baby to sleep with a bottle. It can also occur if you use a bottle as a pacifier.

You can also pass cavity-causing bacteria to your baby through your saliva. When you put your child’s feeding spoon in your mouth or clean their pacifier in your mouth, bacteria from your mouth can find its way to the baby’s. Fluoride deficiency is another factor that can lead to baby bottle tooth decay.

Signs of Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

Baby bottle tooth decay normally begins as white spots on the gum line of the upper front teeth. It can be difficult to see these spots in the early stages – even for a dental professional – without proper equipment.

If you suspect this condition, it’s important to have it diagnosed and treated as early as possible to prevent the decay from spreading and causing further damage.

How to Prevent Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

Here are some tips to protect your baby against tooth decay:

• Clean your baby’s teeth after every breastfeeding or bottle-feeding, and after giving them any medication that contains sugar.
• Avoid putting sugary liquids in your baby’s bottle when you put them to bed.
• Never let your baby fall asleep while nursing from either a bottle or the breast.
• If your child needs more nursing time in order to self-soothe after being fed, consider giving them a bottle with plain water or a pacifier.
• Avoid using the bottle as a pacifier.

The tips above can go a long way in preventing baby bottle tooth decay and easing a lot of potential discomfort for your child.

Common Children’s Tooth Injuries That Happen At Home

At least 50% of children will sustain some form of dental injury in their childhood. These injuries are most common in kids aged 2 to 4 years. Kids in this age group are more active and engage in rough play that makes them vulnerable to injuries.

Fortunately, these injuries usually are not life-threatening and can be prevented. Here are some ordinary kid’s dental injuries that can occur at home:

Dislocated or Loose Primary Tooth

Front teeth dislocation is the most common baby tooth injury. You can leave a loose primary tooth in place, but it’s advisable to have it removed if it’s interfering with the bite. A loose tooth will often heal without treatment.

If the tooth is very loose and seems like it will fall out any time or cause your child to choke, then it should be pulled out.

Premature Loss of a Primary Tooth

Children typically lose their front primary teeth by falling onto their face. It can also happen when engaging in sports activities. If your child loses their primary tooth prematurely, you should visit a dentist immediately to have the tooth repaired or replaced.

Dislocated Adult Tooth

If your child’s permanent tooth is knocked out, it should be treated as a dental emergency. The tooth should be returned into its socket within 15 minutes. Otherwise, it should be stored in cold milk until you get to the dentist. Over 85% of teeth that are placed back in their socket in 5 minutes survive. Exceptionally few teeth that are re-implanted after an hour survive.  

Broken Tooth

A high impact force upon your child’s face or jaw can lead to a broken tooth. If your kid breaks a tooth, place the broken part in a bag of milk or water and visit the dentist as soon as possible. The fractured tooth may include blood vessels and nerves, and you want the part to be replaced before these tissues die or get infected.

If your child experiences any of these tooth injuries, it’s important to call their dentist immediately to avoid further complications.

Why Baby Teeth Matter for an Adult Smile?

Many parents underrate the significance of baby teeth. At the back of their mind, they know these teeth will fall out, sooner or later, to pave the way for adult teeth. However, it is essential to understand that taking care of baby teeth is the first step toward your baby’s oral health.

Read on to understand the significance of baby teeth, especially on an adult smile.

Baby Teeth Promote Speech Development

You child’s teeth, lips, and mouth work together to form words, helping the child to develop their speech. Teeth control the flow of air out of the mouth, aiding in word formation. Your child learns to make various sounds as their tongue moves and strikes the baby teeth in multiple ways.

Baby Teeth Serve as Place Holders for Adult Teeth

Primary teeth are a road map for the adult teeth to follow. When they fall out prematurely, before the adult teeth are ready to come in, it can result in long-term complications.

This can even change the structure of your baby’s jawbone and face. The adult teeth may end up erupting improperly or fail to come in ultimately. Your child may need costly orthodontic treatment to reverse the problem.

Untreated Primary Tooth Decay May Affect Adult Teeth

If left untreated, tooth decay can advance into a tooth abscess. An abscess is a dental infection that affects the tooth root. If a baby tooth develops an abscess, the infection can spread to the developing adult tooth. This can result in early tooth decay in the adult tooth, causing pain and eventual tooth loss.

So, you have every reason to take proper care of your child’s primary teeth. Otherwise, baby tooth decay can occur. This can, in turn, result in more serious complications that can spread to adult teeth.

Be sure to clean and floss your baby’s teeth several times a day. Also, take your child to the dentist at least once every six months. If you suspect any issues with your child’s teeth in between the scheduled appointments, don’t hesitate to contact your pediatric dentist.