Having your kids brush their teeth before they go to bed each night helps them learn good oral hygiene practices. And while twice-daily toothbrushing is good for developing teeth, it always enough to stop bad breath from occurring. Bad breath isn't always solely an oral health issue, there can be other causes that need a different solution. Here are five surprising causes of bad breath in children and how to stop them.
Sinus Infection
Have any of your kids complained about a sore throat or stuffy nose lately? It might be a sinus infection. Sinus issues cause fluid to collect in the nasal passages and throat, making your child's throat the perfect place for bacteria to gather. The result? Stinky breath that can't be cured with toothbrushing and mouthwash alone. If you suspect a sinus infection (potential sore throat, burning nasal passages and post nasal drip), call your doctor for a visit and see if antibiotics will be prescribed.
Foreign Objects
It may not be your first thought, but your child's bad breath could be the result of something stuck in her nasal passages. Kids are curious, and their nostrils are just the right size for inserting small items such as beads, beans, toy accessories and food. Pediatrician Dr. William Sears explains that when an object gets lodged in a child's nasal passages it can create a nasty smell. If you suspect this is what is causing your child's bad breath, you'll need a doctor to help check your child's nasal passages and remove the object.
To read the entire article written by Jae Curtis , please visit Colgate.com
Learn more about what the American Dental Association has to say about the importance of dental sealants as a preventive dental treatment for your children!
Parents are a child's first teacher in life and play a significant role in maintaining his or her overall health. Providing oral health education to mothers and families is essential to teaching children healthy habits and preventing early childhood tooth decay, according to an article published in the May/June 2010 issue of General Dentistry, the peer-reviewed clinical journal of the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD).
With all of the challenges that new parents face, they may not think much about the link between their child's oral health and overall health. In fact, an understanding of oral hygiene can help parents to prevent tooth decayóthe single most common chronic childhood disease in Americaóand to create a lifetime of healthy habits for their child.
"Ideally, the oral health education for any family will begin with prenatal education and the establishment of a dental home by the time the child is 12 to 18 months of age," says Tegwyn Brickhouse, DDS, author of the study. "Many people don't realize that the oral health of the mother affects both the infant's future oral health and the child's overall health. In fact, some studies show that periodontal disease has been linked to preterm labor. That's why pregnant women should be evaluated for cavities, poor oral hygiene, gingivitis, loose teeth and diet."
After the child is born, families should become familiar with their child's dental and oral health milestones, which will be determined by discussion with the family dentist or a pediatric dentist. Children should have their first dental visit at age 1 or within six months of the eruption of their first tooth. A dentist will be able to discuss when parents can expect to see a child's first tooth and the best technique for brushing his or her new teeth.
Diet is another factor that affects a child's oral health. Frequent and long-term exposure to liquids that contain sugars commonly results in tooth decay. In addition to eliminating sugary drinks altogether from a child's diet, parents can adopt other habits to prevent tooth decay due to beverage consumption.
"Parents should avoid giving their children milk, formula, juice or soda at naptime or nighttime," says Bruce DeGinder, DDS, MAGD, spokesperson for the AGD. "The sugars will linger on their teeth and gums for a prolonged period of time, promoting decay."
Parents are responsible for their child's oral hygiene practices and are advised to meet with a general dentist to determine the best way to establish and maintain their child's oral health. A general dentist also can provide families with oral health literature that is designed to educate both the parent and child. This education has multiple benefits; as Dr. Brickhouse notes, "Healthy teeth in early childhood can provide a positive self-image and improve the child's quality of life."
To read the entire article please visit KnowYourTeeth.com
An Easy Preventive Treatment
As children often miss areas of tooth surface when brushing, decay will be the result from the bacteria, acid, and plaque that build up. But we are happy to offer a very effective way to help prevent the onset of decay in natural, permanent teeth. One application of a dental sealant will make a big difference in cavity prevention. This is how it works:
After all the teeth are properly cleaned and meticulously sterilized, one thin coating of the sealant is applied to all surfaces of teeth. It is a clear or white varnish that isn't easily seen. With a curing light, the dentist bonds the sealant to the teeth. The painless procedure takes just a few minutes to complete. Equally as important, no shots are given, no drilling is needed, and no tooth reduction is necessary. We highly recommend this treatment as the best preventive measure for children and adolescents to preserve their natural teeth.
Pebblewood Dental
Mark Mendiola, DDS & Larissa Navarro, DDS
1550 North Route 59, Suite 148
Naperville, IL 60563
(630) 369-6222
PebblewoodDental.com
Your Child's Dentist Is Important to Maintain Good Health
Children's teeth are susceptible to cavities during their formative years due to various factors. Often they do not brush as well as needed, missing back areas or the grooves in some teeth. We recommend parents be a part of their daily brushing and flossing until they learn to do the best job possible.
As children tend to eat small amounts frequently throughout the day (sometimes known as "grazing," they excessively expose their teeth to acid that is produced whenever food is chewed. Continual acid contact increases the risk of cavities developing. When teeth are not as clean as they should be, this encourages additional acid production, which in turn advances the rate that cavities develop and grow.
Improved daily dental hygiene, better and more nutritious food choices, and an application of a mineralizing varnish will significantly reduce the risk of cavity development in your children's permanent teeth.
Taking Care of Your Kids
Our doctors take good care of your children's dental health, and also have the capability to make them feel at ease throughout their treatment. We use the latest advancements in dentistry for children, and we approach their needs with thoughtful compassion and a gentle touch. We teach proper dental hygiene techniques and how to keep their teeth for a lifetime with good nutrition and brushing and flossing twice a day. We see our young patients for the first time as soon as their first tooth erupts and continue their care as they grow and change. We want all generations of children to have no fear of dental visits. If you have a scared or active child, we can change his or her mind to relax and enjoy the visit. We maintain a happy atmosphere at our practice, and our parents are pleased that their children feel good about coming to the dentist.
Pebblewood Dental
Mark Mendiola, DDS & Larissa Navarro, DDS
1550 North Route 59, Suite 148
Naperville, IL 60563
(630) 369-6222
PebblewoodDental.com
Having your kids brush their teeth before they go to bed each night helps them learn good oral hygiene practices. And while twice-daily toothbrushing is good for developing teeth, it always enough to stop bad breath from occurring. Bad breath isn't always solely an oral health issue, there can be other causes that need a different solution. Here are five surprising causes of bad breath in children and how to stop them.
