Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

Good oral hygiene is crucial to overall health no matter how old you are. All Coast Dental in Pacific Beach welcomes patients of all ages, and we’re aware that people in different age brackets have different needs. Among infants and toddlers, one of the biggest challenges is what dentists call Baby Bottle Tooth Decay, so we wanted to inform parents of how to avoid it.

The point of brushing our teeth is to remove sugary residue that is consumed by oral bacteria. Those bacteria excrete acid, which gets caught in the biofilm of the teeth and causes tooth decay and gum recession, so we want to deprive them of their food source. But not only are babies unable to brush their own teeth, they’re also dependent on whatever they’re given to drink and often are allowed to keep their bottles for a long time. This means that their teeth are being coated in milk instead of water and the residue may remain in place for several hours. Tellingly, decay tends to appear on the fronts of the top incisors, exactly where milk is contacting the teeth after leaving the bottle.

The keys to preventing Baby Bottle Tooth Decay are brushing and water. Parents should start brushing their babies’ teeth as soon as the first one emerges. In between brushing, babies should be given mostly water to drink, and they should be given water after drinking milk to provide their teeth with a rinse. Toddlers also should not be given juice, which is high in sugar, until they are old enough to drink from cups.

Drs. Julie and Joseph Boulos operate All Coast Dental at 2180 Garnet Ave, Suite 1-K, Pacific Beach, California, 92109. To schedule an appointment, call 858-270-4904 or visit All Coast Dental and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Lip Swelling following Extractions

When necessary for a patient’s oral health, we at All Coast Dental in Pacific Beach extract teeth quickly and as non invasively as possible. We’re proud to say that complications are rare, but the post-op instructions we give patients are intended to protect their own comfort, and following them is important. A minor but common problem that develops when people don’t follow instructions is a swollen lip.

Sensation to the lower lip and chin is supplied by the alveolar nerve. We typically deliver numbing medication to it via a syringe prior to extracting teeth from a patient’s lower jaw. Children, in particular, tend to bite down on their numbed lower lips out of curiosity. Unfortunately, it is easy to misjudge how much force the lip is being subjected to when it’s numb, so the bite often causes it to become extremely swollen and to develop a lesion.

The swelling can last for a few weeks. If the lesion is white, it is probably not infected, and the patient can get by with over-the-counter painkillers. In the first two days following an extraction, they should hold cold packs against their jaw for fifteen minutes at a time, and switch to hot packs after the first two days. But if the lesion turns red, smells bad, or is accompanied by a fever, it may be infected and need to be professionally drained and treated with antibiotics. We often do follow-ups after extractions anyway can assess damage to the lip.

Drs. Julie and Joseph Boulos operate All Coast Dental at 2180 Garnet Ave, Suite 1-K, Pacific Beach, California, 92109. To schedule an appointment, call 858-270-4904 or visit All Coast Dental and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Retained Baby Teeth

Your child is probably excited to get visits from the Tooth Fairy and their grown-up teeth. But what happens when the baby teeth stay put? As dentists who accept patients of all ages, we at All Coast Dental are familiar with oral issues that tend to emerge in childhood. Retaining baby teeth is a serious problem, but one we are well-suited to treat.

Baby teeth are scientifically known as “deciduous teeth.” They usually fall out because the emergence of the adult tooth causes the baby tooth’s root to dissolve. This may not happen when the adult tooth is coming in at the wrong angle or never develops. If the adult tooth and its deciduous equivalent are both present, the teeth are likely to be jumbled and difficult to clean. The presence of a baby tooth without its adult version can also cause bite problems.

Extracting baby teeth is usually a simple matter. Once they’re out, the patient may be referred for orthodontic therapy to correct bite issues. If the adult tooth never developed, an orthodontist might space the patient’s teeth apart to make room for an implant or partial denture.

Drs. Julie and Joseph Boulos operate All Coast Dental at 2180 Garnet Ave, Suite 1-K, Pacific Beach, California, 92109. To schedule an appointment, call 858-270-4904 or visit All Coast Dental and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Dental Avulsion

July 15-21 is National Youth Sports Week, and we at All Coast Dental in Pacific Beach want to do our part to inform families about what to do in a dental emergency. It may be possible for us to save a permanent tooth that gets knocked out, but only if patients know the right protocol.

We use the term “dental avulsion” to describe when a tooth gets knocked out of its socket. Every first aid kit should contain one of the American Dental Association’s approved emergency tooth containers. The tooth should be lifted by its crown, not its root, rinsed in a saline solution, and placed in the container. If no container is available, the next best option is to place it back in its socket. If that’s too painful, the tooth may be held in the cheek or moved in a jar of milk or saltwater, but remember that open wounds on the face should take priority over saving a tooth.

It is important to note that only permanent teeth can be replanted. A replanted baby tooth could prevent its permanent counterpart from emerging later. If a baby tooth does get knocked out, we may recommend that an orthodontic spacer be used to keep the gap open until a permanent tooth emerges. If a tooth does prove too damaged to save, we can replace it with a partial denture or fixed crown, but if your children wear mouthguards, it is much less likely you will have to make that choice.

Drs. Julie and Joseph Boulos operate All Coast Dental at 2180 Garnet Ave, Suite 1-K, Pacific Beach, California, 92109. To schedule an appointment, call 858-270-4904 or visit All Coast Dental and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Bite Checks

We provide comfortable, comprehensive care to patients of all ages at All Coast Dental in Pacific Beach. Regular pediatric check-ups aren’t just a chance to provide a professional cleaning and sealants; they’re also a chance to do a bite check. This part of the examination helps us to determine whether a child will need orthodontic work.

Malocclusions, or dental misalignments, are often related to issues such as temporomandibular joint disorder and bruxism. If someone clenches or grinds their teeth in their sleep, they may not be aware of it. But dental hygienists are trained to look for distinctive signs of erosion in enamel that could indicate bruxism, and they’ll ask children whether they’ve experienced soreness in their jaws or necks. In addition to using x-rays to inspect children’s bites, we’ll ask them to demonstrate how they close their teeth together.

A child’s first orthodontic assessment may take place when they are about seven years old, but orthodontic therapy doesn’t usually start until a few years later. By that time, more permanent teeth will have grown in and the jaw bones will be more solidified. If bruxism is a problem, it may be relievable with custom-fitted night guards that can be professionally adjusted as a child grows and their teeth change positions.

Drs. Julie and Joseph Boulos operate All Coast Dental at 2180 Garnet Ave, Suite 1-K, Pacific Beach, California, 92109. To schedule an appointment, call 858-270-4904 or visit All Coast Dental and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

Children of any age can develop tooth decay, especially babies and toddlers. This is because bacteria in the mouth change the sugar in foods and drinks into acid that attacks the teeth. The most common way this happens is when parents put their children to bed with a bottle of formula, milk, juice, soft drinks, or sugared beverages. Our doctors at All Coast Dental are here to teach your child the importance of oral care at a young age, and to give parents tips as well.

Tooth decay may first appear as white spots at the gum line on the upper front teeth. These spots may be hard to detect at first but our doctors will perform a thorough oral exam once you bring your child in to see us. To avoid baby bottle tooth decay parents should never put their child to bed with a bottle, teach him or her to drink from a sippy cup as soon as possible, and limit the amount of sweet or sticky foods the child eats.

If you have questions or concerns regarding baby bottle tooth decay or pediatric dentistry, please give us a call. To learn about services provided at our practice, visit www.allcoastdental.net for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at All Coast Dental in Pacific Beach, CA, call 858-270-4904.  

Back to School Check-Ups

If your children haven’t been to the dentist recently, there’s no time like the present. No child should have to start off the academic year with tooth decay, and a check-up is the perfect time to assess their long-term care needs

Children are the demographic with the highest rate of tooth decay. This is often due to difficulty brushing and flossing. While a toothache is bad news for anybody, it is especially harmful to children. Sleep deprivation can have far-reaching consequences for their academic performance and temperament. In young children, toothaches can also cause speech to be delayed. At the same time, children may brush too vigorously and damage their gum tissue. At a check-up, we can correct children’s hygiene mistakes and remove infected tissue.

Another potential cause of toothaches is an impacted adult tooth. X-rays allow us to determine whether a tooth is stuck and if it or a baby tooth needs to be extracted. If your child plans to play a sport, we can also provide athletic mouthguards or refit an old one to account for changes in their growing jaw structure.

Drs. Julie and Joseph Boulos operate All Coast Dental at 2180 Garnet Ave, Suite 1-K, Pacific Beach, California, 92109. To schedule an appointment, call 858-270-4904 or visit All Coast Dental and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Dental Anxiety in Children

Patients who feel anxious about seeing the dentist have nothing to worry about at All Coast Dental. We offer anesthetic and sedation options that are safe for all ages and ensure everyone will have a pain-free appointment. However, the thought of going to the dentist is often stressful, especially for children, which is why we wanted to offer some guidance.

Dentists typically recommend that a child’s first dental appointment be made when their first tooth begins to erupt and be scheduled for every six months thereafter. Nevertheless, some psychological preparation is usually necessary when children are old enough to know about the appointment ahead of time. The best advice is to keep things casual. If a parent repeatedly tells a child to be brave or that there will be a reward later, they are sending the message that they expect the appointment to be difficult. Children tend to pick up most of their attitude from their parents, so if a child is nervous, the parent may need to ask their partner to accompany the child instead. It is not usually necessary to explain any more than that the doctors and hygienists want to help keep people’s teeth clean and healthy. We can give provide the child with more thorough explanations for what we are doing, if they want, and provide them with an opportunity to explore the chair and learn about our tools.

Drs. Julie and Joseph Boulos operate All Coast Dental at 2180 Garnet Ave, Suite 1-K, Pacific Beach, California, 92109. To schedule an appointment, call 858-270-4904 or visit All Coast Dental and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Causes of Tooth Sensitivity in Children

We welcome children at All Coast Dental and are happy to help them with tooth aches and sensitivity. As with adults, there are several different potential causes which should be investigated, but some are more likely to occur in children and could be the first sign of a more general health issue.

Teeth are usually a little sensitive when they first erupt, but this should dissipate within a few days. If a child is suffering from a persistent toothache, the most likely reason is a cavity. Also known as caries, cavities are caused by a certain type of bacteria that feeds on sugar and produces acid which then demineralizes tooth enamel.  This disease process usually can be prevented by better hygiene and reducing the frequency that a child eats foods high in fermentable carbohydrates (like candy, sugary drinks, cookies).

It is also possible that the child is brushing too hard and causing gum recession. This would leave the sensitive tooth roots exposed, which would make drinking hot and cold liquids painful. A dull ache in the upper teeth could be caused by a sinus infection. A toothache might also be caused by jaw grinding or clenching, which could also cause headaches and pain in the ear, jaw, and neck, as well as tooth damage.

Drs. Julie and Joseph Boulos practice at All Coast Dental at 2180 Garnet Ave, Suite 1-K, Pacific Beach, California, 92109. To schedule an appointment, call 858-270-4904 or visit AllCoastDental.net and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Teething Safety

We welcome children as patients at All Coast Dental, including those who are getting their first teeth. We understand that caring for babies is a nerve-wracking experience, especially with a parent’s first child, and parents are often looking for advice. We thought our patients would appreciate some information about how to soothe babies’ teething pain safely.

Giving babies something cool to gnaw on is one of the most reliable methods of comforting them; the main problems are that the item must not be a choking hazard or cold enough to hurt them. Generally, teething items should be chilled, not frozen. A large piece of rubber or plastic, such as a teething ring, may not warm quickly enough in a baby’s hands if it came straight from the freezer.  This is also true of metal spoons.

On the other hand, frozen washcloths provide babies with moisture to suck without presenting a choking hazard. Another consumable option is popsicles or ice cubes placed in a mesh bag. Some parents also get good results from pressing on their baby’s gums with their fingers. Teething usually starts when a baby is about six months old, and our hygienist and dentists can teach parents to brush their baby’s teeth as soon as the first one begins to erupt.

Drs. Julie and Joseph Boulos operate All Coast Dental at 2180 Garnet Ave, Suite 1-K, Pacific Beach, California, 92109. To schedule an appointment, call 858-270-4904 or visit AllCoastDental.net and fill out a contact sheet.