Author: adv-admin

Children should be encouraged to have good dental hygiene habits from a young age. The child’s first tooth is when brushing should begin. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) tooth decay in children is one of the most common, yet preventable problems in children. This is also known as childhood caries, or childhood tooth cavities. The good news is that all that has to be done is provide good oral and dental hygiene, and chances are most if not all childhood cavities are 100% preventable.

First off, check the child’s teeth. Till the child’s first tooth “erupts” (comes through the gum line) wipe the child’s gums off with a piece of gauze or a washcloth 2-3x a day to keep them clean and healthy. Healthy gums should be a light pink without any cuts, gashes, or lesions on them. When the first primary tooth “erupts” between 6 and 9 months old then brushing needs to begin. Schedule a dental examination by the child’s 1^st birthday. In between 12-24 months brush the child’s teeth with more than just a plain brush and use a pea-sized dab of toothpaste. Toothpaste without fluoride is recommended till children can spit the toothpaste out reliably on their own. By 3 years of age children should have 20 primary teeth. Brush with a child-specified size toothbrush, and the best times of day are after breakfast and before bedtime.

Remember that healthy teeth in children should have no stains or marks on them. They should be a milky-white color. Flossing should begin soon as children have two teeth that can touch together where food can get caught. To help a child brush their teeth angle the brush at a 45-degree angle and move it gently back and forth over all present teeth. Brush all surfaces of the tooth thoroughly. Brush the tongue to remove any bacteria that may harm the child. For flossing cut off about 18 inches of floss and wrap one end around each of your middle fingers. Curve the floss into a “C” shape and gently push and glide between the baby’s teeth. Floss between all teeth, and behind the back ones.

Flossing will generally begin between 2 and 2.5 years old when the child’s first teeth are touching. Children will need assistance brushing generally till about age 6, and flossing till about 8-10 when they can wind and hold the floss properly to do it themselves. Floss holders can help the child learn proper techniques. Take care of your own teeth, and show your child how to emulate the positive behaviors you set forth.

If you have any questions regarding this article please contact us or call 909-465-1016.

The Ramona Dentistry Team

“Where Family Comes First”

Just shy of 50,000 Americans are diagnosed with some form of oral cancer every year. About 9,750 people will die from this type of cancer each year. This is about 1 death per hour, 24 hours a day, every day of the year. About 57% of oral cancer victims are alive 5 years later. Oral cancers account for 85% of all head and neck cancers reported. This number has only improved about 7% over the past decade, which is not a significant improvement compared to the exploding survival rates of other forms of cancer.

Oftentimes, professionals attribute this to the late detection of oral cancers. Oral cancers are generally not discovered early on as they only present a few if any early symptoms of there being a problem. Sometimes there may be oral lesions or infections, but people don’t understand they are related to oral cancer so they never seek treatment till the tumor metastasizes

Oral cancer is a much greater problem than the almost 50,000 cases diagnosed in the US each year. Worldwide, about 450,000 cases are diagnosed each year. These are the best available statistics from WHO which, despite its best to be professional in reporting may not always have perfectly accurate numbers based on the fact that some countries don’t fully report their statistics the way that they should be reported.

Many suggest the US develops an opportunistic screening process detecting oral cancers to see if that helps catch tumors earlier. The high death rate for oral cancers attributes to the fact that most oral cancers are not caught till they metastasize and break off into another part of the body. Generally, this is in the lymph nodes of the throat. By then the cancer has invaded deep into the structures of the mouth and throat and there is little to do to help the patient. Besides, anyone who gets oral cancer has a 20x higher chance of a reoccurrence of getting it again for 5 to 10 years after the initial diagnosis. It is estimated that $3.2 billion is spent every year alone in the US fighting oral cancers, and treating people who get it.

If you have questions regarding this article contact us or call 909-465-1016.

The Ramona Dentistry Team

“Where Family Comes First”

Gingivitis is the mildest form of gum disease in the periodontal disease family. Gingivitis causes the gums to become mildly red, swollen, and bleed easily. No pain or discomfort is usually involved at this stage of gum disease. It’s reversible with good oral care (brushing/flossing DAILY) and regular oral treatment such as semiannual dental cleanings by seeing the dentist frequently. Some factors may make certain populations more prone to gingivitis infections than others including those with inadequate nutrition, diabetes, hormonal fluctuations, pregnant women, substance abusers, or people with HIV infections.

Periodontitis gets more serious when gingivitis turns into periodontitis. This is where the plaque begins to harden on the gums, and seep into the gum line. The plaque can get into the bone structure of the teeth, and chew through the bone structure of the jawline if left untreated long enough. At the most advanced stage this can ultimately lead to lose teeth that have to be removed as the jaw’s bone structure can no longer hold the teeth in properly. In the end, it leads to there being no option but to remove teeth when left untreated long enough.

There are many forms of periodontitis, including the following:

Aggressive Periodontitis which occurs in patients that are otherwise clinically healthy and free from disease. Commonly this kind of periodontitis features rapid attachment loss of the tooth from the bone structure in the gum line and familial aggregation.

Chronic Periodontitis is what occurs when the inflammation of the tissues supporting the tooth structure begins. This also eventually results in progressive attachment and bone loss as well. This is characterized by pockets of infections forming and the gingiva being chewed through. It is mostly prevalent in adults but can occur at any age with poor oral dental care.

Periodontitis As A Manifestation Of Systemic Disease can often begin in children at quite young ages. Conditions like heart diseases or diabetes are associated with this form of periodontitis.

Necrotizing Periodontal Disease occurs when an infection is characterized by necrosis of gingival tissues and periodontal ligaments and alveolar bone. These lesions are most common in individuals with things like HIV Infections, malnutrition, or immunosuppression conditions.

If you have any questions regarding this article please contact us or call us 909-465-1016.

The Ramona Dentistry Team

“Where Family Comes First”