Dentistry for Kids by Douglas Urban, DDS

This article was published in the Cerritos Community News on Friday, April 20, 2012.




This article is specifically aimed for children 0-5 and their primary care givers (aka moms). Having a child in most cases is a natural event that once it starts it goes to finish in spite of us. Caring for a child’s health, however, is a little more daunting. First, it does not come with an instruction manual. There is a lot of resource material available about taking care of babies but sometimes the dental component is overlooked. Think of the mouth as the entryway for the child’s digestive system and then you realize it needs more attention.

As dentists we are trained to take care of problems (fill cavities) when they develop. A natural extension of taking care of problems is to prevent problems. Dentists are better serving their patients if they do not have to fill cavities.

For instance we know that caries are caused by 32 different kinds of bacteria. The bacteria from the mother’s mouth are most likely to infect the baby’s mouth in the first few months. So when the teeth finally start to erupt they will have the same decay problem as the mother. Wouldn’t it be prudent to reduce the likelihood of transmission? Moms can be encouraged to chew xylitol-containing gums and be prescribed antimicrobial rinses during the first six months. Education on the proper dental care is most important for the parent who is responsible for monitoring the types of foods and mouth cleaning.

Okay so your child is over 1 and you missed out on the prevention of transmission. Dentists can provide a caries risk assessment and provide recommendations for you.

In a nutshell we determine low to high-risk children by asking a lot of questions and performing a 2-minute inspection of the child’s teeth. Also, a test for cavity causing bacteria can be performed to give a good estimate of the child’s risk.

How do you protect your child’s teeth if you are medium to high risk? I recommend brushing your child’s teeth with fluoridated toothpastes (just a pea sized amount on the brush) and selectively flossing those teeth with white spots (early cavities).

Also, I suggest NOT using fruit juices in bottles and sippy cups. The constant bathing of children’s teeth with juice can lead to cavity disaster. Please use water. In areas with less than optimal fluoride in the tap water I prescribe fluoride supplement drops when the child turns 3. Dentists can place a non-toxic pleasant tasting fluoride varnish on teeth. It may be necessary to see the dentist more often-say every 12-16 weeks until stability and protection can be determined.

Prevention involves a committed dental team and the child’s mom. Remember at early stages of life cavity forming bacteria can be transmitted. Both mother and child should ask their dental team about what can be done help prevent “filling cavities”.

This prevention starts immediately and the child should be checked at six months to start this assessment.

Be Offensive about Cavities by Douglas Urban, DDS

Dentists are taught the skills to repair, extract and/or replace teeth afflicted with cavities. It seems like dentists are always one step behind the forces that cause decay. I have been a dentist for a long time and have recommended brushing twice daily, watch sugar intake, and to visit your dentist on a regular basis to detect any decay. Current research suggests this may not be adequate for a lot of us.

Research shows that dental decay is a chronic disease and that it is a result of individual behavioral patterns. We know of 32 types of bacteria that cause cavities. These bacteria thrive when the mouth saliva is acidic or at a low pH level. Behavioral effects range from how sugar is consumed, how effective we brush, how medications alter the mouth, how we respond to bacteria and how we utilize proper home remedies.

Recently, I had the privilege to listen to Dr. Brian Novy’s presentation on seeking out and destroying decay. Dr. Novy has a very nice way (it was a soft hammer) of debunking conventional methods of fighting decay.

Let’s look at his approach to fighting decay. If you are not suffering from new cavities at your dental checkups this approach may not apply. Everyone else should keep reading.

Diet low in sugary foods is still a wise choice. Foods rich in arginine (soy, spinach, seafood, and nuts, sunflower seeds, raisins, almonds, barley, cashews, etc) help neutralize certain acid forming bacteria. The “bad” (decay causing) bacteria is acid tolerant and will produce new bacteria that produce acid.

Brush with baking soda. If the taste is unpleasant add a little dollop of toothpaste to the brush and dip it into baking soda. Baking soda will promote a more neutral saliva pH that will select against bad bacteria.

Gum chewers start using Ice Breakers Ice Cubes by Hershey or Trident Xtra Care. Chew 6 pieces a day until the sweetness is gone. The sweetness is xylitol that is not metabolized by decay causing bacteria.

Glylic is isolated from licorice root and it has antimicrobial effects on bad bacteria. These lollipops can be found on www.drjohns.com.

There are other products that your dentist should be able to supply to you if your decay rate is through the roof. Our efforts are to help all children and adults become decay free and prevent the devastation that ruins a good set of teeth.

For answers to your dental questions, contact
Douglas Urban, D.D.S.
Cerritos, CA 90703
562 924-1523
DrDouglasUrban.com