Your enamel is uniquely suited to safeguard your teeth. If you keep your tooth enamel healthy, you will avoid many dental ailments. You won’t get cavities. Your teeth will be less likely to chip or crack. You will avoid many causes of tooth stains.
It’s best to form enamel-healthy habits when you’re young.
Teach your youngster to protect their tooth enamel. There is a multitude of collateral health benefits as well.
For Healthy Tooth Enamel, Avoid The Following
Frequently Eating Sticky Food
Gummy candy, protein bars, and dried fruit can break teeth.
Chewing On Hard Foods
For example, Beef jerky and hard or stale bread.
Grinding Teeth
If you grind your teeth, talk about it with your dentist. It can cause headaches, tooth damage, and gum recession. An appliance can protect your enamel.
Drinking Anything Besides Water Frequently
If your teeth are awash in carbonated beverages (sugared or diet), juice, coffee, or sports drinks habitually, your enamel will suffer from the acids and sugar.
Playing Sports Without a Mouthguard
Sports pose a major risk of tooth damage. Custom-fitted mouthguards from your dentist are more comfortable than the boil-and-bite type.
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Many parents in the St. Louis area wonder when it is right for their child to see the dentist for the first time.
What does the ADA say?
The American Dental Association recommends that kids visit the dentist around their first birthday, a little earlier than some parents may anticipate.
Early visits with St. Charles, Maryland Heights, and Chesterfield dental professionals help ensure that children are getting every advantage when it comes to oral health.
When do I start brushing my child’s teeth?
When your child gets his first tooth, it is time to brush. Parents should use non-fluoride toothpaste until the child is two years old. Then, use only a tiny dab. Young children often swallow toothpaste while brushing. If a child ingests too much fluoride, teeth can become stained.
It’s also important that kids are comfortable with the dentist’s office. If they go for regular checkups and cleanings, children will be more likely to avoid a fear of the dentist. If they don’t visit a dentist until they have a dental problem that is causing pain, they are more likely to associate the dentist with pain and fear. Just as well-child check-ups, dental exams, and cleanings should be routine or every child.
What does the dentist do at the check-up if my child doesn’t have a cavity?
The goal is to make sure your child never gets a cavity. In these early visits, St. Louis area pediatric dentists usually clean the child’s teeth, apply fluoride, and assess any oral health risks that may be present, such as baby bottle tooth decay. This condition can be avoided by having your child transition from bottle to cup at an early age.
When your child gets their rear molars, your pediatric dentist will discuss dental sealants. These are some of the best ways to keep your child’s teeth cavity-free.
Martin Buchheit wants to help Florissant families raise healthy, happy kids. Keep your child’s smile healthy, St. Louis!
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Hello, thank you for visiting the Koch Park Dental – Martin L. Buchheit, DDS blog. I’m Dr. Martin Buchheit. Along with my fantastic team, I have been providing trusted dental care since 1987.
Today’s message is about the American Dental Association. You have probably seen the ADA symbol on toothpaste and floss—but what else do you know about this dental institution?
The ADA’s self-proclaimed objective is to improve the level of public oral health by supporting the dental industry through not-for-profit federal, state, and local chapters. It was formed in 1859 and is run by its members, which currently total over 160,000.
The ADA Seal of Acceptance is not an endorsement of a product per se, but rather is a confirmation of the claims made by said product. Companies who want the ADA credential for a product must submit proof of rigorous scientific testing. Once submitted, the ADA re-tests the product to further verify the results. There are currently over 300 products with the ADA certification.
The ADA does more than evaluate dental products. Here are some other ways the ADA works to carry out its mission:
Provides resources to support dentists and their practices
Educates the public about oral health
Works to expand access to dental care
Offers advice on critical issues that affect the dental industry
Works with other organizations on scientific research projects and public health initiatives
Offers scholarships to dental students
For more information about the ADA, visit http://www.ada.org/en/about-the-ada
People that are plagued with dental phobia (Dentophobia) may take comfort in the fact that it is a fairly common diagnosable mental condition. At least they know they are not alone and that the medical community takes it seriously.
Phobias like Pteromerhanophobia: (the fear of flying) and Acrophobibia (the fear of heights) can be problematic, but a person can live a perfectly healthy life without getting on an airplane or riding an elevator to the top of the Chrysler Building.
A person who suffers from dental phobia or dental anxiety is at risk of getting into a vicious cycle of decreasing oral health.
Fear causes the person to forego dental checkups for years. When a minor dental dilemma (like a tiny cavity) progresses until it reaches a nerve and leads to pain, the patient is forced to visit the dentist.
At this point, the needed therapy is a major procedure (possibly an extraction followed by a dental implant). The procedure reinforces the dental phobia and, once again, the patient stays away from the dentist’s office. That’s how some people end up losing teeth at a relatively young age.
Experts believe that the prevalence of dental phobia may be as high as one in four individuals. Are you one of them?
At Koch Park Dental – Martin L. Buchheit, DDS, we want to help nervous patients successfully overcome or at least manage their apprehension so they can withstand twice-yearly checkups and cleanings. Preventive dentistry is the only method to protect teeth and gums.
If you haven’t had a dental checkup in a while, please schedule a consultation. You can meet with Dr. Buchheit about the many options available including behavioral therapy, cognitive therapy, and conscious sedation (sleep dentistry).
If you are afraid of going to the dentist, there is hope. At Koch Park Dental – Martin L. Buchheit, DDS, we have successfully treated many patients just like you. We invite you to schedule a consultation today.
Despite parents’ best efforts at keeping kids’ teeth healthy, Koch Park Dental – Martin L. Buchheit, DDS treats tooth decay in young patients typically.
Brushing may not be enough
Most of these little ones report that they brush their teeth every day. Clearly, they either aren’t brushing as often as they think they are. Or they’re not doing it correctly.
Besides brushing, what else can parents do to protect little ones from tooth decay?
Here are 5 vital tools for preventing cavities in youth.
Though they look like mouthwash, oral rinses are designed to prevent cavities. They contain fluoride.
How does a child use an oral anti-cavity rinse?
Oral rinses work best when young kids and teenagers swish and spit after they brush and floss. Instead of “gargling” like you do with mouthwash, you “swish” and spit them out.
During the day, teeth are assaulted by acids and sugar in foods and beverages. These substances soften enamel. Fluoride strengthens enamel.
The rinse should be the last liquid to make contact with teeth before bed. This helps tooth enamel re-mineralize during sleep.
Oral rinses and fluoride supplements have different purposes
Is your youngster taking fluoride supplements? Does that mean an oral rinse is unnecessary? Actually, no. Fluoride supplements help strengthen teeth that are still forming. A fluoride rinse helps teeth that have already come in.
How do I choose an oral rinse for my child?
Make sure you select one specifically created for children. Products labeled as a mouthwash may not contain fluoride and they probably contain alcohol.
If you have toddlers, keep oral rinses locked away or otherwise inaccessible. Though they are safe when used as directed for older children (or when supervised for younger children), a toddler may be tempted to drink them. They are not supposed to be swallowed. Fluoride poisoning is dangerous.
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For years, Florissant parents have been warned that thumb-sucking can cause future dental issues for their thumb-loving toddlers.
One of these issues is a type of malocclusion called an open bite.
What is an open bite?
An open bite occurs when the front teeth in the lower and upper jaw have been moved forward; often to the extent that they do not meet when the mouth is closed.
In most cases, an open bite is linked to thumb sucking, but pacifiers and tongue thrusting can also move teeth out of alignment.
What is tongue thrusting?
Tongue thrusting refers to an abnormal swallowing action. The tongue is pushed forward during swallowing. Normally, the tongue is on the roof of the mouth and the teeth closed totally when swallowing.
What can cause tongue thrusting?
A tongue-thrusting habit can arise due to conditions other than thumb sucking, though this is a common cause. Allergies, large tonsils, tongue size, jaw angle, muscular problems, frequent sore throats, and anything that makes swallowing difficult can result in tongue-thrusting practices.
Koch Park Dental – Martin L. Buchheit, DDS in Florissant
At Koch Park Dental – Martin L. Buchheit, DDS, we diagnose bite issues in young Florissant dental patients such as underbites, overbites, crossbites, and open bites.
If dental treatment is started early in a child’s life, many bite issues and their associated problems can be prevented.
Call Koch Park Dental – Martin L. Buchheit, DDS at 205-933-0323 to schedule a dental examination for your toddler.
If you do not have dental plan insurance, speak with us about financing options.
Koch Park Dental – Martin L. Buchheit, DDS offers comprehensive dental care in the greater St. Louis area. Because our friendly staff puts our young patients at ease, your child can grow up without fearing visits to their Florissant family dentist.
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Your child should be naturally proud of his or her smile. It expresses joy, laughter, and fun! To make sure your child has a healthy and desirable smile, start early. Really early.
Dr. Martin Buchheit recommends a child’s first dental visit when their first tooth erupts. An early check is the first step in preventing issues and setting the stage for lifelong dental health. Dr. Buchheit will keep the visit short, but complete a thorough visual examination to make sure there are no concerns.
Dr. Buchheit will guide you on good dental procedures at home, such as correct brushing and flossing. You will also be guided regarding healthy eating choices and the effects of poor choices. It is especially critical to keep your toddler from eating sticky or hard candies that lodge in molars and spaces between teeth. It is also important to monitor the amount of juice they drink and keep it in a cup instead of a bottle.
Any time sugary foods or drinks are in contact with teeth, the enamel is weakened from the acid those substances contain. Prolonged exposure begins to wear the enamel away, setting the stage for tooth decay. Unlike broken bones that regenerate, once enamel is gone, it’s essentially gone, though fluoride can remineralize weakened enamel to a small degree.
Promoting a healthy, low sugar diet is always optimal for your toddler’s teeth. If your baby or toddler needs a bottle to calm down and go to sleep, make sure that the bottle contains only water.
Other critical habits are to brush and floss your teeth in front of your child. (If you have never been regular flossing – it’s time to start!) Let them see that it is a priority and a comfortable habit in your life. Brush their teeth with a soft-bristled brush and a small amount of toothpaste. Let them try it, but always go over their teeth afterward, making sure each tooth is brushed. When finished, give them a cup of water to help rinse the toothpaste out.
Before coming to Koch Park Dental – Martin L. Buchheit, DDS, meet with your child about the upcoming appointment and let them know that their teeth are going to be checked. Dr. Buchheit will help your child feel proud of their effort and help them have a favorable visit, the first of many to come.
Remember also to call any time between scheduled visits with any questions or concerns that might arise. We are enthusiastic about your child’s lifelong dental health.
Buchheit serves many families in the St. Louis area with expertise and compassion. At Koch Park Dental – Martin L. Buchheit, DDS, we love working with children and will help your child have a pleasing experience learning to care for their teeth.
Each member of our friendly team is passionate about making our youngest patients feel safe and comfortable. Our patients enjoy a friendly atmosphere while benefitting from our state-of-the-art technology.
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Today’s post is for men and women who are discouraged because they haven’t been successful at making some changes that will benefit their oral health. We want to urge you to keep trying and assure you that the team of dental professionals at Koch Park Dental – Martin L. Buchheit, DDS is eager to help.
Keep Trying To Floss
Many men and women are dutiful about brushing and believe that it makes up for lack of flossing. This is a misconception. Flossing is the only way to clean food debris and plaque from the gumline. Failure to floss can lead to periodontal disease which can, in turn, bring about tooth loss. We urge everyone to make it a habit to floss right every day. If you are not sure how to floss correctly, any one of the helpful dental hygienists at Koch Park Dental – Martin L. Buchheit, DDS would be happy to teach you. (They’re the pros!) Call 314-837-7744 to schedule a professional dental cleaning a guide to flossing.
Keep Trying to Overcome Dental Anxiety
Skipping dental checkups can have harmful, and in some cases, irreversible oral health consequences. Severe tooth decay or delayed diagnosis of oral cancer are two potential perils. If you are afraid of going to the dentist, you are not alone. This psychological disorder affects a significant portion of the population. Fortunately, there are many ways to manage this condition so you can undergo an exam and any necessary services. Talk to Dr. Buchheit if you or a family member suffer from dental anxiety. Koch Park Dental – Martin L. Buchheit, DDS delivers oral sedation and other help for anxious patients.
Keep Trying to Quit Tobacco
Smoking is just as dangerous for your teeth and gums as it is for other parts of your body. If you’ve tried unsuccessfully to quit the habit, it’s clear that you value your health and want to lower your risk for all the issues caused or exacerbated by smoking, chewing, or vaping.
Many smokers do not kick the habit the first time. But there’s hope! According to the CDC, there are now more former smokers than present users. Each of those former smokers was once right where you are. Keep trying!
Sometimes a little help can make all the difference. Call Koch Park Dental – Martin L. Buchheit, DDS at 314-837-7744 to schedule an appointment.
Source: The Health Consequences of Smoking—50 Years of Progress: A Report of the Surgeon General.” U.S. Department of Health and Human Services., Atlanta: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health, 2014, accessed June 13, 2017
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1. Children without sealants have almost three times more decay than children with sealants. (Centers For Disease Control)
2. Sealants may be covered by your Missouri dental insurance plan. For parents without dental insurance, sealants are worth the rate. You will likely forego fillings and additional dental visits. Note that some Missouri dental insurance providers have age limitations for sealants. Koch Park Dental – Martin L. Buchheit, DDS recommends having sealants applied as early as possible.
3. With proper care, sealants can last for many years. They safeguard your child during the years they are most likely to get cavities.
By observing sensible oral health habits and refraining from biting into hard objects, your child can maximize their lifespan.
4. The application process is painless. Teeth are cleaned, dried, and then the liquid sealant material is applied to teeth. It hardens quickly. Your youngster won’t need to skip meals after the procedure.
5. In some situations, sealants can be placed over existing decay to prevent further damage. Dr. Buchheit will determine if your child is a good candidate for this application.
Sealants, oral hygiene, a balanced diet, and dental cleanings are vital for pediatric dental health.
It’s time to think differently about childhood tooth decay in Florissant. Unless you’ve been keeping up with the research (and who does?) you might have an incomplete understanding.
1. Tooth Decay Is The Most Common Childhood Disease
Over 4 million preschoolers have tooth decay. Another grave fact; tooth decay in young children is on the increase.
Why? There are several factors. Many young diets contain more sugar. Fewer children drink water that has been adjusted for fluoride levels. Many families don’t have dental insurance to help pay for care.
2. Tooth Decay Bacteria Can Spread
In a way, tooth decay is contagious. Huh? Let’s explain. Bacteria that cause tooth decay are in the mutans streptococcus family. The bacteria mix with sugar. This mixture creates a powerful acid. The acid reduces the calcium in tooth enamel. When the bacteria stays on teeth, it produces a yellowish substance called plaque. Plaque is brutally effective at drilling into tooth enamel.
Mothers, fathers, siblings, and caregivers can transmit bacteria to babies. Of course, toddlers can get decay if they don’t have this bacteria. But the presence of it ups the risk.
Some kids are better at resisting this bacteria. How do you know if your child has an increased risk? If parents have a lot of tooth decay, the child is more vulnerable to it. The child’s diet and daily oral hygiene also affect the risk.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) counsels pediatricians to ask parents about their dental health. Parents whose children are at a higher risk for cavities should talk to a pediatric dentist. They can help your son or daughter beat the odds and emerge from childhood without a mouthful of fillings.
3. Weakened Enamel Can Repair Itself (Up To A Point)
If the teeth are consistently assaulted with juice, milk, and snacks, the enamel never has a chance to re-harden. The juice, milk, and snacks create dangerous acid. Acid and plaque decreases the enamel and may cause a white spot. This is a sign of mineral loss. It’s the first step in the formation of a cavity. At this point, you can reverse the mineral loss. Minerals in saliva and fluoride help enamel re-mineralize. Fluoride does three important things, 1) It replaces minerals. 2) It prevents further mineral loss, 3) It decreases acid-causing bacteria.
Your child can get fluoride from toothpaste, fluoridated water, fluoride rinses, fluoride gels, and fluoride supplements. Ask your pediatric dentist which one is best for your child.
Two essential things to know about fluoride:
1. If kids get too much fluoride, it can stain teeth. Your pediatric dentist can advise you on the proper amount.
2. Most bottled water doesn’t contain fluoride. If your child only drinks bottled water, they may miss out on the benefits of fluoride-adjusted municipal water.
At Koch Park Dental – Martin L. Buchheit, DDS, we help parents keep their kids’ teeth healthy. Make sure you bring your toddler in for an exam and consultation when their first tooth appears. If you wait until they are three or four, your son or daughter may already have tooth decay.
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