We had a fairly casual oral hygeine routine for my 22-month old until recently we noticed bad breath and more plaque buildup (we assumed it was due to changing diet). After beginning a more aggressive brushing routine, we noticed the top half of his upper front teeth have moderate decay. (The rest of his teeth are spotless :( ) Our dental insurance kicks in in two weeks, and I have two questions: given that we are now taking scrupulous care of his teeth, will it advance quickly enough that we should run him to a dentist RIGHT NOW and deal with the debt, or will it hold steady? And two, can I cause more damage to his teeth through incautious cleaning until they are repaired? Please, I'm begging anyone with dental training to help me.
2006-06-16 07:04:15 · 6 answers · asked by Melissa 2 in Health ➔ Dental
We don't smoke. He doesn't drink soda and eat candy, or sleep with a bottle of chocolate milk. We just did a bad job cleaning that area, and a worse job checking on it. It got dirty, stayed dirty, and rotted.
2006-06-16 07:40:59 · update #1
I also forgot to mention that he does not seem to be in pain, or we would not consider waiting so long...
2006-06-16 08:23:57 · update #2
you said the insurance kicks in in four weeks and you are taking good care now of his teeth and he is NOT in pain. if it were my child i would wait. 4 weeks in this case is not probably going to change the outcome UNLESS you see visible swelling or the child has pain.
2006-06-21 10:25:17 · answer #1 · answered by ladyofthehollow 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not a "specialist", but my father was an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon. Here's my suggestion:
1) If you are giving him a bottle at night (at bed-time, to sleep with) make sure that you don't give any juices...they have sugars in them. I'm sure they have some sugar-free drinks that are fit for children and taste good, or just give water (if he doesn't object...kids like sweets)
2) Definitely keep up your brushing and oral care...I've seen some extreme cases of "bottle rot" that have eaten through the baby teeth, right into the "adult" teeth that are forming underneath.
3) I would suggest that you find a Dentist who cater to children, to make sure that...a) your child's first dental experience is as stress-free as possible, and b) you are brushing correctly and all that good stuff.
Make sure to have a consultation to meet with the Dentist one-on-one so that you can discuss what you want from the visit and what you can expect from the visit. That way, when you bring your baby into the office, YOU will not be nervous and not "transfer" any anxiety to your child. If you know exactly what to expect, you can better comfort your child and put him more at ease.
Make sense? I hope this has been helpful to you.
2006-06-16 07:25:07 · answer #2 · answered by jkatt777 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is nearly impossible to tell how fast decay will occur. If your child is in pain he/she needs to go to a dentist. If your child is not in pain, he/she needs to go as soon as possible. The decay will not hold steady if the habits that caused the decay are not under control. That not only includes brushing, but also stopping the bottle or sippy-cup especially while sleeping. In rough terms decay occurs when bacteria eat surgar...produce an acid...and the acid breaks down the teeth. After we have something with surgar the acidity level in our mouth rises...the saliva eventually brings the acidity level back to normal but this takes time...when children sip or drink something with surgar (that includes milk) throughout the night or day, the acidity level remains high and the teeth break down faster. Brushing gets rid of the plaque and strengthens the teeth but does not completely solve the problem with decay. There are programs in most states that have sliding fee programs based on income and can help those without insurance.
Good Luck
2006-06-16 07:23:05 · answer #3 · answered by nighttrain551 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have a dentist take a look. That will not cost much. Then ask the dentist the same questions you just asked us. Only a dental hygenist, dental nurse or a dentist can determine how close to the nerve your child's cavities are. The two weeks COULD make a huge difference-do not delay in getting to a dentist and taking x-rays. If he/she is in any pain then go today. If he/she is not in any pain make an appointment for a consultation or go to a free dental clinic. btw If your child has bad breath it could mean one of the following: a) you need to take a soft clean washcloth and wipe the milk off his/her tongue b) Your child has a gum infection c) your child has a throat infection Again, it doesn't cost much to get a consultation, in fact most dentists give free consultation unless you have dental insurance that is in effect and covers the initial exam. You need to get an informed opinion before your child suffers any pain or an infection. No dentist on this site can help you-without seeing your child.
2006-06-16 07:11:17 · answer #4 · answered by MAK 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't put him, her to sleep with a bottle. And one of the biggest things is to watch what you give him to drink, apple juice is good for the body, but very bad fo rthe teeth becasue of the acids
2006-06-16 08:49:26 · answer #5 · answered by Eric J 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
are you flossing and brushing to much are you giving them pop in there bottle maybee your wearing off the enamel on the childs teeth is bad breath an indication of a kind of sickness are you smoking arround your child are they missing some minerals in there diet
2006-06-16 07:11:38 · answer #6 · answered by peter w 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋