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A study conducted in Washington State in 2004 and another conducted in Madrid, Spain in 2012 both reported findings that support a direct relationship between parents’ dental fear and their child’s fear of the dentist.

The Washington study examined dental fear among 421 children ages 0.8 to 12.8 years old. They were patients at 21 different private pediatric dental practices in western Washington state. The Spanish study observed 183 children between the ages of seven and 12 as well as their parents.

The Washington study used responses from both parents and the Dental Sub-scale of the Child Fear Survey Schedule. The survey consisted of 15 questions, which invited answers based on the child’s level of fear. The scale was one to five: one meant the child wasn’t afraid at all, and five indicated he or she was terrified. The maximum possible points (based on the greatest fear) was 75.

Spanish researchers found a direct connection between parental dental fear levels and those among their kids. The most important new discovery from the Madrid study was that the greater the fear a father had of going to the dentist, the higher the level of fear among the other family members.

Parents, but especially fathers, who feared dental procedures appeared to pass those fears along to every member of the family. Parents can still have some control over fear levels in their children. It is best not to express your own concerns in front of kids; instead, explain why going to the dentist is important.

Dr. Parulkar and our team work hard to make your child’s visit at our Lewis Center, OH office as comfortable as possible. We understand some patients may be more fearful than others, and will do our best to help ease your child’s anxiety.

Psst—here’s some time sensitive information for you and your family. If your child’s teeth are sensitive to heat, cold, sweets, acidic foods, wind and/or air, it could mean it’s time to see Dr. Parulkar!

Normally, we don’t notice how external conditions affect our teeth at all. Tooth enamel—the hardest substance in the body—protects the inner tooth from outside stimuli. So, why do strong, solid teeth suddenly feel sensitive? The answer’s found in tooth anatomy.

The crown of the tooth, the part we can see above the gum line, has three distinct layers.

• Enamel, a strong mineral-rich coating, surrounds the outside of each tooth and protects the dentin and pulp inside.
• Dentin is the softer, porous middle layer of the tooth. Dentin contains thousands of tiny, fluid-filled tubules which extend to the pulp.
• In the center of each tooth is the pulp chamber, filled with nerves, blood vessels and connective tissue which keep the tooth alive and healthy.

The roots below the gumline have a similar structure, with one important exception.

• Cementum, which is not as hard and strong as enamel, covers the root surface instead of enamel.

Healthy, undamaged teeth allow us to enjoy an icy beverage, hot cocoa, a sweet treat, or a brisk walk without any dental discomfort.

When the tooth’s protective enamel covering is worn or damaged, the dentin below the enamel is exposed to external conditions. Temperature changes, air, wind, sweets and acids—all the stimuli which normally have no effect on our teeth are now transmitted through the dentin’s tubules to the nerves inside the pulp.

The pulp’s nerves respond to these sensations by sending out pain signals. Your child might complain about an annoying twinge, a sharp, brief stabbing pain, or a shocking sensation. Or it could be that your child is avoiding some favorite foods or is reluctant to eat at all.

If you suspect your child is suffering from tooth sensitivity, Dr. Parulkar can help discover the cause. There are several potential sources of sensitivity, including:

Loss of Protective Enamel

When dentin is exposed, sensitivity follows! And because baby teeth have thinner enamel than adult teeth, they are even more vulnerable to tooth sensitivity.

• Aggressive Brushing

Brushing is great! Over-aggressive brushing? Not so much. Heavy-handed brushing and brushing with anything other than a soft-bristled brush can wear down mineral-rich tooth enamel to expose the dentin underneath, and is even more damaging to less-mineral-rich cementum.

• Diet

An acidic or sugary oral environment harms enamel. Consuming acidic foods and beverages erodes the minerals which make enamel so strong. Sugars give plaque bacteria the perfect fuel they need to produce enamel-eroding acids.

• Cavities

The bacteria in plaque create acids which strip minerals from tooth enamel. Over time, a hole in the enamel develops, uncovering the sensitive dentin below.

• Injuries

A crack or fracture can expose dentin, or, in severe cases, tooth pulp, to foods, heat, cold, and air.

Tooth Grinding

Bruxism, or tooth grinding, often takes place during sleep, and can apply over a hundred pounds of pressure to the teeth and jaws. Continuous grinding and clenching wears away tooth enamel, exposing dentin. Bruxism can also cause chipped and cracked teeth, as well as jaw damage and even tooth loss.

Malocclusion

Occlusion refers to the way our teeth and jaws fit together. In a healthy occlusion, the forces of biting and chewing are normal and evenly distributed. A malocclusion, or bad bite, can cause excessive or uneven pressure on teeth and jaws, leading to worn enamel, cracked teeth, and more serious bite problems.

Just as there are many causes for tooth sensitivity, your dental team at Delaware Pediatric Dentistry has many solutions to restore your child’s comfortable, healthy smile.

Choose Healthy Dental Products

• If your family doesn’t use soft-bristled brushes, trade in your old models ASAP, or try an electric toothbrush. Electric toothbrushes and water flossers can be especially helpful for cleaning around braces if your child’s in orthodontic treatment.
• Fluoride treatments can help strengthen tooth enamel.
• Your pediatric dentist and hygienist at Delaware Pediatric Dentistry can provide your children with lessons on proper brushing and flossing techniques and tools which will last a lifetime.

Encourage a Dental-Healthy Diet

• Cut down on acidic and sugary foods and treats.
• Check food label ingredients. The amount of acids and sugars in foods like sodas and sports drinks could surprise you!
• If your child does eat something acidic, it’s best not to brush right away. Rinsing with water and waiting an hour to brush gives the enamel time to restrengthen and remineralize.

Schedule Regular Dental Exams and Cleanings

• Regular exams will discover any cavities before they become deeper and more damaging.
• Gum disease can cause gum recession, exposing those sensitive, cementum-covered roots. Dr. Parulkar will look out for any signs of early gum disease and offer tips for gum health.

Treat Injuries Immediately

• If you suspect your child has an injured tooth, call your dentist at once to prevent more serious damage or infection.

Protect Your Child’s Smile from Trauma

• A custom-fitted nightguard can prevent enamel erosion and other damage caused by bruxism.
• Insist on a mouthguard when your child plays contact sports or activities to protect teeth from injuries.
• If your child wears braces, ask your dentist about a custom nightguard or mouthguard designed to work with braces.

Consider Orthodontic Treatment

• If Dr. Parulkar sees signs of bite problems, talk about the benefits of orthodontic treatment.

The first step in treating tooth sensitivity is a visit to Delaware Pediatric Dentistry in Lewis Center, OH to diagnose the source of that discomfort. Tooth sensitivity is time sensitive. Take care of small problems before they become serious ones, and you’ll help make sure your children’s smiles are something they’re not the least bit sensitive about!

In a perfect world, we would all jump out of bed ready to greet the day with a big smile and a toothbrush close at hand to clean our teeth immediately. But if you can’t even find your toothbrush before you’ve had your first cup of coffee, does it really make a difference if you brush and floss after breakfast? Perhaps! Let’s talk biology.

Normal saliva production during the day benefits our teeth and mouths in surprising ways. Saliva washes away food particles to keep our teeth cleaner. It contains cells which combat bacteria and infection. It even provides proteins and minerals to help protect our teeth from decay. But saliva production slows dramatically as we sleep, and the amount of bacteria in our mouths increases. While one of the nasty—and obvious—side effects of bacterial growth is morning breath, there is an invisible effect, which is more harmful. Bacteria in plaque convert sugar and carbohydrates into acids which attack our gums and enamel and can lead to both gingivitis and cavities.

• If You Brush Before Breakfast

Brushing and flossing first thing in the morning removes the plaque that has built up during the night and takes care of many of the bacteria who are ready to enjoy the sugar and carbs in that breakfast with you. If you brush before eating breakfast, rinse your mouth with water after your meal, floss if needed, and you are good to go.

• If You Choose to Brush After Breakfast

But if you decide that doughnut simply can’t wait, you should ideally postpone brushing for 20-30 minutes after your meal. Of course, these are minutes in which bacteria can make use of those new sugars and carbohydrates. So why shouldn’t you brush immediately after eating? Many foods and beverages, especially acidic ones such as grapefruit and orange juice, can weaken the surface of your teeth. If you rinse with water after eating and wait at least 20-30 minutes before brushing, your enamel will be “remineralized” (another benefit of saliva) and ready for cleaning.

No matter if you take a “seize the day” approach and brush first thing in the morning, or a “seize the doughnut” approach and brush soon after eating, the important word here is “brushing.” Dr. Parulkar and our Lewis Center, OH team are happy to make suggestions as to the best morning routine for you. One thing is certain: if you give your teeth and gums two minutes of careful brushing and flossing in the morning, you can’t help but start your day off right!

We’re not talking about caring for major appliances here—the refrigerators, dishwashers, and washing machines which make our lives easier. We’re talking about some much smaller appliances which produce major results for our children—the dental appliances which help create healthy, attractive smiles.

A dental appliance is simply any device which helps promote dental health. And while that definition is awfully broad, you still might be surprised at the many types of dental work which qualify! Today, we look at “fixed” appliances. These devices and restorations stay in the mouth, unlike removeable appliances like aligners and retainers. How do they work for our children, and what helps them work most effectively?

Fillings and Crowns

Fillings and crowns might not seem like dental appliances, but they are! They help protect and maintain tooth structure after a cavity or an injury.

Space Maintainers

If your child has lost a baby tooth prematurely, Dr. Parulkar might recommend a space maintainer. A space maintainer holds the space open for your child’s adult tooth to arrive in its proper spot by preventing the surrounding teeth from shifting out of position. Space maintainers can protect tooth alignment and reduce the need for later orthodontic treatment.

Traditional Braces

Traditional braces make use of brackets, arch wires, bands, and ligatures in a wide variety of materials and styles to align teeth properly and help correct malocclusions. If your child has braces, they will typically stay in place for 18-24 months, with more time as needed for more complex malocclusions.

Functional Appliances

Functional appliances like palatal expanders and the Herbst® appliance are used to guide jaw development during the treatment of malocclusions, helping children achieve their best smiles while the jaw and facial bones are still growing. Because these appliances stay in the mouth until this stage of treatment is complete, caring for them can present some day-to-day challenges.

So many appliances, helping to protect and improve dental health in so many ways! Here are some steps you can take to make sure these appliances perform at their best:

• Encourage your child to clean carefully—and more often

Your child might need to brush and floss after every meal and snack to prevent plaque buildup and to keep food particles from sticking to space maintainers, braces, or other functional appliances. Dr. Parulkar can recommend the optimal cleaning schedule.

• Explore new tools

Interproximal brushes, flosses designed for braces, and water flossers can make cleaning teeth and appliances easier and more effective. Talk to your dental team at Delaware Pediatric Dentistry to learn the best tools and techniques for your child’s specific needs.

• Plan meals with your child’s appliances in mind

Sticky, chewy, hard, and crunchy foods are not on the menu when your child has a fixed appliance. Sticky and chewy foods like caramels can damage appliances and are difficult to clean from appliances and enamel. Hard foods require biting pressure which can damage appliances—and fillings and teeth! Crunchy foods can leave irritating little particles stuck in and under appliances. Your pediatric dentist has all the details on choosing foods which are good for your child’s teeth and appliances.

• Help your child stay on schedule

Keeping up with regular dental appointments allows your child’s dentist to discover and treat any small problems before they become larger ones. Keeping up with orthodontic adjustments means your child will finish orthodontic treatment on schedule and without unnecessary delays.

• Watch out for destructive habits

Habits which aren’t good for our teeth and gums are also not good for appliances. Nail biting, chewing on pencils or other objects, using teeth as tools to open bags or bottle caps, crunching on ice, and other behaviors which can damage tooth enamel can also damage fillings, space maintainers, braces, and functional appliances. Help your child to notice and avoid any unconscious habits which are harmful to teeth and appliances.

• Don’t ignore potential problems

Call your pediatric dental team in Lewis Center, OH at once if a filling is painful, loose, or damaged. If your child’s appliance is causing pain or shows any signs of damage, call your orthodontist or dentist immediately.

You and your child are a team when it comes to making sure appliances are working their best. It doesn’t take a lot of daily effort to take care of appliances—and the reward is a family future filled with beautiful, healthy smiles!