Children with Bad Breath

Southern Cross Dental offers comprehensive care for patients of all ages, providing children suffering from bad breath with a place where they can go for help. Our dedicated hygienists work to educate young patients on oral hygiene, which is generally all that is necessary to reverse halitosis, but children do have some specific needs.

Bad smells most often come from bacteria hiding in creviced soft tissue where food debris accumulates. This is why people are instructed to brush their tongues as well as their teeth, but the tonsils are another breeding zone for bacteria which are much harder to reach. Bacteria in the back of the throat also feed on nasal drip, which results from sinus infections, which children get more frequently than adults. An object caught in a child’s nose will also cause nasal drip.

Dry mouth also contributes to halitosis. ADHD and anxiety medications commonly cause bad breath as a side effect, and active children sometimes simply do not remember to stay hydrated. Some solutions to this are sugar-free gum and throat moisturizers. It is also possible that a child’s bad breath is being caused by diabetes or a previously unknown allergy, which is why parents should treat it as a serious concern.

Drs. Navid and Faranak Rahimpour operate Southern Cross Dental at 1855 S Nevada Ave, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80905-2516. To schedule an appointment, call 719-471-1717 or visit SouthernCrossFamilyDentistry.com and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Intrinsic Tooth Stains

Southern Cross Dental offers treatment for all sorts of cosmetic problems, including the deepest dental stains. While patients may be familiar with the extrinsic stains caused by exposure to dark liquids and smoke, there are other ways teeth can become discolored, including loss of enamel and intrinsic staining. Any stain can be covered with veneers or bonding, but there are some health concerns to keep in mind with intrinsic stains.

Intrinsic stains usually develop for one of three reasons: use of tetracycline antibiotics during the tooth’s formation, excessive fluoride during the tooth’s formation, and inflammation of the dental pulp. Although bleaching is a powerful tool for combatting stains on and near the surface of the tooth, bleach cannot reach as deep as the pulp. Furthermore, pulp infections do not subside on their own, but they can spread, endangering the patient’s overall health and causing them pain and bad breath.

A root canal is the best solution for inflamed pulp. Typically, the tooth will be filled and sealed, but patients may discuss with their doctor whether the tooth needs a veneer or an entire new crown as a solution to discoloration.

Drs. Navid and Faranak Rahimpour operate Southern Cross Dental at 1855 S Nevada Ave, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80905-2516. To schedule an appointment, call 719-471-1717 or visit SouthernCrossFamilyDentistry.com and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Permanent Bridges

Missing teeth wreak havoc on your mouth over time.  Gaps in the teeth can cause problems with eating and speech, and when a tooth is missing long enough the jaw bone is vulnerable and the structure becomes compromised. At Southern Cross Dental, we install permanent bridges that replace missing teeth and still look natural.

Permanent bridges use healthy teeth on either side of a missing or damaged tooth to anchor a replacement in the appropriate location.  The replacement tooth is held in place by caps on the teeth on either side.  This can typically be accomplished in two visits.  First, an impression of the area is taken so that a dental laboratory can create the perfect and natural looking bridge that will be your replacement.  While your new bridge is being fabricated, we can provide a temporary bridge for you to wear.  On your second visit, the bridge will be cemented into place.  With proper care bridges can last a lifetime, but can be replaced if needed.

To learn more about permanent bridges and all the services we provide at our practice, visit www.southerncrossfamilydentistry.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Southern Cross Dental in Colorado Springs, CO, call 719-471-1717.

Mouth Guards for Sports

Summer is typically a more active time for families. Southern Cross Dental wants the community we serve to know we can help them take an important safety precaution for sports activities.  Athletes participating in any contact sport are advised to wear some kind of mouth protection. Wearing a mouth guard during sports helps prevent damage to the teeth, jaw, cheeks, and even the tongue and lips!

Most sporting goods stores carry mouth guards, but they are generic in size and fit.  These mouth guards often end up feeling bulky and uncomfortable, leading to child and teenage athletes in particular not wearing the protection at all. An ill-fitting mouth guard can even interrupt breathing and speaking.  Come see us and have a dentist perform a custom mouth guard fitting.  You’ll get a mouth guard made of thin, hard plastic that protects your teeth and still fits comfortably, and you can go right back to playing your best!

To learn more about mouth guards and all the services we provide at our practice, visit www.southerncrossfamilydentistry.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Southern Cross Dental in Colorado Springs, CO, call 719-471-1717.