Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

Many parents believe that their children's baby teeth don’t need as much maintenance as their adult counterparts. This is not at all true. If anything, baby teeth require more care. They are weaker by nature which makes them more susceptible to tooth decay. Teaching your child good dental habits now will continue into adulthood. Schedule your child’s first dental appointment with Southern Cross Dental to avoid the phenomenon known as Baby Bottle Tooth Decay. Drs. Faranak and Navid Rahimpour provide pediatric dental services in the Colorado Springs, CO, area.

 

Cavities are caused by oral bacteria. The byproducts they create wear down your teeth. Their biggest attractors are the sugary substances left behind by foods and drinks. This is the biggest cause of Baby Bottle Tooth Decay, and it’s located right in your child's bottle. The American Dental Association recommends only filling infants bottles with breast milk, formula, or milk. Try not to give your child anything high in sugar. This includes juice, soda, and sugar-water. Water is the recommended choice for older children. The water supply in the U.S. naturally contains fluoride, a cavity-fighting chemical.

 

Moisture leads to a surplus of bacteria in the mouth. Avoid giving your child access to a bottle during the night. Carefully clean pacifiers to remove any bacteria. Don’t dip them in any sugary substances like honey.

 

The other main source of baby bottle tooth decay comes from bacteria transferred between mother and child. The mother's saliva contains harmful bacteria. It’s advised to avoid unnecessary mouth-to-mouth contact. Don’t share food or improperly clean their pacifiers as well.

 

Southern Cross Dental is located in Colorado Springs, CO. To schedule your child's appointment with Drs. Navid and Faranak Rahimpour, visit our website or call 719-471-1717.

Pediatric Dental Sealants

Children are more prone to cavities than an adult which is why dental sealant is beneficial to them at a young age. Although thorough brushing and flossing will remove food particles from tooth enamel, the toothbrush can’t reach in between the crevices. A dental sealant is a thin, plastic coating that is painted on the surfaces of premolars and molars to prevent tooth decay. Our doctors at Southern Cross Dental can perform this procedure in one short visit.

Dental sealants are usually placed on the chewing surfaces of teeth because these are the areas that have deep grooves where food gets caught. Sealants protect the acidity and sugars in these foods from attacking the gums and enamel. Though it is less common, adults may receive dental sealants too as long as they do not have any pre-existing fillings or sealants.

If you have further questions regarding pediatric dental services, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.scdsmile.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.

In-Office Fluoride Treatment

Fluoride is often called nature’s cavity fighter and there is a reason for this. If children and adults are prone to cavities, this naturally-occurring mineral helps prevent cavities by making the enamel more resistant to the acidity that causes tooth decay. At Southern Cross Dental, our doctors can administer fluoride in topical form.

In our office, fluoride can be applied directly to the teeth through a gel, foam, or a rinse. Fluoride has the ability to repair teeth in the very early stages of tooth decay. It’s additionally used as a preventive measure in children to keep cavities from forming. Depending on the patient’s oral health status, fluoride treatments may be recommended every three, six, or 12 months. General treatment takes just a few minutes but you will not be allowed to eat for at least 30 minutes afterward. If you are anticipating a fluoride treatment, don’t come to the office hungry!

If you have questions or concerns regarding preventive dentistry, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.scdsmile.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.

Cavities

“Cavity” is no word a patient wants to hear when they visit the dentist. This is why our doctors at Southern Cross Dental encourage patients to practice cavity prevention. Cavities are a form of tooth decay that leaves holes in the teeth. Though they can be filled with materials, we’d like you to keep your permanent teeth for as long as possible.

Common causes of cavities include specific food and drinks, frequent snacking, and/or periodontal disease. Foods that cling to your teeth, such as carbohydrates, become trapped between the teeth. If not washed away by proper brushing and flossing, the acids left behind can create holes that may grow larger over time. If left untreated, cavities can lead to eventual tooth loss. When teeth are missing, it becomes more costly to restore the smile.

If you have questions or concerns regarding cavities or tooth decay, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.scdsmile.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.

How Sugar Decays Teeth

Sugar in food and beverages play a large role in the development of cavities. Our doctors at Southern Cross Dental previously mentioned how sugar provides no nutrients for teeth and we’d like to elaborate on that. When plaque is left behind on teeth, bacteria within the plaque use the sugar as energy and release acid that attacks enamel. Tooth decay doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a process.

Sugar may have many names – glucose, sucrose, and fructose – but it’s all the same. Certain harmful bacteria in the mouth feed on the sugars that we eat to create acids that destroy tooth enamel. Though this process is constantly being reversed through remineralization, cavities can still develop. Limiting your sugar intake is the best thing you can do for tooth enamel to avoid tooth sensitivity and protect against decay.  

If you have questions or concerns regarding dental health, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.scdsmile.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.

Drink More Water

Most of us realize the role that water plays in our overall health, but how much of a role does it play in dental health? Sugary beverages such as soda pop, sports drinks, and energy drinks may taste good, but with every sip, they are damaging your tooth’s enamel. Our doctors at Southern Cross Dental want to encourage patients to limit their intake of sugar and reap the benefits of H20 instead.

Water contains nature’s natural cavity fighter – fluoride – which protects teeth from decay. This means that water strengthens the teeth with every sip, while sugary beverages provide no nutritional benefits what-so-ever. Water washes away cavity-causing bacteria that foods and beverages leave behind. But remember you can’t get by on drinking water alone. You should always brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss at least once a day to maintain the health of your smile.

If you have questions or concerns regarding dental health, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.scdsmile.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.

Cavity Basics

Many people think only children get cavities, but changes in your mouth as you age can make them an adult problem too. Cavities are permanently damaged areas in the hard surface of your teeth that develop into tiny openings or holes. If cavities aren’t treated they get larger and affect deeper layers of your teeth. Not all cavities cause pain, so it is important to schedule regular dental checkups at Southern Cross Dental to maintain a cavity-free smile.

Cavities, also called tooth decay, or caries, are caused by a combination of factors including bacteria in your mouth, frequent snacking, sipping sugary drinks, and failure to practice proper oral hygiene. The signs and symptoms of cavities vary, depending on their extent and location. However, your indicators may be non-existent at first. As the decay gets larger, it may cause a toothache, tooth sensitivity, mild to sharp pain when eating or drinking something sweet, hot or cold, visible holes or pits in your teeth, and/or pain when you chew. Regardless of where they occur, the best way to diagnose and treat them before they become serious is to brush and floss on a daily basis and schedule dental checkups every six months.

If you are experiencing tooth sensitivity and suspect you may have a cavity, give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn more about the services provided at the 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 our office at 719-471-1717.

What is a Cavity?

Cavities are just about as common as a cold and although they mostly occur in children, adults need to be aware of them too. It isn’t unusual for bacteria to be found in your mouth, however, when bacteria mixes with acid, food pieces and saliva in the mouth it creates a sticky substance called plaque. The acids in plaque damage the enamel covering your teeth, and create holes in the tooth called cavities. Although our doctors at Southern Cross Dental offer a wide variety of filling options for cavities, they would prefer you to avoid them altogether.

Developing cavities is a process and they just don’t appear overnight. In the early stages, tooth decay can be stopped. The best way to prevent cavities is by reducing the amount of plaque and bacteria in the mouth and the best way to do this is by brushing and flossing daily. Cavities caught in the very early stages can be reversed, however, caries that have destroyed enamel cannot. It is important to schedule a professional cleaning with our doctors every six months to reduce your risk of tooth decay.

If you are experiencing tooth sensitivity, give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn more about services provided at the practice, visit www.southerncrossfamilydentistry.com for more information. To schedule a professional dental cleaning with Dr. Navid Rahimpour DDS or Dr. Faranak Rahimpour DDS at Southern Cross Dental in Colorado Springs, CO, call our office at 719-471-1717.