My daughter is 4 years old and been doing teeth cleaning and check up regularly since she was one year old. She is not afraid of the dentist. Unfortunately we were not able to visit the dentist for half a year and she developed 2 big cavities on her upper back teeth that needs to be treated. She is happy going to the dentist and will sit on the dental chair on her own. She will open her mouth but wont let anything put inside it. The dentist tried to convince her for about 30 minutes- no crying , she enjoyed sitting on the dental chair, she told the dentist that she will have her teeth treated when she turned 5 yrs old- the dentist gave up and told me to make another appointment .

We tried to convince her that the procedure does not hurt, the dentist will just brush out the bad cavity. Her sister- 5 yrs old- who went the same treatment even testified that the water used for gargling is grape flavor and it doesnt hurt.
And I bribed her that if she will let the dentist treat her teeth- I would buy her a bike. I am thinking of holding a fake birthday party so she will be 5- then we can have her teeth treated. For the last few days , I have been talking about this teeth treatment in preparation for the next dental appointment , and she said she does not want to hear anything about it anymore. I fear that she might develop fear of the dentist so I stopped. We have the next dental appointment tomorrow. Any suggestion please?

Dental decay is the most common form of disease known to mankind. It is a known fact that any food that contains carbohydrates, when left in contact with teeth for a prolonged period of time, can cause cavities. The normal micro organisms present in the mouth produce acid through fermentation of the carbohydrate. Unfortunately, we see this happen often. As a practicing dentist, I routinely advise my patients to maintain a healthy diet to prevent such problems.

It is important to remember that altering the diet alone cannot guarantee good oral health. But diet does make a difference when it comes to oral health.

The Dos and Don’ts

Food that contains too much sugar, like candy, leads to acid formation. That, in turn, causes cavities. Repeated exposure to such food can be just as bad as prolonged exposure. Sticky food, chips and taffy, can stay stuck to the teeth and be equally bad. The need for brushing teeth after every meal cannot be emphasized enough. Have children brush their teeth right away after they have candy. Flossing on a daily basis provides extra protection for the hard-to-reach surfaces.

Frequent snacking between meals should be avoided. Diets that contain too much acid can cause damage to the tooth structure. Even healthy foods, like milk and orange juice, contain a lot of acid. Soda or any other carbonated drink can be caustic. Also, when combined with the water in the saliva, these carbonated drinks produce carbonic acid. Both forms can cause chemical erosion and a breach in the enamel layer of teeth.

How to Combat Acid

Don’t let any of the acidic food to stay in your mouth for long. Rinse out your mouth immediately. Drink plenty of water throughout the day to neutralize any acid that might be produced in the mouth. Remember, there is no significant difference between the harmful effects of regular soda and diet soda. The difference between the two is only in the amount of calories and not in the degree of damage to the teeth.

Hard food

If you chew a lot of hard foods, like pretzels or ice, you may develop symptoms consistent with teeth grinding. Chewing too hard may also crack the teeth.Fillings and other restorations can become loose because of the constant flexure of the tooth structure. Eat hard food in moderation.

Avoid Extreme Temperatures

Extremely hot or cold food should be avoided. Both metal and resin fillings expand and contract with extreme changes in temperature. As a result the teeth may crack and the fillings may leak.

Do not eat ice cream and then rinse out your mouth with hot water. Even water at room temperature might not be ideal in this situation. Use cold water to rinse out your mouth and allow the teeth to shift to the body temperature gradually. Sudden changes in the temperature produce minute fracture lines in the teeth. Similarly, do not rinse out your mouth with cold water after drinking a cup of hot tea or coffee. Use warm water to do so.

During Pregnancy

A mother’s intake of calcium is crucial to ensure strong bones and teeth in the fetus.

During Childhood

It is necessary to have adequate amounts of calcium in children’s diet. However, a parent’s responsibility does not end there. In terms of improving dental health, a comprehensive approach has to be taken. On top of ensuring good oral hygiene and adequate diet, children have to be encouraged to brush their teeth after every meal.

Changing the Outlook

I would like to mention that we should not be focused on dental health as an isolated entity. We should start thinking about how dietary habits can affect oral health and most importantly, overall health. Some behaviors that are bad for the body also negatively affect oral health. Drinking too much alcohol can lead to oral cancer and liver failure. Smoking can lead to periodontal disease, oral cancer and lung cancer. Eating too much junk food not only increases the risk of cavities, there is likelihood of obesity, diabetes and cardiac problems. Untreated eating disorders can lead to dental problems like chemical erosion of teeth. Skipping meals also result in increased acidity, and therefore, chemical erosion of teeth and Halitosis.

If you have ever experienced toothache, you’ll know how great its impact is on your functionality for the day. The affected area may be small but the pain felt in that specific part of your mouth renders you incapable of finishing whatever task is at hand. Here are the top 5 causes of tooth decay that might just be why you’re suffering now.

“ Poor dental care

“ Sugar and Starch diet

“ Fluoride deficiency

“ Smoking

“ Drinking alcohol

Dental health or dental care

Simply refers to good hygiene, which points to brushing the teeth regularly and flossing. It is recommended to do these twice a day, in the morning and before bedtime. Although, it would be best to brush after every meal or whenever you eat sweets - but that is not very practical.

Tooth decay occurs when the bacteria in the mouth produce the lactic acids that cause damage on the enamel part of the teeth. This acid drills through thus, causing the holes or cavities in the teeth.

Brushing the teeth regularly will help control the plaque that builds up around the teeth. This plaque can be considered as the breeding ground for bacteria, and a storage facility for more concentrated acids that can stay for hours. Lesser plaque means fewer bacteria that produce the acids, so lesser chances of tooth decay.

These dental activities can help maintain the cleanliness of the mouth and control the growth of bacteria on the surface, between the teeth, and on the gums. However, it is also best to visit the dentist regularly so he can scrape off the plaques that cannot be removed by simple brushing.

Poor diet that is full of starch and sugar

The bacteria inside the mouth have a fanfare and feast whenever the host eats or drinks sweets. As the host feeds, so do the bacteria in his mouth. After around 20 minutes, the bacteria will transform the sugar into waste in the form of lactic acid. Starch is of similar appeal to them since starch, when broken down inside the mouth becomes sugar too.

Deficiency of fluoride for added protection

Fluoride is a substance that really helps fight and prevent tooth decay. It strengthens the enamel on the teeth and makes them stronger against the acids. The water we drink should have fluoride, as wells as the toothpaste we use. There are other ways to obtain fluoride so ask your dentist about them.

Cigarette smoking is dangerous to health, dangerous to teeth

Everyone is well aware of the danger in smoking cigarettes. Aside from the really big health issues that surround smoking, this careless habit can also cause tooth decay. The smokeless or spit tobacco is more potent. If you also are regularly exposed to second-hand smoke then you are prone to cavities.

Drinking alcohol could also cause dental caries

Dental caries is another name for cavities, which is the result tooth decay. Drinking alcoholic beverage, like smoking, are two habits people should start to take out of their systems are they are both really not good for the body.