Fun and Effective Brushing with Sonicare For Kids

Sonicare For Kids is Philips Electronics’ answer to consumers’ growing demand for kid-friendly and effective electric toothbrushes. Being included in the Sonicare line of power toothbrushes, you can expect the same technology that Philips used to impressed both dental professionals and ordinary users. Beyond that, your kids will thank you for the exciting brushing experience brought about by using Sonicare For Kids.

Before you purchase a Sonicare toothbrush, though, it is reasonable to understand first why you should pick it over tons of toothbrushes available in the market.

How Sonicare Works

Manual and electric toothbrushes work using the same principle – dental plaque is removed through the bristles’ scrubbing action against the user’s teeth surface. However, Sonicare gets ahead of the competition by providing a second level of cleaning. This is made possible by its intense vibratory motion that renders energy to the teeth’s surrounding fluids such as saliva. The fluids, agitated by Sonicare’s powerful motion, can dislodge plaques even on areas not touched by the bristles.

Sonicare toothbrushes stand out among the rest because of its ability to create about 30,000 to 40,000 brush strokes in a minute. Typical electric toothbrushes pale in comparison as most brands and models do not even reach 10,000 strokes per minute. Such exceptional speed makes Sonicare a brand impossible to beat.

Features of Sonicare For Kids

Children who are four years old and above can use Sonicare For Kids. The package comes with two toothbrush heads. One is for younger kids aged 4-6 while the other is for older ones aged 7 and up. The unit also has two power modes; choose low mode for kids who use the smaller toothbrush head and the high mode for those using the bigger one.

The toothbrush has a built-in timer to encourage children to brush for a suggested time of two minutes. The timer slowly increases to two minutes over a span of ninety days. There is also a chime that signals the user that it’s time to move the toothbrush to another area inside the mouth. A longer chime plays when the user reaches the last section then the toothbrush turns off automatically. These sounds will definitely make brushing more interesting and fun.

And whether you are going to assist your kids during brushing or they are going to do it on their own, Sonicare For Kids’ handle is designed with various gripping locations to make independent or shared brushing a breeze.

Value for Money

Although Sonicare For Kids is more expensive than most toothbrushes out there, manual and electric alike, it can be more economical in the long run. After all, regular and effective brushing can remove plaque that can cause tooth decay. And healthy teeth and gums, of course, equate to less dental expenses. Many parents would even agree that if their kids would be encouraged to brush their teeth regularly, then the product is well worth it.

Sonicare For Kids assist parents and kids in making a successful transition from assisted brushing to independent brushing. Kids who use Sonicare are reportedly more excited during brushing time. Although some kids may find the vibrating motion uncomfortable at first, they will get used to it in time.

Understanding TMJ (Tempomandibular Joint) Disorder in Children

Jaw tightness or soreness can be uncomfortable and painful. If your child complains about this but the symptoms and pains do not last for more than a couple of days, there is usually no need to worry. However, when the condition seems to get worse or the pain continues, you should immediately bring your child to a pediatric dentist to determine if this might be a TMJ disorder.

TMJ and TMJ Disorder

The temporomandibular joint or TMJ is the joint responsible for connecting our lower jaw to the skull. To locate it, touch the part of your face directly in front of your ears and then open your mouth. The movement you can feel is caused by your TM joints. Obviously, this joint is very important when eating or speaking.

Medical problems related to the TMJ are referred to as TMJ disorders or TMD (temporomandibular disorders). These can present as neck, jaw, head, or facial pain and biting or chewing problems. Others may experience locked jaw or popping sound when mouth is opened or closed.

The Likely Patients

TMD is rare in children, however many children and adolescence might have popping, clicking or occasional locking of the joint. Consistent symptoms of pain, soreness or jaw locking however, should be addressed promptly. Many factors can contribute to this condition and most of the time it is difficult to pinpoint what caused this exactly. But if we are going to take a look at the profiles of TMJ disorder patients, it seems that children who have existing dental bite problems as well as those who are teeth grinding or jaw clenching are more likely to develop this condition.

Those with muscle and joint problems and those who have a history of trauma concerning the face or jaw are highly susceptible too. TMJ disorders can happen to kids regardless of age. However, teenagers are reportedly more susceptible to this condition. And although it can affect both girls and boys, more cases concern girls.

When to Seek Help

TMJ disorder needs to be treated and patients can benefit greatly from early diagnosis and effective treatment. Aside from asking a series of questions and visual examination, the dentist may also conduct an imaging test to verify if it is indeed a TMJ disorder. These tests can be in the form of X-ray, CT scan or MRI.

Minor TMJ disorders can be treated by simply letting the jaw rest for a couple of days. Help your little ones by giving them soft food and applying heat or ice packs to the affected area. Chewing gum or biting on hard foods or candy can aggravate the condition. Simple equilibration of the bite can ease the discomfort as well. Your dentist may also prescribe some medicines to relax the muscles or ease the pain. If there is a problem in the bite or your child is teeth grinding, your dentist will recommend dental works or devices to correct these conditions.

For emergency cases though, such as a jaw locked open or locked shut, take your child to an oral surgeon or a hospital’s emergency room right away. When the jaw is locked, sedation may be necessary to manipulate the jaw for it to be opened or closed. Most often, surgery is not required for TMJ disorders except in cases when all other treatments had been ineffective. Your pediatric dentist will guide you through a series of non-invasive treatments first and refer to a dentist specializing in jaw problems if necessary.

Dental Sealants: A Strong Player in the Fight against Tooth Decay

As soon as the first tooth erupts, cavities instantly become children’s dental archenemy making regular brushing extremely necessary. However, many kids and even adolescents can be very reluctant in brushing their teeth. Even with their parent’s constant prodding and guidance, it can be difficult to make them grab their toothbrushes.

Aside from this common weakness of children, it is challenging to get rid of cavity-causing bacteria through brushing alone. Teeth, specifically the molars, have tiny grooves where plaque likes to accumulate and decay usually begins and these are not often reached by bristles of a toothbrush. In addition permanent molars are hard to reach in the back of the mouth and often erupt not fully calcified and prone to dental cavities. This is the reason why many dental professionals recommend application of plastic coatings called dental sealants.

Dental sealants are placed on the back teeth’s chewing surfaces, creating a physical barrier that prevents food and other particles from being trapped. It is a very effective method in stopping cavity growth. It can also halt tooth decay even when it has already begun by cutting bacterial source of “food”, thus significantly reducing untreated cavities and the risks that come with it.

Aside from being effective, dental sealants are safe and affordable too! Insurance companies understand their impressive protection and cover them in large percentage. The cost of 4 sealants is close to the cost of one filling not to mention anguish children must go through to have a filling done or more serious dental treatments such as root canals or crowns that can be effects of untreated decay. If you want your kids to take advantage of this dental innovation, take your child to a pediatric dentist and discuss sealants with him or her.

The pediatric dentist will examine your child’s teeth and report to you if dental sealants are appropriate for your child’s age and condition. Note that not all children actually need these. To give you an idea, kids six years of age are the best candidates for this treatment because it is the age when the first permanent molars appear and are most vulnerable. Baby teeth can also be treated by sealants if your child has high risk for dental decay and deep groves, but most of the time these are not routinely recommended.

When sealants are placed soon after permanent six year molars erupt and with proper fluoride use, your child stand better chances of preventing tooth from getting decay. Keep in mind that even with dental sealants applied, you still need to get your regular dental checkups and fluoride treatments. Fluoride is a partner in fighting dental decay but it is more intended for protection of the teeth’s smooth surfaces.

At age 12, second permanent molars appear so it is important to bring your tweens to dentists for another application of dental sealants. The second permanent molars are usually the last teeth set sealed. In between these two crucial times many permanent teeth erupt closer to front of the mouth (premolars). These are smaller than molars and are at lower risk for decay due to their positioning in the mouth and smaller biting surface. However, most dentists will discuss sealants on those with parents and patients depending on child’s risk for decay and parental financial comfort.

The important thing is to get examined by a competent dentist first. Sealants application is non invasive (almost like placing nail polish on nails), but it is very technique sensitive. The tooth must be kept dried for application to be successful. Hence, the tooth’s chewing surface should be erupted and the patient should be at an age where he or she can provide an adequate degree of cooperation. Dental sealants can be applied by either a dentist or a dental hygienist and in some cases dental assistants also have a separate license for sealant application.

Dental sealants are often intact for years if applied correctly and with use of good dental materials. Dislodged sealants are usually due to poor technique, the patient’s uncooperativeness during the procedure so the dentist wasn’t able to dry the tooth properly or due to diet that can chip parts of the sealant. Parents and child must be educated on sealant care after the procedure. Regular dental check-up will include sealant upkeep and maintenance.

Sedation Options for Kids

Children often have a hard time to cooperate with dental treatments. If you think about it, it is a lot to ask of a little one! This is one reason why parents prefer to bring their tots to pediatric dentists instead of general dentists. But sometimes, due to their very young age or perhaps a condition such as mental or physical disability, even the best pediatric dentist can’t enlist the cooperation of their patient. In such instances, sedation may be necessary.

Pediatric dental sedation should not be feared or frowned upon if your child has a trustworthy and highly experienced pediatric dentist by his or her side. There are various medication used by different dentists and our office uses either inhalation (N20), oral (Demerol and Phenergan or Valium), or IV sedation.

Depending on the type of sedation chosen, the procedure to be performed, and the condition of the patient, an anesthesiologist or a medical team may be present to assist the dentist. Also, the procedure may take place in the dental office or in a hospital if further medical care or equipment is necessary.

To guide you, below are some of the most common sedation treatments:

1. Inhalation – A gas called Nitrous Oxide is breathed by means of a tiny rubber inhaler. You will feel more relaxed. The effect is mild, though, so it is best for patients with little anxiety and for those who will undergo simple dental procedures. Nitrous oxide does not bind blood however, so it is out of patient’s system as soon as it turned off and the patient can resume their daily routine.
2. Oral Conscious Sedation– The combination of Demerol and Phenergan or Valium are two regiments used in our office. The patient will feel sleepy and relaxed. He or she will be awake throughout the session and still be able to respond to the dentist. These are taken an hour before the procedure in our office and effects last for about 8 hours.
3. Intravenous or IV Sedation – In this treatment, an anti-anxiety drug is dispensed into the blood system by the anesthesiologist. The patient is now in moderate to deep sedation and does not feel or remember the procedure. This sedation can be done in the dental office.
4. General Hospital Anesthesia – Similar to IV sedation but done in a hospital setting by a team of anesthesiologists and hospital staff. This is usually utilized for children with medical conditions that need to be monitored by a hospital system such as heart disease or bleeding disorders.

Your child’s dentist must be able to explain to you why sedation is needed and why a particular sedation type is appropriate for your child. On the other hand, you should inform the dentist of your concerns whether it is your child’s safety and comfort or your financial capacity.

Although the method to be used is primarily determined by the dentist after a thorough examination of the patient, it is good to know that various options exist. After all, there’s no particular treatment that is appropriate for all children at all instances. Parents are a crucial part in determining their child’s ability to withstand dental treatment and should engage in active discussion with the dentist to determine the right choice. Child’s age, level of anxiety, health history, and amount of dental treatment should all be discussed and considered before scheduling the final appointment.

How to Treat Herpetic Gingivostomatitis in Kids

Herpetic gingivostomatitis, precursor to cold sores, is caused by the virus HSV1 (herpes simplex virus type 1) which can infect mouth and lips and is characterized by painful vesicle like sores which can make swallowing, eating and drinking difficult. This herpes virus is NOT the same as the one causing sexually transmitted disease although it is in the same family of viruses. Oral HSV1 can commonly affect toddlers and young children and is transmitted through saliva, often from a person with existing cold sores. Your children can get it from sharing utensils, putting toys or things in the mouth and thumb sucking, to name a few. Usually the sores clear up within two weeks.

Symptoms include fever (often occurring few days before oral lesions), small vesicles on lips, tongue, cheeks and other areas inside the mouth, swollen, bleeding and very red gums, headache, and tiredness, loss of appetite, sore throat and bad breath. It can easily be diagnosed by your healthcare professional by swabbing cotton over the sores to test for HSV. Determining what virus caused the sores is important for the healthcare professional to recommend proper treatment.

The sores are usually red around the edges and appear yellowish or grayish in the middle. They start as multiple small fluid filled vesicles. The fever can last for a few days while the sores can be painful for up to ten days. The virus that caused the herpetic gingivostomatitis will stay in the system even after the sores have completely healed. When they recur on the lips, they are called cold sores.

For children with fever and pain, acetaminophen or ibuprofen can be given. Although you can get these pain medicines without a doctor’s prescription, it is still recommended that you consult a professional regarding the dosage. Antibiotics cannot affect viruses so it is useless to administer them to the patient. An antiviral medicine is effective in fighting infection and helps hasten the healing process, but only if given at the very early outbreak period. Numbing medicine may also be given to your child to lessen the pain and make eating and drinking easier. If your child is not old enough to swish the numbing medicine in his mouth and then spit it out, you as a parent can swab the sores with the medicine instead.

Because these lesions are very painful, children do not want to eat or drink and the greatest fear of medical professionals is dehydration. Parents must concentrate on making sure that the child drinks plenty of liquids. If any signs or symptoms of dehydration occur such as unusual sleepiness, lethargy or persistent fever, contact the pediatrician. Instruct your child not to put his or her hands in mouth or rub eyes when sores are present to keep the virus from spreading to other body parts. Wash your child’s hands with soap and hot water often.

Clean your child’s mouth by gently brushing his or her teeth. Don’t give the child salty, acidic or spicy food as these will just aggravate the pain. Make sure that your child also gets enough rest and plenty of sleep and call Smiles For Kids if you have any questions or concerns.

Dental Trauma in Children

Dental trauma is common in children and adolescents because this is the time when kids learn to walk, run, and are most active in sports. When a child has avulsed (completely extracted due to trauma) teeth, parents and teachers must know what to do, not only to save permanent teeth but also to avoid the kids from getting traumatized by the situation and its consequences.

Avulsion of primary (also called baby teeth) and permanent teeth is approached differently. Front primary teeth are expected to come out around the age of six or seven to give way to permanent ones but it does not mean that there is no need to care for them.

It is not recommended to reimplant (or put back in the socket) avulsed or “knocked out” baby tooth because it can affect the natural growth of the permanent teeth or the surrounding tissues. Ankylosis, or unnatural adherence of reimplanted tooth to the bone, may also occur if you try to reimplant the baby teeth.

If primary teeth are avulsed, first step is full assessment of the child by an adult, containing any possible bleeding and calming the injured patient. Even if you believe that no other injury was sustained, it is important to take the child to the pediatric dentist so the effect of the accident can be assessed properly. The injury may have affected other teeth, gums or bone. The child may be experiencing pain and appropriate radiographs and medications might be needed. You might also want to discuss possible temporary replacement for esthetic purposes. Although this “temporary pediatric denture” is not clinically necessary, some parents chose to have one made in order to prevent any possible social implications of the injury.

Avulsion of permanent teeth, on the other hand, must be considered a serious dental emergency and we take it very seriously at Smiles For Kids. Reimplantation is an immediate concern. When this happens to your child, call the dentist at once to receive instructions. If your dentist cannot be immediately reached, you can do the first aid yourself.

First thing that you should do is to calm the injured child. Then look for the tooth and pick it up by the crown, do not touch the root. If dirty, wash the tooth under cold running water for ten seconds; again, make sure that you protect the root. Reposition the tooth in the mouth, cover it with clean gauze or handkerchief and instruct the child to bite it to hold it in place. If the child cannot do this, you can place the tooth in a glass of saline solution or a glass of milk or better yet in a container with saliva. Don’t store the tooth in water.

When you have secured the permanent tooth, go to the dentist at once. The dentist will then assess the injury and reimplant the tooth immediately. The tooth will be secured by a “splint” or temporary braces and the patient will be instructed to avoid participating in contact sports, go on a soft diet for at least two weeks, use a soft toothbrush after every meal and rinse the mouth with chlorhexidine twice a day for one week. The patient is also required for follow-up treatments depending on the diagnosis of the dentist. Dr. Lindhorst will also send the patient to an endodontist or root canal specialist as avulsed teeth will most likely need a future root canal for survival.

Aphthous Ulcers

Aphthous ulcers, also known as aphthous stomatitis or canker sores, are lesions that develop in the mouth or at the base of the gums. They are not contagious as they are neither bacterial nor viral, but can make it difficult to talk, eat and drink. They occur in both kids and adults. They last a week or two and usually heal within that period without treatment.

When apthous ulcers occur in kids, the approach must be aggressive because they can impede food and fluid intake resulting to dehydration. Since they can be painful, kids with recurrent aphthous ulcers must be monitored by parents and professionals.

There are three categories of aphthous ulcer. Minor aphthous ulcers are most common. They are small, oval shaped, about one to ten millimeters in diameter and last from seven to ten days. Usually they heal without leaving scars. Major aphthous ulcers (also known as Sutton disease) may be uncommon but they are larger, deeper and have irregular edges, usually more than ten millimeters in diameter. It may last anywhere from ten to 30 days and may leave scars. Herpetiform aphthous ulcers have irregular edges, about one to three mm in diameter and appear in multiple, clustered form. The lesions take about seven to ten days to heal and leave no scars.

Aphthous ulcers can be triggered by several factors like emotional stress, cheek bite, improper brushing, dental work, spicy or acidic food, lack of iron, vitamin B-12, folic acid or zinc, hormonal shifts, allergies and food sensitivities, and braces to name a few. Knowing what caused the sores can help in preventing them. Since they occur in the mouth, consult a dentist especially when it involves kids. Recurring and severe canker sores may be caused by underlying systemic diseases as well. Whatever the diagnosis, Dr. Lindhorst can determine the next steps or medication to take.

Since these ulcers are neither viral nor bacterial, but rather caused by an “overactive immune response” the purpose of medical therapy is relieving pain, maintaining nutrition and fluid intake, early resolution and preventing recurrence. There are many recommended treatments for aphthous ulcers. Although minor canker sores can clear out without treatment, patients can still benefit from topical treatments such as mouth rinses with either numbing or steroid solutions, ointments and pastes to relieve inflammation and pain. Using bland toothpastes without strong minty or other flavoring can help as well. Monitoring possible causes such as consumption of acidic foods (orange or tomato products for example) can help prevent outbreaks. Making sure that wires from braces are cut short and comfortable and avoiding putting any sharp objects that could cause injury that result in ulcer formation is also important for kids.

Cautery is another option. Using the topical solution, Debacterol, the sores are cauterized to lessen the healing period. Silver nitrate is also sometimes used during cautery procedure to relieve pain but is not known to speed up the healing process.

Supplements like folate, zinc and vitamins B-6 and B-12 may also be prescribed to prevent recurrence. These treatments may be prescribed and can be effective for short-term goals. The source of the problem must be treated first to get satisfactory long-term effects.

Amalgams Vs Composites: Which is The Better Choice?

Dental care today has many choices of materials and techniques. These choices need to be considered and thoroughly discussed with the dentist before deciding on the one most appropriate for your child. One of the most common procedures done is a “filling”. A cavity full of dental decay is first cleaned out and then filled with certain materials to prolong the lifespan of the natural tooth and also to prevent it from further deterioration. Filling is also used for chipped, worn, broken and cracked teeth.

Since you have a good chance to deal with it at least once within your lifetime, choosing the best filling material is crucial not only for aesthetic concerns but more importantly for dental health considerations. There are two popular materials used for dental fillings: amalgam and composite. Both have its pros and cons, but you need to ask as many questions as you can before choosing what suits your situation best.

Amalgam is made up of silver, zinc, copper, tin and mercury. This material is durable for it can last for about ten to fifteen years. It is also strong and more affordable than its composite resin counterpart. Most insurance companies still consider it the only material they have coverage for and will “downgrade” pay for composites to that of amalgam. However, aesthetically speaking, it is not so pleasant-looking since it is not tooth-colored. Since it only adheres to the tooth through mechanical forces large and precise preparations must be cut in the tooth. Amalgam also has the tendency to expand and contract more which in the long run can weaken the teeth and create fractures and cracks. However, the most concerning part for many is the fact that mercury has been known to cause overall health issues. Many dentists including us at Smiles For Kids, have moved away from using this material in order to minimize possible mercury contamination.

The composite filling is more popular than amalgam because it comes in a variety of shades that can match natural tooth color so aesthetically speaking this is preferred by many patients. This material is popularly used on front teeth. It bonds to the natural tooth chemically providing support in the process. It therefore strengthens the teeth. Filling is usually used for decayed teeth but since composite material is versatile, it also used for worn, cracked or chipped teeth. Less tooth structure is removed in order to accommodate it.

Much research is done constantly on improving composite materials and their bonding to teeth so today’s composite fillings last as long as amalgams. Applying composite fillings also need a good dentist as it is technique sensitive and takes a longer time at the chair than amalgam.

Dr. Lindhorst believes that for our little patients composite filling is the better choice because it supports the natural tooth structure and in the process makes it stronger, can be used in front and back teeth not just to fill decayed structure but also to repair minor damages and looks like the real tooth without compromising overall health of the children with leakage of mercury.