What
Causes Spots on Baby Teeth?

Parents eagerly await that special moment when the first tiny pearly white comes in. Even though baby teeth are temporary, they play a significant role in a child’s development, so it’s essential to keep them healthy and sound. So what happens if you notice spots on your little one’s teeth? While you don’t want to panic, a visit to Jet Set Smiles Pediatric Dentistry will allow for prompt treatment to safeguard your child’s oral health. We are all about healthy, happy smiles!

Tooth Decay and Cavities

The first warning signs of tooth decay in children are often white spots that appear along the gumline that usually have a dry, chalky appearance. These early decay spots result from mineral loss from the enamel, a process known as demineralization. The good news is that this point the decay is still reversible. If the condition continues to progress, the white spots will eventually turn yellow or brown and may require more extensive treatments.

Once you notice white spots on your child’s teeth, schedule an appointment with Jet Set Smiles Pediatric Dentistry. We will clean off any plaque or tartar and may recommend a gentle fluoride treatment, which will help reverse the decay by strengthening the tooth enamel and making it resistant to the acid attacks that wear the teeth over time. Moreover, fluoride replaces the missing minerals restoring your child’s oral health.

Dental Fluorosis

Sometimes white spots on baby teeth can be a sign of too much fluoride, a condition known as fluorosis. Fluoride offers multiple benefits to your child’s teeth, strengthening and protecting the tooth enamel. But, just like most good things, it’s possible to get too much of it. The good news is that your child can only develop the condition while the teeth are still forming below the gum surface, and once the permanent teeth come in, the risk for fluorosis drops. Moreover, the fluorosis spots are not weak spots on your child’s teeth. In fact, they tend to be stronger than the surrounding enamel. So while they pose a cosmetic concern, they are not a problem from an oral health standpoint. A visit to your child’s pediatric dentist will help determine if your child’s fluoride intake is adequate.

Calcium Deposits

White spots on baby teeth could also result from calcification and adhesion of dental plaque to your little one’s teeth. If this is the case, we may recommend a professional cleaning to treat the affected area.

How to Prevent Future Spots on Your Child’s Teeth

Promoting healthy habits early on is the best way to avoid spots forming on your child’s baby teeth. Encourage proper brushing habits, pay attention to fluoride intake, limit the consumption of sugary treats or drinks, and make sure your child consumes a balanced diet. And don’t forget to schedule your child’s routine dental exams and cleanings to allow us to monitor your child’s oral health and treat any issues as they surface. These preventative practices will help safeguard your child’s oral health and keep dental disease at bay.

Quality Pediatric Dentistry in Phoenix, AZ

Visit Jet Set Smiles Pediatric Dentistry to learn more about keeping your child’s oral health in tip-top shape. Our highly trained and experienced team is proud to offer quality preventative and restorative services to maintain your child’s healthy smile. We are committed to providing our valued young patients with outstanding, gentle care. Call us and schedule your child’s appointment today!

How
Milk May Help Reduce Tooth Decay Caused by Sugary Foods

We all know that drinking milk is excellent for growing bones and teeth, but did you know that drinking milk after consuming sugary foods can reduce the damage sugar can do to teeth? While it’s always a good idea to limit children’s sugar intake, you can always count on milk and dairy products to help keep their teeth in tip-top shape!

How Does Sugar Cause Decay?

Sugar itself isn’t the reason kids develop tooth decay. What it does is create an environment that allows bacteria to flourish. When your child consumes sugary foods or beverages, harmful bacteria in the plaque on the teeth break down the sugars and produce acids. These acids attack the outer surfaces of the teeth called the enamel, which results in tooth decay and cavities. If left untreated, the damage can progress deeper into the tooth, all the way to the nerves, causing pain and potentially resulting in tooth loss.

How Dairy Helps Fight Decay

Drinking milk and consuming dairy products may be beneficial due to containing high levels of calcium, as well as phosphorus and proteins called caseins. When combined, these elements strengthen and form a protective film on the tooth enamel, which helps prevent decay caused by bacterial acid erosion. Calcium and phosphorus can also help reverse some of the damage already done to tooth enamel.

A study examined whether drinking water, apple juice, or milk or doing nothing after eating sugary cereal would affect the acidity of the dental plaque. Drinking milk was found to be the most beneficial in helping lower acidity, followed by water, eating cereal only, and lastly by drinking apple juice.

The American Dental Association (ADA) emphasizes that the order in which foods and milk products are consumed can also make a difference to one’s dental health. That is because drinking milk after consuming sugary foods can lower the acidic levels in the mouth. So it’s best not have milk with dessert, but to wash it down with milk when done. It is also better to consume sugary treats as part of the main meal rather than as a stand-alone snack. The reason is that the frequency of exposure of teeth to acids is just as critical as the quantity of sugar consumed.

Diet and Oral Health

It’s tough to eliminate sugary treats and beverages altogether when you have kids at home. Consider stocking up on more milk and less juice and sodas. Even chocolate milk is a healthy snack, so if kids have to have something sugary, make sure they still get oral and overall health benefits.

Oral Hygiene for Healthy Teeth

While milk and dairy products help make your kid’s teeth more resistant to decay, incorporating a proper oral hygiene routine is key to preventing dental disease. Make sure they brush at least twice a day using a fluoride toothpaste and floss daily to clean where the toothbrush can’t reach. Don’t forget to schedule dental checkups and professional cleanings twice a year.

Quality Pediatric Dental Care in Phoenix Arizona

Contact Jet Set Smiles Pediatric Dentistry to learn more about keeping your child’s teeth healthy and sound. Our exceptional, child-friendly team is committed to delivering quality, gentle care in a relaxing environment. We look forward to caring for your child’s dental needs. Call us today!