Bad. Better. Best.

What foods might do the most damage to your kids’ teeth and what might you give them instead? Today on Indy Style, Dr. Katherine Nichols DDS, MSD, Carmel Pediatric Dentistry, shares a few suggestions and substitutions.

1)            Why children’s diet plays such a large roll in dental decay  – dental decay is a multifactorial process that is “caused” by many factors including a child’s oral hygiene (or lack there of), their diet of highly fermentable carbohydrates (think fruit snacks, chocolate milk, juice, granola bars, goldfish, cracker) and genetics.  Children don’t necessarily “inherit” soft teeth or bad teeth, but their mouths can be colonized by a more virulent strain of bacteria that is more aggressive at causing cavities.  If a mother, father, or main caregiver has a significant history of dental decay than the child can be considered more at risk to get cavities. 

2)           
Establishing a dental home by Age 1 – The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry,
American Dental Association and American Academy of Pediatrics all recommend
your child see a dentist by their first birthday or within 6 months of the
eruption of their first tooth.  The main reasons for this visit are
education and prevention.  We discuss topics like bottle and sippy cup
use, pacifiers, teething, trauma prevention and fluoride recommendations. 
Getting your child to the dentist by their first birthday can reduce their
chance of getting cavities by up to 60%.  

3)            What is the difference between a pediatric dentist and a general dentist and why should I choose a pediatric dentist for my child – a pediatric dentist is a recognized specialty by the American Dental Association.  Pediatric Dentists complete an additional 2-3 years of post graduate residency training after dental school to prepare for caring for children, teens and persons with special healthcare needs.  Not only are pediatric dentists specialty trained in treating the primary “baby” teeth, they are also the most qualified to safely treat your child with sedation or anesthesia should that be necessary. 

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Website – www.carmelkidsdentist.com or www.carmelpediatricdentistry.com

SEGMENT IS SPONSORED BY CARMEL PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY