Due to the patient’s age, extent of dental decay, and/or level of anxiety during his or her visit, some of our young patients require their dental treatment to be completed while they are either fully or partially sedated using laughing gas. In the past, this kind of treatment was restricted to a hospital setting which was inconvenient and often expensive. Now, medical anesthesiologists can bring their anesthesia supplies and equipment directly to the Young Kidz Dental office providing a safe, reliable, and cost efficient service for our young patients. Nitrous oxide is a very common, effective sedative used to calm children during their dental care visits if it is perhaps their first visit or if they are nervous about an upcoming procedure; it is safe, well tolerated, non-allergic, and the patient is usually fully conscious and able to respond to questions or requests during their dental care appointment. It has a rapid onset, is reversible, and can be adjusted to various treatment concentrations.

We recommend that some of our young clients use nitrous oxide during their visit for various reasons, but no matter the issue, our anesthesiologist will individually evaluate each patient’s medical needs and determine the most appropriate type of anesthesia for your child. The anesthesiologist will also provide continuous monitoring during your child’s treatment and give all of the appropriate pre- and post-operative care for the complete treatment of your child. Prior to your child’s appointment, we advise you to inform your kids a bit about their upcoming procedure and how the laughing gas will be used to calm your child before their arrival so that they will not feel pain or discomfort during their visit.

At Young Kidz, we offer one of the best child sedation dentists in the Portland area by using a blend of nitrous oxide and oxygen delivered through a nasal mask and absorbed in the lungs. Nitrous oxide is also called “laughing gas” because it creates a sense of calm well being and happiness; it also reduces the gag reflex and gently numbs the teeth and gums so that your child can relax and not feel any pressure during their dental cleaning or dental procedure.

As pediatric dentists, we monitor the child’s facial, jaw, and tooth development from a young age; therefore, we can spot or predict developing malocclusion such as bite problems, crooked or crowded teeth and intervene to guide the teeth properly as they grow into your child’s mouth, which is why at Young Kidz Dental, we offer a variety of proactive measures to prevent possible future dental care problems. We administer space maintainers which are appliances custom fit to your child’s mouth to hold open the empty space left by a lost tooth. This will prevent the remaining teeth from tilting or drifting into the empty space causing future orthodontic problems. You also have the option to prevent minor tooth movement with removable appliances and retainers that are custom fit to quickly and comfortably move specific teeth into proper alignment. Many kids also require some sort of bite correction. Young Kids Dental recommends appliances that are temporarily cemented into your child’s mouth which expands the upper palate to correct crossbite problems.

No matter the issue, at Young Kidz Dental we offer solutions for your child’s dental care in the Portland and Clackamas areas. Whether one of our young clients needs dental hygiene for kids, kids orthodontics, laughing gas for kids, or simply a routine dentist visit, Young Kidz will work to make the dentist a positive experience for kids!We offer general and pediatric dental services from highly trained dental professionals. If you would like to find out more information about dental laughing gas for kids or types of dental procedures, our team invites you to Call us today to make an appointment for your child!

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The Tongue
We’re going inside your mouth, of course, to your tongue – this is a dental article, after all! Because whether you know it or not, like you in the wintertime, your tongue is also “all covered up” – buried beneath layers of bacteria, fungi, and food residue that can inhibit your ability to taste, let alone cause your tongue to appear various shades of yellow, white, or green! Remove the bacteria, though, and your food will once again directly interact with those taste buds, and return to its natural hue. So how does one do that? With a tongue scraper, of course!

WHAT is a tongue scraper?
A tongue scraper is a U-shaped device designed to “scrape” the top layer of scum from your tongue. They have been in use since ancient times, and have been made of everything from wood to whalebone. Nowadays, they are made of more hygienic material, and come in a variety of shapes, sizes, designs and colors.

WHY use a tongue scraper?
The residue on your tongue includes things like the cavity-inducing Streptococcus mutans bacterium, fungi, rotting food (that’s not good), and what’s referred to as “volatile sulfur compounds.” In other words, sulfur – that “rotting egg smell.” Talk about ew! So, as you can see, there are several reasons why you’d want to get rid of this gunk in your mouth. Let’s tackle them one by one:

• Reduce bad breath: ‘nuff said!
• Reduce your risk of periodontal disease and cavities: Bad bacteria contribute to plaque and tartar on teeth, making them more susceptible to cavities. Bacteria build-up can also lead to inflammation of gum tissue (gingivitis). If left untreated, gingivitis can lead to periodontal disease, which means a more expensive dental visit (plus other unwanted consequences!). Speaking of avoiding an expensive dental visit, when was the last time you came in to see us? Come see us now if it’s been awhile, by calling in at (503) 658-3384.
• Make room for good bacteria.
• Prevent heart disease? While the debate is still up in the air, some studies suggest there could be a correlation between gum disease and heart disease.

HOW does one use a tongue scraper?
In general, make sure to rinse your tongue scraper before and after use. Apply the tongue scraper to the back of your tongue and drag it forward. Then, rinse and repeat. Make sure to get the sides of your tongue as well, not just the center! Make sure not to press too hard or you can cause yourself to bleed. And, if you’re wondering if you should scrape your tongue while recovering from a dental procedure, that’s a good question … ask your dentist for the best advice particular to your situation. Still not sure how this thing really works? The next time you’re in ask Dr. Kasey for a quick tutorial!

WHERE do I buy one?
Your first choice is, believe it or not, your dentist. They may even have a sample they could provide to you at no cost. It doesn’t matter the material, color, or brand – just find the one you like and get scraping!

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With the appearance of teeth may come the recommendation from your pediatric dentist that your child also receive a fluoride treatment in Dr. Kasey’s pediatric dentist office in Clackamas, OR to help prevent tooth decay for your child. This can be done two to four times per year, and the number of treatments depends on how likely it is that your child may get a cavity which Dr. Kasey and his staff can determine after examining your child and asking you and our young patient a few questions.

There are many benefits to a fluoride varnish as a dental treatment that can help prevent tooth decay, slow it down, or stop it from getting worse. A typical treatment is made with fluoride, a mineral that can strengthen tooth enamel on the outer coating of teeth.

Keep in mind that fluoride varnish treatments cannot completely prevent cavities, but they help best to prevent decay when a child is brushing using the right amount of toothpaste with fluoride, flossing regularly, getting regular dental care, and eating a healthy diet.

Contrary to many peoples’ beliefs, when used correctly fluoride varnish is safe and is used by dentists and doctors all over the world to help prevent tooth decay in children. Fluoride is a naturally existing mineral found in water, many foods, and widely throughout nature. In fact, in the 1930s, researchers determined that people who grow up drinking fluoridated drinking water have about 66% fewer cavities than people living in areas without fluoridated drinking water. Ever since, research has recurrently proven fluoridated drinking water to reduce levels of tooth decay within communities.

Fluoride is often added to tap water supplies for drinking and to toothpaste for children and adults. In our area the tap water is not fluoridated which is likely correlated to high cases of tooth decay in children. At our pediatric office in Clackamas, OR, only a small amount is used, and hardly any fluoride is swallowed. Dr. Kasey will apply the fluoride quickly, then it will harden rapidly. The fluoride is then brushed off after four to twelve hours.

There are a few things you will want to know when considering fluoride treatment for your child. Some Brands of flouride treatment can make teeth temporarily look dull or chalky; however, the color of your child’s teeth will return to normal after the fluoride treatment is brushed off. Fluoride varnish is painted on the top and sides of each tooth with a small brush. It is sticky, but it hardens once it comes into contact with your child’s saliva. Your child may feel the hardened varnish with his/her tongue but will not be able to lick the varnish off.

Here are a few general guidelines on how to care for your child’s teeth after his/her treatment:

• Your child can eat and drink right after the varnish is applied, but you should only give your child soft foods and cold or warm (not hot) foods or liquids.
• Do not brush or floss teeth for at least 4 to 6 hours; for some children Dr. Kasey may recommend that your child not brush or floss until the next morning. Remind your child to spit when rinsing, if he knows how to spit.

There are many reasons to consider getting a fluoride treatment for your child, but the number one reason is that dental fluoride treatment is one of the most effective ways to prevent tooth decay and maintain excellent dental health in children. Fluoride treatments are both safe and effective in decreasing the prevalence of cavities in children, by 95% specifically, when combined with dental sealants. Making the tooth more impervious to acid attacks caused by sugars and plaque bacteria in the mouth, fluoride acts as a shield for the outer enamel layer of the teeth and actually has the ability to reverse early dental decay in some cases. Ask Dr. Kasey at Young Kidz Dental in Clackamas, OR about professional fluoride treatment for your child.

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What Causes Bad Breath?

There are a number of factors that could contribute to bad breath. Here are some of the most common causes:

• Poor oral hygiene. If your child doesn’t brush and floss his teeth frequently, bad breath can result. If plaque is not brushed away, it can irritate the gums, causing additional issues. The tongue can also harbor bacteria that produce foul odors and bad breath, so make sure your child is brushing his tongue as well.
• Dry mouth. Saliva helps to cleanse the mouth. When your child’s mouth is producing less saliva than normal, xerostomia may occur, which contributes to bad breath.
• Mouth breathing. When a child breathes through his mouth (due to a stuffy nose or as a sleep habit), it prevents saliva from washing away bacteria, which promotes bad breath.
• Bacteria on the Tongue. Most odor causing bacteria reside on the tongue. If you don’t brush your tongue with a Colgate^® 360 Toothbrush, odor causing bacteria will accumulate and cause bad breath.
• Infections in the mouth. Bad breath can also come about as a result of cavities, plaque buildup, mouth sores, or oral surgery.
• A foreign object. Sometimes a baby or toddler will place a foreign object (tiny toys, food particles, etc.) in his or her nose. A foreign object lodged in the nose can cause bad breath in children.
• Certain foods. If your child consumes foods that have a strong odor, like garlic, onions or specific spices, it can impact the freshness of his breath.
• Medications. Sometimes, the way medication breaks down in the body can lead to bad breath. This process releases chemicals that may result in bad breath.
• An illness or condition. If your child is suffering from allergies, a sinus infection, tonsillitis or another condition, bad breath can occur.

How to Avoid Bad Breath

Healthy teeth are integral to a child’s overall health and well being. You can help your child avoid bad breath by developing an oral care routine.

• Have your child brush twice a day with an ADA accepted fluoride toothpaste to promote fresh breath. Always remember to supervise young children so they do not swallow the toothpaste.
• When your child brushes his teeth, make sure he also cleans his tongue, as bacteria can collect and grow on the tongue.
• Floss daily in order to remove odor causing food particles from the teeth.
• Remember to get a new toothbrush every few months, because dull bristles cannot effectively remove plaque and debris from the teeth.
• Avoid halitosis and other oral health concerns by scheduling regular checkups and professional cleanings with a dentist.

Chronic Bad Breath in Children

Most of the time, your child’s bad breath will go away once you implement better oral hygiene. However, some children may experience chronic bad breath. If a dentist determines that your child’s mouth is healthy, you may be referred to a primary care physician for additional tests to diagnose the underlying cause of the halitosis.

Regardless of the cause of bad breath, teaching children how to form good dental care habits at an early age can be vital in terms of their oral health as adults.

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• Brush before breakfast. There is little time to spare on most school mornings. Sometimes kids eat their breakfast on the way to school. It’s not necessary to wait until after breakfast to brush. This will help ensure kids brush their teeth before heading off to school. “The goal is to prevent the pH of the mouth from dropping to an unsafe zone since cavities form in an acidic environment,” said Henson. “Studies show that if we brush before we eat, the mouth’s pH will not dip low enough to form cavities.”
• Don’t micromanage. Some parents tell kids to hold off brushing until after they’ve fixed their child’s hair. Allow children to brush their teeth while their hair is being done so no time is wasted and teeth are clean.
• Consider diet. School meals may contain processed and sugary foods. Parents who pack their child’s lunch should focus on sending perishable items, such as fruits and vegetables, that will provide children with healthy alternatives.
• Don’t overthink it. A little variety is nice, but there is no harm in giving kids the same lunch each day if it means it will be healthier. For example, cutting fruits and vegetables, and adding hummus and pita bread is healthy and convenient.
• Consider shelf life. Packaged foods that can sit on the shelf for a long period of time, such as crackers and pretzels, contain starch. Starch coats the teeth and can breed cavity-causing bacteria. Since kids may get these snacks at school, parents should avoid adding them to their pantry at home. Instead, opt for fresh fruits and vegetables or dried fruits like raisins.
• Choose water. Juice often contains more sugar than children should have in an entire day. This sugar can coat the teeth, promoting tooth decay. Sugar can also lead to an afternoon crash, which interferes with schoolwork. Instead of juice, give kids fruit and teach children to drink water.
• Be safe. Kids participating in organized sports should wear mouth protection. This is particularly true if they play soccer, baseball and basketball. Children should also always wear a helmet when riding bicycles or scooters. Helmets should also be worn when roller skating or rollerblading.
• Seek help. Children who fall on their face should visit the nurse and the dentist. Sometimes issues can develop slowly. A minor problem could actually affect the root of a tooth. If a permanent tooth is knocked out it must be replaced within 30 minutes. Never scrub a tooth that has fallen out, even if it looks dirty. This could kill its root.
• Don’t expect pain. Cavities in children don’t hurt until they become infected. So, some children with cavities may not complain about tooth pain.
• Be careful about braces. Dental care for those with braces is even more important. It can be tough to brush around braces and plaque can build up, leading to permanent damage. Teens often wear braces and hormonal changes that take place during adolescence can alter bacteria in the mouth.

More information

The American Dental Association has more about children’s dental health.

Copyright © 2015 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

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Causes

While the exact causes of bruxism aren’t clear, the reasons vary from kid to kid. A child may grind their teeth because of unaligned top and bottom teeth. It might be in response to tooth ache or teething, in order to alleviate the pain. Hyperactive children also develop bruxism at times, and sometimes it is developed because of a medical condition such as cerebral palsy or as a result of certain medications.

Does It Cause Harm?

Often, children don’t realize they’re grinding their teeth and parents should keep an eye out for the condition. Usually children grind their teeth during deep sleep and some cases may even be left undetected with no visible harm.

However, bruxism can have adverse effects in children if it’s not prevented, issues such as chipped teeth, wearing down of tooth enamel, facial pain and jaw problems and increase in temperature sensitivity.

What Must You Do?

Parental supervision along with dental visits can help keep bruxism under check and prevent it from developing into a damaging condition for the child. Most children grow out of it in adolescence, but if the cause is stress, it may continue and the child may develop a habit of grinding teeth under every stressful situation. Bruxism during deep sleep can be avoided with the use of a night guard. In case of stress being the issue, parents are advised to talk to the child and help them cope with troublesome situations.

Are you worried about your child’s teeth grinding? Visit us at our kids’ friendly Young Kidz dental clinic today! For more information, call us at (503) 658-3384.

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It’s no fun passing up sugary treats like cookies and candies. But when it comes to tooth decay, food choices play an important role. Some foods can harm your teeth, while others contain essential nutrients to keep them healthy and strong. To help prevent tooth decay, keep the following food choices in mind.

Calcium

Calcium is a prime ingredient for preventing tooth decay, especially for growing children. Dairy is a great source, with choices such as milk, yogurt and cheese. And calcium isn’t hiding in the fat, so skim milk and low-fat yogurt are just as good. Other options are leafy greens such as broccoli and bok choy, canned fish with bones, almonds, Brazil nuts and dried beans.

Fruit, Fiber and Veggies

Eating high-fiber foods keeps saliva flowing, which helps create mineral defenses against tooth decay. Good sources of fiber are dried fruits such as dates, raisins and figs, and fresh fruits, like bananas, apples and oranges. Other options include veggies, such as beans, Brussels sprouts and peas, along with peanuts, almonds and bran.

Whole Grains

Whole grains provide B vitamins and iron, which help keep gums healthy. Whole grains also have magnesium-an important ingredient for bones and teeth. In addition, whole grains are high in fiber. Look for foods such as bran, brown rice, and whole-grain cereals and pasta to be good sources of whole grains.

Sugar Snacks

When you get the munchies, focus on choosing healthy foods, like the ones we mentioned earlier. Try to steer clear of sweets, because sugar partners with plaque to weaken enamel, leaving you vulnerable to tooth decay. In fact, each time you eat a sugary snack, your teeth are under siege for the next 20 minutes.

The Food Pyramid

When looking to follow a healthy diet that’s good for your teeth and the rest of your body, try sticking to the food pyramid. The pyramid is structured to give you a healthy serving of all the necessary food groups you need throughout the day.

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And that’s not all. Certain factors can increase your risk for developing tooth decay. Not brushing and flossing your teeth to remove plaque is a top risk factor, but keep these others in mind:

• Specific foods and drinks. Foods that cling to your teeth are the most likely to promote tooth decay. All sugars and most cooked starchy foods are major plaque promoters, including milk, honey, raisins, hard candy, dry cereal and bread.
• Frequent snacking. Some diets suggest eating several small meals each day to help lose weight or maintain weight loss. But remember that if you snack frequently, no matter what type of food, the acid in the food has more time to damage your teeth. Here’s another tip: Brushing your teeth after eating not only removes plaque, it can also help you stick to your diet by making your mouth feel cleaner so you’ll be less likely to snack.
• Bottled water instead of tap. Many people are concerned about the quality of their local tap water, but public water supplies contain fluoride, which promotes oral health by helping to protect tooth enamel from plaque buildup. Check the labels on your bottled water—some have added fluoride. And if you have children, check with your dentist about the correct amount of fluoride that they should get to help control plaque and promote oral health.
• Receding gums. If your gums are receding, plaque can form near the roots of the teeth, which are not protected by tooth enamel and are more vulnerable to decay.

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Look for toothpaste with fluoride that’s child-friendly, with flavors and colors that appeal to kids, such as Kid’s Crest. There are toothpaste choices more appropriate to adult needs as well, so many families find themselves using more than one type of toothpaste.

Knowing how to brush your teeth is just as important as the type of toothpaste you choose. Teach children the proper technique early to help encourage them to develop good oral health habits. Explaining how to brush your teeth doesn’t have to be complicated. Start with these simple steps to get kids off to a good start.

• Hold your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle against the gums.
• Move the brush back and forth gently, in short strokes, over the fronts, backs, and tops of your teeth. Don’t scrub hard along the gum line; you can irritate your gums.
• Don’t forget to brush (and floss) behind your top front teeth and behind the bottom front teeth. (The area behind the bottom front teeth is prone to tartar buildup and needs attention.) Use the top bristles of the brush to reach this area—some toothbrushes have a slightly longer tip to make it easier to reach these spots.

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To help prevent the buildup of plaque bacteria that can lead to decay, pediatric dentists and pediatricians highly recommend regularly cleaning your newborn’s gums with a damp washcloth following feedings. In addition, take measures to prevent baby bottle tooth decay, a disease that occurs in 15 percent of children and causes severe, swift decay of baby teeth. To help prevent it, do not put your baby to bed with a bottle of formula or a sugary drink, such as juice. The possibility of tooth decay is directly related to the number of times that sweet things are in contact with the teeth (formula contains some sugar).

Brushing Baby Teeth

Around four months, a child usually begins to teethe. When the first tooth comes in, it’s time to start brushing and also set up a dentist appointment. Cavities, gingivitis and tooth decay are common problems associated with your child’s growing teeth. Brush their teeth for two minutes, twice a day to help prevent decay and to help get your baby used to the recommended brushing time.

Do Babies Need Special Products?

Just as developing children require special attention, so do their teeth. Use a toothbrush with extra-soft bristles   until your child turns two to three, when it’s safe to switch to toothpaste with fluoride under your close supervision. When it comes to your baby, if you want to start training for using toothpaste in the future look for a cleanser that’s safe to swallow, fluoride-free and doesn’t contain artificial colors or preservatives.

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