All parents have a parental duty of care to their children, and quite rightly so says a W1 London dentist. Starting off early in life is a good basis for getting our children into a healthy regime of oral care. Dental diseases can start in children very young, and so it is important that they realise the importance of having good teeth and healthy gums. We teach our children so many things about life to prepare them, first for school, then their teen years, then adulthood, mainly we will be teaching them to not make the same mistakes as we did. However, some lessons need to be passed on as not all of our life’s experiences are bad ones. Teaching our children simple routines like how to brush our teeth properly, flossing and getting into the habit of having a conscious mind about oral hygiene, will go a long way to living up to our parental duties says a dentist with a practice in W1 London. Gum disease is a major problem in the U.K. and one of the causes is a lack of parental control in dental care that is of course on top of a bad diet which includes too much sugar, salt and saturated fats. Once gum disease takes a hold the teeth begin to suffer, and a circle of deterioration is hard to stop, all it really needs is for good parental control in the early learning years. The expression `A stitch in time saves nine` is not heard so much these days, but it is a very true one. Children are quick learners, but you have to bring some fun into it if you are going to get a result. Making the cleaning of our teeth a family affair will instil in our young ones a happy medium that they will associate with all through their lives, and healthy teeth and gums is a result of all the effort.
Category “Dentistry For Children”
Dental care parental control by a dentist in W1 London
April 17th, 2010Posted in Dentistry For Children | No Comments »
Look after your child’s teeth with help from City of London dentist
March 8th, 2010
As a parent, looking after your child’s teeth is very important. Teeth can be very fragile in the developing years so it is crucial you give your child the best start for a life of healthy teeth. Developing good strong teeth and good oral hygiene habits early on can be fundamental to a life of avoiding unpleasant dental treatment.
City of London dentist have several key rules for parents to follow to best help their child develop healthy teeth. Firstly, it is vital to teach your children good habits early on. Start by helping your child to clean their teeth or do it for them if they are too young. Once they are old enough to start cleaning by themselves, make sure they are doing it thoroughly but avoid being pushy or making it seem like a chore. If your child is reluctant, turn it into a game or reward them for doing it well. It is also important to teach your child the importance of flossing, as this too is crucial to oral hygiene in their future.
Make sure your child is eating as healthily as possible as this can have an impact on how healthy their teeth are and eating the right kind of food can protect their teeth from decay and disease. Avoid giving them food or drink that is high in sugar and try to encourage them to eat fruit and vegetables as often as possible and drink water.
Perhaps most importantly, however, is the need to take your child to the dentist regularly. City of London dentists recommend that children visit the dentist at east every six-months depending on their teeth. This can help to prevent any infection and ensure that child’s teeth are developing correctly. Dentists will also be able to give parents advice about how best to look after children’s teeth.
Invisible braces for teens with Invisalign Teen from West London dentist
December 15th, 2009
Being a teenager isn’t easy at the best of times but being told you have to wear braces to straighten your teeth can be an added burden in the most emotionally unstable of developing years. Metal braces can make you stand out from the crowd and cause a loss of self-confidence and esteem at a time when you need it most. This was the thinking behind the development of Invisalign Teen invisible braces, by orthodontists who specialise in teenage patients.
Invisalign braces are made from one millimetre thick clear plastic that is virtually impossible to see unless standing very close to the patient. This completely reduces the visual impact of conventional braces minimising the impact on the life of the patient. This is also achieved in other ways, as the retainers are completely removable meaning they can be taken out for eating and social activities. Each retainer is worn for a period of two weeks before it is replaced with another computer-designed and manufactured brace. Each retainer makes small adjustment to gradually move teeth into the desired position providing beautiful straight teeth.
The limited impact means that teenagers are more inclined to wear the braces than they are other removable straighteners. Invisalign Teen braces also come with special tabs that indicate how long the brace has been worn for, so parents can check if their child has been wearing the brace for the correct amount of time. This and other innovations such as allowing for the development of further molars make the Invisalign Teen brace the brace of choice for parents and teenagers alike. West London dentists are using the Invisalign system to produce discreet straightening to achieve perfect life-long smiles.
Metal free braces with Invisalign Teen form City of London dentist
October 21st, 2009
For teenagers who need braces and aren’t thrilled by the prospect of wearing an unseemly and uncomfortable metal brace for the best part of two years, the newest Invisalign product Invisalign Teen might just bring the smile back to their face. Just like the clinically proven Invisalign adult range, the Teen range is a series of clear plastic retainers, each worn for a two or three-week period that gradually straightens teeth.
Invisalign Teen is specifically designed to help teenagers maintain their self-esteem and self-confidence during their emotionally turbulent developing years. After all, no one wants to stand out from the crowd as a teenager. Invisalign Teen is also able to fit around the lifestyle of a teenager, unlike a conventional metal brace that may cause them to make certain sacrifices.
Invisalign Teen has been designed in conjunction with orthodontists who understand both the teenagers’ orthodontic and general social situation. Combining all the straightening power of the adult Invisalign range the Teen also has Blue Dot Wear Indicators that fade when it is time to change the retainer. They are also made with eruption tabs to accommodate the growth of molars and other common clinical needs during this time.
Invisalign braces are made using the very latest in 3D imaging and digital x-ray technology. Dentists can now create complete three-dimensional images of teeth on the computer without the need for uncomfortable dental moulds. The one millimetre thick clear retainers are manufactured with aid of computer technology and are incredibly accurate. They need to be worn between 20 and 22 hours a day and should only be removed when eating, playing sports, brushing teeth or on social occasions. Each aligner will need to be changed roughly every two weeks, but this depends on the patient.
Invisalign treatments enable teens to maintain their lifestyle and social activities without any loss of confidence. The stigma of traditional braces does not apply to Invisalign Teen as they are barely noticeable unless up very close to the patient’s teeth. Because Invisalign retainers are easy to remove, there is no loss of dental hygiene that can happen with difficult-to-clean metal braces. Broken retainers are also far more easily replaced than broken metal brackets and teens can even be given spares. Costs for Invisalign braces vary but are generally not much more than for traditional metal braces. If your teenager may require orthodontic teeth straightening ask a City of London dentist about Invisalign Teen.
Posted in Dentistry For Children, Orthodontic Treatment | No Comments »
London W1 Dentists Have Recommendations for Good Oral Hygiene for Infants and Older Babies
April 10th, 2009
Not so long ago, many parents believed that it was not necessary to take care of a child’s primary teeth. Unfortunately, this can lead to early tooth loss, which will lead to a number of issues with the permanent teeth that depend on the primaries for proper placement. As a result, you will need to start brushing and flossing your babies teeth as soon as possible. Today, dentists in London W1 can provide you with instructions about which brushes to use, as well as the kinds of products that are safe to use on babies and toddlers.
In most cases, you should start brushing a baby’s teeth as soon as they begin to emerge. While you may not be able to use toothpaste, you can still use plain water. Once your child is about 2 1/2 years old, you can begin using toothpaste that contains a small amount of fluoride. It is also important to begin flossing teeth at this age. If you are not sure about how to brush and floss a child’s teeth properly, your London W1 dentist can provide you with detailed instructions.
For the most part, you will either need to actually brush your child’s teeth, or supervise brushing until your child is about 10 years old. By that item, there should be a well instilled habit to brush for two minutes, as well as floss on a daily basis. It is also very important to make sure that your son or daughter knows how to brush the inner surface of each tooth, as well as the biting surface of the molars. With a little bit of patience and steady effort, good oral hygiene for infants can evolve into a key habit that will help your son or daughter maintain healthy teeth and gums for life.
London W1 Dentists Explain Why Bedtime Bottles are Harmful for to Your Children
April 5th, 2009
By the time your child is 1 to 1 1/2 years old, he/she should be able to obtain all dietary needs during daytime hours. While your child may still enjoy a bottle of milk before bedtime, it can do a great deal of harm to emerging teeth, as well as the supporting gums. Therefore, many London W1 dentists recommend that you eliminate bedtime bottles as soon as your child is able to tolerate an amended feeding schedule. You may also want to talk to your dentist about alternatives that will help your child fall asleep without causing further damage to teeth and gums.
As you may be aware, baceteria and other pathogens feed on sugar. When you give your child a bedtime bottle, there will be enough sugars left behind in the mouth to feed these bacteria. Aside from leading to the early development of plaque, it can also cause all kinds of other problems. On the other hand, if you make sure that your child’s teeth and gums are free of food particles before bedtime, you can have peace of mind knowing that pathogens will not be able to take root as easily.
Chances are, you realize that habits created in the early years of life will extend into adulthood. For example, if your baby is used to having a snack before bedtime, it can and will be very difficult to break this habit later on. At the same time, it will also be very hard to make sure that your child brushes his/her teeth after consuming these snacks. As a result, the process of allowing stray food particles to feed bacteria will continue throughout life. Eventually, this will lead to tooth loss, gum disease, and infections. Today, you have an opportunity to set your child on the right track to good dental health when you eliminate bedtime bottles as soon as possible.
How to prepare your child for a dental visit in London W1
June 21st, 2008
To most children visit to the dentist is a scary thing. To most people especially the children the odours in dental clinic, the sounds of the drill, and the big man with the white mask are all the unpleasant things they wish to avoid. Hence it is important to prepare your child to overcome any anxiety before his visit to the dentist. Below are some suggestions that can help your child enjoy his visit to dentist without fear.
1. Talk to your child about his dental visit and explain to him what will happen. You can start by telling your child that the dentist is kind and friendly doctor who will “count” and “take pictures” of his tiny teeth.
2. You can ask your child to draw a picture of his mouth with his teeth to show it to his dentist. Encourage your child to talk about his drawing of his teeth before the visit.
3. Please look for books about dentist and dental clinic. These children book on dentistry usually contain pictures to help the children to understand who the dentist is and hoe the dental clinic looks like.
4. Never use dental visit as a punishment to your child mischief. This will make his visit later a nightmare experience.
5. Try to avoid using the words like shots, drill or needles that the dentist will use to fix the bad teeth.
6. Try to talk to your dentist any fear your child may has before the visit.
Choosing a child friendly dentist
There are dentists specialized in treating children. They are the dentists specialize in the taking care of children’s and teenagers’ teeth. They usually have special skills to make children feel at ease and their offices are specially designed for children. You may wish to do some survey to pick the right dentist for your child.
a. Does the dentist have special experience with children?
b. Are the dental clinic children friendly? Such as: does it have drawings of children likings on the wall, colourful books for children in the waiting room, children toys and smaller furniture?
c. Is the dentist dress friendly like wearing a mask with children’s illustration?
d. Some dentists provide audio headphones while the child is being examined.
e. Some dentist provides special children programs like tooth care club that can make the child visit to the clinic more fun.
You will make your child at ease to visit your dentist in London if you are able to find a dentist that fulfils some of the criteria listed above.
Preschool Healthy Dental Guide for London Parents
June 21st, 2008
In order for your child to have good teeth later in life, mother in London should begin oral care early, even before the teeth appear. I will like to categorize the dental care for young children into: 1. Infant (below one year of age);
2. Preschool (one and a half to 4 years of age)
1. Infant dental care
Mother is advised to clean her baby’s gums daily with a clean, washed cloth. This mouth cleaning routine will gives the baby the feeling of a fresh, clean mouth. Cleaning the gums will help to reduce the infant teething discomfort.
Breast-feeding
Doctors have discovered that breast-feeding helps to develop the muscles and the bones of baby’s face. The muscles of the face play an important role in shaping the jaws and the position of the primary teeth of the baby. This later will influence the positioning of the permanent teeth.
Infant Feeding Habits
Breastfeeding is the best method to nourish your baby. However if the situation does not permit you to do so and you choose bottle-feeding, you should make sure that a soft bottle nipple is used. A good soft bottle nipple is able to flatten out against the roof of the baby’s mouth while the baby sucks. A hard, poorly designed nipple can cause the baby’s jaw to develop abnormally leading to dental and speech problems later in life. It is always a good practice to consult your lactation consultant, public health nurse, or doctor before you start your baby on bottle-feeding.
Pacifiers
It is always a bad habit to give pacifier to your baby. Continuous sucking can cause high arch palate and protruding teeth. If you should choose to give your baby pacifier to suck please remember the followings don’ts:
1. Discourage prolong and continuous use.
2. No hard pacifier.
3. Never coat the pacifier with sugar or sweet substances. This can cause the baby’s teeth to decay early.
4. Don’t buy a pacifier with multiple parts.
5. Never attach a string to the pacifier as this may strangle the baby.
Teething
The baby first tooth usually comes out at about 6 to 10 months of age. Teething period will cause some discomfort making the baby not willing to drink or eat, irritable, and fussy. Studies showed that giving baby a clean teething ring or a cold wet washed cloth to bite or chew can make baby feel better and help the teeth come through the gums quicker. Frequent cleaning the gums can reduce teething pain.
Early Tooth Decay in Children
Baby’s teeth can start to decay from the first day they come out. This usually happens to baby who uses a bottle for long periods, and also during rest or sleep. Drink that contains sugar like: fruit juice, breast milk, cow’s milk and honey can cause tooth decay. Giving water at bed, nap times and in between regular feeding is a good practice.
Please remember to:
a. Clean your baby’s gums and teeth daily with wet clean cloth.
b. Avoid giving the bottle or breast as a pacifier before baby fall asleep. The sugar in the milk that remains in the baby’s mouth over a long time will cause repeated acid attacks to the teeth.
2. Preschool Years dental care
The child’s permanent teeth depend very much on the healthy primary or “baby” teeth. When the baby teeth decay and are not repaired, they will be lost too prematurely. Baby with healthy teeth will enable the child to chew food, speak properly, and look good.
It is a good practice to discourage your child from thumb or finger sucking. Thumb sucking is usually forceful and over prolong period of time. This can cause changes to the position of the teeth, mouth and/or lips.
Good mouth and dental care consists of:
1. Brushing your child’s teeth twice daily – in the morning and before bedtime.
2. Using a child-size soft-bristled toothbrush with little amount of fluoridated toothpaste.
3. Do not use fluoridated toothpaste for children under age 3.
4. Teach your child to spit out the toothpaste and rinse with water.
5. Help to floss your child’s teeth daily especially the teeth at the back.
If you can practise these guides, your child will has great teeth.
