Preventive Advice

Tips for Dental Care

Here at Wilkinson Dental we encourage our patients to ask us questions about dental health and preventive care. We will be providing information and links to sites that will help you learn about dental care. This page will also share preventive tips, answers to frequently asked questions and links that can help the entire family.

We have many years of dental care for the children and adults, and our staff will be happy to share the ways to help all of our patients have a healthy dental plan. From preventing cavities to proper care of dentures, we will be available with the effective tips for your dental health.
Here’s a tip contributed by Pat, our business manager, to help all of us – Sip All Day, Get Decay!

Frequently Asked Questions.
(Please click on the question go directly to the answer)

At what age should I bring in my child?
Should I give my child fluoride?
The school gives fluoride. Should I let my child take it even though we have fluoride in our water?
Is xylitol gum good for my child?
How should I brush my child’s’ teeth?
What is an appropriate diet for my child?
Should I have x-rays?
Are silver fillings safe?

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FAQs Answers

1.) Up until September of 2011, I would have answered 3 years of age, unless you the parent see anything obvious. Our team attended a pediatric conference in September, and they made a compelling case of having your child seen at 1 year of age. This is particularly important for the following risk groups:

Children with special health care needs.
Children of mothers with a high caries (cavity) rate.
Children with caries, plaque, staining and for de-mineralization.
Children who sleep with a bottle or breast fed throughout the night.
Late order offspring.

From a preventive standpoint, there is much education for the parents that we as dental professionals can provide that may be enough to prevent early childhood cavities and certainly a foundation for healthy lifestyles.
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2.) Over the years I have become more conservative with my writing prescriptions for fluoride. It is not that I am an anti-fluoride dentist. It is just that fluoride is found everywhere. It has been shown to be in infant formula, bottled water, and certain foods. My recommendations is that you have your well water tested by the public health department to see if there is fluoride in your water. If you live in a city or township with fluoridated water, there is no need for any extra systemic fluoride. If you have well water I would not only encourage testing it, but also a careful review of where the child gets his/her drinks for the day. For instance, if you live deep in the woods bu drop your child off to day care in the city, the child most likely is getting enough fluoride.
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3.) If your child knows to spit, then yes have your child participate in the school fluoride program. The school program is a typical fluoride which is designed to be swished and then spit out. This topical “bathing” of the teeth is beneficial as it has been shown to have a protective affect for several months.
The prescription fluoride that is prescribed by your dentist or pediatrician is an ingested form which is beneficial for developing teeth. That is why we generally discontinue fluoride prescriptions at age 12, as most teeth are done forming by then.
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4.) Studies have shown that xylitol gum can be beneficial for moderate to high cavity risk patients. My recommendation could be for you to check with your dentist or physician so the appropriate dosage.
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5.) Tooth brushing tips;

Age less than 1 year, clean gums and teeth with cloth or soft toothbrush (no tooth-paste or toddler paste).
Age 1 – 2 years
- smear on fluoridated tooth paste 2x each day.
- parent performs this task.
Age 2 – 6 years
- smear pea sized fluoridated tooth paste 2x each day.
- parent performs and supervises.
Age greater than 6 years
- brush with pea sized fluoridated tooth paste.
- parent supervises.

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6.) Advice from the American Academy of Pediatric Dentists:
Diet and Feeding;

Age 0-12 months.
- hold infant for bottle and breast feeding.
- no milk/juice bottles at bed-time or nap (water only).
- no pacifiers dipped in honey.
- introduce cup at 6 months.
- start to wean bottle at 12 months.
Age 1 – 2 years.
- Discontinue bottle feeding 12 – 18 months.
- Avoid excessive intake of juice (greater than 4 ounces per day).
- Limit sugar snacks between meals.
- Reserve soda and sweets for “special occasion” treats.
Age 2 – 5 years.
- Limit sugar snacks between meals .
- Reserve soda, candy and sweets for “special occasion” treats.
- Avoid excessive intake of juice (greater than 4 ounces per day).
- Avoid sippy cups!!
- Choose fresh fruits and vegetables, or whole grain snacks.

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7.) The dosage from a full mouth set of x-rays is .00001 Rad. (Dental Management of Medically Compromised Patient 2nd Edition, James W. Little)
Dental radio-graphs (x-rays) are very safe, especially digital which our office has in use. Below are the reasons we advise x-rays.

“Basic Reasons for X-Rays”

To determine the presence of hidden decay.
To determine the presence of dental abscess.
To determine the presence of cysts.
To determine the presence of tumors (benign or malignant).
To determine whether to remove primary teeth.
To determine if complete complement of permanent teeth is present.
To determine condition of root canal filled teeth.
To determine condition of deep restorations.
To determine if decay is present in abnormal areas.
To determine condition of supporting bone.
To determine presence of impacted teeth.
To determine if extra (supernumerary) teeth are present.
To determine depth of periodontal abscess.
To determine strength of teeth for support of fixed bridge.
To determine amount of bone destruction in periodontal disease.
To determine presence of ill-fitting restorations.
To determine reasons for pressure sensitivity.
To determine presence of fractured roots.
To determine location of abscess in multi-rooted teeth.
To determine presence of foreign bodies.
To locate fistula track.
To examine fixed bridge.
To locate hidden calculus.
To observe root involvement with sinuses.
To determine presence of abnormally shaped roots.
To determine possible oral cancer problems.

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8.) Our office adheres to the guidelines set forth by the American Dental Association and the FDA. I always give patients the options of silver (amalgam) fillings versus white (composite resin) fillings. There are times when in my hands I feel silver will work better than white. I do my best to give pro’s and con’s of one filling versus another.

Sip All Day, Get Decay – the effect of Pop on your teeth.

Dentist have noticed an increase in tooth decay especially with children. What people do not realize is that pop, even diet pop contains acid. The combination of the bacteria that normally occurs in the mouth, with the sugar and acid content is a perfect formula for tooth decay. The acid attacks your teeth by weakening the tooth enamel. Each attack lasts for about 20 minutes. The attack starts all over again with every sip. Once the enamel is damaged, bacteria will cause decay. Super sized drinks are the worst enemy. Most parents think that Gatorade is a good choice, when in fact it is also very acidic and also contributes to decay. If you drink a 12 ounce can of Mountain Dew you would be consuming 11 teaspoons of sugar. If you measured that amount of sugar and placed it in a clear plastic bag, you would be able to show your child how much sugar they are drinking per can!

Some tips to prevent “Pop” cavities are:

Drink pop in moderation.
Don’t sip pop for extended periods of time.
Use a straw to keep the sugar away from your teeth.
After drinking, swish your mouth out with water to dilute the sugar.
Never drink pop before bedtime because the liquid pools in your mouth and coats your tongue and teeth with sugar and acid.
Drink water instead of pop. It has no sugar, no acid, no calories!
Get regular checkups to remove bacteria buildup (plaque).

If you would like to compare beverages go to this beverage list.

Wilkinson Dental

General Dentistry for the entire Family