Keep That Saliva Flowing

Keep That Saliva Flowing

Dehydration occurs when your body loses more water than it takes in, making it unable to carry out its normal functions properly. In both children and adults, dehydration can be caused by excessive sweating, vomiting or diarrhea. Symptoms of mild to moderate dehydration can include dry skin, headache, dizziness and dry mouth.

Saliva plays an important role in keeping teeth healthy. It helps wash away bits of food that might otherwise linger on or between teeth. Those food particles provide a breeding ground for bacteria that can lead to tooth decay. Saliva also carries disease-fighting substances that can prevent cavities, while keeping tooth enamel strong by providing calcium, fluoride and phosphate ions to the tooth surface. Dry mouth—a lack of saliva—can have a negative effect on teeth. Dr. Jared often recommends that children increase the flow of saliva by drinking water and chewing sugarless gum.

While scientific studies have identified associations between saliva and dental disease and between saliva and dehydration, the precise nature of the connection between dehydration and dental disease has yet to be firmly established. Nonetheless, it is important that your child stay hydrated, especially if he or she is sick or exercises in the heat.

Your child can avoid dry mouth by drinking plenty of water and eating water-containing foods, such as fruits and vegetables. Thirst is generally a good guide. But if your child is ill, you need to encourage fluid consumption early on, so that he or she does not become dehydrated. Use an oral rehydration solution to replace lost electrolytes, and stay away from sodas, which contain a lot of sugar.

Dry mouth may be caused by dehydration, some medications or a medical condition. If your child complains of dry mouth, call us for an appointment at KiDDS Dental so we can assess his or her oral health. We can narrow down the cause of dry mouth and prescribe treatments that restore salivary function and keep your child’s teeth and gums healthy.

If you have questions about your child's dry mouth, click here to schedule an appointment with Dr. Jared. Or give us a call at (509)-891-7070.

Keep Molar Decay at Bay

Keep Molar Decay at Bay

Tooth decay occurs when bacteria in the mouth make acids that eat away at the teeth, causing a hole or a cavity that can cause pain, infection and tooth loss. Helping your child protect his or her permanent molars from the effects of decay can save a world of hurt down the road. Here are some tips to help you ensure that those hard-to-reach back teeth stay as healthy as possible:

• Make sure your child brushes his or her teeth twice each day with toothpaste that contains fluoride. You may need to help your child brush until the age of seven or eight years to ensure he or she is reaching all teeth properly. Also, make sure your child rinses thoroughly and does not swallow the toothpaste.
• Limit your child’s intake of snacks, sugary beverages and even fruit juice, which can contain acids that erode tooth enamel. Have your child rinse after drinking juice or a beverage containing sugar, or after eating a snack that contains sugars or starches, both of which can increase the amount of acid in the mouth.
• Delay brushing until at least 30 minutes after a meal. Thanks to an increase in the production of food-dissolving acids, tooth enamel can soften when we eat. It takes about 30 minutes for it to re-harden. After that time has passed, your child can brush without fear of damaging the softened enamel.
• Bring your child to us for regular checkups. Your child may not care for visits to the dentist, but you aren’t doing him or her any favors by giving in and postponing care or cancelling visits. Regular checkups can spot early signs of decay and other oral health problems that are best treated in their earliest stages. We can also provide fluoride treatments to help protect your child’s teeth from decay.
• Use dental sealants on your child’s molars. Dental sealants are clear, protective coatings we brush onto tooth surfaces. Most commonly used on molars, they can be beneficial when used on any tooth surface that’s grooved or ridged. Sealants should be applied as soon as molars emerge, before decay has a chance to get a foothold. Watch for the emergence of your child’s molars, which typically come in between the ages of five and seven and again between the ages of 11 and 14 years.

Dr. Jared and his clinical team can help you learn more about how to protect your child from tooth decay. Schedule an appointment for him or her today at KiDDS Dental. Together, we can combat decay on your child’s permanent molars.

Give us a call at 509-891-7070 to schedule today!