Guidelines For Fluoride Toothpaste For Children

The American Dental Association released updated guidelines on when children should start using fluoride toothpaste.

According to the new guidelines, the American Dental Association suggested children begin using toothpaste with fluoride as soon as they get their first teeth in order to prevent cavities.

Previous guidelines recommended parents use only water to brush the teeth of children under 2. However, the updated version said parents should use about the size of a grain of rice of toothpaste for children under 3, and a pea-sized portion for kids ages 3 to 6.

These small amounts are recommended to avoid the development of fluorosis which is a staining of the teeth from excessive fluoride.

The ADA said promoting fluoride toothpaste use at a younger age will help ward off cavities. This is especially important in areas where children do not have access to proper dental care.

ADA’s new guidelines appeared in the February issue of The Journal of the American Dental Association.

Update Regarding Oral Cancer Risks

I recently attended a continuing education course on Oral Pathology. During the lecture it was explained that HPV, the human papilloma virus, a virus contracted through sexual contact is not commonly linked to oral cancer as was previously believed. It can lead to an increased risk of oral cancer on the soft palate and tonsils but not elsewhere. Recently it had been suspected that HPV was a high risk factor but the high risk factors are considered to be tobacco, alcohol and genetic predisposition. Also,  we previously thought that high alcohol mouthwashes may lead to oral cancers and this has been shown to be unfounded. I would still recommend people dilute mouthwashes with over 20% alcohol or avoid alcohol based mouthwashes altogether due to its drying affect on the mouth.

Doctor, Why Are My Teeth Sensitive?

You’ve been waiting all day to have some ice cream. You scoop out the right amount, settle down to eat it and when you do you see stars. Yow! That hurts. What was that and why did it happen? 

 

The treatment of tooth sensitivity is a multibillion dollar industry only because so many people have it and want to get rid of it. Before you can get rid of it you need to know why your teeth are sensitive. Tooth sensitivity has a variety of causes.  It can be caused by tooth decay, acidic foods, tooth whitening or bleaching, aggressive brushing and gum recession.

When someone has tooth decay you relieve the sensitivity by placing a filling in the tooth.  Most of the time the sensitivity will go away right away and at most it may take a few days. As long as the cavity is not too deep, after the tooth is filled the problem is solved.

 

Acidic foods can lead to sensitivity because the acid starts a process called decalcification that dissolves the outside of the tooth enamel.  It is similar to what happens when you have a cavity but in this case,  the enamel has not completely broken down. If you use a toothpaste that can remineralize the tooth and there are many brands on the market,  then the sensitivity can be reversed.

 

Some gum recession is normal as we age due to the normal chewing process where the muscles of the cheeks and gums pull the gums lower on the tooth. Overly aggressive toothbrushing can also lead to gum recession. Whatever the cause, gum recession can lead to a situation where the root of the tooth which is normally below the gumline is now above the gumline and exposed in our mouth. The root of the tooth is composed of cementum which is very porous. Everything goes right through cementum and it is why when there is recession the tooth gets very sensitive. In this case a toothpaste like Sensodyne or Colgate Pro Relief when used daily for a few weeks will help. These toothpastes contain minerals that plug the pores in the cementum and help to seal the tooth.

                                      

 

Finally, occasionally when people try to whiten their teeth with either home bleaching products or in the dental office,  their teeth can get sensitive because of the chemicals in the whitening product. Usually the sensitivity will go away when you stop the whitening process.  If you have sensitive teeth and are considering doing some whitening, you should use Sensodyne toothpaste for 2 weeks before you start and it may lessen the sensitivity.

 

As you can see there are many causes of sensitivity. It always helps to see your dentist who can diagnose the problem and get you on the way to enjoying that ice cream.

For more information, please visit my website at rosenbergfamilydental.com.