Blog | Boulder Dentist | Family & Cosmetic Dentistry

Teaching Children to Take Care of Their Baby Teeth

A father sitting on the bathroom floor of his house holding a baby and sitting next to a toddler. He is teaching both how to brush their teeth.

From an early age, you teach your baby how to eat, speak, walk and do everything on their own. This process can take years. Parents who teach their children oral hygiene basics while they are young have a better chance of their children having good oral health for life. Find out what your child should be doing for their oral health at different ages and how you can teach them those skills!

Are the Baby Teeth Important?

The baby teeth are only around for a few short years. However, those years with the baby teeth are very telling of the rest of the years with your oral health. Infants will get their baby teeth starting anywhere between 3 months and 3 years. An infant will get 20 teeth in their mouth that will be small to fit their size and needs. Baby teeth won’t work for an adult, who needs to have the ability to bite and chew food with stronger, larger teeth.

That is why there are two sets of teeth. The baby teeth will start to space out as a child grows, which makes room in the mouth for adult, permanent teeth to eventually come in. When a baby tooth falls out, the permanent tooth will fall into place. The baby teeth must be taken care of throughout childhood or tooth decay can make those teeth fall out too soon. That would cause the permanent teeth come in too early and possibly in the wrong place in the mouth. This can make other teeth come in wrong, creating many dental problems as a child grows. When proper oral hygiene is followed each day from the time a child gets their first tooth, they can avoid many childhood and adulthood dental problems.

A mother helping her two children to brush their teeth in front of the bathroom mirror. She is helping her son with proper brushing technique.

Tips to Get Your Kids to Brush and Floss

As soon as your child can hold a toothbrush, have them start their brushing and flossing. That’s even when they are a baby and can grasp objects. When your infant only has one or a few teeth, try brushing their teeth and gums with a baby gum brush. Add the smallest amount of fluoride toothpaste for kids to the brush. Let them grasp the toothbrush and mimic your actions. Even if they wiggle lots, take turns with them trying to brush and you trying to brush their teeth, even if you both need to hold a toothbrush.

When children get older and more independent as toddlers, they may fight back with brushing and flossing if they don’t know why it’s important. Teach them why you keep your teeth clean to avoid cavities and tooth loss. Brush alongside them and have them mimic your actions, which can even turn into a game of “do as I’m doing”. You can also try:

Turning on a song or short video for 2 minutes, during which they have to brush their teeth really well.
Make a brushing chart where they earn stars for every time they brush and floss their teeth well. Make a goal with those stars that they get a small prize when they hit a certain number, or they get extra privileges such as more reading time with you at night.
Tell a story to them when they brush their teeth.
Let your child practice on you. If you show them how to brush their teeth and they can see how to do it on you, it can make them more excited to brush their own teeth.
Let them choose their toothbrushing products, which can help them have a greater desire to brush and floss more.
Explain what they are doing and why. Children often ask “why?” if you ask them to do something and are more willing to do it if they know there is a reason.

A young woman helping her small baby hold a toothbrush and brush his teeth.

Teach By Example

Sometimes, the best way to teach is by example. If you want your children to take care of their baby teeth, show them it’s important by taking care of your own teeth! Brush your teeth every day, several times a day, where they can see you. Brush alongside them and take them to your own dental appointments if your child is stubborn with their oral health.

The American Dental Association has some great guidelines for taking care of baby teeth and adult teeth, and they work pretty well:

Brush your teeth every day, at least twice a day. When brushing, make sure you brush for two minutes at a time with toothpaste. Brush in all different directions. Cover all tooth surfaces with your brushing.
Floss 1-2 times each day. Use new floss each time to reduce bacteria transfer from one day to the next and one area of the mouth to the next. Make sure to floss up into your gum line, scraping your teeth as you go to remove built-up plaque.
Use fluoride products. Fluoride is found in toothpastes, gels, mouthwash and public water sources. This mineral can strengthen your teeth and protect against decay.

Teaching Is a Great Start

Sometimes, kids simply don’t want to brush or floss their teeth. However, it’s still important to make the effort to try to teach them. Even if they don’t want to take care of their baby teeth for quite some time, eventually it will click that their oral health care is important. No matter what works for your family, keep trying until your child at least knows that their baby teeth are important and need care. Remind them by your good example and by helping them each day to take care of their mouth. If you need to schedule your child’s dental exam or want help for what dental products to use, call Dr. Ania’s office today at 303-443-0998!

Posted: September 11, 2018 By: content.team Comment: 0

Choosing Toothbrushes and Toothpastes

A woman putting toothpaste on a toothbrush. Everything except the woman is in focus.

Did you know that it actually does matter what toothbrushes and toothpastes you choose if you want a healthy mouth? You never want to simply buy the cheapest product you can find, nor do you want to use unknown brands. When choosing toothbrushes and toothpastes, they should have the American Dental Association’s Seal of Acceptance on them if they are quality and if they will protect your oral health. Find out what that seal is and what aspects you should look for when choosing toothbrushes and toothpastes!

Oral Hygiene Products: Why You Need Them

Your oral health can have incredible impacts on your overall health, and yet, too many people skip taking care of their teeth and mouths. Studies show that at least 92% of all Americans have had tooth decay. Up to 42% of children get it regularly and about 26% of adults have untreated decay. Gum disease is another major problem, as this is a condition that can lead to tooth loss and mushy gums, and yet, more than 64.7 million American adults get it still from poor oral hygiene habits.

That is why having and choosing toothbrushes and toothpastes is so important. Simply having these products and using them correctly can help you either avoid oral health diseases or can help you significantly reduce your risk for them.

Image with many different colors and types of toothbrushes.

Choosing Toothbrushes

A toothbrush is more than just a handle to hold with a brush attached to it. There are actual designs that go into each toothbrush you buy. The cheapest brands you could buy that are generic products (without a name brand) may not have a design. Whereas, brands such as Crest, Colgate, Gum and more will have many different styles of bristles. These are sometimes mixed with gum massagers, tongue cleaners and other accessories. Some toothbrushes are electric ones, which are powered toothbrushes that might provide a better clean for patients.

When choosing a toothbrush, you will see that they come in different degrees of hardness like “soft” and “hard”. This refers to how firm the toothbrush bristles are, which will reflect how harsh they will be on your teeth. Most patients only need a soft-bristled brush, which helps avoid tooth enamel damage. Some hard-bristled brushes can take off layers of enamel, especially if enamel is weak due to eating and oral hygiene habits. Many toothbrushes have colorful designs and rubber massagers. They can help you remove plaque easier, but when choosing toothbrushes like these, the real thing that matters is how the brush feels in your mouth and if you like using it.

The brush head of the toothbrush is an important aspect your should consider when choosing toothbrushes. There are angled brushes that help you reach the inside of your teeth, where plaque and tartar can build up. There are also also either compact or full-size brush heads. The compact heads are smaller, which work great if you have a smaller mouth. Full-size brushes will fit people with large mouths, but will feel bulky to children or those with small mouths. Try out various types of toothbrushes, but choose one that fits comfortably with your mouth size. This can ensure that it will reach all parts of your mouth easily. The size is also why there are infant and child toothbrushes that are designed for the size of the person that should be using them.

Different colored toothpastes next to each other.

Choosing the Right Toothpastes

There are countless forms of toothpastes out there. Choosing the toothpaste you use is often more important than choosing toothbrushes. That’s because toothpastes contain chemicals and substances that will do different actions on your teeth. A good recommendation is to only choose toothpastes that are approved by the American Dental Association. These ones will have the ADA Seal of Acceptance, meaning they abide by strict rules of quality that help reduce your risk for oral health problems.

If a product has the Seal of Acceptance, it has been tested and proven effective for combating decay-causing bacteria. These product must also contain fluoride. This is a natural mineral that helps provide a barrier between bacteria and your teeth. Good toothpastes will be free of decay-causing substances (like sugar) that damage your teeth and can only contain active ingredients that will improve your oral health. No-name brands or ones without the Seal of Acceptance are ones you want to avoid, as you don’t know if their chemicals will be harmful for your teeth or your body.

Many toothpastes have extra components meant to tackle certain oral health problems such as gum disease or tooth sensitivity. Toothpastes for sensitive teeth, for example, will contain potassium nitrate, which masks areas of the teeth with sensitivity, helping to stop pain signals. Choose a toothpaste that is safe and one that will meet your oral health needs effectively.

How You Should Use Those Products

The ADA recommends that every patient brush their teeth at least twice a day (even infants), for two minutes at a time, covering all tooth surfaces. You should floss your teeth 1-2 times a day as well, while also making sure you visit the dentist twice a year for dental cleanings and exams. These measures will significantly reduce your risk of oral health diseases.

Choosing toothbrushes and toothpastes is a personal choice, but one that can affect if you will brush your teeth often or not. If you don’t like the products you have, you won’t use them. Buying no-name brands can be risky, as you don’t know if the company follows safety regulations in the materials they use (which you put in your mouth). Find products you like so that you can use them, and follow the recommended guidelines for use if you want to avoid oral health diseases. To find out what products we like to use, call Dr. Ania’s office today at 303-443-0998!

Posted: September 4, 2018 By: content.team Comment: 0

Your Smile for Back-to-School

Girl that is arriving at school and smiling.

The start of a new school year is a time to make an impression. You’re another year older and wiser and you’ve changed a lot. One thing that we hope improves each year is your smile. A person’s smile is one of the first things others notice about them. Is your smile white? Straight? Healthy? Or is it the opposite of all of these? Find out how to revamp your smile and your oral health so you can have a dazzling smile by the time school or work starts again!

Better Oral Health Improves Your Smile

Do you want a better smile when you walk into your classes on the first day of school? Then don’t forget to brush your teeth before you leave the house! The American Dental Association recommends that every person (including infants) should brush their teeth at least twice a day. A great time is before bed and in the morning after breakfast. Not only will this make your smile clean and pretty as you try to make a good first impression, but you will have fresh breath as well.

Studies show that your smile is one of the first things others notice about you. You want to make an impression by showing those pearly whites everywhere you go. Not only will others see you as happier, but they will feel like you’re more approachable. This is definitely a bonus on your first day of school.

You want to be confident about your smile, which is why we mentioned brushing. It’s not complete if you don’t also floss your teeth. Floss gets almost half (40%) of your tooth surfaces. If you skip those, over time, half of your teeth will have dental problems. Combine those habits with dental visits and you can avoid problems with cavities, bad breath, and gum disease that will will take you out of school during the year to fix them.

Group of girls all smiling with their braces.

What You Eat Matters

Going back to school can present new challenges with food. Students either eat in a cafeteria, bring their own lunch, or they leave to get fast food nearby. You want to be smart with your food choices if you want to keep your smile great throughout the school year. How you eat will say a lot about your smile. Why? Because what you eat directly determines if you will have tooth decay or oral health problems.

Cafeterias and fast food places often have processed foods that are packed with sugar. Sugar is also found in starchy foods (like bread and pasta). Even parents make up lunches that are sugar-packed and unhealthy, even if those lunches look healthy! Parents magazine recently published an article about lunch for school. They gave an example of a packed “peanut butter and jelly sandwich on wheat bread, a cup of applesauce and fruit punch”. It sounds like a healthy meal, but going through the food labels revealed that there was actually 76 grams of sugar in that one meal alone—more than four twinkies!

That’s why it’s so important to check food labels and limit the amount of added sugars in your lunch and snacks for school. Sugar is a major concern because it leads directly to tooth decay. When you eat, that sugar in your foods and drinks mixes with your mouth bacteria to form plaque. That is the transparent goop that sticks to your teeth. Over time, it erodes away the tooth enamel and decays your teeth. The more sugar you eat, the more likely you are to get tooth decay. To keep your smile healthy, have a parent or professional help you with healthy meal options that reduce your sugar and give you tons of energy.

Young girl brushing her teeth.

Take Care of Your Braces

You are at school for hours of your day. If you’re in college, then you’re studying most of the day. It’s easy for oral hygiene habits to fall through the cracks when you’re busy. A good way to take some time for your smile is to bring a dental kit with you to school. After your lunch, you can take this kit to the bathroom and brush and floss your teeth. This is especially important for children and teens that wear braces, as food gets stuck in brackets and wires every time you eat.

Protecting Your Mouth

School is a time when many kids young and old are participating in sports. Coincidentally, sports injuries are among the highest when it comes to dental emergencies. You never want to get a tooth knocked-out or broken when all you want to do is having fun playing sports. Protect your mouth with a custom-made mouth guard. Buying a guard from the store is better than nothing, but store guards are not fit to your mouth and can definitely still land you with dental emergencies because of the space that is there between the guard and your teeth. We make custom mouth guards all the time for our patients, which helps them keep their smile intact during sports and physical activity.

Cosmetic Dentistry for Teens and Adults

If you do end up with a dental emergency during the school year, we can fix cavities with dental fillings. However, when tooth decay is severe and results in a toothache, you may need a root canal treatment or even a dental implant. If you simply want to improve your look and are old enough, you can get a straight smile through cosmetic dentistry services such as porcelain veneers. Taking care of your smile through your eating choices and oral hygiene are the best ways to keep them bright and healthy. When other problems arise, we can help make your teeth into pearly whites. Call Dr. Ania’s office for your dental questions and dental consultation by calling 303-443-0998!

Posted: August 21, 2018 By: content.team Comment: 0

Have You Had Your Oral Cancer Screening?

Person writing the words "oral cancer".

Nobody likes to find out that they have cancer. However, finding cancer early is the best way to stop it in its tracks. That is why dentists will do an oral cancer screening every time you go in for comprehensive exams and dental cleanings. No one should die from oral cancer, when it is preventable and can be stopped when detected! Stop oral cancer in its tracks with an oral cancer screening!

What Is Oral Cancer?

Nobody likes to hear the word “cancer”, and yet, it is everywhere and can happen almost in any part of the body. Your mouth is no exception. Out of the 100+ types of cancers out there, oral cancer is one that affects your mouth. Just like other cancers, it can be deadly without proper prevention and treatment in its early stages. At its beginning stages, you won’t notice anything different in your mouth, but a dentist will notice the start of oral cancer.

In the later stages, patients report symptoms and signs such as:

Bleeding in the mouth, seemingly for no reason.
Numbness or loss of feeling in parts of the mouth.
Lumps or bumps in the mouth, especially ones that continue to grow. That includes areas of thickening or swollen tissues.
Rough spots or crusty areas on the lips, gums and other mouth tissues.
Patches in the mouth that are velvety white, red or a speckled combination of the two.
Sores on the face, neck or inside the mouth that bleed and don’t heal quickly.
Changes in the way your voice sounds as well as chronic soreness of the throat that doesn’t go away.
Weight loss that can sometimes be severe.
Problems chewing, eating, swallowing, speaking or moving the tongue or jaws.

Close-up view of a patient having their mouth looked at by a dentist.

Facts and Figures

Even though oral cancer doesn’t claim as many lives as other types of cancers, it still claims way too many. This type of cancer is luckily one that can be halted, whereas others can’t be. Still, the statistics show that too many lives are claimed each year from oral cancer:

Someone dies every hour of every day in the United States from oral cancer.
The Oral Cancer Foundation (OCF) reported that about 49,750 people in the U.S. were diagnosed with oral cancer in 2017. The amount that will be diagnosed this year is about the same.
About 132 people die every day from oral cancer.
The OCF also reported that there is only a 43% survival rate if it’s not found until the later stages.
When found early-on, patients have an 80-90% survival rate.
Tobacco and alcohol use plays a major role in developing mouth cancer.
Patients not vaccinated against the HPV-16 virus (human papilloma virus version 16) are also at risk for developing oral cancer.

Can You Combat It?

There are only so many ways you can combat oral cancer. The best way is to get rid of all your risk factors for it. Get vaccinated for the HPV virus after speaking with your doctor. Find out if you have a history for cancer in your family, especially oral cancer. In many cases, your lifestyle is what will determine if you will develop mouth cancer or not. This is especially true if you smoke or use chewing tobacco. Studies show that smoking cigarettes, cigars or pipes will raise your risk for oral cancer by 6 times.

Don’t think that going “smokeless” will be healthier for you either. Smokeless tobacco products can actually be even worse for you because of the chemicals they contain that are unnatural for the body. This includes dip, snuff and chewing tobacco, which raises your risk for oral cancer 50 times because the tobacco comes in direct contact with your mouth tissues for long periods of time. So yes, you can combat oral cancer with the help of a dentist trying to stop it through excessive dental care. However, the best way to combat it is to stop using any and all tobacco products as well as alcohol. Alcohol won’t be as strong as tobacco is for causing oral cancer, but it will raise your risk for developing it by 6 times.

A dentist discussing treatment options with a patient in the office.

Comprehensive Exams

Patients can’t feel oral cancer forming, so it can only be found if it’s detected by a dentist trained to notice the signs and symptoms. This is why the comprehensive exam is so important in dentistry. All patients should visit the dentist at least every 6 months for a comprehensive dental exam. This is where a dentist can examine a patient’s oral cavity to check for abnormalities.

When you come in for your exam, an oral cancer screening only takes a few minutes. A dentist will examine your teeth, gums, cheeks, tongue, throat and even outside your mouth around your neck and mouth for lumps. Anything that is abnormal will be noted and if the dentist suspects that it is oral cancer, you will start treatment right away. With the right dental and medical care, a dentist can actually help halt the progression of the cancer when they find it. The best time is right in its earliest stages, when it can be stopped and you can enjoy a normal, long life.

Avoiding Other Oral Diseases

Not only is the comprehensive exam great for detecting oral cancer, but it can detect other oral diseases such as tooth decay and gum disease. In their early stages, only a dentist can detect these problems. Coincidentally, it’s also in the early stages that the problems can be fixed or reversed. Bottom line: make sure you are visiting your dentist for your biannual dental exams and cleanings.

The American Dental Association recommends that every person (children and infants included) see the dentist every 6 months. Between those visits, make sure you are brushing your teeth for at least 2 minutes, twice a day and flossing daily as well. To schedule your exam and oral cancer screening, call Dr. Ania’s office today at 303-443-0998!

Posted: August 7, 2018 By: content.team Comment: 0

Testing and Tracking Plaque Levels at Home

Beautiful woman that is wearing red lipstick and pointing with both hands towards her mouth.

When you brush and floss, are you sure you’re getting all the plaque that stuck on your teeth? One way to know is to test and track plaque at home. At-home products available to test and track plaque include disclosing tablets, solutions and swabs. These products stain plaque red with a harmless dye so you can track how well you and your child are brushing and flossing. As you might imagine, this is particularly beneficial for kids since it gives them a visual representation of how effective their oral hygiene efforts are.

What Is Dental Plaque?

Did you know that there is a silent and clear substance that tries to eat away at your teeth every single day? This substance is called plaque, and it’s the cause of all tooth decay and gum disease problems. It attaches to your tooth surfaces and its acidic content eats away at your hard tooth enamel, making it weaker overtime until it eventually decays. But, how did that plaque get there in the first place?

You can blame your food for that. Plaque forms in your mouth when you eat or drink anything that contains sugar or starch (which is most things). Sugar and various mouth bacteria combine together in your mouth, and without you knowing, they create a sticky combination that is detrimental to your teeth and gums.

When that sugar and bacteria combines, it attaches to your teeth, especially along your gum line. If you go look in the mirror right now, you might even see some traces of plaque. You can have a very tiny amount of dental plaque or you can have a lot. It’s tricky to see, so it can build up over time without you even knowing. Plaque that sits on the teeth for long amounts of time can actually harden, becoming what we call “tartar”. At that stage, you can’t get it off by yourself.

Close-up view of the bottom front teeth that have lots of dental plaque on them, causing gum recession.

Problems that Stem From High Plaque Levels

Why is plaque such a problem in the first place? Many people don’t realize that they have plaque, nor do they realize the problems it can cause in the long run. Half of all American adults (or 64.7 million) have some form of gum disease and around 92% of Americans have had tooth decay before. Both of these problems all stem from the effects of plaque. In fact, they only happen because plaque gets left on the teeth. Because plaque is acidic, it eats away at the minerals on a patient’s teeth, which is called “demineralization”. Over time, the teeth weaken and decay.

With the gums, plaque sits along the gumline. The acidity of it makes the gums irritated, and they will start to bleed easier when a person has the first stage of gum disease, which is gingivitis. Over time, the gums become red due to irritation and eventually they start to recede. This recession is the major kicker, as gums can recede so far that your teeth fall out. It’s best to simply get plaque under control and keep up on your plaque levels instead of ever dealing with the harsher side-effects of plaque.

How Do You know Your Plaque Levels?

There are products that have been made to help patients know how they are doing with their dental plaque levels. These are dental products that contain various dyes that highlight where dental plaque is. If you think you are brushing and flossing your teeth well, but you are still ending up with tooth decay, bleeding gums, or problems with gingivitis and gum disease, these products can help you know if your teeth are as clean as you think they are. In many cases, patients are missing areas of their teeth during their brushing and flossing—such as right along the gum line.

Dental hygienists helping a patient to see the dental things they are explaining to him as he looks in a mirror.

Self Examination

You can check your plaque levels at home without having to enter a dental office. This is ideal for in-between your biannual checkups and exams, especially if you have had problems with tooth decay and gingivitis in the past. At-home products that patients can use include disclosing tablets, swabs and solutions.

You can use these steps for doing your own self-examination to check your plaque levels:

Brush and floss your teeth, making sure to brush the recommended 2 minutes with a soft-bristled brush.
Follow the instructions on your disclosing product. Many people use disclosing tablets. For tablets, chew only one tablet and let it mix with your saliva. You can do this by swishing for up to 30 seconds and then spitting.
For a disclosing solution, swich the solution for 30 seconds and then spit it out.
Gently rinse your mouth with water after your disclosing test.
Plaque that is still on your teeth will be dyed a darker color (usually a red color). Make sure to take note of all the areas (especially on your back molars) that have been dyed.
Then, brush and floss your teeth again to see if you’ve removed that plaque.
You want to continue to use your disclosing treatment to test your plaque levels each night. Do this until you start to see no remaining traces of plaque. That is when you have learned to brush those areas efficiently.
After you’ve mastered cleaning your teeth, test your plaque levels once a month to make sure you are keeping up on your cleaning.

In-Office Examination

If you aren’t sure how to work disclosing tablets or solutions, we can help you. Often, we have some samples in-office and we can show you how they work. If you come in for your biannual dental cleanings and exams, we can let you know how your plaque levels are and if you are in the danger zone for gum disease. If you already have gum disease, we have periodontal treatments to help get your mouth healthy once more. To schedule your comprehensive dental exam, call Dr. Ania’s office today at 303-443-0998!

Posted: July 26, 2018 By: content.team Comment: 0

Turn Toothbrushing Into a Game to Help Your Children Brush

Young adult male brushing his teeth alongside a young boy in a bathroom, presumably they are father and son.

Dental health is something you should be thinking about from the moment your infant cuts his first tooth. From baby to toddler to school-age, children need to learn the importance of good oral health. As you have probably learned from being a parent, sitting down and lecturing your child isn’t likely to do much good. A more effective approach is to turn tooth brushing into a game. Here are some ideas to help your child brush their teeth!

When Should Children Start Toothbrushing?

It takes children several years (until about age 3) for them to have the right dexterity to be able to brush their own teeth well. That means you’ll have to do their toothbrushing for them. As a parent, you need to start brushing your child’s tooth when the first one comes in. Even if your baby is only 3 or 4 months old, that is when you would start the toothbrushing. Luckily, it’s fairly easy to brush the teeth when there are only a few in the mouth.

If your child is an infant still, you can get a small gum brush. This is a rubbery finger brush that slips on the top of one of your fingers. You place the tiniest amount of baby toothpaste (not yours) on the brush and brush that tiny tooth. Aim for twice a day. If that doesn’t work out, at least brush their tiny teeth at night. For a few small teeth, it will only take a few seconds to get them clean.

As a child ages and starts to use their hands more, you can try teaching them to brush on their own. When they can hold utensils well and eat alone with them, they are ready to start toothbrushing. Help them hold the brush and learn how much toothpaste to put on the brush. Even if it takes many months, brush with them to teach them the correct technique. You can hold and guide their hand as they brush their teeth until they get the hang of it.

Young female child brushing her teeth and smiling.

Toothbrushing the Correct Amount of Time

The American Dental Association recommends that all patients brush their teeth for at least 2 minutes every time they brush. Simply wetting a toothbrush and brushing for a seconds won’t cut it. But, how do you get a child to sit down and brush their teeth for 2 minutes straight?

A great way to do this is to involve technology. Even adults find it hard to brush for 2 minutes at a time. Find a song that your children love that is about 2 minutes long. Make sure they brush all over their mouth for the amount of time that the song is playing. If their favorite song is longer or shorter than 2 minutes, simply replay the song or stop it once it hits the 2-minute mark.

If music doesn’t really help your child, try a video or educational short clip. Whatever you decide is best for your child, you can always bring a tablet into the bathroom and have them brush while they learn something new from a short video. There are even many videos online such as this one that teach children how to brush their teeth correctly. No matter what you do, keep it interesting and keep them learning!

Young father and son brushing their teeth together as they watch in a bathroom mirror.

What If They Don’t Want to Brush?

Many children can get bored with toothbrushing. That’s why you want to turn toothbrushing into a game and learning experience for them. If toothbrushing is incredibly dull, they won’t want to do it. Use these tips to give your child a better experience and to make it more fun for them:

Get bright, colorful toothbrushes with their favorite characters. If your child loves Disney princesses, get a princess brush for them.
Get toothpastes that are fun and colorful. Children’s toothpastes can be full of fluoride and other great minerals for their teeth, but they also come in bright colors with sparkles, edible confetti bits and more. If your child hates the taste of toothpaste, get child toothpaste that has a taste they like. Don’t simply use your own toothpaste, as it may contain ingredients that aren’t as gentle on the baby teeth.
Sing a song to them while they brush. You can even include a little dance if it gets them to brush their teeth better.
Brush your teeth with them! The best way to learn is by example. If you’re not brushing your teeth, why would they? You can even make it a game to see who can brush their teeth the best, who can do the best circular motions, who can smile the biggest as they brush, etc.
Read a short story to them as they brush. Make up the story or read it from their collection, but make it so you only read if they are brushing.
Keep a toothbrushing chart to reward them each day or each time they brush their teeth well. Give them stickers on a chart or have a reward for them at the end of the week, month, etc. You can even do this reward system every night. For example, if they brush well, they get a story before bed.
Let them practice on you. If they need to try it on you and see the difference between dirty teeth and clean teeth, let them.

Keep At It

Even if your child doesn’t want to brush, don’t give up on this habit! Children that make brushing their a habit while they are young, tend to keep that habit as they grow older. They also reduce their risk for tooth decay, gum disease and many oral health problems that require more extensive dental work. If you child won’t brush, discuss it with them and see what the problem is. If they simply don’t like their toothbrush or toothpaste, take them to the store and let them choose their own. If you keep struggling, you can always call Dr. Ania’s office at 303-443-0998!

Posted: July 19, 2018 By: content.team Comment: 0

Are Dental Implants Safe For Kids?

Dental model that shows what dental implants look like.

You’re at your teenage daughter’s basketball game. She has scored a few baskets and her team is winning. Then the game takes a turn for the worse when your daughter is elbowed in the jaw. She’s on the ground in pain, and when you finally get a close look at her mouth, you see a tooth is missing. What’s the best way to repair the damage? A new tooth? Are dental implants safe for children to get? Find out how your child can restore their smile!

Dental Emergencies

A knocked-out tooth is considered a dental emergency. These emergencies can be devastating to a person’s smile if they don’t get dental help immediately. Dental emergencies include: toothaches (especially if there is swelling), cracked tooth, broken tooth, knocked-out tooth, broken braces bracket or wires, or severe cuts to the tongue, lips or cheek. If a parent and/or patient doesn’t seek dental help immediately, they risk an oral infection or losing their tooth permanently.

The ideal way to handle a knocked-out tooth is to preserve the tooth in saline solution compatible with the human body. Get to Dr. Ania’s office as fast as possible to increase the chances of a successful re-implantation. If your child plays sports, keep a “Save-a-Tooth” kit on hand for such emergencies. This can help treat the affected tooth until you can get dental assistance. If the tooth can’t be re-implanted, your next thought might be a dental implant. Is this option safe for your child? And if not, what alternatives do you have?

Close-up view of a boy with a missing front tooth

What’s Are Dental Implants?

In centuries past, once a tooth was lost, it was lost for good. However, in today’s time, that’s not the case. Dental implants are a restorative dentistry option that allows patients to replace missing teeth with ones that look, feel and perform like natural teeth. They are the most effective, predictable, and longest-lasting option to replace one or multiple missing teeth. If one tooth is lost, patients should consider dental implants instead of a dental bridge. A dental bridge can replace several teeth missing in a row, but dental implants replace a tooth here and there.

You don’t want to have dental implants just for the fun of it, as it is a process to get them. When a tooth has been knocked out and can’t be fixed, dental implants may be necessary to restore a person’s smile. First, any remaining tooth particles are removed from the tooth socket. The area is cleaned and prepped to receive a screw. This screw will be placed in a person’s jawbone, where it will heal in place. At a separate appointment, a patient will have a custom-made tooth placed on top of the screw and it will remain there for 10-20 years. The new tooth is the dental implant.

Are Dental Implants Safe for Kids?

While dental implants are the best way to restore an adult’s smile, they are not the go-to option for children. This is because a patient will only want to have a dental implant if their jaws have completely stopped growing. Children and teens still have mouths that are changing and jaws that have not hardened completely. This happens when patients are in their older teen years and into their twenties.

Dental implants are not the best choice for children as they can shift out of place as a child’s jaw grows. It can cause crookedness to happen with the permanent teeth, pain and more. However, the American Academy of Implant Dentistry reports that implants are an option for adolescents once they have passed through puberty. Their standard guidelines are to wait until girls are at least 16 and boys are at least 18.

To fix your child’s smile, they can get a dental bridge. This is when a custom-made tooth is bonded to a natural tooth. The tooth will fill the tooth gap, but will not be implanted in the jawbone. Removable partial dentures are also an option, which is a dental device that has a custom-made tooth attached to it. If your child is fine with a gap in their smile for a time, they can get a space maintainer. This is great for young children, as it can keep a space open for a permanent tooth to grow in correctly.

Young boy laughing with his hand on his face.

Strong Smiles for Life

Your child can take amazing care of their teeth, but still have dental emergencies that happen in the blink of an eye. A dental emergency such as a broken, cracked, chipped or knocked-out tooth can happen much easier if oral hygiene habits aren’t happening enough. Brushing, flossing, and visiting the dentist are all habits that can help your child to have strong teeth.

The American Dental Association recommends that every patient (even toddlers) should see the dentist at least twice a year. There, they can get dental sealants and fluoride treatments to strengthen the teeth and protect them more than doing nothing. If a child brushes for 2 minutes at least twice a day (if not more), they can keep their teeth strong and avoid decay. Flossing the teeth cleans about 40% of the tooth surface, so it’s also something that should be done 1-2 times a day. Also reduce your child’s sugar intake—if possible—as sugar is the food that plaque needs to weaken teeth and cause decay.

Even though these habits may not protect them against a knocked-out tooth, it can reduce the chance of it and other dental emergencies because the teeth are stronger. Patients that practice good oral hygiene can also keep their teeth all throughout life, avoiding tooth loss. If you would like to know more about oral hygiene or our dental implants, call Dr. Ania’s office today at 303-443-0998!

Posted: July 11, 2018 By: content.team Comment: 0

Your Mouth and Teeth Anatomy

Woman smiling with her mouth open and pointing to her mouth

Your mouth has many parts that are all important for staying healthy. You want strong teeth to help you chew and eat, and you need healthy tissue to keep the teeth in place. Certain good and bad oral health habits can lead to your teeth and mouth anatomy changing over time. Find out the different parts of your mouth and teeth anatomy!

Your Mouth Anatomy

Your mouth is one of the most important parts of your body. Consider how much you use your mouth every day. Every particle of food you eat, everything you drink, and the words you say all come from your mouth. Besides your nose, this is also a passageway for oxygen to get into your body to nourish the tissues that need it.

Your oral cavity is more than just your cheeks, gums, tongue and teeth. There are many parts that make up the mouth and every part has a function and purpose. Your mouth has 2 main regions known as the “vestibule” and the “oral cavity proper”. Defined, the vestibule is everything inside the mouth that is between the teeth, cheeks and lips. The rest of your mouth tissues are part of the oral cavity proper.

Close-up image of a person sticking their tongue out

Various Tissues and Their Purpose

You have many parts of your mouth that all have a location and purpose:

Teeth: These provide structure to the face and mouth, and they help the digestion process by crushing up the food you eat. Having teeth makes a big difference in speech development.
Tongue: Aids in the digestion process, as various cells in the tongue secrete saliva, which breaks down your food. Tastebuds allow you to understand how food feels and the flavor it has. It’s essential for swallowing food and for speaking. Half of your tongue muscles are anchored to bone. That bone keeps the tongue in place.
Gums: These are soft tissues that hold the teeth firmly in your jaws. Gums around the teeth are stuck firmly to the teeth and jaw surfaces, sealing out food, preventing tooth loss and helping with friction caused by eating. These soft tissues also protect the bones and delicate nerves in the mouth from exposure.
Uvula: This is the tissue that hangs down in the back of your throat. Glands in the uvula produce a lot of saliva. The uvula muscle itself helps close off the nasal cavity when eating and drinking, as it can move like any other muscle.
Hard palate: This is the roof of your mouth that is hard and contains bone. That bone separates your mouth cavity from your nasal cavity.
Soft palate: Your soft palate is the part of your mouth where the hard palate ends and the roof of your mouth becomes soft. It does not contain bone. However, it is a muscle that helps with swallowing and breathing. The soft palate is what makes some mucus come into your mouth when you sneeze so that your nasal passage doesn’t take the entire force of your sneeze.
Jawbone: This is the strongest bone in the face. It structures your mouth and head and holds all the teeth and mouth tissues in place. Without a working jaw, your entire mouth would suffer major health problems.

Numbering Your Teeth

Every single tissue and part of your mouth is important, even if it’s a tiny tissue. If you didn’t have one of these main areas, your eating, digestion and speech would be significantly hindered. One of the most important parts of your mouth that you should care for is your teeth. This part of your mouth is different from the rest because the teeth are not living tissue. Almost everywhere in your body you have living tissue—even your bones! The bones are actually fairly hollow and sponge-like, full of cartilage, nerves, blood vessels and more.

However, the teeth are 96% mineral and are the hardest substances in your body. You have layers of solid tooth enamel that allows you to bite down with hundreds of pounds of pressure. That’s how you can eat very hard nuts or other pieces of food without breaking your teeth. Your teeth are composed of a thick, outer mineral enamel, with a softer layer inside called the dentin. At the very center is a soft tissue pulp where blood vessels and nerves nourish the tooth.

A healthy adult mouth has 28 teeth, or 32 if the wisdom teeth have not been removed. You should have 14 teeth on top and 14 on bottom total. If you look at your teeth, you will notice that there are different shapes to the teeth. Those different shapes help you bite, chew, rip and eat your food.

Close-up image of a person opening their mouth

Notice and Prevent Problems

No matter how hard your teeth are, they can decay quite rapidly if you don’t take care of them. When you eat, you have residue that is left behind with digestion. That residue is plaque, and it is a mixture of sugars in the food you eat combined with mouth bacteria. That residue sticks to your teeth, decaying the hard, mineral enamel and it makes your gums recede. If you don’t brush and floss your teeth every day, several times a day, you will notice color changes and decay in your teeth. Your gums will begin to pull away from the teeth, and you may actually experience tooth loss as well as severe gum problems.

Notice when these things happen and see a dentist often to spot signs of decay or disease early on. Your mouth functions really well if you keep your tissues and teeth clean so they can do what they were designed for. If you want to learn more about your mouth or want to see if your mouth is healthy, call Dr. Ania’s office at 303-443-0998 for your comprehensive examination and cleaning!

Posted: June 15, 2018 By: content.team Comment: 0

Better Oral Health Can Boost Your Immune System

Smiling young woman looking at a smiling young man

Did you know that how well you take care of your oral health can be an indication of how healthy you are? People that have poor oral hygiene habits often have oral health diseases or problems that can affect their immune system. There are also many autoimmune diseases that can affect your oral health. Your immune system is connected to every part of your body. If you’re not taking care of one part (such as your teeth and gums), you can experience problems from bacteria, infections, decay and more. Find out how how oral health is connected to the immune system!

Your Immune System

The immune system iis your body’s built-in defense system to help protect you against foreign infectious organisms, germs, allergens and more. Many people think there is a certain area where the immune system lies, but it is actually a system comprised of many cells, organs, proteins and tissues that goes all throughout your body. This is how your body can fight off infections whenever you get cuts or open wounds on different areas of your body.

Your mouth is one main area that plays a major role in your immune system and overall health. If you think about everything that passes through your body, it generally comes through the mouth first. The food you eat, the liquids you drink, medicines, allergens and more come through your mouth. It’s not surprising that your oral health is strongly connected to your immune system function. If you have better oral health, you can expect to have better overall health and fewer illnesses.

Puzzle board with the words "oral health" and a stethoscope

Autoimmune Diseases and Oral health

Many illnesses are passed through liquids such as your saliva if you share foods or drinks. Even though your immune system helps you fight off bacteria, viruses and more, that doesn’t mean you won’t get sick. In fact, you generally do get sick once, and your body builds up a resistance to that illness so you become immune. However, there are autoimmune diseases that your body struggles to fight off, and they can mess with your oral health and cause oral problems. Some autoimmune diseases (out of about 80) that affect your oral health include:

Sjogren’s Syndrome: Sjogren’s affects the function of the glands, which can lead to dry mouth. Less saliva production and dry mouth can lead to chronic bad breath, tooth decay and gum disease. You need ample saliva in the mouth to restore minerals to the teeth and to wash away plaque and food so they don’t cause decay and gum problems.
Crohn’s Disease: This can cause gum swelling, ulcers in the mouth and lip swelling. Patients can also experience problems with eating and swallowing if they don’t monitor this disease.
Scleroderma and More: This immune system disease and others such as Hasimoto’s disease, can cause swelling and difficulty swallowing.

The Connection With Diabetes

Diabetes is one chronic disease that dentists can be especially helpful with. Patients who have diabetes often have problems with gum disease and tooth decay. This is because diabetes affects your body’s ability to control blood sugar levels. Insulin is a hormone responsible for converting sugar into energy. However, there isn’t enough insulin to control the blood sugar like it should. This leads to inflammation in the body, which damages tissues, organs and cells and makes infections much more likely.

Your mouth doesn’t escape the problems that diabetes can cause. A patient can have inflammation in their gums because of the effects of diabetes. This can lead to swollen gums and gum disease. However, the opposite can also happen. People who don’t brush and floss their teeth enough will begin to have problems with tooth decay and gum disease. That gum disease will cause inflammation, which can cause gum infections that affect your entire body. Diabetes can and generally does affect your oral health and your oral health habits directly affect whether you have more complications with diabetes. If you are a patient with this disease, be very vigilant in oral health practices so that you can keep your teeth and gums healthy.

Close-up of a beautiful mouth being examined by a dentist

Better Oral Health, Better Immune System

Do you want to have better oral health and a better immune system? Start by taking better care of your mouth! Taking better care of your mouth involves several parts. First, you must eat better to stay healthier overall. A proper diet full of all the essential nutrients will help you avoid chronic conditions and diseases. If your diet is a healthy one that is low in sugar, your mouth will make less decay-causing plaque. Plaque is a byproduct of bacteria in your mouth and sugars in your foods and drinks. It’s also what leads to tooth decay and gum disease.

If you are already susceptible to gum disease or you currently have it, you can reduce many of your health symptoms by brushing and flossing more. The American Dental Association recommends brushing at least 2 times a day and flossing 1-2 times. If you have an autoimmune disease or diabetes, you should brush more often than this. You should also be seeing your dentist at least 2 times a year, if not every 3-4 months. A dentist can keep your oral health in check and in a range that reduces your immune system problems. Better oral health can significantly lead to a better immune system.

Help For Chronic Problems

Some people see significant improvement with their oral health problems if they implement a better oral hygiene routine. However, autoimmune diseases and chronic conditions like diabetes will affect a person’s mouth even if they practice proper oral hygiene. This is why you should see your dentist often and work closely with them to have better oral health continually and fewer oral problems. If you have a chronic health condition or you have noticed changes in your oral health, call Dr. Ania’s office at 303-443-0998!

Posted: May 23, 2018 By: content.team Comment: 0

What Does Carbonation Do To Your Teeth?

Three girls outside with sunglasses on and drinking various sodas

Did you know that about half of all Americans drink soda, with most of those drinking almost 3 glasses of soda per day? If you are a soda drinker, think twice before drinking another glass. The carbonation and sugar content in soda is most likely wrecking your teeth, even if you don’t notice any changes on a day-to-day basis. Carbonation contains carbonic acid, which erodes away your tooth enamel. This causes cracks and fissures in your teeth, where plaque and other gunk can get inside your teeth and decay them. Soda also causes tooth decay and tooth staining, among other problems. Find out what carbonation is and what happens to your teeth over time!

How Popular Are Sodas?

Some studies report that Americans on average drink about 50 gallons of soda or carbonation-containing drinks each year. This happens because many people are reaching for carbonated beverages instead of water or healthier drink options. Most people drink about a ½ gallon of liquid each day, but for many Americans, that ½ gallon is coming from sugary and carbonated drinks.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that high consumption of sugary drinks significantly increases your risk for diabetes, obesity, weight gain, kidney diseases, liver disease, heart disease and tooth decay.
63% of children and 49% of adults drink sodas or sugar-filled drinks each day.
So many Americans drink carbonation in the form of soda that 33 states have a soda tax.
9 out of 10 American children drink sodas with carbonation every single day.
Energy drinks make up a little more than 10% of the carbonation consumption.
People spend over $75 billion dollars a year on soda.
1 can of Coke has 39 grams of sugar in it. That can is considered the “small” size.
Many people skip the soda and consume sparkling water instead. This can cut out the sugar, but will still destroy your teeth because of the acid.

Colorful sodas with carbonation

What Is Carbonation?

Most people have had carbonation at some point in their lives. You probably identify carbonation as the bubbles in soda. If so, you would be correct! Carbonation is what gives sodas, sparkling water and other drinks their strong bite. Carbonation is actually a chemical reaction that happens because of carbonic dioxide. Carbon dioxide gas mixes with water when sodas and other drinks are made and the gas is sealed off. When a person opens a drink, pressure from the gas will release, creating bubbles of carbon dioxide gas.

The mixture of the gas and water not only creates bubbles, but it creates an acidic substance called carbonic acid. When it comes to your teeth, carbonic acid is lethal, as it erodes your tooth enamel and leads to decay. You don’t ever want to brush your teeth right after drinking soda, as it could take a layer of your tooth enamel off because of the acid. You always want to drink some water and wait between 25 and 30 minutes before brushing and flossing. The carbonic acid can hurt your teeth, and the sugar content of carbonated drinks will lead to tooth decay. Other effects this chemical substance has on your health includes:

Heartburn
Burping, sometimes long after you’ve had the drink
Nutrient deficiencies from high sugar and high soda consumption
Increased risk of weight gain and chronic health problems
Weaker bones, especially in the hips if you are an avid soda-drinker
Tooth decay and oral health problems from the carbonic acid

What Does Carbonation Do To Your Teeth?

You can go your entire life drinking carbonation and never have problems with your teeth. However, others can drink sodas here and there and can experience weakening enamel or tooth decay. It all depends on your drinking habits. There are several factors you have to consider when it comes to the effects of carbonation on your teeth:

The majority of carbonated drinks are very high in sugar. Some of these drinks can have upwards of 60 grams of sugar (which is about 10 times the recommended amount). Sugar mixes with bacteria in your mouth to form plaque, which erodes and decays your tooth enamel. Sugar is directly correlated with cavities. The more you eat or drink, the higher your risk for tooth decay.
Any kind of acid you ingest will hurt your teeth. Carbonic acid in drinks with carbonation is proven to hurt your teeth. That includes sodas, juices, and even sparkling water. When you combine carbon dioxide gas with water, it will always produce an acidic chemical that comes in contact with your teeth.

If you drink soda several times a day (or even just one a day), you should not be surprised if your enamel is weak, thinning, or if you get cavities often.

Close-up view of cola with lots of carbonation

How You Can Protect Your Oral Health

We are not telling you to completely cut sodas or any other form of carbonation out of your life. However, we do recommend that you consider significantly cutting down your soda or carbonation intake so you keep a healthy mouth. Drink water as often as you can instead of other beverages. Make sure you are brushing your teeth at least twice a day per the American Dental Association recommendation. If you drink soda all day long, brush your teeth more often, waiting those 20-30 minutes after drinking to brush.

To reduce your risk for tooth decay, use fluoride products on your teeth and drink through a straw. Also, try choosing sodas or products with carbonation that are at least sugar-free, so you don’t have both tooth decay and tooth erosion working against you. Patients who cut down on carbonation—especially sodas—will notice they have less cavities and fewer health problems. If you drink sugary or acidic drinks often, come in for a comprehensive dental exam. Call Dr. Ania’s office at 303-443-0998 and let us help you improve your oral health today!

Posted: May 18, 2018 By: content.team Comment: 0

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