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Dry mouth is a problem that has undoubtedly affected everyone at some point in their lifetime, and most likely, your child has experienced it earlier than they can remember.

It can be caused by any number of reasons and most often occurs temporarily from dehydration, or from a long night’s sleep. These instances are generally situational and can be quickly resolved with a cool glass of water.

What are the symptoms of dry mouth?

The most obvious symptom of dry mouth is if your child is constantly complaining of thirst. They might also describe a sticky feeling in their mouth, difficulty chewing or swallowing, or dry and cracked lips.

Most of the symptoms can occur from time to time, for varying reasons, and are no cause for alarm. However, if the symptoms persist, they could be the sign of something more serious.

What if my constantly has dry mouth?

If your child is experiencing a persistently dry mouth, it could be from an ailment known as Xerostomia. Xerostomia occurs when the glands that produce saliva in your child’s mouth stop functioning properly. If the glands are not doing their job, their mouths will not produce the saliva they need.

If your child has a persistent problem producing saliva, it can lead to other, significant health issues. Most notably, it promotes tooth decay. Saliva is your child’s first line of defense against oral bacteria, as it helps to naturally wash it off of his or her teeth.

So what causes Xerostomia?

There are a number of different causes of Xerostomia. It could be the symptom of an underlying issue such as Diabetes, Sjörgen’s Syndrome, or high blood pressure. If your child is on medication, it could also be one of the side effects, as dry mouth is a potential side effect of many medications.

What to do if you suspect your child has persistent dry mouth.

If your child is experiencing symptoms of dry mouth frequently, schedule an appointment with your child’s dentist. We are happy to assist with any questions or concerns you might have regarding your child’s dental health.

Having to face an emergency is something that no parent wants to have to deal with, yet it is also a rite of passage. Life is unpredictable, and accidents happen. While there is no way to prevent these things from happening, you can be better prepared.

Don’t Panic!

Kids are curious and clumsy, and sometimes that combination will lead to an accident. The most important thing to remember is not to panic. Your first order of business is to comfort your child, and your reaction will influence his or hers.

Assess the Problem.

The most common problems we encounter are:

• Toothache: In the event of a nagging toothache, rinse your child’s mouth with water and apply a cold compress. You will want to schedule an appointment to have the affected area x-rayed for further treatment.
• Chipped or broken tooth: If your child chips or breaks a tooth, try and locate the broken fragment, then contact your dentist immediately.
• Lost primary tooth: rinse your child’s mouth and apply a cold compress to reduce any swelling. Contact your dentist immediately.
• Lost permanent tooth: try to locate the tooth. Rinse it gently with cool water. Try to replace the tooth in its socket if possible, then hold it there with clean gauze or a washcloth. If you cannot replace the tooth, place it in a container with cold milk. Immediately take your child to his or her dentist.

Make Sure the Problem Isn’t More Serious.

If you child lost or chipped a tooth after hitting their head and lost consciousness, contact your physician or go to the emergency room immediately. Head injuries can be very serious, so assess and treat any head injuries before dental damage.

We Are Available 24/7.
We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in the event of a dental emergency. If you have any questions, or you have a dental emergency, don’t hesitate to give us a call!

It is commonly perceived that sports drinks are a great way to replenish fluids and electrolytes after a workout or during sporting events.  Most people consider sports drinks and flavored water to be a slightly healthier option than just plain old tap water.

The reality, however, could not be further from the truth.

While sports drinks do contain electrolytes, they also contain an elevated level of acidity and sugar, which is very damaging to tooth enamel.

The problem with perception:

When most people think about sports drinks, they think they are getting a healthier alternative to soft drinks or tap water.  What they don’t realize is that most sports drinks have nearly as much sugar, sometimes even more, as soft drinks.

In addition to excess sugar, sports drinks also contain a high level of acidity not too different from soft drinks.  Acidity is equally as detrimental to overall tooth health as sugar, and drinks high in both sugar and acidity are going to leave your child’s teeth much more susceptible to cavities and tooth decay.

They aren’t just bad for your teeth.

Sports drinks aren’t just bad for your teeth.  With the added sugar also come more calories.  While sports drinks might be beneficial during prolonged and vigorous exercise, they don’t fare so well in normal activities or limited exercise.

In a lot of cases, your child will actually be taking in more calories than they are actually burning.  The average serving size of a sports drink is 8 ounces, however, off the shelf options are usually 20 or 32 ounces, meaning your child is drinking 2-4 servings if the entire bottle is consumed.

Unless your child is extremely active, the extra sugar and sodium contained in sports drinks isn’t necessary to supplement their activities.

What should I give my child?

As you might have guessed, good old-fashioned water is the best way to keep your child healthy and hydrated.   Water does wonders not only replacing and liquids lost during activity, but also to continually rinse and clean their teeth of plaque buildup and bacteria.

If you do give your child sports drinks, just be sure to monitor the serving size and to supplement it with water to better promote your little one’s tooth health!

Space maintainers are exactly what their name implies.  They are placeholders to keep space for incoming teeth when a primary tooth is lost early, or your child needs an extraction.

If a tooth is lost or extracted before its permanent successor is ready to erupt, other teeth may work their way in or around that open space instead of where they should be.

Space maintainers act as a placeholder for the permanent tooth that has not yet made its way into its new home.

How Do I Know If My Child Needs A Space Maintainer?

Every case will be unique, so it is best to consult your dentist or orthodontist for his or her recommendation.  Some instances will not require any action at all, but it’s best to ask a professional if you are concerned.

If your child does lose a tooth prematurely and proper space is not allowed for the permanent tooth, it can cause crowding or shifting that could require further orthodontic treatment.

The work needed to repair permanent teeth that shift improperly can be both a costly and lengthy repair.

How does a space maintainer work?

A space maintainer is a custom fit appliance made of either plastic or metal that holds the space of the tooth prematurely lost.  By occupying the space while the permanent tooth will grow, it prevents the other teeth from moving in to the newly opened space.

Orthodontic work for teeth that grow out of line can be costly and time consuming.  Implementing a space maintainer is a much cheaper and easier procedure if your child does have a spacing issue.

Space maintainers can be removable or fixed to surrounding teeth.  The most common type of space maintainer is called the band and loop.  A band is fitted around the tooth behind the vacant space.  From there, the maintainer is looped around the gum resting on the tooth in front of the space.

This procedure will keep that space, allowing for the new permanent tooth to grow into its proper place.

Caring for your child’s space maintainer:

It might take a few days for your child to get comfortable with the appliance. You will want to be mindful of the types of foods you give your child, being sure to avoid chewy or sugary foods, gum and candy.

It is equally as important to make sure the area is getting properly cleaned to avoid plaque buildup.  Your dentist will instruct you on best practices when brushing and flossing the area.

Once the permanent tooth has erupted, then the maintainer can be removed.  You will want to make a follow-up appointment for x-rays to check on the progress of your child’s treatment.

Have questions?  Give us a call!

If you have any questions or concerns regarding space maintainers, or for any of your child’s dental health, call us to schedule an appointment today!

Creve Coeur Office – 314-567-1122              St. Charles Office – 636-946-5225