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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

We have all, at some point, encountered someone who spoke a little too closely and left you with a lingering scent of the bad taste in their mouth.

Bad breath is a common problem for over 80 million people for any number of reasons, whether it is from what they ate for lunch or an actual medical condition. It is an unpleasant and potentially embarrassing experience for anyone.

But what about your children?

What Are the Causes?

Poor dental hygiene is the leading cause of bad breath.

It most commonly occurs when food particles left in the mouth begin to rot and collect bacteria. Plaque, which is that sticky, transparent film that builds up on your teeth from irregular brushing habits, is also a great hiding place for bacteria.

Any of these items can lead to a foul odor in your child’s mouth.

Bad breath can also be the byproduct of a medical condition.

Chronic halitosis (or bad breath) can occur in diabetics whose blood sugar goes uncontrolled. Kidney, liver and sinus problems have also been known to be the culprits.

Sinus infections that create a postnasal drip are the leading cause of halitosis in children. Runny noses are the ideal breeding ground for bacteria, and any residual rundown can end up clinging to back of the tongue.

Saliva is your natural first line of defense in combatting bad breath. Saliva works to wash away food particles and odor-causing bacteria. Children with dry mouth, or who are dehydrated, are also more likely to experience bad breath.

Keeping your child hydrated is an easy way of combatting that, as well as promoting tooth health, as dehydration can also lead to tooth decay.

What Are the Solutions?

As you might suspect, having a good brushing routine is the best way to combat bad breath.

Have your child brush and floss at least twice a day, remembering to also brush his or her tongue, cheeks, and the roof of their mouth.  This will help remove any bacteria or food that might be hiding around their pearly whites.

It is also important to keep up with your child’s regular dental visits to ensure he or she hasn’t developed plaque build-up or cavities.

If your child is experiencing chronic bad breath, be sure to tell your child’s doctor on your next dental visit. They will be able to help you identify the problem and let you know the best method of action to keep your child’s breath as sweet as their smile!

Sometimes little ones, and even no-so-little ones, flat out refuse to brush their teeth on their own or allow a parent to do it for them.

Unfortunately, tooth brushing is a nonnegotiable task for healthy children. And twice daily meltdowns over the subject aren’t fun for anyone, so we did a little research.

We found 6 funky toothbrushes to get kids excited about brushing!

GUM® Star Wars Light Saber Toothbrush

This product is perfect for the mini Jedi in your life! The brush is in the shape of a light saber and comes in three unique designs: Anakin Skywalker (blue stem), Darth Vader (red stem) and Yoda (green stem). The light saber flashes for 1 minute at a time to encourage kids to brush for longer.

You Get:

12 toothbrushes per bag

$29.29 per bag ($2.44 per toothbrush)

Batteries are included

GUM® Crayola Timer Light Toothbrush

Similar to the Star Wars Light Saber Toothbrush, the Crayola Timer Light Toothbrush is the perfect choice for any child. Who doesn’t love to color? The brush’s LED lights flash for 1 minute at a time to encourage longer brushing. Additionally, the brushes come with countertop suction cup holders that will keep their bristles cleaner. Four colors are included: Green, blue, yellow and red.

You Get:

12 toothbrushes per bag

$27.79 per bag ($2.32 per toothbrush)

Infant Finger Toothbrush

Designed for adults to gently clean their infant’s gums, this latex-free product is fascinating. Simply slip this thimble-esque finger topper on and remove plaque from your child’s gums and/or erupting baby teeth. While your child may not be excited about brushing just yet, it’s important to form a mouth-cleaning routine as early as possible.

You Get:

12 toothbrushes per pack

$11.99 per pack ($1.00 per toothbrush)

6 pink and 6 blue toothbrushes per pack

RinserBrush

It’s a toothbrush and a water fountain all in one! Eliminate paper cups and wasted water, and quit putting your head in the sink by investing in one of these! Kids will love the fountain aspect, and you’ll love the reduced counter clutter! Also, the bristle section is replaceable, so you won’t have to throw out the entire brush every three months!

You Get:

1 toothbrush and 1 replacement head

$8.99 per order

ARM & HAMMER TOOTH TUNES

Pick your child’s brush based on their music taste! Then, songs will play for 2 minutes directly into their head while they brush (assuming they’re using the correct method)! Electric toothbrushes can get kids excited about brushing on their own, and when you combine one such brush with One Direction or Kidz Bop, then your child is bound to love it!

Upon reading reviews for this product, several buyers complained that there’s no way to replace its battery and that the battery lifespan was short. While this certainly sounds like a great product, you may want to further research it before purchasing.

You Get:

1 toothbrush

$10.07

Batteries are included

Philips Sonicare HX6311

The Sonicare for Kids electric toothbrush is a top-rated option, according to internet reviews. The toothbrush chimes musically at 30-second intervals to let kids know when to brush another quadrant of their mouths. The high-tech product is also designed to connect to your smart devices and play animations to entertain your child during their 2-minute brush time via a free, interactive app.

You Get:

1 rechargeable toothbrush

$39.95

Batteries are included

We hope that one of these products will make your life a little easier and that your child learns to love keeping his or her mouth healthy!