Knowledge Center

By Vishant Nath DMD It’s never too early to begin considering your child’s oral health care. From birth, your baby’s oral health is being determined by a variety of factors. There are some easy guidelines to follow to put your baby on a pathway to good oral health. As soon as your baby’s new teeth erupt from their gums, they are susceptible to cavities. Cavities are caused by an overabundance of the bacteria mutans streptococci (MS) in the mouth. Even before your baby has teeth, these bacteria can be present in their mouth. As a parent, there are two main…

By Vishant Nath DMD A visit to the pediatric dentist can sometimes result in a diagnosis for dental treatment for your child. This may not be what you were expecting as a parent. But it’s important to realize that there are many options available to you in getting your child’s dental health back on track. In many cases, pediatric dental treatment can be performed rather quickly in the office. There are a couple of goals that the pediatric dentist has for a dental treatment appointment. First, the dentist wants to make sure that the treatment is done well to remove…

One of the most commonly asked questions from parents of very young children is, “When do I need to bring my child for their first dental appointment?” Parents are often surprised to hear that the recommendation is that children see a dentist within 6 months of getting their first tooth. There are several reasons behind this recommendation. Just as it’s important early in a baby’s life to establish a trusting relationship with a pediatrician, it’s important to find a pediatric dentist. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry promotes the “First Visit by the First Birthday” policy. As soon as a…

Oral Mucoceles in Mouth | By Vishant Nath DMD Oral Mucoceles - Mouth Mucoceles is an infected salivary gland. It looks and feels like a growth in the mouth. It is most often due to a blockage of the salivary gland, but can also result from trauma to the mouth. Another cause can be certain medications that thicken the saliva. The thicker saliva can block the salivary gland, leading to a mucocele. So what happens if you notice this in your mouth? Most mouth-related sores heal rather quickly. Anyone who has bitten their tongue or lip will know that these…

By Vishant Nath DMD Over the past few years, the topic of tooth bleaching has become very common. There are several different types of tooth bleaching to choose from. They vary in everything from cost to effectiveness. As the name implies, tooth whiteners or bleachers lighten the color of the tooth surface because they contain peroxides, or bleach components as the active ingredient. A very common side effect of tooth whitening is sensitivity in the teeth. Teeth contain microscopic dentinal tubules that run from the nerve of the tooth to the surface of the tooth. A tooth will become sensitive…

By Vishant Nath DMD, Pediatric Dentist The last thing that you want to hear at your child’s dental visit is that treatment is needed. Everyone wants to hear the dentist say “Your child has no cavities, see you in six months!” Unfortunately, this doesn’t always happen. So what’s the best advice when your child needs dental treatment? Read on! When your child is diagnosed with the need for dental treatment, it is very important that the parents (1) understand why the treatment is needed and (2) have trust in the child’s dentist to best diagnose the treatment. In most cases,…

By Vishant Nath DMD Parents normally do not expect to hear odd noises coming from a child’s bedroom at night. If you hear a gnashing or grinding sound from your child while they sleep, it’s usually nothing to be too concerned about. This article will address some causes of teeth grinding as well as solutions for the most severe cases. The scientific term for teeth grinding is bruxism. Bruxism is quite common in children. Its cause can be dependent on the age group of your child. Children younger than 7-8 years still have many of their primary teeth. Primary teeth…

By Vishant Nath DMD You may think that your child’s oral health depends mainly on how they take care of their teeth. However, a parent’s oral hygiene can have a great effect on a child’s oral hygiene. There are several things that can contribute to this effect. This article will explain how important it is to take great care of your teeth, at any age. The first contributing factor to a child’s oral health is the oral health of the mother. Even before birth, an expectant mother’s oral hygiene can have a big impact on her unborn child. Aside from…

By Vishant Nath DMD The article last month touched on the use of xylitol (present in sugar-free gums) to combat bad breath. This article will discuss how xylitol can help to strengthen teeth and prevent cavities. Bacteria in the mouth cause tooth decay. The primary bacterium that causes tooth decay is Streptococcus mutans. The bacteria live off of the food that we eat. The bacteria in the mouth break down the food particles and produce acid. This is called an “acid attack”. The acid attack weakens the tooth structure, allowing for the formation of cavities. After eating, this acidic environment…

By Vishant Nath DMD How can a small child have such stinky breath?? A study from 2003 showed that 23% of kids have bad breath, so don’t feel like you are alone if you are dealing with this in your child! There are several causes for bad breath in kids. There are also options for preventing and treating it when it occurs. The first question to ask is, “Is my child doing a adequate job of brushing and flossing?” Poor dental hygiene can lead to bad breath. Bacteria (which produce the foul odor) feed upon food particles that are left…