Let’s get to baseline!
Today I had back to back appointments with kids needing some serious work done! Three year olds in my clinic needing 14 or more teeth fully restored! That is, 14 teeth in EACH kiddo requiring full coverage crowns! Many of the 14 teeth requiring the pulp or nerve treatment is similar to an adult root canal in order to restore their mouths back to BASELINE oral health!!
WHY is this necessary you may wonder?!
“They’re Just Baby Teeth!”
There are always multi-factorial combinations of WHY this is a result for a child.
Let’s discuss one factor that we can control and understand.
“No Food To Bed”
I estimate 70% of all dental decay in my pediatric dental practice would disappear if we were able to see this implemented at home!
When I say “no food to bed” I get a common response such as “Oh no, we don’t allow any food to bed!” And I say that’s fantastic! But I want to make sure that this is well understood.
Water Only
For both adult and child alike, after brushing at night WATER ONLY!
ANYTHING besides water to bed is fuel the bacteria use to create acid in your mouth, which leads to demineralization and cavities.
This includes any form of milk. On the short list of MILK products: formula, nursing, almond, rice, coconut, cow, goat…ALL are carbohydrates that are complex sugars! That’s correct, SUGARS!
We have all finished a glass of milk and noticed the film remaining on the glass. This is the same film that coats and remains on all surfaces of your mouth.
Ready for the REVEAL!!? THIS IS HOW FOOD REMAINS in the mouth and demonstrates why “No Food to Bed” is in the details! Juice, milk, soda, a bowl of cereal, jello, pudding, applesauce…ANYTHING other than WATER coats the mouth and teeth!
SO what is the other 30% you may wonder!!:) Great question!! Let’s continue this discussion by viewing some of our other blogs on oral hygiene and genetics;)…for the reveal!
Summary:
After brushing at night, water ONLY!
