Educating children about good oral hygiene and cavity prevention is the cornerstone of our work.
My greatest pleasure is teaching your children this healthy foundation and practicing good prevention so that we can watch them grow up with healthy, radiant smiles.
Dr. Adriana Agachi, Pediatric Oral Surgeon
1
Adopt Good Oral Hygiene Habits
Our Recommendations
Brush at minimum 2 times per day, for two minutes, after meals.
Assist and monitor your child's brushing until they are 8-10 years old.
Use soft toothbrushes and change toothbrushes every 3-4 months.
Monitor snacking and sugary drinks between meals.
Don't share your spoon, ice cream, glass, or toothbrush with your child.
Schedule pediatric dentist appointments every 6 months.
Schedule Dental Cleanings For Your Child Every 6 Months
These visits provide a deep cleaning of the teeth that reduces the risk of cavities.
In addition, our office’s advanced equipment is specially designed for children and allows us to remove plaque and tartar painlessly and without any discomfort.
What is tartar?
In the absence of good brushing and flossing, plaque builds up on the teeth and hardens to form tartar.
Plaque itself is a mixture consisting of bacteria, minerals, and food reminants that can cause irritation and (with time) inflammation of the gums. Plaque quickly hardens to form tartar deposits that can no longer be removed with brushing or flossing.
This can lead to inflammation (gingivitis) and, in the absence of medical attention, periodontal disease.
How is tartar removed?
It's impossible to remove tarter with a tooth brush (yes, even if we brush really hard!). The only way to get rid of it is to have a
dentist perform a dental cleaning.
At our office, dental cleanings are performed using ultrasound, which replaces traditional instruments that rely on mechanical scraping. Our magic wand alternatively produces ultrasonic vibrations at a frequency that dislodges the bacteria cellular membranes that cause tartar to adhere to the surface of teeth. Our dental cleanings are therefore painless!
Fissure sealants are protective, anti-cavity films that are applied to the chewing surface of the molars to fill in their deep fissures.
Why focus on molar protection?
80% of cavities start in the deep fissures located on the chewing surfaces of teeth!
Food remnants lodge themselves within these fissures and, as toothbrush bristles are too thick to get in there to remove them, bacteria multiply inside and start to attack the tooth enamel.
Baby molars are at high risk for cavities!
Baby tooth enamel is less mineralized than that of permanent teeth- that’s why they’re more vulnerable to cavities.
And even though baby teeth eventually fall out, cavities are contagious! They can spread to growing permanent teeth and others already in the mouth.
What are fissure sealants?
To protect molars, we can apply a protective resin to the bottom of their fissures that protects against attacks from acids and bacteria, thereby saving the tooth from cavities.
– When your child drinks juice, milk, or sodas throughout the day – If your child loves bread, sweets, cakes, and candies and doesn't brush their teeth well after eating – If it's difficult to convince your child to brush their teeth every evening – If our bacteria test indicates the presence of cariogenic bacteria – If cavities are already present, in order to preserve molars that are yet unaffected
As soon as the permanent molars appear! Fissure sealings can be performed beginning at about 6 years old (or when the first permanent molar appears), then again around 12 years (when the wisdom teeth come in).
Absolutely! Baby molars are particularly susceptible to attacks from acids and food remnants in the mouth – and even moreso not only because their enamel is less thick, but also because children pay less attention to their oral hygiene.
Even though it's easy to think that cavities on baby teeth aren't serious because they'll eventually fall out, cavities are in fact contagious and can affect permament teeth that are in the process of growing or have already appeared.
– They reduce the risk of cavities by over 80% compared to teeth without sealants!
– They guarantee a protection that lasts many years.
Dr. Agachi also commits to renewing any sealant that has worn or fallen off, free of charge, for 3 years- so that your child can benefit from this cavity protection for as long as possible.
Sealant wear is actually a normal consequence of eating and brushing, therefore sealants should be examined during your regular biannual checkups.
4
Request Flouride Treatments
Fluoride reinforces tooth enamel, increasing teeth's resistance against acidic attacks that are at the origin of cavities.
What are topical flouride treatments?
During regular checkups, Dr. Agachi can apply fluoride varnish as a preventative measure. Depending on your child’s needs, she can also prescribe fluoride pastes to apply topically at home, as well as special toothpaste.
Flouride treatments in the office are not a replacement for flouride toothpaste which your child should use everyday. You should continue to brush with flouride toothpaste everyday!
> Use a tooth paste with a fluoride concentration less than 500 ppm, and apply a quantity about equal to the size of a grain of rice when brushing.
3-6 years:
> Your child's toothpaste should have a fluoride concentration of 500 ppm, and apply a quantity about equal to the size of your child's pinky nail (or a pea!) when brushing.
Before 6 years of age, toothpastes are formulated to be swallowed, therefore pay attention to the concentrations to avoid an overdosage.
6 years and older:
> Once children habitually spit out their toothpaste, the ideal fluoride concentration is between 1000-1500 ppm.
First and foremost, fluoride is and remains a principal tool in the fight for cavity prevention. However, its administration can be nuanced. For example, the latest studies show that fluoride effects are more pronounced when applied locally. This is why we recommend direct fluoride treatments, such as children’s fluoride toothpaste as well as topical fluoride treatments every six months at checkups.
Similarly, there are also fluoride trays and pastes that are useful in cases where tooth enamel is particularly fragile.
The recommended fluoride intake is 0.05 mg/kg per day, which can be naturally met with fluoridated foods such as table salt, bottled water (and certain carbonated waters in particular), as well as children’s toothpaste.
Oral fluoride supplements (lozenges) are now prohibited. Moreover, according to the latest AFSSAPS recommendations (2008), fluoride supplements should not be given before the age of 6 months.
> Use a tooth paste with a fluoride concentration less than 500 ppm, and apply a quantity about equal to the size of a grain of rice when brushing.
3-6 years:
> Your child's toothpaste should have a fluoride concentration of 500 ppm, and apply a quantity about equal to the size of your child's pinky nail (or a pea!) when brushing.
Before 6 years of age, toothpastes are formulated to be swallowed, therefore pay attention to the concentrations to avoid an overdosage.
6 years and older:
> Once children habitually spit out their toothpaste, the ideal fluoride concentration is between 1000-1500 ppm.
First and foremost, fluoride is and remains a principal tool in the fight for cavity prevention. However, its administration can be nuanced. For example, the latest studies show that fluoride effects are more pronounced when applied locally. This is why we recommend direct fluoride treatments, such as children’s fluoride toothpaste as well as topical fluoride treatments every six months at checkups.
Similarly, there are also fluoride trays and pastes that are useful in cases where tooth enamel is particularly fragile.
The recommended fluoride intake is 0.05 mg/kg per day, which can be naturally met with fluoridated foods such as table salt, bottled water (and certain carbonated waters in particular), as well as children’s toothpaste.
Oral fluoride supplements (lozenges) are now prohibited. Moreover, according to the latest AFSSAPS recommendations (2008), fluoride supplements should not be given before the age of 6 months.
Educating children about good oral hygiene and cavity prevention is the cornerstone of our work.
