Say No To Tongue Bling

"Should I let my teen get their tongue pierced? Is it that big of a deal…??"

The answer is an emphatic … No! to Oral Piercings of any kind! 

One of our jobs as Pediatric Dentists is to educate our patients and their parents on the health implications of intra-oral piercing and intra-oral jewelry. And, yes, oral piercings are ‘a big deal' and this is why….

***The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry AAPD) policy on this topic states that intra-oral piercings of the tongue, lips, or cheeks could cause:

  No! to Oral Piercings of any kind! 

•    Bacteria accumulation on teeth
•    Pain and Infection
•    Scar Formation
•    Broken teeth
•    Gum disease
•    Speech Disorder
•    Nerve damage
•    Bleeding
•    Swelling
•    Endocarditis (infection around the heart)
•    Airway obstruction
•    Decay/Cavities

As you can see, some of these consequences could be life threatening!  And, as if those reasons are not enough to say no to oral piercings, the AAPD also states that  “…unregulated piercing parlors and techniques have been identified by the National Institutes of Health as a vector for disease transmission (hepatitis, tetanus, tuberculosis) and as a cause of bacterial endocarditis (infection around the heart!) in susceptible patients…”  

Here, a lip piercing is causing recession gums due to the
constant friction of the jewelry on the same area.

Wow, those are enough reasons for me to say NO to my teen on this topic. Trust me, I know it is sometimes easier not to argue with your teen, but this is one of those battles that we all need to stand firm on.

**American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.  Policy on Intraoral / Perioral Piercing and Oral Jewelry/Accessories.  Pediatric Dent  2013:35(special issue):65-66.

#teenprobs #oralhealth #dentalfacts #saynototonguebling #itsjustafad #drrohnersadvice #ARPD #teensdentist


***Copyright 2014 Angelica Rohner Pediatric Dentistry

“The Dentist’s Kids Don’t Get Cavities, right?”

Wroooong!! I have had the ‘pleasure’ of spending three of my recent filling appointments with two of my lovely children. Who (you guessed it) had cavities!  That’s right, I did fillings on my very own children recently… And, it’s not the first time. 

Now, do you see where I'm coming from?
It's hard to keep all of this in check!

Despite my very best efforts to do my best job as my children’s mother, and their dentist, two of my children have had cavities.  How could I have let this happen? I brush/supervise their tooth brushing and flossing twice daily, well with my teen and the flossing, it’s at least once daily [#teens #youknowwhatImean #theyknowitall]. I try my best to limit their carb and sugar intake, I have their teeth professionally cleaned by my wonderful hygienists 4 times per year, I have placed sealants on their teeth, and we use prescription strength toothpaste due to their high cavity risk. I’ve done all that I recommend to my patients and their parents!

But, sometimes, despite our VERY best efforts, kids still get cavities. Just like kids who get strep throat over and over despite good treatment, just like kids who struggle with asthma despite all of the parents and the doctor’s efforts, just like kids who can’t get over a sports injury despite great physical therapists… it’s not that we, as parents, are not trying, we are!  But, I still ask myself -what can I do better to decrease my children’s cavity risk?

Why do kids get cavities even when we parents do all that the dentist says to do? 

What we know:

Dental caries is a transmissible infectious disease.

Most of us get the bacteria, which causes cavities, from our caregivers or parents or other relatives very early in life. 

New teeth, teeth that have just grown into a child’s mouth, are easy to get cavities because those teeth have immature enamel

Both baby teeth and permanent teeth sometimes grow in with weak spots on them (enamel hypoplasia) that can further increase our risk for cavities.

All of that being said, there are many factors which increase our risk for cavities.

**What can we do to fight harder against decay, to counter act cavities??

1.  Tooth brushing and flossing should be done twice daily (BY THE PARENT at least until third grade) using a soft toothbrush of age appropriate size.

2.  Use fluoride toothpaste on children age 2 and older if your child can spit and/or if your dentist recommends it.

3.  Go to the dentist for the first visit within 6 months of the eruption of the first tooth or by age 1 and see the dentist with your child at least every six months thereafter.

4.   Limit sugar-y beverages and limit solid foods that contain sugar (particularly juices, sport drinks, soft drinks, sweet tea, and milk with sugar added)

5.  Babies should not be put to bed with a bottle filled with milk or liquids containing sugars.

6.  Wean babies from the bottle between 12 and 18 months.

Remember, our goal with our patients and with our own children is to DECREASE a child’s risk of developing cavities.  Dental caries (cavities) is one of the most prevalent child hood diseases and our goal is to DECREASE THAT RISK…  Unfortunately, we do not have a cure to prevent people from getting cavities.  We do not have a ‘cavity vaccine’ (wouldn't that be nice?). We cannot 100% prevent anyone from getting cavities with what we know thus far.  But, we can decrease a child’s risk by using the methods mentioned above. I will continue to work and work harder with my own two children who are fighting the cavity bug. Honestly, I know it’s our sugar/carb intake that I need to fight a lot harder [#teens #struggles] Believe me, I know how hard it is as a parent to make all of this happen on a daily basis.  But, hang in there… I know how you feel!

**American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.  Policy on Early Childhood Caries(ECC):  Classification, Consequences, and Preventive Strategies.  Pediatric Dentistry 2013/13;35(special issue):50-51.

#kidsdentist #teens #mommielife #teeth #cavities #fightingdecay #prevention #mother #dentistmom #beingamom #brushem #flossem

***Copyright 2014 Angelica Rohner Pediatric Dentistry

A little Q&A on loosing teeth and our favorite friend The Tooth Fairy!

Loosing teeth is a natural process that we all experience. It should be fun and exciting, not something for a child to be afraid of.

1. When should my child start losing teeth?

Most children lose their first tooth around 6 years old. The age can vary from 5-7 years due to early or late physical development.

2. Does this coincide with their first dental visit?  When should this be?

Children should be established with a dental home at 1 year of age. Their first dental visit should coincide with the age at which their teeth are erupting not exfoliating.

3.  What can I do to help alleviate anxiety about losing teeth?

Losing teeth naturally should be a fun and exciting experience. The process of natural exfoliation, or baby tooth loss, is usually not associated with discomfort and, ultimately, children can look forward to a reward from the Tooth Fairy!  Parents can reassure children that every child has to lose their small “baby” (primary) teeth in order to grow their larger “big kid” (permanent) teeth.

4. What happens if my child should swallow a tooth that falls out?

If a child accidentally swallows a tooth that has fallen out, our number one concern is whether or not the tooth was swallowed or inhaled. If your child ‘swallows’ a tooth and has no symptoms, then most likely the tooth will ‘work its way out’ through the digestive system.  If the tooth was inhaled, then we are concerned that your child’s airway could become compromised.  If your child ‘swallows’ or ‘inhales’ a tooth and then has symptoms of airway compromise such as coughing or wheezing, then your child should be taken to the pediatrician or to the nearest emergency department immediately.  If you are unsure of symptoms, then you should take your child to visit their pediatrician for an exam.

5. What happens if a baby tooth gets knocked out before its time?

If a child should experience an oral trauma that causes the tooth to be avulsed (knocked out) before it is time for the tooth to fall out naturally, then your child should visit their dentist immediately. You should have your child’s mouth examined by the dentist for any baby tooth fragments remaining and/or any damage to the permanent tooth or the soft tissue surrounding the area.  If you get an “all clear” on those factors, then the only other thing to be aware of is that your child might be toothless for a little longer than normal due to the permanent tooth not being ready to erupt yet.

6. What is the going rate for a tooth from The Tooth Fairy, according to your sources?

According to our sources… there is no set amount ofmoney or form of prize that can be given. Most of the time, the Tooth Fairytends to give money because it’s a lot easier to fly with. Occasionally, childrenrequest some of the Tooth Fairy’s special sparkle dust, so they will get asmall bag of sparkle under their pillow instead.

The amount of dollars or coins left by the Tooth Fairy depends on several different things, for example,  the size of the tooth, if the tooth had to be extracted by the pediatric dentist or came out naturally, or if it was the first or last tooth to come out.

7. Anything else you’d like to add?

Parents can visit our website http://www.drrohner.com/New-Patients/About-Teeth.aspx and view an interactive chart that shows at what ages which teeth erupt and exfoliate.

I get a lot of questions about what happens if, after you lose your tooth, you actually lose your tooth… It’s lost and you can’t find it!! Some children tend to misplace their tooth, swallow it, or don’t even notice it came out until they see the gap where it used to be. If this happens to you, do not worry! All you have to do is write the Tooth Fairy a small note and place it under your pillow as a replacement for the missing tooth. Be sure to draw a picture of your tooth so I can know what size it was.

***Copyright 2014 Angelica Rohner Pediatric Dentistry