Tooth Decay Causing Diseases
While poor dental hygiene is the most common cause of tooth decay, there are a few other common culprits. If you or a loved one suffer from any of the disorders listed below, we encourage you to stay on top of your oral health so that you can maintain a beautiful and healthy smile for years to come.
Diabetes can cause dry mouth, which means limited saliva production. Less saliva means it’s easier for bacteria to thrive and eat away at your enamel.
Heartburn, also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), can lead to acid backup from the stomach into the mouth. Acid can wear away at your enamel over time.
Celiac disease can affect the mouth before symptoms show in the gastrointestinal tract. If celiac develops as a child’s permanent teeth are erupting, the enamel can be thin, causing teeth to be yellow, brown, or patchy white.
Protecting Your Toddler’s Teeth from Sugar
What toddler doesn’t love to have a glass of juice or other sugary drinks? While supermarket shelves are full of drinks marketed towards children as “healthy,” it’s not always the case.
Even though children eventually lose their baby teeth, it’s important to care for them to prevent future oral health problems. Here are a few tips for avoiding tooth decay in children when it comes to sneaky sugars in drinks.
• Minimise juice or fizzy drinks to just one (or none) each day.
• Dilute juice and sports drinks with water. We bet your toddler still likes the way it tastes!
• If your toddler is able to, have them use a straw. This helps keep sugar away from the teeth.
• Visit us for regular checkups. Even toddlers should be seen by us every six months!