What are the Most Frequent Dental Diseases in Children?

There is a belief that children do not need to go to the dentist until their final teeth come out. Traditionally, the dentition of milk has not been given much importance, because it is thought that since it is not definitive teeth, the problems that it suffers should not be treated. It’s a mistake. There are dental diseases in children that can affect from an early age and must be treated. This is responsible for child dentistry, also called pediatric dentistry. Specialists in dental treatments for children.

What Are the Most Common Childhood Dental Ailments?

The child’s dental health has an impact on his general health and also conditions the health and condition of the final denture. A bad mouth can have a negative influence on how to chew food, causing the child to suffer digestive and even nutritional problems. Oral health also affects the child’s immune system. These are the most frequent diseases in the infant mouth:

Gingivitis

A disease that can become serious if left untreated. It is caused primarily by poor oral hygiene. It is important not only to treat it, but to correct it as soon as possible, instilling in the child good dental cleaning habits. Gingivitis can lead to loss of tooth support, bone loss and tooth decay due to poor gum conditions, which fail to hold them.

Stomatitis

Also called the disease of canker sores, it causes the appearance of very painful ulcers in the mouth, including lips and tongue. Burning becomes unbearable and feeding difficult due to pain. This disease usually affects girls more than boys. The causes are unknown, although it points to stress, systemic diseases and some immunological factors. These ulcers also appear by friction or by introducing irritating substances into the mouth, such as acidic foods. Occasionally, the appearance of mouth ulcers is indicative of an important disease.

Herpangina

They leave ulcers in soft areas of the mouth, such as the palate, tonsils or pharynx. They are caused by a virus and more frequent in school age. They usually cause epidemics and run with fever.

Hand-foot-mouth disease

It is due to Coxsackie A 16 virus. It is manifested by vesicles in the hands, feet and mouth.

Oral candidiasis

Produces typical whitish and cottony pseudo membranes that break off easily, leaving the gum red and inflamed.

Mucocele

It usually comes out in the lower lip but it can also be done in other areas of the oral mucosa with salivary content. Sometimes cysts form that must be surgically removed.

Contact Graceful Smiles Dentistry

At Graceful Smiles, we provide exceptional dental care for patients of all ages. We take care of our families, and ensure that each appointment is a positive experience for everyone.

If you are interested in scheduling an appointment with Dr. Elsa Mammen, please contact our dental office in Richmond, TX today! 

How Are Wisdom Teeth Extracted?

Wisdom teeth are third molars that usually appear at ages between 14 and 25 years. Although this may vary from person to person. Sometimes they may also never appear or begin to develop before the established age.

They get their name because when they start to appear people already have a more developed judgment than when the rest of the final denture appears.

Most people usually have four, two above and two below one in each quadrant of the mouth. They are in the last position of the dental line and their size is variable.

For being the last teeth to grow, sometimes the mouth does not have a free place for them. So, in many cases they press on other teeth and their appearance causes pain.

Also, if they go awry, their development can affect others by pushing and moving them, even if you had already done some of the orthodontic and maxillary orthodontic treatments. They usually cause a lot of discomfort and require surgery to remove them.

Contact Graceful Smiles Dentistry

At Graceful Smiles, we provide exceptional dental care for patients of all ages. We take care of our families, and ensure that each appointment is a positive experience for everyone.

If you are interested in scheduling an appointment with Dr. Elsa Mammen, please contact our dental office in Richmond, TX today! 

How Can I Whiten My Teeth At Home?

Don’t hold your smile back! A bright and shiny smile boosts your confidence. Pearly white teeth not only enhance the beauty, but they also indicate how good and consistent about your oral hygiene.

If you are wondering how to make your teeth whiter fast – no need to worry about it, in this post you’ll get super easy, effective and informative tips to restore your pearly white teeth at home.

How Can I Get White Teeth At Home?

Some tips that you can consider following to get white teeth at home include:

Drink Water

Chase your dark liquids such as red wine or black coffee with water. It takes 30-seconds for the stain to penetrate, so drinking water along with your wine and coffee will assist in washing any would-be stains away.

Avoid Certain Foods

Despite red wine and coffee, there are certain foods that also lead to stains, and these stains are even tougher to remove. If dark foods and beverages stain your white shirt, then they will also stain your shiny white teeth.

In order to avoid staining, you must brush your teeth immediately after ingesting any form of dark foods and beverages. In case you cannot brush immediately after a meal, then rinse your mouth with clean water. It will also help you to keep your teeth white.

Add Milk To Your Tea

The addition of milk to your tea decreased the tea’s ability to stain your teeth. Unfortunately, this doesn’t apply to coffee and other dark beverages.

Brush Teeth Twice a Day

Practicing good oral hygiene regularly takes a long way to whitening your teeth. Currently, every dentist recommends using electronic brushes instead of manual brushes. Because electronic brushes clean better and deeper than a manual one. In order to whiten your teeth, you may need to update your manual brush with an electronic one.

Try to Floss Regularly

Food particles and plaque between the teeth can affect your bright smile overall, so don’t ever neglect to floss. Start making a habit of flossing every day with various gentle flossing kits.

Don’t Smoke

Smoking leads teeth to decay and discolor, and can also become a cause of tooth loss. In addition, the exposure of nicotine leaves the mouth unable to fight effectively with infection, which leads plaque buildup as well as provides bacteria and germs rampant to run. Moreover, it will not only harm your oral health, but it will badly affect your overall health condition. In order to restore your shiny smile, you need to work on your oral hygiene habits, as well as you need to take care about your diet.

Contact Graceful Smiles Dentistry

At Graceful Smiles, we provide exceptional dental care for patients of all ages. We take care of our families, and ensure that each appointment is a positive experience for everyone.

If you are interested in scheduling an appointment with Dr. Elsa Mammen, please contact our dental office in Richmond, TX today! 

What Do Dental Implants Look Like?

If you are looking for a permanent solution for damaged, broken, or missing teeth, then dental implants may be right for you. At Graceful Smiles Dentistry, we offer many restorative options for our patients, and are conveniently located in Richmond Texas. One of the most common restorative options is dental implants. Implants are a great option, and are durable and reliable, giving patients that bright white smile they have always wanted.

What Do Dental Implants Look Like?

Implants function like natural teeth, and allow patients to speak and eat normally. They look natural and feel comfortable in the mouth. Once you have implants no one will know you have them because they look that natural.

Implants act as an artificial tooth root similar to a screw that is placed in the jawbone. The implant is made of titanium and provides the base of support for one or more artificial teeth known as crowns.

Benefits of dental implants: 

  • Implants are permanent and do not slip or click like other restorative options. 
  • Implants preserve the natural bone in the mouth and help stimulate new bone growth. 
  • Implants can last upwards of 25 years or a lifetime if cared for properly. 
  • Dental implants provide long term value financially giving patients a beautiful long lasting smile. 

What Should I Expect When Getting Dental Implants?

In order to provide the proper amount of support, the patient must have enough bone in the jaw. Part of our evaluation process will be to determine if you have enough bone present. If needed, bone grafting can be done where synthetic bone is added to the area needed.

With dental implants multiple appointments are required, and there is a healing process involved. The process is called osseointegration, and this is when the bone fuses to the implant that serves as the base for support. This allows the implant to function like a natural tooth.

Once the healing process is complete, an abutment or connector is set on top of the implant, and this holds the implant in place. Custom crowns are made to match the shade and color of your natural teeth. Temporary crowns may be used while we wait for the permanent crowns to be installed.

Contact Graceful Smiles Dentistry

At Graceful Smiles, we provide exceptional dental care for patients of all ages. We take care of our families, and ensure that each appointment is a positive experience for everyone.

If you are interested in scheduling an appointment with Dr. Elsa Mammen, please contact our dental office in Richmond, TX today! 

What Age Should a Child Go to the Dentist?

Many parents wonder what age is the right age to bring their child to the dentist. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentists (AAPD) recommends that parents seek out a dentist for their child by age of one, or when they notice the first tooth erupting. Typically primary teeth erupt around six months of age.

In many cases, parents feel their child is too young to see a dentist, or that they don’t have enough teeth to warrant a visit. Visiting a dentist at this early age helps to ensure baby teeth are coming in properly, and allows the dentist to determine if they see any issues early on. It is important that children keep their primary teeth in place until they are lost naturally.

What Are The Benefits of Primary Teeth?

Some of the benefits of getting primary teeth include:

  • They help children to chew their food properly
  • They help with speech development
  • Primary teeth promote a healthy smile, and they give children confidence about their appearance.
  • Primary teeth save space for future adult teeth

Starting your child out right with proper dental care helps build good oral hygiene habits. If you establish a good relationship with your dentist, this helps your child to understand how important it is to take care of your teeth.

Contact Graceful Smiles Dentistry

Our team will check for any issues as your child grows older, and ensure your child’s teeth are looking and feeling great during each visit.

At Graceful Smiles, we provide exceptional dental care for patients of all ages. We take care of our families, and ensure that each appointment is a positive experience for everyone.

If you are interested in scheduling your child’s first appointment with Dr. Elsa Mammen, please contact our dental office in Richmond, TX today! Graceful Smiles today!

How Long Do Dental Implants Last?

dental implant

How Long Do Dental Implants Last?

It’s a good idea to keep your teeth and gums healthy with regular brushing and flossing.

If you’re missing teeth or are wearing an ill-fitting denture, implants are a great alternative to other treatment options available. Implants are securely and safely placed into the bone of the jaw. From there, they’ll fuse and bond with the surrounding bone to create a semi-permanent restoration for crowns, bridge work and even full dentures. Implants have been a go-to option for a lot of patients since they’ve been developed. They’re great for most patients and can successfully help in enhancing the overall look and appeal of your smile.

I recommend this office. They constantly were checking if I was ok. The dentist and staff were very nice.

Amy T

How Long Do Dental Implants Last?

The average dental implant will last for about two or three decades. It’s not uncommon for patients to have implants that are far older than three decades. This is why they’re considered to be a semi-permanent option for missing dentition. You can have a single tooth replaced at a time or use multiple implants to replace several or all of your teeth. Obviously, certain factors will determine how long the implant stays secured in your mouth. If you have bone loss issues or have suffered from facial trauma, this may affect the lifespan of the implant.

Tips for Maintaining and Caring for Your Implants

Just like the rest of your teeth, your implants will benefit from regular dental appointments. We check the health of your implants and make note of any signs of cracking or breaking. If the implant is loose, this could be due to bone loss underneath the gum line. However, issues with implants are rare and most of these restorations last for decades without any type of problem coming into play. Because of this, you can experience the benefits of a long-lasting and highly durable restoration that enhances your smile. It’s a good idea to keep your teeth and gums healthy with regular brushing and flossing. This helps to prevent gum disease from developing, which could lead to bone loss over time. We can offer advice and information on your dental implants if you’re considering having them done. Because implants are easy to place and quickly fuse with surrounding bone, you can experience the benefits of having a secured option that you won’t need to worry about for years.

If you would like to come in for a consultation regarding dental implants, we welcome you to call our office and schedule an appointment with one of our helpful staff members.

Tips to Improve Dental Hygiene for Children

Tips to Improve Dental Hygiene for Children

You need to be in charge of teaching your children better brushing habits.

Children need to see the dentist twice a year to keep their teeth healthy and clean. Unfortunately, many children do not take good care of their teeth at home, which means they may develop cavities and other dental problems that cause more work to be needed at their checkup visits. By adopting healthier habits at home, you’ll find that your child’s checkup visits are easier and quicker.

Choose the Right Tools

The right tools will make all the difference for your child when brushing and flossing their teeth at home. While manual brushes are fine, powered toothbrushes help to brush away plaque, bacteria and debris quicker than any manual would be able to accomplish. Choosing a kid-friendly flossing tool can help in creating healthier and stronger teeth and gums. Remember to always use a toothpaste meant for children that contains fluoride, as this helps to prevent cavities.

My wife adviced to try graceful smiles after her visit. Looks like she was right again. This is now the dentistry for me, my wife and our two little kids.

Eleghosa Obasohan

Teach Good Brushing Habits

You need to be in charge of teaching your children better brushing habits. You can do this by either showing them or by brushing your teeth in front of them so that they can follow in your footsteps. When you take the time to care for and appreciate your own smile, you’ll find that your children do the same and put more effort into their oral hygiene.

Get Involved

In most cases, you’ll need to brush your child’s teeth for them until they’re about five to six years old. Younger children may not have the dexterity to hold the brush and hit every tooth’s surface. By brushing your child’s teeth for them, you can be sure that they’re being cleaned properly twice a day. However, once your child is old enough, they need to learn how to care for their own teeth.

Adopt Healthier Eating Habits

Eating healthier foods can have a serious impact on the health of your child’s smile. Sugary snacks and drinks can cause tooth decay and deep stains. By teaching your child to eat better and make healthier choices, they’re less likely to go for sugary sweets and candies that could ruin their beautiful smile.

As with all patients, routine trips to the dentist help to keep smiles healthy and bright for life. If you have a child who needs to see a dentist, call our office today and we will work to get them in for an appointment.