Why Does My Child Keep Getting Cavities?

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Cavities are painful for kids. Cavities also require a visit to the dentist in Brandon, FL which can lead to time out of work and school. It’s important for your child’s health and wellness to prevent cavities if at all possible. If your child has gotten multiple cavities in recent years, there may be things you could do to stop this problem from recurring. At Anderson Dental, we work with parents and children to help them maintain healthy teeth and gums.

What Causes Cavities?

Cavities can be caused by many things, but the most common reason that children get cavities is a combination of a sugary diet and poor oral hygiene habits.

Kids have a hard time brushing their teeth as well as adults, and those kids who brush their teeth on their own often don’t brush long enough or well enough to take care of their teeth.

How Can Cavities Be Prevented?

There are many things you can do to help your child avoid cavities:

  • Take your child to the dentist as often as recommended by the dental professional, whether that’s every six months or once per year.
  • Limit your child’s sugar consumption. Keep sugar-free snacks on hand and encourage your child to drink water instead of soda.
  • Brush your child’s teeth until they’re old enough to brush their teeth on their own. Some kids need help brushing their teeth until they’re 8 years old.
  • Monitor your child’s toothbrushing habits to ensure they’re brushing their teeth twice per day for two minutes each time.
  • Replace your child’s toothbrush every three months to ensure they’re using a toothbrush that’s appropriate for their teeth.
  • Buy child-sized toothbrushes until your child is old enough for an adult toothbrush.

What to Do If Your Child Has Cavities

If you suspect your child has cavities, take them to the dentist as soon as possible. Delaying a visit to the dentist could lead a cavity to turn into a dental infection.

Contact Us for Cavity Fillings Today

At Anderson Dental, we provide amalgam and composite cavity fillings in Brandon, FL. We want to help your child maintain healthy teeth and gums. To make an appointment for a filling or a checkup, contact us today.

Cosmetic Dentistry

Why Bring Your Whole Family to a Family Dentist?

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Going to a family dentist in Brandon, FL, makes caring for your dental health easier and more convenient. If you have a family, bringing everyone in your household to one dental professional helps ensure that your family members get consistent dental care from a dental expert. Below, we’ll talk about the reasons for bringing your whole family to a family dentist.

What Is a Family Dentist?

A family dentist is a dental professional with experience and expertise in caring for patients of all ages and with many different dental health conditions. Family dentists can treat patients from their earliest years and through their entire lifetime.

Benefits of a Family Dentist

There are many benefits to bringing your family to a family dentist.

  • Provides care for many conditions. Family dentists provide care for dental health conditions from cavities to preventative services to cosmetic dentistry. Family dentists offer one-stop shopping for oral treatment and care.
  • Treats children from their earliest years. Family dentists have experience with pediatric patients, and they have all the tools they need to treat pediatric patients. Your baby’s first appointment can be with a family dentist.
  • Has expertise in conditions that patients experience at all ages. People experience different dental conditions at different ages. Family dentists are familiar with conditions that people experience at all ages.
  • You can develop trust. Bringing your whole family to one family dentist helps you and the other members of your family develop trust and familiarity with the dentist. This makes going to the dentist less stressful!

Make Your Next Dental Appointment – Call Today

Is it time for your dental checkup in Brandon, FL? Call today to make your dental appointment.

Why is My Tooth Turning Black?

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Imagine looking in the mirror one morning and finding that one of your teeth has turned black. That’s exactly what happens to many people, but no matter how many people experience it, that doesn’t make it normal. Healthy teeth are shades of white, and any discoloration that makes a tooth appear black should be evaluated by yourdentist in Brandon, FL.

What Makes a Tooth Turn Black?

There are several reasons why a tooth can appear black, and none of them are good.

Staining

The simplest explanation is staining. It’s possible the tooth slowly darkened due to staining. Many prescription medications cause discoloration of the teeth, and sometimes it’s permanent. Tobacco use notoriously stains teeth; it’s the nicotine that’s the culprit. If your dentist determines that the cause is staining, professional teeth whitening may be recommended. If the stains won’t yield, then you may consider gettingveneers in Brandon, FL to cover up the discoloration.

Decay

The tooth may be black due to decay. With severe decay, blood flow is inhibited to the tooth. Without nutrients from the bloodstream, the tooth develops what’s called necrosis. Essentially, this means the tooth is dying or dead. If this is the cause of the blackened tooth, it will most likely need to be extracted.

Trauma

If you’ve had trauma to the tooth for any reason, such as a motor vehicle accident, physical altercation or sports injury, that can inhibit the blood supply, too. Again, since the tooth isn’t getting vital nutrients, it may need to be extracted.

Tooth blackening usually happens over time, not overnight. If you notice one of your teeth is darker than the others, even if it’s a subtle difference, book an appointment with your dentist. With early intervention, the tooth might be saved.