General Dentistry FAQs

How do I keep my child’s teeth healthy?

Following a few simple guidelines can help keep your child’s teeth strong and beautiful for life:

Start oral care early

Oral care should start soon after your child is born. After feeding, clean your child’s gums using gauze or a clean, damp cloth. As soon as your child’s teeth appear — as soon as four months after birth — they should be brushed. Each day, brush your child’s teeth with a soft, wet toothbrush and a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste.

Prevent nursing-bottle mouth

Nursing-bottle mouth, also known as baby-bottle tooth decay or baby-bottle syndrome, can cause a baby’s front teeth to rapidly decay, which can lead to a lifetime of dental difficulties. Preventing nursing bottle mouth is easy: If you give your baby a bottle at nap or bed time, simply fill it with plain water rather than formula, milk, or juice—never let your child fall asleep with a bottle filled with a liquid other than water In addition, check your child for brown spots near the gums because they are a warning sign for tooth decay.

Take your child to the dentist

General, preventative dentistry should start early. A child’s first dental visit should take place at 6 to 12 months after birth. Regular fluoride treatments, administered by a dentist, are especially helpful in strengthening enamel and arresting tooth decay for children. Contact our general dentistry practice in Astoria today to schedule an appointment for your child.

Take advantage of dental sealants

Dental sealants are a popular and effective way to protect your child’s teeth against cavities.

What are dental sealants?

Dental sealants are a plastic coating painted on the grooved, hard-to-reach surfaces of the back teeth. Pits and fissures on these surfaces are particularly susceptible to tooth decay. Dental sealants can be used to seal out cavity-causing bacteria from damaging the teeth.

How are dental sealants applied?

Dental sealants are quickly applied at Astoria Dental Group. One of our dentists prepares the chewing surfaces of teeth, then paints on the sealant. The sealant material bonds directly to the tooth and hardens with the aid of a special curing light. Dental sealants hold up well under the force of chewing, and they provide protection against cavities for about five years. During regular dental visits, one of our dentists will check the state of sealants and re-apply them if necessary.

How do dental sealants protect teeth?

Because fluoride is effective in preventing decay from forming on the smooth surfaces of teeth, and dental sealants protect the grooves of teeth, these treatments are best used in conjunction.

Dental sealants are particularly effective for protecting children's teeth. The first permanent molars emerge when a child is about 6. A dental sealant treatment performed shortly after these first permanent teeth emerge protects the teeth from developing cavities. Another good time for applying sealants occurs when a child is about 12, when the second permanent molars emerge.

We may also recommend sealants for adults who are at a particularly high risk of tooth decay.

How does fluoride help prevent tooth decay?

Fluoride helps reverse and prevent tooth decay in three ways:

1. Promoting Tooth Remineralization

Acids can demineralize a tooth — that is, create a weak spot that develops into a cavity. Fluoride helps promote the opposite process, called remineralization, which can reverse the very early stages of tooth decay.

2. Helping Teeth Become More Resistant to Tooth Decay

Fluoride actually strengthens teeth, giving them natural protection against future tooth decay.

3. Inhibiting Oral Bacteria’s Ability to Create Tooth-Attacking Acids

Fluoride disrupts bacteria’s ability to metabolize sugars, the process that leads to the attack of tooth enamel.

What is sedation dentistry? How can it help me?

Sedation (sleep) dentistry  involves the use of sedative drugs so that patients who fear dental work can avoid the discomfort and anxiety associated with dental visits. With sedation dentistry, patients take a pill about an hour before their dental appointment. They arrive at our office relaxed and able to undergo treatment without feeling any pain or having any memory of the procedure.

If you have avoided getting dental care because of anxiety or fear of discomfort, sedation dentistry may be the ideal solution to allow you to get essential treatment.

Schedule a Consultation

Our doctors have years of experience helping patients easily and painlessly achieve healthy, beautiful smiles. Reach out to us today to learn more about our general dentistry services and to schedule a consultation.