Children’s Dental Development

Your child’s dental development begins before he or she is even born. Dental development begins about three weeks into your pregnancy, with the cusps of the primary teeth appearing at six weeks, the hard tissues (enamel and dentin) forming by the fourth month, the enamel crowns materializing fully by the eighth month, and the beginnings of permanent teeth forming shortly before or at birth.

For most newborn babies, the developing teeth are still embedded in the gums, but it’s not uncommon for a baby to be born with teeth or for the teeth to erupt shortly after birth. For babies born without erupted teeth, the front teeth usually begin to break through the gum tissue between four and eight months of age. Once they reach the six-month mark, most children welcome four new teeth every four months, and all of the teeth within the gums are generally fully formed by twelve to fifteen months of age. Most children have all twenty baby teeth by the age of two and a half or three.

As your baby’s teeth erupt, don’t be surprised if they come in angled and then eventually straighten out. Children generally start losing their baby teeth at the age of eight, and most lose all of their baby teeth by age thirteen. Because the permanent teeth are still developing at this age, Dr. Lawson recommends that children aren’t given tetracycline antibiotics until after eight years of age. Additionally, new evidence suggests that amoxicillin administered to children under the age of three years for ear infections can have a negative effect on the enamel development of the permanent six-year molars.

Between the ages of two and a half and six years old—before the baby teeth fall out—the permanent teeth are developing within the jaw. As the baby teeth fall out, the permanent teeth take their place, with twenty-eight permanent teeth erupting by age fourteen, and the wisdom teeth coming in by age 21 or not at all.

Common Problems with Children’s Dental Development

As with any aspect of growth, there are some growing pains associated with dental development. The following symptoms and problems are common with your child’s development over the years.

• Teething: As the eruption of the primary teeth through the gums, your baby may experience discomfort and pain and the following symptoms: restlessness, irritability, loss of appetite, poor sleep habits, excessive crying, flushed cheeks, a slight fever, congestion, excessive drooling, red or swollen gums, thumb sucking, etc. To offer relief to your baby during teething, massage his or her gums with or without ice; give him or her a cold teeth ring; encourage him or her to chew on a cold, wet washcloth; and administer baby Tylenol or Oragel when necessary.

• Developmental Delay: Dental development delay can occur for several reasons during all development stages and can be caused by the following: hereditary factors, chronic malnutrition, developmental disorders, hyperdontia (extra teeth), Down syndrome, radiation or chemotherapy, cysts or tumors, and the absence of lateral incisors or wisdom teeth.

As you can see, there’s a lot to cover about children’s dental development, so stay tuned for more information about potential developmental complications and caring for your child’s teeth. To reserve a dental checkup and cleaning appointment for your little one, contact Lawson Family Dentistry, located in Urbandale, Iowa, at (515) 278-4366.

Children’s Dental Care at Lawson Family Dentistry

It’s the second week of February, which means that we are already in the midst of National Children’s Dental Health Month. As a family and preventive dentist, Dr. Jessica Lawson makes the health of your child’s smile a priority all year round, but today, in honor of National Children’s Dental Health Month, she’d like to focus on the specifics of children’s dental care.

As a parent, your concern for your child’s health starts before you give birth. As an expectant mother, you receive proper prenatal care, eat healthily, and take every precaution to ensure that your unborn child is born as healthy and happy as possible. Once your baby is born, you try to give your child the proper nutrition, keep up with doctor’s appointments, and do a million other things to make sure that he or she is off to a great start.

Many parents, however, don’t start thinking about their child’s dental health until he or she has a full set of baby teeth. Dr. Lawson urges you to bring your child in for his or her first dental appointmentsoon after his or her first birthday. Even if your baby doesn’t have teeth yet, it’s never too early to start educating your child about the importance of healthy teeth and gums and proper dental hygiene, along with teaching them that the dentist’s office is a fun, friendly place.

At this initial dental appointment, Dr. Lawson will check your child’s mouth to make sure all is normal with his or her growth and development. She will also give you some advice about cleaning your child’s gums and—if they are present—teeth.

As your child’s teeth begin to come in, Dr. Lawson will ask that you and your child start visiting our Urbandale dentist office bi-annually for dental appointments. Getting into the habit of going to the dentist regularly, as well as practicing thorough dental hygiene at home, will not only show your child the importance of healthy teeth and gums and professional dental care, but will also set the stage for lifelong dental health.

Teaching Your Child Proper Dental Habits at Home

As your child grows, so will the challenges surrounding his or her dental health. To maintain the health of your child’s smile, promote proper dental hygiene habits and limit his or her intake of sugar and other dental disaster foods as much as possible.

To promote proper dental hygiene habits, make brushing and flossing a family activity. Show your child how fun it can be to brush and floss, and don’t be afraid to brush your child’s teeth and gums yourself until he or she has mastered the art of brushing and flossing. Additionally, reward good dental hygiene habits with a non-sugary treat, such as an afternoon at the park or allowing your child to watch a favorite movie.

Just like dental hygiene habits, eating habits start early. By feeding your child nutritious and non-sugary or acid-loaded foods, you’re setting the stage for lifelong healthy eating, as well as lifelong dental—and bodily—health. Between eating healthy, proper dental hygiene, and professional dental care, your child will be on his or her way to a lifetime of healthy smiles.

Welcome to the World, Baby Lawson!

Like all of you, Dr. Lawson has young children to care for and her children’s dental health to worry about. Recently, she has been caring for a brand new addition to her family. Dr. Lawson, her husband Bryan, and big brothers Blake and Gabe welcomed Luke John Lawson into the world on January 23. Mom and Baby are doing great!

To reserve an appointment for you and your little one, call Lawson Family Dentistry, serving the communities of Waukee, Grimes, Johnston, and the surrounding areas, at (515) 278-4366.

The Mouth-Body Connection

Just how closely is your oral health and bodily health connected? The most common example is of periodontitis (gum disease) and how it is associated with several other health conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, stroke, Alzheimer’s, and more.

Even though this connection isn’t news to dentists and other health professionals, it is news to many patients, and Dr. Lawson wants to take this opportunity to educate her patients about this topic so that they’ll be encouraged to take care of their teeth and gums.

Having healthy teeth and gums is a two-fold process, and by fully partaking in these two steps, your chances of developing gingivitis (the precursor to periodontitis) are significantly lowered.

The Need for Professional Dental Care

The American Dental Association recommends seeing your dentist for professional dental cleanings and exams at least every six months, and Dr. Lawson agrees. Why? Because nothing cleans your teeth, rids your mouth of harmful plaque and bacteria, and provides you the protection against serious oral problems, such as gum disease and oral cancer, like professional dental exams do.

Oral health problems are tricky in that they usually require early detection and diagnosis to treat conservatively and effectively. Unfortunately, many patients ignore the warning signs—like bleeding gums for periodontal disease—until it’s too late. By strictly sticking to the six-month rule, Dr. Lawson can do all of the “dirty work” for you, meaning that she’ll screen your mouth for signs of all oral health problems at each and every appointment, providing you with unparalleled protection.

Protecting Your Teeth and Gums at Home

Of course, professional dental care can only go so far. Because you most likely only see Dr. Lawson a few times each year, your at-home dental hygiene is incredibly important when it comes to maintaining your oral and, therefore, your bodily health. In addition to properly brushing, flossing, and rinsing your mouth with a fluoridated oral rinse, it’s important that you limit your intake of sugar, drink plenty of water, and take into account all of the tips and tricks for dental health that we’ve talked about for months on the pages of this blog.

Your health is our priority at Lawson Family Dentistry, and, this year, we encourage you to keep your oral systemic health in mind. To reserve an appointment with Dr. Lawson, call our Grimes dentist office at (515) 278-4366.

General, Cosmetic, and Restorative Services for Your Oral Health

As a family dentist, it’s necessary for Dr. Lawson and our team to offer a variety of services for our patients with a variety of needs. To put it simply, everyone needs general and preventive dental care and, even if your smile goals are aesthetically-based, Dr. Lawson wants to help you achieve and maintain healthy teeth and gums and therefore, a healthier body and higher quality of life.

Once your mouth is healthy—meaning strong and free of plaque, harmful bacteria, and serious infections and diseases, such as periodontal disease, dry mouth, and oral cancer—Dr. Lawson can help you achieve your dental beauty and functionality goals with cosmetic and restorative dentistry. These procedures often include white dental fillings and crowns, root canal therapy, dentures, dental implants, teeth whitening, and more.

In addition to providing mainstream dental services and procedures to her patients of all ages, Dr. Lawson goes above and beyond to ensure your oral health. She does this by offering custom athletic mouthguards, OralDNA testing, obstructive sleep apnea screenings and appliances, cavity risk assessments, tobacco cessation treatment, and TMJ nightguards at our Urbandale dentist office.

Going Above and Beyond for Your Oral Health

Don’t let the words “family and general dentist” fool you. Dr. Lawson has expertise in a variety of dental fields that all contribute to one goal: helping you maintain optimal oral health.

For example, Dr. Lawson can provide you with permanent replacement teeth that look, function, and feel just like natural teeth. She can whiten your smile and give you the smile of your dreams with porcelain veneers. Additionally, she can serve as a member of a highly skilled team of dental and medical professionals to help correct cleft lips and palates and restore optimal appearance and function to her patients’ mouths.

These examples are just a few of the ways Dr. Lawson takes care of your oral health, and she encourages you to come to her with all of your dental needs—large or small. To reserve an appointment at Lawson Family Dentistry, call our Des Moines dentist office at (515) 278-4366 or visit us online at lawsondentistry.com.

Birth Defects Facts and Prevention Methods

• Birth defects are more common than most people think. About one in every 33 babies born has a birth defect.
• Did you know that birth defects form in the beginning of the first trimester? Many times, birth defects occur before a woman even knows she is pregnant.
• With diagnostic technology like ultrasounds and amniocentesis, medical personnel can detect some types of defects before a child is born.
• The most common birth defects are a cleft palate, a cleft lip, Down Syndrome, and Spina Bifida.
• Every year, birth defects lead to almost 140,000 hospitalizations.
• Birth defects cost the government and families over $2.5 billion a year.
• Heart defects are not always detected at birth like other defects.
• Although there isn’t one single cause, exposure to certain diseases and chemicals are linked to the incidence of defects.
• Smoking tobacco, drinking alcohol, taking certain medications, and using drugs significantly raises the risk of a child developing birth defects.
• Women should maintain a healthy weight throughout their lives and during pregnancy to reduce the risk of birth deformities or defects.
• Young women are encouraged by the American Medical Association to add folic acid supplements to their diets during their child-rearing years.
• Expecting mothers should limit antibiotics use unless absolutely necessary. Your baby’s teeth begin developing in the 2nd trimester and antibiotic use can cause underdeveloped enamel.

If you or someone you know is pregnant or could become pregnant, help us raise awareness about birth defects and prevention. For additional resources you can visit the National Birth Defect Prevention Network’s website. We welcome young women and expecting patients to discuss their overall health with Dr. Lawson and our staff. If your child is born with clefting of the palate or lips, please know that Dr. Lawson and her professional team can correct this with compassionate and thorough care. For appointments or questions, contact Lawson Family Dentistry at (515) 278-4366. We serve families in Urbandale, Clive, Granger, Waukee, Johnston, Des Moines, and the neighboring communities.

Pregnancy and Gum Disease

Hormonal fluctuations during pregnancy can leave your gums tender and swollen. Additionally, you are at risk for pregnancy gingivitis, which generally manifests in the second or third month and becomes severe in the eighth month. Having gum disease while pregnant increases your child’s risk of preterm birth and low birth weight. One study even investigated a stillbirth that was caused by oral bacteria. Finally, if you are trying to become pregnant, periodontal disease can increase the time it takes to conceive. A recent study in Australia found that, on average, women with periodontal disease took two months longer to conceive that those with healthy gums. Patients who are expecting should get a cleaning at least once during their pregnancy; many insurance companies recommend—and fully cover—two cleanings.

Xylitol and the Cavity Connection

Chewing gum during your pregnancy could help protect your child from cavities. Xylitol, a plant-based sweetener found in many chewing gums and breath mints, helps keep tooth decay at bay. Babies aren’t born with cavity-causing bacteria—they acquire them from Mom and Dad. Kissing, blowing on food, sharing utensils, and even putting baby’s pacifier in your mouth all transmit the bacteria that cause cavities. When you chew xylitol gum or use xylitol-sweetened breath mints, you reduce the number of these bacteria in your mouth. Try to have a piece of gum or a mint about five times a day. It’s good for your teeth as well as your child’s!

Dr. Lawson looks forward to providing the best dental care for you and your family. To discuss other pregnancy issues, ask questions about your oral health, or schedule your next appointment, call Lawson Family Dentistry today at (515) 278-4366. We see patients from Granger, Waukee, Clive, Johnston, Urbandale, and the communities surrounding Des Moines.

The Importance of Quality Oral Health

As a family and comprehensive care dentist, Dr. Lawson has long understood the connection between oral and overall health. Recently, however, the topic has garnered media attention, and now people are starting to realize that regular dental checkups contribute not only to a healthy smile, but also to a healthy and high-quality life.

For example, research shows that severe gum disease can contribute to making the following very serious and threatening health problems hard to manage and control: diabetes, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s, various cancers, and stroke. On the same note, patients with diabetes often have difficulty controlling their blood sugar and healing following injuries, infections, and medical procedures, so it’s imperative their gum disease is controlled.

As you can see, evidence for the mouth/body connection theory exists, and Dr. Lawson wants to educate you so that you can do everything in your power to keep your mouth and body healthy for a lifetime.

What You Can Do

To make your oral and overall health a priority in 2012 and ultimately feel better about yourself, there are several things you can do.

1. Keep up with regular checkups and medical appointments, whether it is with your dentist, regular physician, or health specialist. The American Dental Association recommends having a professional dental checkup and exam every six months, and it’s suggested that you should have a physical exam at least once a year.
2. Take care of yourself at home. This includes maintaining a quality at-home dental hygiene routine (including brushing, flossing, and using an oral rinse), exercising regularly, eating healthy, taking all doctor-prescribed medications, and getting enough sleep.
3. Achieve your goals. Goals vary from person to person and lifestyle to lifestyle, but make an effort to achieve your goals in the coming year. For many people, a goal can be focused on getting healthy. Dr. Lawson can help you achieve your smile goals, whether health-related or aesthetic. For example, if you’re tired of hiding your smile because you’re embarrassed by the yellow color and stains on your teeth, consider teeth whitening treatment. Dr. Lawson offers in-office and at-home teeth whitening, and she’s confident that your new bright, white smile will instantly make you feel better about yourself.

Overall, Dr. Lawson wants you to remember that you have options in 2012. To feel better about yourself this year, make your oral health a priority. To get started, call Lawson Family Dentistry, located in Urbandale, Iowa, at (515) 278-4366.

Egg Nog, Hot Chocolate, and Christmas Lattes

Just like cookies, cake, and candy, egg nog, hot chocolate, and special holiday drinks are loaded with sugar. As we discussed last week, any time you eat or drink, your tooth enamel demineralizes and becomes vulnerable to the bacteria and acid from the foods and drinks you consume. When a substance is very high in sugar, the teeth are exposed to even more harmful acid and bacteria, which can lead to tooth decay, cavities, and even gum disease.

The best way to avoid these oral health problems is to limit your sugar intake, and that means cutting back on these festive holiday drinks. Doing so will benefit your smile, your wallet, and your waistline. If you need a peppermint hot chocolate to get into the holiday spirit, consider going the sugarless route. Most coffee shops offer sugarless flavored syrups to spice up your hot beverage. Also, rinse your mouth with water or consume dairy, such as skim milk or cheese, to create a barrier between your teeth and the harmful bacteria and promote healthy teeth and gums thanks to the high calcium content.

Red and White Wine

Over the years, red wine has received a reputation as one of the most powerful tooth stainers. If you’re a red wine enthusiast, it’s likely that you’ve experienced purple teeth and lips after only a glass or two. Because of this, many people choose to sip on white wine at holiday parties instead.

This choice comes with its own set of risks. White wine is very acidic and, just like sugar, this acid can have negative effects on your smile. As seen in patients with GERD and patients who suffer from frequent vomiting, high levels of acid can erode your tooth enamel, leaving your teeth sensitive, unprotected, and vulnerable. Over time, the acid from white wine will eat away at your enamel, creating dark, deep-set stains that, generally, even professional teeth whitening can’t remove.

To protect your teeth from this acid, do the same thing that you do to protect them from sugar: cleanse your mouth with water and snack on a piece of cheese or two after.

Happy Holidays from Lawson Family Dentistry

To keep your teeth healthy through the holidays and start the New Year with a dazzling smile, keep the above tips in mind. Also, make your dental health a priority in the coming year.

As a family dentist, Dr. Lawson treats patients of all ages and all dental needs, including general, preventive, restorative, and cosmetic, and she’d love to see you in her dental chair in 2012. Your dental benefits renew on January 1, so now is the perfect time to call us at (515) 278-4366 to reserve appointments for you and your family members for the coming year.

Happy holidays to you and your loved ones from Lawson Family Dentistry!

Christmas cookies, pies, candy, and so many more sweets endlessly appear during the holiday season. These snacks really bring out the holiday spirit in people, but there are still some treats you should totally avoid while feeding your sweet tooth. Here are a few helpful tricks and tips to help you do so.

Avoid These Sweets

Completely avoiding certain treats is best for your enamel, and can make your job of brushing at the end of the day much easier. In addition to avoidance, these tips may help save your teeth from attack.

Avoid chewy caramel, dried fruit, and sticky sweets. These sweets are a not good for your oral health especially when the sugars become lodged between teeth and are unreachable by your floss and toothbrush. In addition to chewy/sticky sweets, avoid citrusy snacks like lemon bars and berry pies. The acids in combination with the carbohydrates (sugars and starches) demineralize enamel much faster than sugar alone. The demineralization of enamel is the entire reason you should avoid most sugars this season—because when enamel is softened, it is more susceptible to decay.

Demineralization happens every time you consume carbohydrates (sugars and starches), but there’s good news too. Saliva naturally restores the balance of acids, thus halting demineralization. If you’re going to have a sweet treat, eat a raw piece of fruit afterward. Before toothbrushes, raw fruit and veggies were nature’s way of scrubbing plaque and left-over food morsels out of teeth. One more thing: Don’t brush immediately after eating. You’ve probably been told all your life to brush after eating, but research shows that brushing while acid levels are high can actually cause abrasion to the surface of teeth. Instead, rinse your mouth out with water after you’re done eating, and chew on gum to remove chromogens (staining agents) from your teeth.

Keep Your Oral Health in Check

Take your oral health seriously; your permanent teeth are your last set. At home, floss once and brush twice daily, and add an anti-gingivitis rinse to further protect your mouth. Seeing Dr. Lawson and her team every six months is critical to your oral health. Regular dental cleanings and checkups remove tartar (calculus) buildup and can catch cavities in early stages before they do more damage.

To reserve an appointment for early in the new year, come see Lawson Family Dentistry, serving patients from Urbandale, Waukee, Grimes, and the surrounding areas, at (515) 278-4366 .