Learn more about Teeth
Some information to help talk to your child about teeth and Captain Enamel!
Captain Enamel/Enamel
Captain Enamel is a visual representation of enamel, the super strong outer layer of a tooth. He is the strongest part of your body and acts as a shield for the softer inner layers of a tooth (dentin and pulp). Once sugar bugs get through Captain Enamel, that is when teeth need help from a dentist!
Dentin
Dentin is the softer middle layer of a tooth. It is significantly more prone to acidic breakdown than Captain Enamel. Sugar bugs thrive here on their journey to the pulp!
Pulp
The pulp is the core of a tooth. It houses blood vessels and nerves. Sugar bugs’ main goal is to get to this layer of a tooth. When sugar bugs reach this layer it can become very painful.
pH
pH is a scale used to measure how acidic something is. A pH of 1.0 is very acidic while a pH of 14.0 is not. A pH of 7.0 is considered neutral and is generally going to be the safest pH for Captain Enamel and teeth.
Sugar Bugs
Sugar bugs are Captain Enamel’s mortal enemy. When we consume sugary foods, sugar bugs also consume the sugar and are able to turn that sugar into acid. This acid is what leads to the breakdown of Captain Enamel and his shield.
More About Cavities
A cavity is a hole in your tooth. Sugar bugs use acid to breakdown Captain Enamel and then begin digging a hole in the tooth. X-rays are extremely important to check for cavities. When we see Captain Enamel struggling with that breakdown on an X-ray, there are a few things we can do to prevent a cavity from actually being dug.
We look at Spit, Bacteria, and Diet (S.B.D.) to determine if a cavity is likely to happen on your tooth.
Spit
Spit, or saliva, works to neutralize the acid that is in our diet and the acid that is produced by sugar bugs. Many medications have a side effect of “dry mouth” or “xerostomia.” If you take any medications, chances are your spit is compromised!
Bacteria
Sugar Bugs are Captain Enamel’s mortal enemy. Everybody has sugar bugs that live in their mouth, and they all love to eat sugar and turn that sugar to acid. Sugar bugs are typically passed down from caregiver to child. Caregivers who struggle with cavities should talk with their dentists about how to prevent the same problems in their child’s mouth. One of the most common cavity causing bacteria is Streptococcus mutans.
Diet
Diets high in added sugars and carbohydrates are problematic for Captain Enamel because they feed sugar bugs. But a lot of drinks and candies are also very acidic. Captain Enamel is unable to be an effective superhero if he is under constant attack from the acidic drinks in the vending machines! Try and find out if the food and drinks you have are Captain Enamel approved!
Prevention
How can we keep our teeth as healthy as possible?
Diet Control
The best way to prevent a cavity is to monitor our diets and try to limit the amount of times in a day we are exposing Captain Enamel to acids. Since a healthy mouth can neutralize within 20 minutes of eating/drinking back to a neutral pH, it makes sense that sticking to 3 meals a day is better for your teeth than having 15 snacks a day. Example: a can of Coca-Cola can do more damage to your teeth if you sip it throughout the day as opposed to if you drink it with a meal (Captain Enamel doesn’t condone drinking Coca-Cola but if you must drink it, this is a healthier way to drink it for your teeth).
Oral Hygiene
Toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss: everybody has them… most people use them. What makes them so important? Regular use of a toothbrush and floss disrupt plaque formation on teeth. Plaque is where sugar bugs hang out on a tooth. Plaque looks like white fuzz! When you brush and floss, make sure there is no plaque left on your teeth when you are done. Typically that will take about two minutes. Brushing and flossing in the morning and before bed are great habits that help prevent cavities and gum disease. Toothpaste is used to carry fluoride and other essential minerals to your teeth. This allows for even more cavity prevention. NOTE: As a general rule, a kid isn’t ready to brush their teeth on their own until they can tie their own shoes. It is always a good idea to have parents “check their work.”
Fluoride
Fluoride is a mineral found in all natural water sources. Studies have found that fluoride will increase enamel’s resistance to decay. Contrary to what was once believed, fluoride only acts topically (needs to come in contact with the teeth) and does not act systemically (through ingestion to developing teeth). Make sure you ask your dentist about how to incorporate fluoride into your oral health routine, especially if you are high risk for cavities. Fluoride is found in toothpastes, varnishes, and many other oral hygiene products! Strengthen Captain Enamel with fluoride!
Nano-Hydroxyapetite
Hydroxyapetite is a mineral that is found in your teeth and your bones. Nano-hydroxyapetite is a lab fabricated version of that mineral. Like fluoride, nano-hydroxyapetite has been shown to aid Captain Enamel in the remineralization process. It does not bring the critical pH to a lower level though. Nano-hydroxyapetite can be found in some toothpastes
Sealants
Sugar bugs love to sit in the grooves on top of our teeth. A toothbrush does a poor job cleaning there and fluoride actually doesn’t help much in these spots. Sealants are a non-invasive procedure to seal that groove off from bacteria and create a smooth surface that is easier to keep clean. Talk to your dentist about placing sealants especially if you are at high risk for getting cavities!
Xylitol
Xylitol is a sugar alcohol used to sweeten a variety of sugar-free products, mainly gum! Xylitol can not be metabolized as well as regular sugars by sugar bugs and thus became popular as a sweetener that does not cause cavities. Some studies have shown that chewing xylitol gum can decrease the amount of sugar bugs in your mouth and reduce the risk of cavities. These results are still being confirmed. Chewing a piece of gum after every meal also stimulates your salivary glands to produce more spit to protect Captain Enamel. Xylitol gum is worth a try if you are high risk for cavities.
