Carolina Complete Dental Blog

4 Ways to Prevent Tooth Decay in Children

May 27, 2022

Goose Creek dentists, Dr. Barganier, Dr. Zuffi, Dr. Williams, and Dr. McAdams at Carolina Complete Dental shares four easy ways to help prevent tooth decay in children so they can have a head start on a healthy, happy smile for life. As a parent, you only want what’s best for your little one. Whether you’re a new mom navigating the waters of caring for your firstborn, or a seasoned pro ready to start your own family softball team (sorry neighbor kids, all positions are filled), preventing tooth decay in kids is never an easy feat.

Because tiny hands and mouths don’t yet have the knowledge or the dexterity to properly care for their teeth, tooth decay is a common occurrence, and it’s largely up to you to help establish healthy habits and keep tooth decay at bay.

Read on to learn the four simplest ways to help prevent tooth decay so your kids can have a head start on a healthy, happy smile for life.

A Healthy Oral Hygiene Routine

Like, duh! (Do kids still say duh?) Anyway, obviously oral hygiene is one of the most important ways to prevent tooth decay, but implementing it is easier said than done! The easiest way to establish a routine that will stick is to lead by example and start early. These early years are formative, and their brains are like sponges, absorbing everything around them and forming habits and attitudes they will carry with them for life.

You should wash your baby’s gums after feeding with a warm washcloth, even before their teeth start to come in.
Once their first tooth emerges, you should begin brushing with a baby-sized toothbrush and water. Brush their teeth and gums gently in small circular motions, even where no teeth have emerged yet to stimulate blood blow and get them used to the feeling of brushing.
Begin flossing as soon as two or more teeth start to touch. Curve the floss gently in a c-shape around the teeth and under the gums and use a new section of floss between each tooth.
Begin using fluoridated toothpaste around age 2-3, when they are able to spit the paste out.
Brush for them until they are able to do so effectively themselves, which is typically around age 6 when they are able to tie their own shoes and head off to school. Continue supervising until you’re confident in their big-kid brushing and flossing skills.
A healthy hygiene routine includes brushing at least twice per day, before breakfast and before bed, and flossing once daily at either time.
Rinsing with water after eating, before brushing, and periodically throughout the day is a great way to reduce plaque, acidity, and enamel damage.

Limited Sugar Intake

Nowadays, sugar is in just about everything we eat and drink, so it’s more important than ever to pay attention to what you and your kids are consuming regularly. Not only do tooth-decay bugs feed on sugar, but other diseases (including cancers) thrive on it as well, so it’s best to limit sugar as much as possible if your goal is healthy smiles and healthy bodies.

Only allow water in the baby bottle. Anything else including breast milk, formula, or juice is chock-full of sugar, and if they’re sipping it from a bottle all day or night, they will almost certainly develop baby-bottle tooth decay.
Make juice a “sometimes treat” for special occasions or as a reward for good behavior. Juice, soda, sports drinks, or other sugary beverages should not be their primary form of hydration. Water should always come first and foremost.
Choose healthy, natural, unprocessed snacks like fruits, vegetables, berries, cheese, crackers, yogurt, and nuts or trail mix. Avoid sugary snacks and candy as much as possible, and save them for special occasions. The more sugar they have early-on the more they will become addicted to it and crave it on a regular basis.

Fluoride

Fluoride is one of our greatest weapons against childhood tooth decay, which is why most cities and towns in the US and Canada have fluoridated public water supplies. It’s also why most mouth rinses and toothpaste contain fluoride, and most dentists provide fluoride treatments for kids. Fluoride is highly effective for preventing tooth decay in children because when teeth are growing, it combines with tooth enamel to form stronger, decay-resistant teeth that are better at fighting off sugar, plaque, and acid.

Is Goose Creek’s water supply fluoridated? You can find out by contacting your community’s water provider.
Start using fluoridated toothpaste for your kiddo around age 3.
If they’re still getting cavities, talk to Dr. Barganier, Dr. Zuffi, Dr. Williams, and Dr. McAdams. We can provide regular fluoride treatments and recommend a fluoridated mouth rinse for an added boost.
If Goose Creek’s water is not fluoridated or it’s simply not enough to keep the cavity bugs away, we can also recommend fluoride supplements.

Regular Dental Visits at Carolina Complete Dental

A healthy diet, a solid oral hygiene routine, and plenty of fluoride are all great starts, but oral health is complex and you’ll want a team of well-educated professionals in your corner. Everyone should see the dentist regularly—twice every year or once every six months—but especially kiddos! They are the most susceptible to tooth decay, so you should bring them in to see us often for regular exams and cleanings. Only we have the technology and the tools necessary to remove tartar buildup and detect disease and decay before it becomes serious.

Stay on schedule with your regular check-ups, cleanings, and exams. When the appointment is over, go ahead and schedule the next one.
Ask Dr. Barganier, Dr. Zuffi, Dr. Williams, and Dr. McAdams plenty of questions. “Why are they still getting cavities?” “What’s that dark spot on the x-ray?” “What can we do better?” The more educated you are about your child’s oral health, the more equipped you will be to help keep tooth decay away.

While cavities in kids are very common and usually don’t cause too many problems if they’re filled promptly, untreated tooth decay can be a serious issue for a child’s growth and development. Not only can cavities be very painful for kiddos, but they can also lead to poor performance in school, missed school days, and even behavioral and developmental issues. Not to mention, baby teeth set the stage for adult teeth to grow in properly, so it’s important to keep baby teeth healthy and decay-free to set them up for oral health and confidence later in life.

If you follow our advice, you’ll be on the right path to preventing tooth decay and promoting oral health for your child. If you have any further questions or would like to schedule an appointment with your Goose Creek dentists, Dr. Barganier, Dr. Zuffi, Dr. Williams, and Dr. McAdams at Carolina Complete Dental, contact us today!

The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

Oral Piercings: Not Cool for Teeth

May 13, 2022

Goose Creek dentists, Dr. Barganier, Dr. Zuffi, Dr. Williams, and Dr. McAdams at Carolina Complete Dental discuss the topic of oral piercings, and whether they can be harmful to your teeth. Remember that guy with the lip ring you had a crush on in high school? I wonder how his teeth are doing now. Don’t get us wrong—at Carolina Complete Dental, we’re all about the freedom of self-expression, and if body modifications like tattoos and piercings are your thing, we support you. However, as your dental health professionals, we strongly advise against oral piercings specifically because they can be really harmful to your teeth—and we want you to keep your teeth healthy, so you can continue to express yourself with your beautiful smile.

Oral piercings refer to any piercing in or around the mouth. In the old days, the only options were the more traditional tongue or lip piercings, but today there are more options than you can shake a stick at. If it’s in your mouth, you better believe someone has pierced it. From the tongue web piercing to the vampire or upper frenulum piercing, to the gum piercing, venom bites, snake eyes, smiley piercing, frown piercing, and even the uvula piercing—yes, apparently you can pierce your uvula. There’s even a “dental piercing” which is not necessarily a drilled hole, but jewelry that is embedded onto the tooth surface. But of course, we don’t recommend any of these, so don’t get any ideas!

Carolina Complete Dental is here to share some reasons oral piercings are not cool for teeth.

Infection

If you’ve ever had your ears or anything else pierced, you understand the risk of infection and the importance of keeping your new piercing clean. However, oral piercings have a much higher rate of infection because of their location in or around the mouth. The mouth is home to millions of bacteria (some are good, others are extremely dangerous) that have the potential to enter the piercing site and cause infection.

According to the American Dental Association, secondary infections can result in serious illness including blood-borne hepatitis, angina, and herpes. With oral piercings, there is always a risk of infection, but particularly in the few weeks following the initial piercing. Signs of infection include swelling, pain, fever, chills, shaking, or a red-streaked appearance around the piercing. Contact us right away if you notice signs of infection.

Tooth & Gum Damage

One of the most common dental problems associated with oral piercings is tooth and gum damage. It’s easy enough to damage your teeth and gums already, whether from chewing ice or brushing your teeth too hard. Add a piece of metal jewelry into the equation and you’ve got a recipe for disaster. Oral piercings can irritate the gum tissue, and cause enamel damage in the form of cracks, chips, scratches, and tooth sensitivity.

If you’ve had any dental work done—including fillings or crowns—oral piercings can damage these as well, so if you don’t want to spend more money and time in the dental chair having your dental work repaired, we recommend choosing a non-oral piercing—if you’ve really got the urge to pierce something.

Nerve Damage

Following a tongue piercing, it’s not uncommon to experience numbness due to nerve damage; this is usually temporary, but can sometimes be permanent. Nerve damage can affect your sense of taste, as well as the movement and function of your mouth. Tongue piercings have also been known to damage the tongue’s blood vessels, which can cause serious blood loss.

Other Hazards

Allergic reactions are always possible with piercings. Some folks are allergic to certain types of metals, and some are just hypersensitive to certain metals. Tongue piercings can create increased saliva production, which can cause excessive drooling and can also affect your speech patterns causing a lisp. Not as appealing as you thought it was going to be, eh? Finally, oral piercings can be a problem when it comes to dental care because they interfere with x-rays and prevent us from seeing the full picture of your mouth.

Our Advice

If you already have an oral piercing, we do recommend removing it, but we understand if it’s become a staple of your signature look. If you’re keeping or still considering getting an oral piercing after reading this article, at least read our advice on how to care for it and avoid or minimize dental problems.

Choose a jewelry style that works well with the location in your mouth.
Gauge your jewelry accordingly. Longer or bigger jewelry may be necessary at first due to swelling, but once the swelling goes down the jewelry should be swapped or adjusted to fit.
If you choose metal jewelry, make sure you’re aware of any sensitivities you may have and make sure the jewelry conforms to surgical implant grade standards.
Use polymer balls to reduce the risk of damage, and select a smaller ball for the underside of the tongue to reduce contact with this soft tissue area.
Keep the piercing clean and free of debris by brushing and flossing diligently and rinsing with mouthwash after every meal—contrary to what you might believe, alcohol-free is a better option because alcohol is drying, and a dry mouth is more susceptible to infection.
Avoid playing with your jewelry or moving it around in your mouth, including chewing on it or clicking it around against your teeth. Be gentle and aware of how the jewelry moves when you speak and eat.
Check the tightness of your jewelry (with clean hands) regularly to ensure it’s secure so you don’t swallow or choke on it.
If you participate in sports, you may want to remove your jewelry while playing, and you should always wear a mouthguard.
Maintain your diligent oral hygiene routine and see us at Carolina Complete Dental regularly so we can catch any small problems before they progress.

We hope this article has made you think twice about oral piercings. There are plenty of other places to pierce, after all, and plenty of other ways to express yourself that don’t involve permanently damaging your mouth. If you already have an oral piercing or are considering getting one, we hope you’ll follow our advice on how to best minimize the damage.

If you have any more questions about oral piercings or anything else related to oral health, we would love to speak with you. Contact your Goose Creek dentists, Dr. Barganier, Dr. Zuffi, Dr. Williams, and Dr. McAdams at Carolina Complete Dental today!

Science Rules: Fun Crafts & Oral Health Experiments for Kids

April 27, 2022

Goose Creek dentists, Dr. Barganier, Dr. Zuffi, Dr. Williams, and Dr. McAdams at Carolina Complete Dental, share engaging activity ideas meant to teach children the importance of dental health with fun crafts and science experiments. At Carolina Complete Dental, we know your little one’s smile fills you with joy and pride; smiles are a source of joy and pride for us, too! We cherish the opportunity to help build a foundation that will ensure your child has a healthy smile for life. But, we know before they become oral hygiene pros, they’re not quite sure why interrupting playtime to brush their teeth is necessary—or why you won’t let them have more sugary drinks and snacks.

Luckily, there are many fun ways to teach them the importance of dental health. Carolina Complete Dental has a few suggestions you can try out with your child, and if questions come up that you’re not sure how to answer, don’t hesitate to contact us and schedule a visit! We love sharing our knowledge and showing families that oral health is a gift that keeps on giving!

Brushing Basics

Demonstrating how to remove the nitty-gritty from your little one’s mouth is a good precursor to explaining the nitty-gritty of what can happen if they skip brushing and flossing (whether it’s with the traditional string variety, soft picks, or perhaps a WaterPik® meant for kids).

We find large model mouths especially helpful, and they can be fun to put together! If you have access to white Styrofoam™ egg cartons or ice cube trays, you can create the teeth of your model. If you’re going with the egg cartons, you can cut the rows apart and glue, tape, or staple them on cardboard to imitate the upper and lower rows of teeth. For a (slightly) more realistic look, you can paint the cardboard pink! Once you’ve got the mouth ready, your child can practice brushing each tooth and flossing between the spaces.

If you’ve got white ice cube trays, a dry erase marker, a craft stick (or a popsicle stick), felt, and glue, you can create another mouth and toothbrush model. Glue the felt to the top of your stick, and you’ve got yourselves a toothbrush that will scrub dry-erase ink from the ice cube trays. You can even spell out plaque, tartar, and bacteria with the dry erase marker, which could make wiping away that ink feel especially satisfying.

Flossing Frenzy

To add to the fun, you can also bust out some play dough (either homemade or store-bought will work) and place it between the spaces of the carton or ice cube tray teeth, then remove the buildup with pipe cleaners or yarn. This step is great for teaching children the importance of flossing. You can tell them, “Your heroic toothbrush needs a sidekick to remove the dangerous, bad-breath causing bugs that it can’t reach alone.”

Dangerous, Bad-Breath Causing Bugs?

Those words might sound scary, and the truth is, they can be. If your child’s oral health defense isn’t strong enough, they’ll be susceptible to tooth decay and gum disease. Teaching them healthy habits from the beginning goes a long way toward creating strong, beautiful smiles they can be just as proud of as you are. And luckily, little ones really want to follow in the footsteps of the people they’re closest to, so setting a positive example by caring for your smile will make a big difference.

With the serious warning out of the way, we’d love to talk about a fun science experiment you can conduct with your little learner!

Lab Coat? Check. Goggles? Check. Eggs? Wait, What?

You won’t actually need a lab coat or goggles, but you will need 4 hardboiled eggs and the imagination to pretend they’re teeth. You’ll also need:

4 cups or jars
1 cup of soda
1 cup of vinegar
1 cup of fruit juice
1 cup of water
Baking soda or toothpaste
Toothbrush

When you’ve got your cups or jars of each liquid ready, carefully place 1 hardboiled egg in each, with the shells still intact. Leave the eggs to soak overnight, then prepare to be amazed (or have your predictions confirmed) by your findings the following day!

The egg that sat overnight in soda is likely to be deeply stained—this is where the toothpaste or baking soda and the toothbrush come in handy. Have your child see if the staining can be scrubbed off. The egg might return to its former appearance with enough scrubbing, but it may lead to the questions, “What is this soda doing to the rest of my body?” and “Is drinking soda worth the erosion it causes?”

Depending on the juice chosen, it might not have changed the color of your hardboiled egg much, but the coating of the shell may become gritty, and your child’s toothbrush might pick up some color as you scrub it. The potency of vinegar softens the shell to the point that the egg can be squeezed without cracking. Lastly, the water tends to have no visible effect. Water is neutral on the pH scale, which makes it an excellent beverage choice, and creates the opportunity to talk about how acidity and alkalinity can create illness or wellness!

And to think this all began with a topic seemingly as simple as teeth! Your child’s smile may be more full of wonder after these activities, and Carolina Complete Dental would love to encourage their curiosity and help their smiles stay healthy and strong as they continue learning and growing. Contact your Goose Creek dentist at Carolina Complete Dental today to schedule your next checkup!

Smile Safari: An Introduction to Animal Teeth

April 14, 2022

If you and your child are the proud companions of a pet, there’s a good chance you’ve both thought or said something like: “Fluffy’s really living the life. Instead of having to go to school or do chores, they can relax and sleep all day, getting up only to eat or maybe chase a laser if they’re feeling feisty.” However, Fluffy also doesn’t have to floss and brush their teeth, so how do Fluffy’s teeth manage not to suffer from disease and decay?

Contemplating this may lead you and your little one to wonder about all kinds of different animal mouths and how they remain clean and strong. Dr. Barganier, Dr. Zuffi, Dr. Williams, and Dr. McAdams of Carolina Complete Dental happen to love talking about teeth of all types, so keep reading to go on a toothy smile safari!

Myth Busting

Before we start listing fun facts about animal teeth of different species, we’ll answer the question we asked first about Fluffy’s teeth seeming impervious to decay. The myth that dogs have cleaner mouths than humans has existed for some time even though they lick themselves daily and have an affinity for things as yucky (and potentially toxic) as soiled kitty litter. Our mention of these particular habits and the word myth probably clues you into the truth, but we’ll explain in more detail.

Human mouths are home to anywhere from 650 to 1,000 different types of bacteria at any given moment, while the number of bacteria in the mouth of a dog may hover around 600. On its own, this fact might make you believe that pervasive myth, but diets and the types of bacteria are important to keep in mind. Dogs shouldn’t be ingesting sugar the way many humans do, making cavities less likely to form in their teeth, but both humans and dogs are likely to develop gum disease without a solid oral hygiene routine.

Doggy Dental Care

You read right—canine friends need help cleaning their mouths to prevent periodontal disease (the advanced form of gum disease), which can lead to tooth loss. You can softly brush your buddy’s teeth and gums with a toothpaste meant for dogs, as toothpastes meant for humans can contain ingredients like xylitol, which is very harmful to your beloved pooch. Giving them treats with the seal of approval from the Veterinary Oral Health Council is helpful, too! And be sure not to smooch your pooch on the mouth, as harmful bacteria can be transferred easily! Mothers, lovers, and dogs are the most common sources of gum disease infections.

If you’re curious about your feline friend, research suggests their oral bacteria is very similar to a dog’s. One big distinction between their mouths is the tongue. Why do cats have rough barbs (known as papillae) on their tongues? Simple—they help remove dirt, debris, and loose hair from their coat, but their primary function is to scrape flesh from their prey’s bones—they’re animals after all, even if we’ve domesticated them. A look at their diets (or what their diets would be if they weren’t our sweet housemates) brings us back to the topic of animal teeth!

Sharp or Dull, Long or Short, Numerous or Few?

The different types of teeth you’ll find in an animal’s mouth provide clues on what they eat! Can you imagine a cow’s mouth with teeth like a dog’s? That wouldn’t be helpful for them to chew grass, leaves, and other plant matter, which is why you’ll find rows of flat, wide teeth in the mouths of herbivores (plant-eaters) like horses, camels, cows, sheep, and goats. The jaws of these animals are also capable of moving sideways, which helps them grind the food between their molars for healthy digestion.

When it comes to the mouths of carnivores (meat-eaters), you’ll find a mouthful of long, pointed (sharp) teeth that help lions, tigers, foxes, wolves, and the Tyrannosaurus Rex (testing to be sure you’re still with us), grip and cut the meat of their prey. Flat teeth meant for chewing aren’t necessary for these eaters, because they’re able to swallow and digest larger chunks of food.

If an animal eats both meat and plants, they can be referred to as an omnivore and will have a combination of sharp and flat teeth for their varied diet.

Teeth as Tools

While Carolina Complete Dental strongly advises you and your child stick with using your teeth for speaking, eating, and smiling, there are animals that can use their teeth for other activities. For example, elephant tusks are actually teeth, and they use them both defensively and like hands as they lift and carry objects, and even dig with them. If they lose a set of tusks, they can grow replacement tusks up to six times in their lives. If you think that’s incredible, wait ‘til you read about shark teeth!

Sharks lose teeth each week! They’re not attached to gums like human teeth and may break or come out clean when they’ve chomped into their prey. Luckily for sharks, they can grow a replacement tooth within a day of losing one. This leads to the phenomenal presence of over 20,000 teeth in one shark’s lifetime!

There are so many astounding facts to learn about the animals we share a planet with, and we love to share what we know with our young (and not so young) visitors. Unlike elephants and sharks, you and your little one are given just one set of permanent teeth. We’re here to help ensure they’re healthy for a lifetime of happy smiles, so contact your Goose Creek dentist at Carolina Complete Dental today to schedule a checkup!

What a Great Smile! Dental Bonding for Kids

March 27, 2022

Goose Creek dentists, Dr. Barganier, Dr. Zuffi, Dr. Williams, and Dr. McAdams of Carolina Complete Dental, discuss dental bonding for kids and why it can be a good dental solution for pediatric patients. Dental bonding is a versatile cosmetic and restorative dental procedure that can be performed on patients of all ages. It can repair damage, fill gaps, and improve the look and structure of teeth. Carolina Complete Dental wants all our patients to enjoy healthy, confident smiles, and if your child faces problems with chipped, misshapen or gapped teeth, your Goose Creek dentist may recommend bonding treatment.

What is the Bonding Procedure?

Dental bonding is a treatment where a tooth-colored material is applied directly to the teeth—a composite resin or modifiable ceramic—that restores, rejuvenates, and improves teeth in appearance and function. This minimally invasive same-day dental solution is performed in-office, and rarely requires anesthesia unless it is being used to correct decay.

To assist the bonding composite in adhering to the tooth, Dr. Barganier, Dr. Zuffi, Dr. Williams, and Dr. McAdams roughens the tooth surface and applies a conditioning liquid. Since bonding requires little preparation, the maximum amount of existing tooth structure can be preserved, and the composite resin strengthens and fuses itself to a child’s natural tooth. Tooth-colored resin with a putty-like consistency is color-matched, applied, molded, and smoothed to the desired shape.

Once this has been achieved, an ultraviolet (UV) light or laser is used to harden the material. Once the bond has hardened, it is trimmed, shaped, and polished to match the rest of the tooth’s natural sheen. The overall bonding process averages 30-60 minutes per tooth.

Is Bonding a Good Solution for My Child?

Every child’s dental situation is different. If bonding is being considered purely for aesthetic purposes, you may want to consider factors like how long your child can comfortably sit still and whether the affected tooth will fall out on its own soon. Bonding is often used for pediatric patients in the following situations:

To repair decayed, chipped, cracked, or broken teeth
To improve the appearance of teeth – close a gap, fix alignment, make tooth shape more uniform
To fill in the tooth root area that has been exposed by receding gums
As an alternative to amalgam fillings (depending on location in the mouth and extent of decay)

How Should Bonded Teeth Be Cared For?

Bonded teeth look, feel, and function like natural teeth and should be cared for with a sound oral hygiene routine. Beverages like soda, dark-colored juices, and sports drinks should be avoided whenever possible to prevent staining, and we recommend a custom-fitted mouthguard be used during your child’s active pursuits to prevent damage and injury.

Eating ice, biting nails, or chewing pencils and pens chips away at bonding material (and natural teeth!), so if your child has these habits, they should work on curbing them to get the best results from bonding. If your child observes that their bonded tooth suddenly feels “different” or “funny”, ask for details—they could have chipped the bond, in which case you should call us as soon as possible!

Will Future Dental Restoration Be Needed?

The answer is: most likely. Dental bonding material isn’t as strong as tooth enamel, but usually lasts several years (about a decade) before it needs repair or renewal. Bonding resin on teeth shows wear over time and can become stained or appear dull with age. Once a child finishes growing, a more permanent restorative procedure like a crown or veneers may be advised.

In Summary: Bonding Pros & Cons

Pros:

Takes an hour or less to apply
Less expensive alternative to fillings or other restorations
Looks natural – bonding solution is matched to natural teeth
Minimally invasive
Rarely requires anesthesia
Does not reduce natural tooth structure

Cons:

Can stain or dull over time
Easier to break or chip than other restorations
Will likely require repair or restoration in the future

No one should be able to tell your child has had dental work done—but expect lots of compliments on their bright smile! Contact us today if you have questions or would like to learn more about dental bonding for kids. Your Goose Creek dentists, Dr. Barganier, Dr. Zuffi, Dr. Williams, and Dr. McAdams at Carolina Complete Dental look forward to helping your little one feel confident in their smile.

Why Are My Baby’s Teeth Stained?

March 13, 2022

Goose Creek dentists, Dr. Barganier, Dr. Zuffi, Dr. Williams, and Dr. McAdams of Carolina Complete Dental, discuss discoloration of kids’ teeth, potential causes, and possible treatments. As brand-new humans, it seems logical that babies and children would have gleaming white teeth to go along with their bright eyes and soft skin. Baby teeth—also called primary teeth—generally do appear whiter than adult permanent teeth because they are more calcified. However, it is not uncommon for a child’s teeth to appear less than luminous for any number of reasons. Your Goose Creek dental team at Carolina Complete Dental would like to share some causes and possible solutions for yellow, brown, and black stains on kids’ teeth.

What Causes Stained Baby Teeth?

Poor Oral Hygiene – If baby teeth aren’t brushed and flossed thoroughly, bacteria may form and become plaque, which hardens into tartar and can lead to discoloration. Practice thorough oral hygiene for the healthiest, whitest smile.
Medication – If babies are given nutritional supplements containing iron, their teeth can become dark and discolored. If their mothers take tetracycline while pregnant or breastfeeding, babies can develop black stains on their teeth.
Injury – A single blackened tooth can be the result of dental trauma that caused bleeding inside the tooth.
Weak Enamel – Inadequate enamel formation can be hereditary and lead to baby teeth that appear a dull gray color.
Excessive Fluoride – Fluorosis is a condition caused by the consumption of too much fluoride when teeth are forming but prior to appearance in the mouth, which takes place before kids are eight years old. To avoid fluorosis, keep an eye on your child’s oral hygiene habits and remind them not to swallow toothpaste or mouthwash. Fluorosis can also be caused by mixing infant formula powder or liquid with fluoridated water if these types of formula are your baby’s main food source. Fluorosis can range in severity from mild, barely visible markings to pitting and black or brown spots in more severe cases.
Illness – Some kids’ baby teeth develop with a greenish or yellowish tint if they are born with a condition called hyperbilirubinemia, which means there is too much bilirubin in the blood.
Foods & Beverages – This list of staining culprits wouldn’t be complete without some common staining foods and beverages. Thankfully (hopefully), kids don’t need to worry much about tea, coffee, or red wine, which are some of the biggest factors for adults, but any dark-colored foods and drinks like berries or fruit juice will stain their teeth. Even light-colored foods like apples and potatoes go through a process of oxidation that can cause teeth staining. Who knew!?

How Can Stained Baby Teeth Be Prevented or Treated?

If discoloration is caused by poor dental hygiene, brushing more thoroughly should help. Until your child learns to spit at around age three, don’t use more than a rice-sized smear of fluoride toothpaste on their toothbrush.

To decrease bad bacteria in your child’s mouth, avoid putting soft drinks, juice, formula, or other sugary concoctions in their bottle—only allow them a bottle filled with water. If your child uses a pacifier, never dip it in sugar or honey, and try to avoid sharing utensils with your child as this can transfer bacteria from your mouth to theirs (and vice versa!) and increase the likelihood of cavity formation.

Depending on your child’s unique dental situation, Carolina Complete Dental may watch their teeth for signs of other problems or recommend future procedures like teeth whitening or bonding. Some kids are more sensitive to stained teeth than others due to their natural oral pH level.

If you are concerned about stains on your child’s teeth, contact your Goose Creek dentists, Dr. Barganier, Dr. Zuffi, Dr. Williams, and Dr. McAdams at Carolina Complete Dental today. We’d love to help!

Does My Child Need Early Orthodontic Treatment?

February 27, 2022

One of the wonderful things about orthodontic treatment is that it can improve both your oral health and smile confidence at just about any age! This might lead you to believe there’s no need for children or adolescents to have to go through what might seem like a complicated intervention, but there are reasons you may see orthodontic treatment taking place sooner rather than later.

Dr. Barganier, Dr. Zuffi, Dr. Williams, and Dr. McAdams of Carolina Complete Dental would like to let Goose Creek friends and neighbors know if the reasons are valid, so buckle your brackets and join us for this cruise through early orthodontic treatment!

Brace for Impact!

If your child visits the orthodontist at the age of 7 as recommended by The American Association of Orthodontists, you’ll be told whether or not orthodontia is forecasted in their future. We know they’re still growing, but 7 years old is the typical age for their upper permanent teeth to have erupted, which is helpful for the establishment of their bite. Your child’s orthodontist will evaluate front-to-back and side-to-side tooth relationships; we want the bond to be strong, but not too strong—teeth need just the right amount of space from each other for a healthy bite.

Crossbite, Right Ahead!

Forgive our silly Titanic reference with the swap of iceberg for crossbite, but this is one occlusion (the technical dental term used to describe the contact between your upper and lower teeth) you’ll want to steer toward a healthier course. If one or more of your child’s upper front teeth close inside their lower teeth, they may have this condition. Unfortunately, it can really sink your child’s oral health by causing their jaw to grow unevenly. Crossbites are known to cause wear of the teeth, gum disease, and bone loss—which may require corrective oral surgery later in life.

Crossbite, along with protrusion (also known as overjet—you’ll notice that in the dental world, there may be several terms used to diagnose one thing, e.g., cavity, tooth decay, and caries) are two malocclusions that dentists and orthodontists will strongly suggest treating. Protrusion can be caused by habits like thumb-sucking and excessive pacifier usage. Front teeth that are misaligned in an overjet are more prone to injury and can cause TMJ (temporomandibular joint) pain and dysfunction.

Other Signs of Distress

You may want to send out the SOS call to Carolina Complete Dental if your child experiences any of the following:

Early loss of baby teeth (before they turn 5)
Permanent teeth aren’t emerging
Upper and lower teeth aren’t meeting
Mouth breathing and/or snoring (this could indicate an airway problem, thumb-sucking habit, or tongue-tie)
Crowding of erupting permanent teeth
Difficulty biting, chewing or speaking
Jaw clenching

These symptoms may indicate one or more conditions that would benefit from early orthodontic treatment, and now Carolina Complete Dental will explain how early intervention can make a big difference in your child’s smile and overall quality of life.

The Big Reveal

We kind of built the suspense, didn’t we? The actual reasons may sound basic, but the results are anything but! Early intervention for your child’s bite can often help them avoid the need for more lengthy and costly procedures, such as extraction and surgery, later in their life. The takeaway is this: when their bones are still soft and forming, corrective procedures can take less time and allow them to smile confidently throughout their teenage years.

Delaying Treatment

If there are barriers to treatment and you’re worried Carolina Complete Dental will be intervening too late, we’d like to put your mind at ease. With advanced technology and continued education, the fields of dentistry and orthodontia have been able to bring smiles back (or for the first time) to conditions that will radiate health and confidence in your child’s life.

At Carolina Complete Dental, we build relationships and customized treatment plans for each unique smile in our dental family. We’re happy to help Goose Creek residents along their smile journeys at any age and stage, so don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or are looking to begin a smile odyssey of your own!

When is the Best Time to Get Braces?

February 14, 2022

Goose Creek dentist, Dr. Barganier, Dr. Zuffi, Dr. Williams, and Dr. McAdams at Carolina Complete Dental, shares some reasons why summertime is the best time for kids and teens to get braces. The seasons seem to fly by, quickly turning into years. Before you know it, your little one is not so little (they grow up so fast!) and it’s time to consider braces. At Carolina Complete Dental, we highly recommend early intervention when it comes to orthodontics.

Contrary to the popular belief that you should wait until teeth and jaws have finished developing, the teeth are easier to move into the proper position WHILE they are still growing and changing. We recommend you bring your child in to see us for an initial consultation around the age of seven, but if you missed that boat—don’t worry, it’s never too late for orthodontics!

Is it ever “the right time”?

There is no “wrong” time to get your child or teen started with orthodontics, and your decision should depend on many personal factors, including scheduling and finances. However, there is one time of year that’s proven to be better than the rest for starting the orthodontic journey—summertime (and the weather’s fine)!

You may anticipate objections from the peanut gallery like, “But it’s SUMMER! I don’t want to spend my summer with braces!” That’s why we’re here to give you some ammo in this discussion—so you can provide reasons they will be much happier getting their braces in the summer than during the school year.

School’s Out!

You remember counting down the last few seconds before the final bell rang on the last day of school…aahh, sweet freedom! No more early bus rides, no more homework, no more tests, and no more teachers for three whole months! Plus, no more after-school extracurriculars. Even if your kids participate in sports, clubs, or other activities during the summer, those are likely to take a few hours per day rather than the 6-8 hours spent at school during the year—and this freed-up schedule allows for increased flexibility to get started on orthodontic treatment.

We hate to make kids miss any days of school, so summer is an ideal time to get these initial, lengthy orthodontic appointments out of the way. By the time the first day of school rolls around again, they will only need to come in for quick and easy checkups. Our schedules at Carolina Complete Dental and other dental and orthodontic offices usually fill up much more quickly when school is in session, so summer is an easier time for appointment scheduling for everyone!

Getting Adjusted

Orthodontics has come a long way in recent years, but the process still involves moving teeth, and that can be quite uncomfortable, especially at first. That’s another reason we suggest starting orthodontic treatment in the summer, to give kids and teens some extra time to hide out at home while they adjust to their braces. Sending kids straight off to school with a mouthful of brackets and wires and a sore jaw just seems cruel—and it’s bound to make focusing on their studies a bit more difficult.

Braces require a lot of adjustments, and not just with the braces themselves—the wearer must make hygiene and diet changes to accommodate their new gear. Summer is the easiest time for these transitions. When there are no classes, there’s more time to stock the fridge with soft foods—and they’ll have time to practice their new oral hygiene routine, which is easy to let slide when they get busy with school and sports.

Social Scene

During the school year, when one kid gets braces, the other kids all know about it—they leave school braces-free one day and come back the next with a mouth full of metal. (Nicknames like metal mouth, brace face, and tinsel teeth come to mind.) On the other hand, if kids get their braces on during the summer, it’s likely that only their close circle of friends will see them until they get used to them a little more.

When they do return to school with their new braces, it will have been so long since everyone else has seen them that their classmates may not even notice. They will have been wearing them for a few weeks, so they will feel more natural and confident about their temporarily metallic smile—and their teeth may even have started to straighten out a bit!

Growth Spurts

Aside from convenient scheduling and wanting your child or teen to feel as comfortable and confident as possible, there is also some science involved in our reasoning for starting orthodontic treatment in the summer. The best time for straightening teeth is during their maximum growth period.

Kids generally go through growth spurts and then go into a lag period until the next spurt, and studies show that growth spurts tend to happen most during the long days of summer. While researchers are still studying the exact cause of this phenomenon, the most likely factor involves the pituitary gland as it relates to the length of the days and increased heat. Whatever the cause, it’s just one more reason to get those braces on before the heat of the summer so the teeth will move as easily and effectively as possible.

Ice Cream!

As an oral healthcare provider, we can’t officially “recommend” a diet that’s high in ice cream—but hey, it’s summer! As if kids and teens need another reason to enjoy frozen treats on a hot summer day, ice cream IS on the list of ortho-approved soft foods. Score! Plus, a soft, cool treat can work wonders to soothe not only the soul, but sore teeth and gums, too. There are healthier and equally delicious ice cream alternatives to consider as well, including frozen yogurt and fresh-fruit smoothies.

Just be sure to stress the importance of keeping up a diligent oral hygiene routine, which is particularly important during their time with braces. Increased sugar in the diet combined with new hardware to work around can be tricky, so remind them to rinse with water frequently after eating and drinking (especially something sugary), and to brush and floss more regularly (and use their orthodontic picks) to clean between the teeth and around the gum line to prevent cavities and gingivitis. Conscientious oral hygiene will ensure their smile is not only straight and beautiful when the time comes to remove the braces, but also that it’s healthy as it can be.

No matter what time of year, Dr. Barganier, Dr. Zuffi, Dr. Williams, and Dr. McAdams of Carolina Complete Dental in Goose Creek is here to make your child or teen’s orthodontic experience as easy, convenient, and comfortable as possible. If you’re interested in setting up a consultation, we would love to speak with you! Contact us today to get started. Your kids may not thank you right away—but their bright, healthy smiles will be thanks enough in the end!

Orthodontic Pacifiers: A Binky on a Mission

December 13, 2021

Goose Creek dentists, Drs. Bargainier, and Zuffi discuss orthodontic pacifiers, why pacifiers are better than thumb sucking, and ways to wean kids off the binky. Parents face many decisions, even before their baby makes an appearance—but once that bundle of joy arrives, one important choice is whether to use a pacifier. Babies have a natural reflex to suck their thumbs, fingers, pacifiers, or other objects to help them feel more secure, to soothe them, or to lull them to sleep. If you decide your little bundle of joy needs a binky for a bit, Drs. Bargainier, and Zuffi recommends an orthodontic pacifier.

What is an Orthodontic Pacifier?

Orthodontic pacifiers are specifically designed to help alleviate misaligned teeth and orthodontic issues as baby teeth come in. The nipple of an orthodontic pacifier supports the shape of the developing jaw and palate. When the baby sucks, the orthodontic pacifier mimics the shape of a mother’s nipple, reducing pressure on gums and developing teeth and promoting a natural sucking motion.

Some orthodontic pacifiers are even constructed to feel soft enough to avoid irritation of their delicate baby skin. Research indicates an ordinary round-shaped binky is more likely to result in open bite and overbite problems than an orthodontic one. However, the best way to prevent dental damage is limiting pacifier use altogether and banishing the binky after Baby turns one—even if the pacifier is orthodontic.

The Binky vs. The Thumb

Is one better than the other? The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry thinks so. Why? Because the pacifier habit is easier to stop, whereas their thumb is always at easy access. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends pacifier use when napping or sleeping during Baby’s first year to help prevent the incidence of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), but binky use or thumb sucking past two to four years of age can negatively affect the shape of a child’s mouth and the way their teeth and bite align. If kids can ditch the pacifier or give up the thumb before their permanent front teeth come in, the probability of the bite correcting itself is more likely.

How to Wean Kids from the Pacifier

Most kids stop pacifier use or thumb sucking on their own (peer pressure happens, even when you are only three—the struggle is real). Some kids are just not as binky-centric as others. Kids may stop as early as one year old or as late as four years old, and they tend to give up pacifiers before thumb sucking. If you decide to wean gradually, consistency is key. Limit the use of pacifiers to naps and bedtime and keep every binky out of sight and out of reach. It usually doesn’t take more than a week for children to adjust to a pacifier-free routine.

If the weaning approach isn’t working and you decide the time has come for cold turkey, consistency is still the answer. If you go this route, your child cries for a long time and you give in anyway, you’ve just reinforced that crying will get them what they want. Here are some ideas that may help end the battle of the binky:

Replace the pacifier with a new way to self-soothe. Help your child select a special toy to sleep with and hold for comfort.
Discuss the change with your child in words that are appropriate for their age or developmental stage. Remind them they are a big kid and have the special toy now instead of the binky, so they no longer need one.
Help your child use words or sign language instead of fussing. Saying or signing “sad,” “tired,” or “hungry” will fray everyone’s nerves much less than a wall of whining.
Avoid replacing pacifiers with “sippy” training cups and let your child use a straw instead. Drinking from a straw strengthens the oral muscles used for speech.
Give praise to the behaviors you want to encourage. If your child sleeps all night or makes it through a car ride without their pacifier, tell them what a great job they’re doing!
Have your child’s dentist show them examples of what can happen to teeth if they don’t give up their pacifier, such as what overbites and braces look like.

If you have any questions about orthodontic pacifiers or need some support while your cutie gets the binky monkey off their back, contact Carolina Complete Dental in Goose Creek today!

What’s a Pulpotomy? Pain Relief for Tiny Teeth

November 27, 2021

Goose Creek dentists, Dr. Barganier, Dr. Zuffi, Dr. Williams, and Dr. McAdams of Carolina Complete Dental, explain what a pulpotomy is, when they’re recommended, and the steps of the procedure for saving baby teeth. The pulp is found in the center of each tooth and consists of tissue, nerves, and blood vessels, which work together to provide oxygen and nutrients that keep them healthy and strong. If one or more teeth suffer a traumatic injury or decay, the pulp can become inflamed or infected. When this happens in a child’s primary or baby tooth, your dentists Dr. Barganier, Dr. Zuffi, Dr. Williams, and Dr. McAdams may recommend a pulpotomy.

A pulpotomy–also referred to as pulp therapy or a “baby root canal”–is performed to prevent further infection and early tooth loss. The procedure entails applying a topical anesthetic to numb the area before creating a small opening in the tooth, removing the infected, inflamed pulp, then sealing the chamber with a medicated filling that will prevent bacteria growth and allow a crown (stainless steel, porcelain, or white zirconia are the most common materials to choose from) to be fitted in place to restore the tooth.

Why Save a Baby Tooth?

When infection strikes a tooth in your little one’s mouth, you might think: “It’s a baby tooth, why not just remove it or let it fall out?” We wish we could tell you it’s that simple, but baby teeth have an important job. Losing them before they’re due to exit can cause permanent teeth to shift and erupt out of proper alignment, not to mention the increased difficulty for them to chew and speak naturally.

Protecting and restoring your child’s baby teeth can save their oral health and self-confidence. While pulpotomies may sound serious and scary, often they’re a source of relief because the inflammation and infection inside the pulp are incredibly painful. Acting fast can prevent increasing pain and the need for a pulpectomy, which is a removal of the diseased pulp from both the crown and the root. It can also make the difference between whether the tooth becomes abscessed—if the infection reaches this level, the tooth needs to be saved or face extraction.

What to Watch For

You should contact Carolina Complete Dental as soon as possible if your child experiences any of the following symptoms:

Severe toothache, especially when chewing or applying pressure
Extreme sensitivity to hot or cold food and beverage temperatures
Tooth discoloration (darkening)
Swelling of gums
Small, persistent or recurring bumps on gums

Infection Prevention

At Carolina Complete Dental, we think the best treatment is no treatment. That means we emphasize prevention, which is largely reliant on education, healthy lifestyles, and strong oral hygiene routines. We want learning about the mouth to be fun, and for your little one’s smile to stay healthy and bright for life.

We offer thorough exams, gentle cleanings, and dental sealants to help ward off infection-causing bugs. Contact us today to schedule a visit!