Silver diamine fluoride has revolutionized the ways that dentists can treat children’s teeth. Cavities present a serious problem among children throughout the US, with over 42% of children between ages 2 to 11 getting cavities at their primary baby teeth stage. Normally, dentists would use fluoride treatments to help prevent and treat cavities. Still, with a new and improved version out in the market, many pediatric dentists have begun taking this new tool and using it as a more effective way to prevent cavities. Silver diamine fluoride has revolutionized how dentists can treat children’s teeth, and we’re here to give you the basics of this amazing tool.
Silver diamine fluoride, abbreviated as SDF, is a water-soluble solution made with silver, fluoride, and water. This varnish is simple to apply and can halt the advancement of cavities within seconds of application. SDF was approved by the FDA back in 2014, and since then, many dentists have begun slowly offering this service to their patients as an alternative way of treating and preventing cavities. Its universal availability has also made it especially useful for developing countries, and it’s all thanks to silver’s antibacterial properties.
Silver’s antibacterial properties have made it the perfect additive to fluoride. Silver helps to remove bacteria from the area; fluoride helps strengthen the enamel and provides the minerals teeth need to be strong and healthy. These two ingredients combined together make it a quick, painless, and highly affordable option for parents health-conscious about their child’s teeth.
An excellent notion to take in about SDF is that it poses very little risk to children. The only side effect reported is a blackening of the tooth’s surface and some irritation along the gums. If your child receives an SDF coating and notices black stains along with the tooth, that’s because the silver oxidizes as it is exposed to oxygen within the mouth. These stains for adults can sometimes be permanent, but their stains can either go away over time or remain until their teeth fall out for children growing and gaining their adult teeth. For children with sensitive gums, the SDF treatment may cause some irritation, but the irritation is mild and will go away over time.
Some pediatric dentists recommend the use of SDF because of the treatment’s low financial impact, ease of application, and high rate of cavity prevention in children ages 2 to 11. For parents on strict budgets, SDF can offer their children greater protection against cavities and can help children have healthier, happier teeth. Also, because of silver’s high effectiveness in treating cavities, it can save many children’s teeth.
At Kids 360 Pediatric Dentistry, Dr. Mayuri Appareddy, DMD, specializes in caring for children’s teeth and making positive changes to their oral health. For more information about our children’s dental care services, contact our office in Richmond, TX, and schedule an appointment with us today.
Childhood tooth decay is preventable with consistent oral care at home and getting them to their annual dental visits. However, some children are more susceptible to tooth decay than others. For those with sensitive teeth, xylitol has been recently identified as an ingredient that can help reduce tooth decay by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Xylitol is a sweetener gaining popularity in toothpaste and sugarless chewing gum and has been shown to reduce the risk of children’s cavities.
For conscientious mothers out there, xylitol is a sweet sugar alcohol, taking the combined traits of sugar molecules and alcohol molecules to simulate a sweet taste along with the receptors on the tongue. Xylitol often acts as an alternative to sugar or sucrose products and is derived from berry fruits and certain vegetables. Popularly used in chewing gum and toothpaste, xylitol is most commonly used to help prevent cavities and tooth decay in children.
What makes xylitol special is its ability to act as an antibacterial sugar substitute because it inhibits the growth of some bacteria types that cause cavities and gingivitis. This sweetening agent doesn’t impact blood sugar levels, making it a diabetic-friendly food that doesn’t affect insulin levels as much as sucrose and glucose foods do. That’s because it acts as a low-digestible carbohydrate and contains less than 40% calories when compared to sugar.
For the bacteria, sugar alcohol cannot be consumed because it lacks the cariogenic properties for it to be consumed. Because the bacteria cannot digest xylitol, it reduces the amount of bacteria growth in the mouth. It also allows saliva throughout the mouth to wash away any unwanted food particles and bacteria that can cause cavities and tooth decay.
Among many of its benefits, the only risk to a person would be ingesting too much, causing gas and diarrhea. That’s because, in its recommended doses, xylitol can be fermented by the gut bacteria. The only risks that xylitol poses for children is for those who have irritable bowel syndrome or cannot absorb FODMAPS properly. Dogs cannot digest this substance and risk hypoglycemic severe shock when they eat any food that contains xylitol and requires immediate care.
Xylitol isn’t new, but for many pediatric dentists, it’s undoubtedly helped care for children’s teeth. One of the most recurring questions received is why a child couldn’t just use fluoride toothpaste? Well, for some picky children, brushing with fluoride can taste weird and be unpleasant. When it comes to dentistry, it’s about not only caring for your child’s teeth but also about teaching them the habits they need for a long life filled with healthy teeth. Xylitol provides children with a sweeter alternative that can be used as a teaching tool for children who struggle with brushing their teeth.
As a great alternative to fluoride, xylitol can help encourage your child to brush their teeth more and build life-long habits. For more information about xylitol, contact Dr. Mayuri Appareddy, DMD at Kids 360 Pediatric Dentistry in Richmond, TX, to schedule an appointment.
