Dr. Jorge Reyes, owner of Eastwood Dental, and his staff pride themselves on providing quality care to patients in a friendly, relaxed environment. Often, patients have plenty of questions regarding their oral hygiene and dental procedures, some of which are more common than others, especially when referring to their children. Reyes recently took some time with Insight to answer some of his most common questions.

Q: How often should my family and I visit the dental office?

A: It varies depending on the type of treatment you or a family member may be receiving. For instance, if there are no serious problems and you’re just looking to maintain a healthy smile, a visit to a dentist is suggested every six months for cleaning, a check up and X-rays. If, during one of these routine visits, a more serious problem is found than your dentist will provide you with a recommended course of action and treatment schedule.

Q: Is there anything a dental professional can apply to my teeth to help protect them from decay?

A: Sure there is. One of the more common solutions involves applying sealants to your teeth. Sealants fill in the little ridges on the chewing part of your teeth to protect and seal the tooth from food and plaque. Generally the application is rather easy to apply and, typically, it will last for several years without any problems.

Q: What about my child’s teeth? Can they get sealants?

A: Absolutely they can, as long as they have been given the go ahead from your dentist. In fact, sealants can be applied to primary teeth and to permanent teeth with relative ease. This way, your child can be better protected even at a young age.
Q: Is it necessary for me to floss my child’s teeth? And, if so, how often?

A: Yes, it is just as important for children as it is for adults to floss their teeth every night before bed. Flossing helps clean in between teeth where a toothbrush can’t typically reach. If they are eating,they should be flossing.

Its recommended they floss in an up and down motion while keeping the floss in a U-shape against the tooth surface. If your child is having a hard time with traditional floss there are also specially designed, disposable flossing picks available for children.

Q: At what age should a child be referred to an orthodontist for braces?

A: The average age for an evaluation with an orthodontist is at 8-years-old. Some parents take their child when they are older and some take their child when they are younger. It’s best to talk it over with your family dentist beforehand though because they will be able to help you make the determination of when to take your child to the orthodontist.

Q: What types of food should be avoided to prevent cavities and loss of enamel?

A: One of the best things to do to prevent cavities and loss of enamel is avoiding sticky or sugary foods. You may also want to limit the amount of sugary drinks throughout the day as well, such as soda or some types of juices. Even if they taste great, it’s best to limit your intake on these types of food and drink as they are notorious for causing readily avoidable dental problems. Sticking to a well-balanced diet will keep your teeth healthy and strong.

Q: What age do “baby teeth” start falling out?

A: Again, that depends on the child specifically. Every child grows 20 primary teeth, usually by the time they are 3-years-old. These teeth are gradually replaced by the age of 12 or so with a full set of 28 permanent teeth, and later on, four molars known commonly as “wisdom teeth.” For some children, their primary teeth may fall out sooner and some may fall out later.

Looking for more information? Have a question that Dr. Reyes didn’t address?

Contact Eastwood Dental for any interest or concern not mentioned above. A complete list of their services can be found on their Web site or in their office.

1549 South Alafaya Trail - Orlando, FL 32828

407.249-0818 - www.EastwoodDental.com