Family dentistry for all ages and life stages
While tooth decay and gum disease are common, these destructive conditions can be prevented with consistent home care and routine professional services at Kersey Dental in LaGrange, Georgia. Dr. Douglas B. Kersey, Jr. and his team are proud to provide dentistry for the entire family. As you or other members of your family age, we stay on top of changes in your health and life that could affect your oral health. By supporting the oral health of our neighbors in Mountville, Hogansville, West Point, Greenville, and beyond, Dr. Kersey and team also support their overall health.
What is the connection between oral health and overall health?
During routine check-ups, we ask you about any changes in your health and any medications or supplements you may be taking since your last visit. Certain conditions and the drugs used to manage them can increase your risk of developing damaging dry mouth and tooth decay, as well as gum disease and oral infections. Likewise, significant research has been done on the connection between gum disease and heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, respiratory illnesses, Alzheimer’s disease, and more.
Aside from these connections, think of how much better you feel when your teeth and gums are in good shape. You eat comfortably, sleep through the night without pain, concentrate on work, and enjoy sports and other activities that you love. Plus, a healthy mouth often goes hand in hand with a beautiful smile – and a smile that you are proud of plays a big, positive role in your emotional well-being and self-confidence.
How young is too young to visit the dentist?
It is never too early to develop positive dental experiences, relationships with our team, and healthy habits. In fact, many leading dental associations encourage parents to bring their child to the dentist for the first time, even if there are no visible teeth, and by no later than their first birthday. Early visits are opportunities for Dr. Kersey to identify potential problems and intervene while your child’s mouth is still developing. Problems are usually easier to treat when they are addressed while your child is still growing.
What can I do to keep my child’s teeth healthy?
We can advise on ways to clean your child’s gums and their first teeth. Starting around 2nd grade, most kids can usually brush their own teeth as long as they are being monitored. A small amount of fluoride toothpaste and a soft-bristle brush for small mouths will do. It’s also important to limit sugary foods and drinks, and never put your infant to bed with a bottle full of anything other than water. Baby bottle decay is a real problem that occurs when infants are pacified with bottles full of sugary juices and other beverages. When your child drinks sugary beverages during the day, using a straw helps minimize contact between the liquid and the teeth.
Our team can provide tips on how to stop harmful behaviors, such as thumb sucking. Dr. Kersey may recommend fluoride treatment to protect vulnerable, developing teeth from cavities. Dental sealants may also be placed on the backmost teeth as they erupt, because these teeth are where the vast majority of cavities form.
How often should I visit the dentist?
All of our patients should visit us for exams and professional teeth cleanings at least twice per year, once every six months. However, you may need to visit us every three or four months for care. There is no one-size-fits-all here, because each patient is different. Your risk factors for destructive conditions like tooth decay, gum disease, and oral cancer can vary tremendously from the risks that another family member may have, and those risks can change over time.
For instance, as you get older and take medications for chronic illnesses, you may experience persistent dry mouth for the first time. Dry mouth is itself a risk factor for tooth decay. By understanding these changes, we can recommend or prescribe products to help with healthy saliva flow.
Always keep dental check-ups even if your teeth and gums look and feel “normal.” All too often, oral problems only cause noticeable symptoms after they have progressed and caused damage that requires treatment. To schedule your and/or a family member’s appointment, call the LaGrange, GA office of Kersey Dental at (706) 813-6754 today.
