Gingivitis is a very common disease but fortunately, it is reversible and “curable” - with proper care at home and by seeing your dentist as often as recommended! It is important for us to do our best to control gingivitis because we want to so what we can to prevent the progression to the more severe, irreversible, “incurable” form of gum disease called periodontitis (the loss of tooth-supporting bone).
This article is a great summary for all parents of infants and young children! A few key points are:
(1) Your child's first visit to the dentist should occur by 12 months or within 6 months of eruption of the first tooth- whichever comes first. We do not expect to see any issues, or even to necessarily be able to do a thorough (or minimal) examination or "cleaning", but we like to see children this young to help guide parents on how to take care of their child's teeth and get the baby used to the dental experience to make future visits as stress-free (and hopefully fun) as possible!
Xylitol is not only a natural sweetener but also an anti-cavity agent. For anyone suffering from dry mouth or is prone to cavities chewing a sugarless gum with Xylitol can be a benefit to helping stimulate saliva and reduce cavity risk. It is also important it’s not a citrus flavour- the acid can be detrimental.
