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Functional Pediatric Dentistry

Functional Pediatric Dentistry has grown in popularity in recent years, as parents are looking for alternatives to traditional dentistry. While Functional Dentistry may begin with traditional, routine dental examinations and cleanings, Functional Dentists take the exam process a step further. They examine the root cause of any oral issue a child may be experiencing and offer functional treatment options to address any underlying conditions.

Functional Medicine Approach
to Oral Health

In a Functional Medicine approach to oral health, physicians concentrate on the root causes that underlie disease to help patients improve overall health. This includes systemic health as well as oral health, as everything in the body is connected. If your systemic health is good, then so is your oral health.

Mouth and Body Connection

The mouth and body connection is the link between the health of your mouth and your overall health. The mouth is the gateway into our bodies and is a direct reflection of our general systemic health.

The Power of the Oral Microbiome

The power of the oral microbiome lies within the bacterial biofilm coating the surfaces of the oral cavity. These biofilms form an ecosystem responsible for maintaining health in a state of equilibrium. However, pathogenic microbes can manifest whenever this ecosystem is out of balance, growing out of control and leading to oral and systemic disease. The oral microbiome is crucial to overall health. An unbalanced or dysbiotic oral microbiome can cause both oral and systemic diseases.

Kids' Cavity Free Zone

A world without cavities begins with a Kids’ Cavity-Free Zone, a zone where educating children and parents alike is paramount to stress the need for an optimal diet, airway, oral microbiome, and oral hygiene routine to prevent tooth decay, cavities, and gum disease.

A quality diet is the foundation for achieving optimal oral health. Providing your body with all the necessary nutrients and vitamins can make your teeth stronger and more resistant to cavities and other dental infections.

Whole Body Health Starts with Oral Health.

Importance of a Child’s
First Dental Visit

The importance of a child’s first dental visit cannot be ignored for good reason. A child’s first dental visit sets the foundation for a lifetime of good oral health. According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentists, a child’s first dental appointment should occur by the age of 1, or within 6 months of the first tooth eruption. Doctor Staci loves to see even younger babies, as she can access functional issues early, like Tethered Oral Tissues, asymmetries, and growth and development concerns.

Reversing and Arresting Tooth Decay

In some cases, reversing and arresting tooth decay is possible through remineralization. When small dental cavities are caught early in the dysbiosis and demineralization process, improvements in diet, changes in how we are breathing, product protocols, and good oral hygiene can help restore the minerals in your teeth, halt decay, and restore weakened enamel, and strengthen the tooth’s outer layer (remineralization).

Airway and Sleep Issues

Airway and sleep issues can significantly affect a child’s growth and development. If your child displays any of the following issues associated with airway and oral function, or sleep, don’t ignore them.

Please get a consult for your child. It is far better to catch these issues as little smoldering concerns before they are full-blown fires!

Prebiotics and Probiotics Help Improve Oral Microbiome

Functional Dentists generally recommend taking in more prebiotics and probiotics to improve the oral microbiome. Prebiotics (think, “Eat A Rainbow”) and additional probiotics (food and supplements), as needed, help support and restore good bacteria and other organic material within your oral microbiome.

Nutrition

Nutrition encompasses the micro- (vitamins and minerals) and macro- (carbohydrates, protein, and fat) nutrients needed by the cells in your body to stay healhty and cunction well. Your nutrional intake (the food you eat) is directly related to your health.

Functional Nutrition and Oral Health

Functional nutrition can positively influence oral health with a balanced and nutritious diet. A diet lacking proper nutrients makes your teeth and gums more susceptible to tooth decay and gum disease.

Best Foods for Oral Health

The best foods for oral health provide a variety of nutrients that promote healthy teeth and gums. When you eat or drink, the environment in your mouth becomes acidic as part of your body’s natural digestive process. Bacteria that live in the mouth break down sugars, flours, and starches while you eat and drink and produce acid, lowering the pH levels of the mouth.

Therefore, following a balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, protein-rich foods, calcium-rich foods, and whole grains is optimal for maintaining a healthy smile and body.

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