Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

Formula, milk, and fruit juices all contain sugars. Baby bottle decay is caused by frequent exposure to these sugars over time. The sugary liquids pool around the teeth for long periods as your baby sleeps, leading to cavities that first develop in the upper and lower front teeth. Drs. Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk don’t want adults to develop tooth decay, let alone pediatric patients, if your child hasn’t visited the dentist before his or first birthday, it’s time!

It’s critical to take care of an infant’s gums right away. But at first, you will not be using a toothbrush or toothpaste. Instead, you should grab a soft, moistened washcloth or piece of gauze and gently wipe down your baby’s gums at least twice a day. Especially wipe your baby’s gums after feedings and before bedtime to avoid baby bottle decay.

If you have questions or concerns regarding a pediatric dental care, please give us a call. To learn more about dental hygiene as well as the services we provide at the practice, visit www.miami-dental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors or hygienists, give us a call at our Miami Beach office: 305-532-1444 or our North Miami Beach office: 305-949-2630.

Pacifiers and Teeth

Drs. Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk get a lot of questions from parents about weaning their child off a pacifier.  Infants are soothed by pacifiers and when the time comes, it is one of the hardest habits to break.  It can require a great deal of persuasion, but because of the effect they can have on the growth and development of the teeth and mouth children should stop using pacifiers by the age of two.

Prolonged pacifier use can cause changes in the shape of the roof of the mouth, prevent proper growth of the mouth, and create problems with tooth alignment.  Narrowing of the roof of the mouth and misalignment of the jaws can also occur.  Using a pacifier too long can also lead to a variety of complications including tilting in of the bottom teeth, and slanting in of the top and front teeth. Until the age of two, any alignment problem with the teeth or developing bone is usually corrected within six months after pacifier use has stopped.  We can help and support parents having any trouble weaning their child off a pacifier before that age.

Dr. Allen Ressler, Dr. Andrew Hirschl, and Dr. Ira Lelchuk operate from two locations. To schedule an appointment at the location at Mount Sinai Medical Center, 4300 Alton Road, Suite 1190, Miami Beach, Florida, 33140, call 305-532-1444. To schedule an appointment at Intracoastal Mall, 3909 NE 163rd St, Suite 310, North Miami Beach, Florida, 33160, call 305-949-2630. You can also visit Miami-Dental.com and fill out a contact form.

Pediatric Dental Care

At the dental practice of Drs. Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk, we are proud to serve the families of our community, and we want them to know it’s just as important for children to have regular dental visits.  A child’s first dental visit should be scheduled when the first baby tooth appears, or around the child’s first birthday.  Baby teeth eventually come out, but their growth and development are important for overall oral health for the child and the development of their adult teeth.

Baby teeth should be brushed and cared for like adult teeth, and it’s important to monitor their growth and development.  Missing any tooth for too long can change the development of surrounding teeth and compromise the structure of the jaw bone, but regular checkups can keep a child’s tooth development right on track.  Our dentists are skilled and experienced in administering dental care to children.  If your child has seemed nervous about seeing a dentist for the first time, we recommend going through a brushing routine with them at home and talking about the dental visit before you arrive.  Once we get your child’s oral health off to a great start, we offer a full range of services for child patients including dental cleanings, fluoride treatments, and sealants.

We love to see good oral hygiene habits formed early and make lifetime patients out of kids from our community!  Dr. Allen Ressler, Dr. Andrew Hirschl, and Dr. Ira Lelchuk operate from two locations. To schedule an appointment at the location at Mount Sinai Medical Center, 4300 Alton Road, Suite 1190, Miami Beach, Florida, 33140, call 305-532-1444. To schedule an appointment at Intracoastal Mall, 3909 NE 163rd St, Suite 310, North Miami Beach, Florida, 33160, call 305-949-2630. You can also visit Miami-Dental.com and fill out a contact form.

Baby Tooth Care Tips

Baby teeth may be small, but they’re important. To help prevent the buildup of plaque bacteria that can lead to decay, Ressler, Hirschl, & Lelchuk, DDS, PA, recommend regularly cleaning your newborn’s gums with a damp washcloth following feedings. It’s important to start cleaning your child’s teeth before they come in to jumpstart a healthy smile.

Wipe the gums off after each feeding with a warm, wet washcloth or a dampened piece of gauze wrapped around your finger. In addition, take measures to prevent baby bottle tooth decay, a disease that causes severe, swift decay of baby teeth. To help prevent it, do not put your baby to bed with a bottle of formula or a sugary drink, such as juice. The possibility of tooth decay is directly related to the number of times that sugar comes in contact with the teeth. Your child’s baby teeth act as placeholders for adult teeth. Without a healthy set of baby teeth, your child risks having trouble chewing and speaking clearly as they get older.

If you have questions about your child’s oral care, please give us a call. To learn about services we provide at the practice, visit www.miami-dental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors or hygienists, give us a call at our Miami Beach office: 305-532-1444 or our North Miami Beach office: 305-949-2630.

Your Child’s First Dental Visit

If you are a new parent, you may find yourself asking, “When should my child first see a dentist?” The answer is that a child should have their first dental visit by their first birthday. The first dental visit is usually short and involves very little treatment. It is our goal here at the practice of Ressler, Hirschl & Lelchuk, DDS, PA, of Miami Beach, FL and North Miami Beach, FL, to make your child’s first dental visit as smooth and comfortable as possible.

The purpose of the child’s first dental visit is to learn about your child’s oral health and how to best care for your child’s unique needs before any problems occur. Many dental problems can be prevented or more easily treated in the early stages. At the visit, you should expect one of our dentists or hygienists to review your child’s history, respond to your questions and concerns and talk with you about your child’s overall oral health, including development, teething, and oral habits such as sucking.

We usually recommend bringing your child to one or more of your hygiene or treatment visits so the dental office environment is somewhere they have been before and even met some of the people at the office. This usually makes a much smoother transition from "observer" to "patient".

If you have questions about your child’s dental health, please give us a call. To learn about services we provide at the practice, visit www.miami-dental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors or hygienists, give us a call at our Miami Beach office: 305-532-1444 or our North Miami Beach office: 305-949-2630.

Pediatric Dentistry

Here at the offices of  Drs. Ressler, Hirschl and Lelchuk we have the experience and qualifications to care for a child’s teeth, gums, and mouth throughout various stages of childhood.

Children are not small adults. They are not always able to be patient and cooperative during a dental exam. Drs. Ressler, Hirschl and Lelchuk know how to examine and treat children in ways that make them comfortable. During your child’s first visit, we will examine their teeth and gums, do a professional cleaning, take any necessary x-rays, if age appropriate, and teach you how to remove plaque from your child’s teeth and gums. In addition, we will also take advantage of the opportunity to discuss the best ways to help your child develop good dental habits.

If you are searching for a dentist for your child in the Miami, FL area look no further. If you have any questions give us a call at our Miami Beach Office: 305-532-1444 or our North Miami Beach office: 305-949-2630 or visit www.miami-dental.com for more information.