Home » Options in the dental care of children for Mississauga patients.

Options in the dental care of children for Mississauga patients.

Tooth decay is the number one chronic childhood illness. In order for parents to consider their options to avoid and reverse this situation, it’s important that they understand how cavities occur. Dentistry on 10 is the practice Mississauga parents trust for dental treatment for their children. Dr. Rina Kotecha explains what’s going on in little mouths that leads to tooth decay.

About 600 strains of bacteria make their home in the mouth. Some are beneficial, but others play a leading role in the development of cavities. Dental plaque is a transparent, sticky film of bacteria with bits of food debris. Bacteria feast on sugars in the food your child eats, and then excrete acids that compromise enamel, the protective outer layer of teeth.

At the same time, minerals like calcium and phosphate in saliva, and fluoride from water, toothpaste, or treatments are helping to repair tooth enamel.

Cavities occur when teeth are frequently exposed to acids. White spots usually appear first, as tooth enamel begins to lose minerals. At this point, decay can be halted and reversed. However, if no change is made to the circumstances, areas of enamel will be destroyed, forming cavities. This damage is permanent and has to be repaired with a filling to prevent further spread of decay, infection, and discomfort.

As a caring parent, you have a great deal of influence over your child’s oral wellness. Dr. Kotecha shares these tips:

Little girl sitting in the dentists office
  • Start good oral habits early. Rub gums with a clean, damp washcloth after feeding, to get baby used to the routine. Begin brushing the first teeth to erupt with a soft, child-sized toothbrush. Teach your young child to brush and floss by the age of five.
  • Encourage a nutritious, balanced diet with fresh fruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy products, lean proteins, and, of course, plenty of plain water. Limit sweet snacks and soft drinks.
  • Once the first tooth is in, or by baby’s first birthday, keep regular examination appointments at Dentistry on 10. These visits allow Dr. Kotecha to watch for potential problems and make sure teeth and mouth are developing properly.
  • Consider fluoride treatments (a clear gel or varnish brushed onto teeth) to help reverse demineralization of enamel.
  • Ask Dr. Kotecha if dental sealants are right for your child. This colorless glaze seals the chewing surfaces of teeth to reduce acid attack.
  • Set a good example. Let your child see you eating healthy foods, taking care of your teeth, and going to the dentist regularly.

Would you like more information on pediatric dentistry options? Call Dentistry on 10 in Mississauga at (905) 455-9262.

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Procedure – Gum Disease Testimonial

Hi, my name is Naren. I have been coming to dentistry on 10 for at least five years, probably a lot longer than that. I first heard about Doctor Rena, through a friend of mine who was my roommate back in college and the, the, thing that attracted me to her right off the bat is she went to Harvard of course, you know Harvard is one of the top schools in the world, so you know studying at Harvard and Learning dentistry Harvard, I’ve never met anybody who went to Harvard, so that was the number one thing. But when I came here, it’s not the Harvard that I ended up staying here for. It’s because she’s a very caring person and she has a team that really is caring. So, for example, you know I, I, have some health conditions and you know taking care of my gums is really, really, important and I’m like not that good at taking care of myself. So you know she just, just, stuck with me, just kept at me and, you know, just taught me things and talk to me about things and you know. And when I did, you know, kind of mess up and you know, get gum disease again. You know she you know, stuck with me. So, like for me personally, I know people come for dentistry for lots of reasons, some people you know, care about their smile and things like that. For me personally, it’s the health because I have a history of health issues in my family and I know the importance of, you know, taking care of your gums and you overall mouth and health so I would strongly recommend Doctor Rena if you really care about your health. If you really want somebody who’s not just trying to, you know, give you things you don’t need, but really, who’s trying to focus on what’s good for you, helping you achieve your goals. She’s very caring, very, very patient, very, very, gentle and, and, she’s there for you. So, it’s almost like having a partner in health who’s working with you to make your life better. So, we all need it, and especially as we get older when we are in our 40s and 50s, we need to take care of our health and without doctor Rena I don’t think I would have the comes I have and I don’t think I would be working on my health. Thank you very much Doctor Rena and I would, absolutely without a hesitation, recommend anybody and my entire family comes here as well as my two kids and My wife. So, thank you for being an amazing dentist and thank you for caring about people who live in the neighbourhood and their health.


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Meet Dr. Rina Kotecha

Dr. Rina Kotecha is a graduate of the Harvard School of Dental Medicine. She possesses 19 years of expertise in the dentistry field specializing in general dentistry. She has further qualifications from the MGE Executive Training Program and Master Implant Training Program while holding certification in Soft Tissue Management Program by DenMat. She completed the Rondeau Seminars in Level I Orthodontics and she is an active member of the Ontario Dental Association and Ontario Dental Implant Network.