pedatric dentistry of fort myers

Five Signals Your Mouth Can Give You About Your Health

You probably give your teeth about 10 minutes of attention a day (if that) and think brushing and flossing every day means you’re in perfect oral health.

But oral hygiene deserves a bit more time, because your teeth may offer clues to other health problems. Several studies have shown a clear link between oral problems and serious health conditions in other parts of the body. Take a look at a few of these five symptoms, and be a little more aware of your pearly whites.

Symptom: Flat, Worn Down Teeth
While many people are aware that tooth grinding is a common problem, most people are surprised to learn they grind their own teeth! This is because people most often grind their teeth at night, when they’re not even aware of it. If you notice cracking or worn down teeth accompanied by jaw pain and headaches, it could be a sign of teeth grinding. Grinding your teeth at night, also known as bruxism, is a major sign of emotional or psychological stress. Relaxing before bed can help, but it may not stop the grinding.

Symptom: Sores
Sores in the mouth are a common occurrence for most people. Many bite the insides of the mouth or lips, creating sores that usually heal in a couple of days. Crater-like sores inside or outside the mouth are canker sores, which can be caused by stress, hormones, allergies, or some type of nutritional deficiency. However, if you see red or white sores that stick around for longer than a week or two, its time to see your dentist. These sores can sometimes indicate oral cancer, and your dentist could do an oral exam to identify the cause of the sore.

Symptoms: Cracking, Crumbling Teeth
Some may assume that teeth naturally deteriorate or fall away with age, which is not true. If you notice crumbling teeth or thin, translucent enamel, it could be a sign of a larger problem. You could have acid coming up from the stomach and into the mouth, dissolving valuable enamel. This condition is known as Gastroesophageal reflux disease, otherwise known as acid reflux disease. Other symptoms of this problem may be dry mouth or heartburn. Leaving this untreated can cause problems not only for the mouth, but also for the rest of the body.

Symptom: Bad Breath
You probably don’t think twice about bad breath, chalking it up to the garlic-laden dinner from the night before. However, odor that sticks around for more than two weeks could be a sign of gum disease. When the bacteria that causes gum disease mixes with normal mouth bacteria, it creates a strong smell. A lingering smell could also point to a host of other problems, including a respiratory disease, diabetes, gastric reflux or even kidney failure.

Symptom: White Web-like Pattern on Inner Cheeks
White, lacy patterns on the inside of your cheek is most always a sign of Lichen Planus, a type of skin disease. The disease can manifest on other areas of the skin like the hands or scalp through red, shiny bumps.

Pediatric Dentistry of Ft. Myers voted “Best of Southwest Florida” 2016


For the second consecutive year Pediatric Dentistry of Ft. Myers, Dr. Tim M. Verwest, DMD & Associates has been voted best pediatric dentist of Southwest Florida 2016 by the Ft. Myers News-Press readers. The News-Press 26th annual best of Southwest Florida awards recognizes the top businesses in the community selected by their readers. Earlier this year Dr. Verwest was named for inclusion in the Consumer Research Council of America 2016 Guide to America’s Top Dentists.

His professional affiliations include The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the American and Florida Dental Associations and West Coast Dental Association, the Florida Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, and the Lee County Dental Association.  He is often a guest lecturer for various organizations and has taught classes at Florida Southwestern State College.

Dr. Verwest is a board certified Diplomat of the National Board of Pediatric Dentistry with professional interests in the areas of pediatric pharmacology, biomaterials, and pediatric anesthesia.  He believes in lifelong learning and continues his education by taking courses in pediatric sedation, pediatric oncology, sealants, prosthetics, pediatric cosmetic dentistry, pediatric materials, childhood growth and development, and more.

Pediatric Dentistry of Ft Myers, Dr. Tim Verwest, DMD, continues to provide pediatric dental care to children for over 25 years. Areas of service include comprehensive dental exams, cleanings, composite fillings, dental hygiene education, extractions, fluoride treatments, sealants, sedation dentistry, space maintainers, x-rays and tooth nerve treatment. For more information, visit www.DrVerwest.com or (239) 482-2722.

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Dr. Verwest receives 2016 Spectrum Award

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The City Beat News (CBN) awarded Pediatric Dentistry of Ft. Myers, Dr. Tim M. Verwest, DMD the 2016 Spectrum Award of Excellence in Customer Satisfaction.

The Spectrum Award was established to spotlight companies providing exceptional service and experiences to their customers. Research is done annually and is independent and unbiased. Spectrum Award winners are rated using exclusive research and proprietary algorithms.

CBN draws upon many information sources and weighs and distills them into a single score for the year to identify top companies across the country. Only those businesses earning CBN’s highest ratings are honored with the City Beat News Spectrum Award for Excellence in Customer Service.

What Makes Me Smile Art Exhibit

– Pediatric Dentistry of Ft. Myers, Dr. Tim Verwest, DMD is offering children 18 years or under a chance to create works of art centered around the theme ‘What Makes Me Smile’. The exhibit is free of charge and will be hosted at Pediatric Dentistry of Ft. Myers, 8016 Summerlin Lakes Dr, Fort Myers, FL 33907 on Saturday, July 30 from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm and is open to the general public.

“Art can inspire those to do great things, it takes patience, practice, and persistence,” said Dr. Verwest. “It teaches us different viewpoints, understanding and mental growth valuable for development of children”.

There will be one (1) $100 and one (1) $50 winner from each of four categories including, Preschool, Elementary, Middle, and High School.  Any type of art will be considered. Winners will be selected by a panel of local arts and entertainment industry judges.

The deadline for art submissions is Wednesday, July 20, 2016 and may be submitted to Pediatric Dentistry of Ft. Myers with your name, age, school, and why your art makes you smile.

Pediatric Dentistry of Ft Myers, Dr. Tim Verwest, DMD, continues to provide pediatric dental care to children for over 26 years. Areas of service include comprehensive dental exams, cleanings, composite fillings, dental hygiene education, extractions, fluoride treatments, sealants, sedation dentistry, space maintainers, x-rays and tooth nerve treatment. For more information, visit www.DrVerwest.com or (239) 482-2722.

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Caring for your children’s teeth

Start dental visits during infancy

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends bringing your child to the dentist before his or her first birthday. At this initial visit, the dentist will:

  • check your child’s teeth for decay and signs of early developmental problems;
  • explain how to care for your child’s teeth; and
  • answer any questions or concerns you might have.

Children should see a dentist every six months. To help your child develop a positive attitude about the dentist:

  • Take your child with you when you go in for a checkup so he/she can get used to the office and its staff.
  • Avoid using negative words such as “needle” and “hurt.”
  • “Play dentist” to familiarize your child with what takes place during a visit.
  • Ask your dentist how he or she explains procedures to children.
  • Answer your child’s questions honestly and sensitively.

Caring for an infant’s teeth

Cleaning a child’s teeth should begin when the first tooth is visible, because teeth are susceptible to decay as soon as they appear in the mouth.

Wipe the baby’s teeth and gums clean after every feeding with a soft, damp washcloth or gauze pad. A leading cause of tooth decay among young children is known as “baby bottle syndrome.” When an infant is allowed to drink from a nursing bottle containing milk, formula or fruit juice during nap time or at night, the baby often falls asleep with the bottle in his or her mouth. Exposure to the sugars and acids in these liquids that pool around the teeth can cause discoloration and decay.

Since breast milk contains sugar, decay also can occur when a baby falls asleep while breast-feeding. To prevent damage to the teeth, clean your child’s teeth after each feeding and, if necessary, give him or her a bottle filled only with water at bedtime or during a nap.

Eating and drinking habits are key to healthy teeth

Studies have shown that children who drink fluoridated water from birth have up to 65 percent fewer cavities, and by the time they become teenagers, many of them still have no tooth decay.

If you live in a community without a fluoridated water supply, you can make sure your kids get their fluoride by using tablets, drops or gel and by having topical fluoride treatments applied at the dental office (to check whether your drinking water contains fluoride, call your local water company or health department). Using a fluoride toothpaste and mouth rinse is also effective.

A balanced diet is also an important contributor to healthy teeth and gums. Children especially need calcium, which helps build strong teeth. Good sources of calcium are milk, cheese and yogurt. Research shows that eating cheese after meals seems to inhibit the effects of decay-causing acids. Avoid snacks containing sugar or starch.

By age 3

Children should be brushing their own teeth under adult supervision. Only a pea-sized amount of toothpaste is necessary. Start flossing your child’s teeth daily when all the primary teeth are in or when teeth are touching each other.

By age 8

Children should be able to brush and floss by themselves, with occasional checks. Turn brushing and flossing into a daily routine — make it fun by giving your child a colorful toothbrush and bubble gum-flavored floss.

With a parent’s guidance and proper personal and professional care, children have a good foundation for maintaining healthy teeth.

Caring for teeth with braces

Braces are often placed in patients between 10 and 14 years of age to correct crooked or overcrowded teeth. “The benefits of braces are many,” says Ken Sutherland, DDS, Delta Dental senior dental consultant. “Straight teeth, an attractive smile, improved dental function and, often, improved overall health are all results of wearing braces.”

Below are some answers to questions about staying comfortable and healthy while wearing braces.

Why is good oral hygiene with braces so important? Food and plaque can get trapped in the tiny spaces between braces and wires, causing decay and enamel stains. Food can also react with the bacteria in your mouth and the metal in the braces to produce a bleaching effect, which can cause small, permanent light spots on the teeth.

How should teeth and braces be cleaned? It is best to brush after every meal and use a floss threader or special orthodontic floss (available at drug stores) at least once a day to clean between braces and under wires. Check your teeth in a mirror to make sure all food particles are gone. If you don’t have your toothbrush with you, rinse your mouth vigorously with water.

How do braces feel? The wires that are used to move teeth into position are usually tightened at each visit to the dentist or orthodontist. This causes pressure on the teeth and some discomfort. Eating soft foods and taking a pain reliever, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol®, for instance), can help. Also, braces can rub against the inside of the lips. If this is a problem, a special wax can be placed on the wires to keep them from chafing (available from your dentist or orthodontist and at drug stores).

How long do braces have to be worn? It depends on how complicated the spacing or occlusion (bite) problem is. Most braces are worn for 18 to 30 months. After the braces are removed, the patient wears a retainer, which is used to maintain the position of the teeth while setting and aligning the tissues that surround the newly-straightened teeth.

Should any foods be avoided? Yes. Sweets, soda and other sugary and starchy foods can promote tooth decay and gum disease. Sticky and chewy foods (caramel, taffy, chewing gum, dried fruits) can stick to braces and be difficult to remove. Biting and chewing hard foods, such as some candies and nuts, ice, beef jerky and popcorn, can break wires and loosen brackets. Avoid damaging wires on the front teeth by cutting carrots, apples and other crunchy, healthy foods into bite-sized chunks before eating them.

Baby pacifiers: Pros and cons

Should parents let their infant use a pacifier? According to the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), there are benefits as well as a downside to baby pacifiers.

On the positive side, pacifiers provide a source of comfort to infants. Pacifiers can also assist in reducing the incidence of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS, according to the AGD. Because babies with pacifiers sleep less deeply than those who sleep without pacifiers, they can be aroused from a deep sleep that could result in the stopping of breathing.

The downside of pacifiers is the effect they can have on the growth and development of the teeth and mouth. 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. Parents who give their baby a pacifier should consider these points:

  • Restrict pacifier use to when the infant needs to fall asleep.
  • Look for a pacifier with ventilation holes in the shield, as they permit air passage. This is important if the pacifier accidentally becomes lodged in the child’s throat.
  • Always clean the pacifier before giving it to a child.

Breaking the pacifier habit

The AGD recommends that children stop using pacifiers by age two. (Up until that age, any alignment problem with the teeth or the developing bone is usually corrected within six months after pacifier use is stopped.)

Breaking the habit is not always easy. Here are a few suggestions for helping a child wean from the pacifier:

  • Dip the pacifier in white vinegar.
  • Pierce the top of the pacifier or cut it shorter to reduce sucking satisfaction.
  • Leave it behind on a trip.

Always throw away a used pacifier; it is not sanitary for another child to use or to save.

An apple a day may keep the dentist away

Dietary habits of schoolchildren encourage an increase in sugar intake leading to a greater risk of cavities, reports the Academy of General Dentistry.

Over a 15-month period, researchers tracked the dietary habits and monitored the teeth of preschool children before and after the start of school. Results show that decayed, missing or filled teeth and initial cavities of the children jumped from 9.7 (at age five) to 15.3 cavities (at age six), an increase of 5.6 cavities within one year. Over the length of the study, the percentage of cavity-free schoolchildren dropped from 23 to 19 percent.

The easiest way parents can help children prevent tooth decay and cavities at school is to monitor their eating habits. For example, parents can offer their children healthy snack alternatives, such as apples, bite-size carrots or other foods that are naturally sweet, and instruct children to avoid candies, chocolate, caramels, chocolate milk and other foods that contain refined sugar. Cavity-causing organisms feed on sugar and turn it into acid, which attacks tooth enamel and causes tooth decay. Sticky, chewy candy especially can linger on teeth throughout the day. If children do happen to eat sugary snacks at lunch, they should brush and rinse with water or eat a piece of fruit to help clean teeth surfaces and gums.

Also, parents should find out what their child’s school lunch program offers. If programs do not offer healthy alternatives, talk to the school about incorporating healthy lunches or snacks.

Finally, parents should consider professionally-applied sealants as another way to protect children’s teeth from cavities. Sealants, a thin coating of bonding material applied over a tooth, act as a barrier to cavity-causing bacteria. They can be put on as soon as the child’s first permanent molars (back teeth) appear.

5 tips to keep teeth healthy over the holidays

No matter how much you love your dentist, he or she probably doesn’t top the list of people you want to spend quality time with over the holidays. Follow these five tips to steer clear of emergency trips to the dentist’s office this season.

1. Don’t crack nuts with your teeth.

Although protein found in nuts helps keep muscles and bones strong, you shouldn’t test the strength of your teeth by shelling nuts with them. The hard surface of most nutshells can cause serious tooth and gum damage, and may even crack teeth. Your safest bet? Shell nuts before snacking on them.

2. Pass on chewy treats.

Holiday candy platters are often loaded with treats that can harm your teeth. Sticky substances cling to tooth enamel and encourage tooth decay, and thick candies like caramel and taffy can even yank out fillings. Eat these sweets sparingly and along with other foods to help keep the treats from sticking to your teeth.

3. Use proper tools to open packages and bottles.

We know you’re excited to rip into that gift from your great aunt, but your teeth are not the right tools for the task. Gripping a package or stubborn bottle cap with your teeth can crack them, possibly requiring a root canal procedure and a crown for repair. Give your mouth a great gift – reach for scissors or a bottle opener instead.

4. Avoid chewing on hard candy or ice cubes.

Crunching on ice or hard candy can lead to cracked or chipped teeth, which are painful and pricey to treat. Whether you’re enjoying a sweet or finishing the ice in your holiday cocktail, let it dissolve naturally in your mouth. Better yet, skip these items altogether. Ice can cause discomfort for sensitive teeth, and hard candies promote tooth decay.

5. Say “no” to nail biting.

The holidays can be stressful, but biting your nails won’t bring relief. Anxious nibbling is bad for both fingernails and teeth. Experts have linked the habit to teeth grinding, clenching, jaw problems, facial pain and sensitive teeth. If you get the urge to chew, distract yourself for a minute or two and see if the feeling goes away. If that doesn’t work, consider buying bitter-tasting polish that’s designed to dissuade you from putting your nails anywhere near your mouth.

Be sure to check these tips twice to stay off your dentist’s naughty list this season!

Holiday sweets can be tough on teeth

The winter holidays are known for sweet treats and tempting goodies, but that doesn’t mean that you have to end up at the dentist with cavities in January.

How do sweet foods and drinks cause cavities?

When you eat sugary foods or drinks, naturally occurring bacteria in the mouth feed on the sugar and create acids as a by-product. These acids then wear down the tooth enamel, making it weaker and more susceptible to tooth decay as well as a host of other problems, including gingivitis.

Snacking on sweets throughout the day or during an extended period of time (such as at a holiday party) is especially harmful, since damaging acids form in the mouth every time you eat a sugary snack and continue to affect the teeth for at least 20 minutes afterwards.

“Snacking on sweets and sugary beverages throughout the day can increase the chance of tooth decay and gum disease,” said Dr. Kevin Sheu, managing dental consultant for Delta Dental. “Brushing and flossing after snacks definitely reduces bacteria.”

5 tips to stay cavity-free

Keep cavity-causing bacteria in check by adding these strategies to your holiday routine.

  • Balance out your sweets with other foods. Eating sugary and carb-rich foods as part of a balanced meal can lessen their impact on your teeth.
  • Choose sweets that don’t stick around. Instead of sticky foods that get on and in between your teeth, go for items that dissolve quickly, limiting their contact with your enamel. For example, swap out caramels and candy canes with plain dark chocolate.
  • Brush afterwards. Always keep a toothbrush to brush away foods and plaque after you eat. If you’re consuming foods or beverages that are high in acid, like oranges and wine, make sure to wait 30 minutes. Acid can soften the enamel, so brushing too soon can actually damage your teeth.
  • Stay prepared. You’ll have no excuse to skip brushing and flossing if you always keep a toothbrush, travel tube of toothpaste and container of floss in your bag or car.
  • Rinse to refresh. When you can’t brush, rinse your mouth with tap water to wash away food particles and bacteria.

Use your holiday vacations to spend more time brushing your teeth. If you’re relaxed or have more free time during the day or with your morning or nightly routine, you can use the time to brush more thoroughly and develop better oral care habits.

It isn’t necessary to brush vigorously to get your teeth clean. What’s important when brushing your teeth is not how hard you scrub, but that you use the proper technique and that you do a thorough job. And that takes time. Dentists recommend that you brush your teeth for two to three minutes to get the most thorough cleaning.

If you get into the habit of brushing for two to three minutes every morning, every night and after every meal during the holidays, you may keep those good habits when your regular routine resumes.