Healthy Teeth, Healthy Child

Healthy teeth in infancy and childhood set the foundation for good oral and dental health throughout life. Often, poor dental health is an indicator of systemic diseases like diabetes and heart disease. Frequent dental checkups with a dentist, as well as brushing and flossing, can help maintain dental health and should start after the first tooth erupts. Some children can develop early tooth decay from frequent contact with sugary drinks or falling asleep with unswallowed breast milk. Whatever the cause, early intervention and management are essential, and compounding medications offer a myriad of options to assist the dentist in treating these conditions.

What are compounding medications?

Compounding is the process of combining, mixing, or altering ingredients to create an individually tailored medication. Compounding may be needed when a certain allergy is a concern or a child, for instance, cannot swallow tablets or capsules, necessitating the need for a liquid or suspension. Children-friendly dosing adjustments can also be made for the pediatric population as well. Many compounded medications can be made into gummy bears, freezer pops, and other forms that can be flavored and more tenable to ingest. A specialized compounding pharmacist typically performs compounding at a compounding pharmacy or apothecary.

Compounded medication to the rescue

Dental visits in children and infants can be challenging. Many times, children associate going to the dentist with fear and anxiety and have trouble sitting still in the chair. Others are afraid of injections and pain related to treatment. These instances provide barriers to care and often prevent some children from seeing a dentist altogether. Compounded pharmacists can work with pediatric dentists to alleviate these events or mitigate the untoward consequences associated with treatment. Individualized medication options are available and can be explored further with a compounding professional.

Addressing specific health conditions

Most conditions that affect the teeth of adults similarly affect children. However, a child’s teeth are still developing and softer than permanent adult teeth. Tooth decay, tooth sensitivity, and enamel mineralization deficiency are common disorders encountered. When formulated by a pharmacist, compound medication can be beneficial for children with these disorders. Adding specifically compounded fluoride rinses, pastes, and mineral preparations can help address and treat these problems and alleviate further advancement.

Safeguarding your child’s dental health

Supporting dental health early in childhood is a long-term investment in overall good health and well-being. Healthy lifetime habits can originate from regular dental visits, and compounding medications are available to assist in addressing some of the most common issues in children. Compounded medications are formulated by specialized professionals and provide safe and effective treatments. Exploring compounded medications’ options creates a comprehensive approach to safeguarding a child’s dental health journey. Collaborating with a pediatric dentist, compounding pharmacists can often provide an individualized and unique treatment plan to ensure a happy, healthy smile.