Planning for your child's first dental
exam can feel like a daunting task, especially if your child suffers from food
allergies. Below are some tips to
consider prior to the first visit.
1.
When scheduling the appointment, be sure to inform the office of your
child's specific allergies and mention oral aversions if any. This may help ensure your child's dental
chart is flagged appropriately. You may
even want to request to speak to the dentist before the appointment.
2.
Ask for the ingredient list of all products which might be used during
the exam. Doing so will allow enough
time to research each ingredient as oftentimes chemical names are
involved.
3.
If your child's teeth will be treated with fluoride, one of the things
that may be helpful to have the fluoride painted on the teeth in order to
lessen the amount swallowed. If
swallowed, fluoride could possibly cause intestinal upset. Be aware that all fluorides have artificial
flavorings. Discuss options with your dentist.
4.
Prophy paste is typically used for polishing, an alternative to prophy
paste is pure Pumice; using just water can also be an option for polishing.
5.
Toothpaste, polish, and fluoride all have the potential to contain
gluten, milk, and nut oils. The
ingredient Recaldent is a milk protein found in common fluoride and tooth
polish products such as MI Paste and Prospec MI. Topical dental anesthetics may also contain
added flavorings and dyes which can cause allergic reactions for those with sensitivity.
6.
Check ingredient lists at each dental visit since product formulations
change frequently.
7.
Something else to keep in mind, all dental health professionals will
have to wear gloves during the exam, but you may ask them to wear non-powdered
or latex free gloves if these are an allergen concern for your child.
Asking questions and being your child's
advocate is a good way to support dental health and a positive experience for
you and your child.
This article written by: Brenda Incarnato, FPIES mom and reviewed by Robyn Hovseth, Dental Hygenist/FPIES mom.
This article written by: Brenda Incarnato, FPIES mom and reviewed by Robyn Hovseth, Dental Hygenist/FPIES mom.
