What Children’s Dentistry Means
Maintaining a healthy smile begins early, and as children’s teeth, jaws, and smiles grow, some issues can arise that complicate one or more aspects of their oral health development. According to the American Dental Association, children should attend their first dental visit by the time their first tooth appears. If any issues are detected, then we can help preserve your child’s smile with the pediatric dental treatment. (more…)
The Unfortunate Truth
Most people are probably not aware that tooth decay can begin within 20 minutes of eating, drinking, or snacking, but it’s an unfortunate truth. They also may not know that, while periodontal disease is the major cause of adult tooth loss, tooth decay is the major cause of childhood tooth loss. Our mouths are naturally rife with bacteria, but some oral bacteria are harmful to your teeth, especially when they come into contact with sugars and starches. Bacteria feed on sugars and starches and in the process secrete acids. The bacteria, acids, left-over food particles, and saliva form a sticky film called plaque. If not removed, plaque eats away at your teeth causing decay. If you knew this, would you put your child to bed with a bottle of sugary milk or juice? Probably not.
Summer Tooth Tips For Kids
Summer vacation means sleeping a little later for some of us, and not being on a regular schedule. While it is great to have a more relaxed pace, don’t let good toothcare habits fall by the wayside. It is still important to nourish your teeth (and body) with a healthy diet. Drink plenty of water. Keep up with preventive care such as twice yearly checkups. Summer is sports time, so wear a mouthguard if you are playing contact sports. Summer tooth tips help keep your teeth in good shape all year! (more…)
Could Restorative Dental Treatment Help Your Child Smile Again?
It might seem like kids can enjoy eating whatever they want, because their baby teeth will eventually fall out anyways? Unfortunately this type of thinking can lead to extremely poor oral health, including cavities, gum disease and other dental problems a child could spend years trying to overcome. Fortunately, if your kid has developed a problem, either due to a poor diet, lax dental hygiene, or simply weak teeth due to genetics and other factors, it is possible to help him or her smile again. Pediatric dentists provide a number of conservative and minimally invasive ways to address children’s dental problems.
Helpful Tips for Caring for Your Baby’s Teeth: Part Two
As your baby continues to grow, you will likely take several steps to help ensure your son or daughter enjoys a healthy childhood. Regular doctor visits are essential in a baby’s first few years, but dental visits become equally important! That is because even babies can develop oral health issues, like baby bottle tooth decay, which could contribute to a lifetime of dental problems. Fortunately a pediatric dentist can help prevent this and other potential oral health issues. So to prevent problems, children should visit the dentist, just like adults, for checkups. You can also help maintain your child’s oral health, through these simple steps to be taken at-home.
Helpful Tips for Caring for Your Baby’s Teeth: Part One
Can you believe it? Your tiny baby is turning one soon! It probably feels like the time has flown by, and now, not only do you have a great milestone to celebrate, you also have a wonderful reminder how important it is to take great care of your child’s first few teeth. At age one, dentists recommend children start visiting the dentist, since regular cleanings can help prevent dental issues before they develop. (more…)
Just for Fun Facts About Dentistry: Part Two
Does your mind ever wonder while you’re brushing your teeth? Are you ever curious just how much floss is sold, for instance, or how many bacteria are actually in your mouth? Maybe you would just love some fun dental facts to share with your kids, the next time you are also trying to explain to them the importance of taking great care of their teeth and gums. If so, the good news is that your pediatric dentist is a wealth of information, from helpful preventive care tips to fascinating facts about oral health, in general. (more…)
Fun Ways to Get Kids Excited About Caring for Their Smiles
Do your children try to sneak off to bed without brushing their teeth, every single night? Is their morning routine filled with lots of whining about having to brush their teeth? If so, you are probably tired of feeling like one of the hardest parts of your job, as a parent, is simply making sure they take basic steps to keep their smiles healthy in between dental checkups. Fortunately, it doesn’t have to feel like torture trying to ensure your kids enjoy oral health. A few simple tactics can help make oral care more fun for the whole family. (more…)
Got Questions? Ask a Pediatric Dentist: Part Two
You have probably heard the expression that knowing you have a problem is half the battle. Unfortunately, when it comes to parenting identifying problems can seem like a very uphill battle. After all, when your children are young you cannot always trust that they will talk to you when they are not feeling well, much less when something seems wrong with their smiles. They probably don’t know, themselves, what constitutes a dental problem or even an emergency. Fortunately, that is why pediatric dentists work closely with parents, to help educate them about how to best care for their children’s smiles, as well as how to spot potential problems early on, when restorative treatment is often fast and effective!
What Are Dental Sealants? And Other FAQs
Dental sealants are made of a durable plastic material that coats the chewing surfaces of one or more teeth. As a cavity prevention tool, sealants block bacteria and tooth decay from affecting the sealed-off tooth. The sealant will smooth over crevices and hiding places for food particles so that your child’s teeth are better protected against cavities and acid erosion. As an investment for their oral health, dental sealants are highly-effective at protecting vulnerable teeth from cavities for up to five or ten years. (more…)