What Is Xylitol and Is It Good for Your Kids?
Have your kids struggled with several cavities over the years? In fact, do they seem even more prone to dental decay than other kids their age? Genetics, hygiene habits, and diet can all affect a child’s likelihood of developing cavities. Fortunately, recent studies indicate that your children’s pediatric dentist might be able to help them prevent tooth decay through the use of a product called xylitol. Not only has this been shown to help minimize tooth sensitivity, it is now being studied as a means of preventing decay, in the first place. (more…)
Can You Do More to Help Your Kids Prevent Cavities?
In your quest to keep your kids’ smiles healthy and beautiful, do you ever feel like you’ve gone to great lengths, only to see them struggle with cavity after cavity? Sadly, some children and adults are more susceptible to dental decay, either due to genetic factors, underlying health concerns, medications being taken, or dietary factors. So while in most cases a healthy diet, daily hygiene and preventive checkups and cleanings can generally help prevent acidic erosion, there is still benefit in seeking other ways to help protect the smile, as well. Dental sealants are one option, which many pediatric dentists offer and even recommend. Fortunately, there may be another “secret weapon” in the fight against cavities, and that is a product called xylitol, which is a natural sugar substitute. (more…)
Can Fluoride Be a Substitute for Children’s Fillings?
Do you spend a great deal of time worrying about your kids’ teeth, namely whether or not they will struggle with cavities? In fact, have your school-aged children already experienced troubling or uncomfortable tooth decay? Sadly, some studies indicate that nearly one third of the children in American will deal with decay before they have even reached adolescence. Fortunately, many pediatric dentists now offer an alternative to traditional metal fillings, for helping kids cope with cavities. In fact, you might be pleasantly surprised, as a parent, to learn how a product called silver diamine fluoride (SDF) could help ensure your kids can enjoy their meals, again, without pesky dental discomfort getting in the way. (more…)
Fun Alternatives to Playing Smile Sheriff with Your Kids
Are you getting tired of feeling like the bad guy, or the sheriff, in your house, because of how much time and energy you have to expend encouraging your kids to brush their teeth? Many young children complain about having to care for their teeth, but this does not have to be the dynamic in your home. If you want to help ensure your kids’ smiles are getting the care they need, but without having to police their every movie, consider your pediatric dentist’s tips for helping to make smile care more fun for the whole family, including you! (more…)
Are Your Baby’s Teeth Healthy?
Now that your bundle of joy has come home from the hospital, your house is likely a bustle of feedings and diaper changes, and all the adjustments that come with being a parent of a newborn. Over the next few months, your baby will be growing daily and changing faster than you can believe, and one of the changes you will see is your baby’s first few teeth erupting. While it might be tempting to ignore their dental health, knowing those baby teeth will fall out eventually, it is actually incredibly important to care for your child’s baby teeth, and your pediatric dentist can help you understand why. (more…)
Keep Your Family Healthy This Holiday
Will your house soon be home to a host of family members and friends? Or, is your own family set to travel, soon, in order to spend time with loved ones over the busy holiday season? During December, many routines can be shifted out of balance. Sadly, for some families, this includes their dental care. If you want to enter the new year with healthy teeth and gums, though, it is important to care for your smiles throughout the holidays and beyond. Wondering if there are some simple yet important ways to do so? There are. Fortunately, preventive care isn’t complicated or even time consuming. It just requires making some smart choices, both at-home and at the dentist’s office. (more…)
Make Your Kids Smile with Healthy Stocking Stuffers
You likely already have a growing list of to-do’s this holiday season, from shopping for gifts with which to surprise loved ones, to preparation for holiday meals and family gatherings. In all the excitement – and busyness – it is easy to overlook stocking stuffer shopping until the last minute. Unfortunately, this is likely why many parents end up filling their kids’ stockings mostly with sweets, and other potentially cavity-causing treats. This year, though, with a little planning and smart shopping you can elicit smiles on Christmas morning with the kind of treats that won’t contribute to dental decay. That way you can keep on enjoying those happy and healthy smiles well into the new year! (more…)
Make Dental Care More Fun for the Family
Do your kids frequently complain about having to brush and floss their teeth? Does enforcing dental hygiene practices sometimes feel more like a daily battle than parenting? If so, have you considered that maybe you could take a new approach, one that might actually help make dental care more fun for the whole family? There actually are some simple and pediatric-dentist approved ways you can help make dental hygiene feel less of a chore for both you and your kids. That is great news for those of you tired of feeling like you’re pulling teeth, when simply trying to make sure your kids are caring for theirs. (more…)
Simple Tips for Healthy Baby Teeth
Do you want to do all you can to help ensure that your children’s teeth remain strong and healthy as they grow? Great parents, of course, care about keeping their kids healthy. Unfortunately, it is sometimes easy to overlook caring for kids’ smiles, particularly since their baby teeth will eventually fall out, anyways. Right? If you have found yourself wondering why baby teeth are so important, or even how to care for them, it can be helpful to understand the function they play, and that they require the same kind of diligent care adult teeth need. That way you can help your kids care for their smiles, now and as they grow. (more…)
Are Your Kids Taking Great Care of Their Teeth?
As a parent, it can be a lot of work making sure your kids stay safe and healthy. Unfortunately, dental health is often the least of many parents’ concerns, which can contribute to a host of dental issues, including cavities and even gum disease. If you want to protect your kids’ smiles from common dental problems, though, it is important to teach them great dental habits, and to take them for regular preventive care. Fortunately, caring for their smiles doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. (more…)