Should Your Kids Do More to Protect Their Gums?
Strong teeth and healthy gums are both essential to maintaining great smiles. Unfortunately, many children and adults alike fail to care for their gums effectively. This is why many Americans struggle unknowingly with gum disease, a serious condition that can cause inflammation, infection, and eventually tooth loss. Gum disease can also have a negative impact on one’s entire body, because infections in the gum tissue can be carried to other parts of the body through the bloodstream. Fortunately, it is possible to prevent gum disease. You just need to teach your kids how they can best care for their entire smiles, including their gums! (more…)
Smile Brightly This Summer with Simple Care Tips: Part Two
Summer is actually an ideal time to schedule your kids’ semi-annual dental checkups and cleanings. Remember, even kids whose smiles seem healthy could be at risk of developing cavities or other issues, because of acidic tartar buildup. Most patients need to visit the dentist at least twice a year to keep these and other problems at bay. By scheduling your kids’ checkups during summer break they won’t have to miss any school to keep their smiles in great oral health. (more…)
Prevent Dental Cavities with Tips from Your Pediatric Dentist: Part Two
Cavities are unfortunately incredibly common in kids. In fact, many children will have to face restorative dentistry while they are still in elementary school, due to dental decay caused by acidic erosion. Though excellent daily dental hygiene and healthy diets can help prevent cavities, these are no excuse to skip out on regular dental cleanings. Dental checkups and cleanings are essential to keeping the smile healthy, because only professional cleanings can help remove plaque buildup once it has calcified onto the teeth. Skipping checkups, therefore, greatly increases a kid’s chance of developing cavities. So if you want your kids to enjoy great smiles and good oral health, make sure they attend regular preventive checkups at their pediatric dentist’s office. (more…)
Help Prevent Dental Cavities with Tips from Your Pediatric Dentist: Part One
What parent wants to see his or her child struggle with dental cavities? Sadly, cavities are incredibly common in school-aged children as well as adults. They can be uncomfortable, at first, especially when trying to enjoy meals and drinks, and eventually cavities can lead to troublesome pain, as well. Untreated cavities can even cause early tooth loss, which can lead to further problems. Fortunately, it is possible to prevent most cavities. Preventive checkups combined with great hygiene are wonderful ways to keep the teeth and gums healthy. Dental sealants can also help, though, especially for young children. So if you would like to keep your kids smiling, and prevent having to spend your time and money on treating their cavities, heed this advice from pediatric dentists! (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…)
What is Your Dentist Looking for During a Checkup?
Every six months (and for some patients, more often), children and adults alike should attend a dental checkup and cleaning appointment. Besides removing plaque and tartar from your teeth, the visit allows your dentist to thoroughly examine your oral tissues to make sure they don’t exhibit signs of issues that may require treatment.
However, a dental checkup involves more than just a cursory glance into your mouth. The examination includes a visual inspection of the hard-to-see areas of your mouth and throat, as well as every surface of your teeth, the soft tissues at the root and floor of your mouth, and more. (more…)
Got Questions? Ask a Pediatric Dentist: Part One
Is your child is facing a dental problem? Is that causing you stress because you are not sure what to do about it? Or, do you struggle with knowing just how to best care for your children’s smiles as they begin to grow? If so, don’t be afraid to speak with your pediatric dentist. He or she is a great asset when it comes to helping your kids develop great dental habits, and maintaining healthy teeth and gums. A little knowledge goes a long way, especially when it comes to preventive care! (more…)
Fact or Fiction: Learning About Your Family’s Smiles: Part Two
All parents wants to help keep their kids healthy, including the precious smiles they have come to love. Unfortunately, not all parents understand what it really takes to maintain great oral health, either in their own adulthood or for their children. If you want to teach your kids how to have beautiful and healthy smiles as they grow up, you must first know what that requires, yourself. Your children’s pediatric dentist can help lead the way, educating you about all that can be done to ensure you and your entire family enjoy great oral health. (more…)
Fact or Fiction: Learning About Your Family’s Smiles: Part One
Before you can effectively help keep your kids’ smiles healthy, you first need to understand what it takes to develop and maintain oral health. Sure, you probably already know it means daily tooth brushing and regular dental checkups. But what else is necessary to keep your family’s smiles healthy? Many people don’t realize all that effective preventive care entails. Fortunately many of the key steps in preventing dental issues like cavities and gum disease are simple. You can learn more about the oral health initiatives you can take from your children’s pediatric dentist. These steps can help you take better care of your own smile, but they are also critical if you want to be an even better ally for your kids’ oral health. (more…)