Category: Kids Teeth

3 of the Worst Cavity Causing Activities

Posted on

Cavities are the most prevalent disease affecting children in the United States, but cavities are nearly 100% preventable. Here are some of the worst activities for teeth that can lead to cavities.

1 – Not Brushing Twice Per Day 

Avoiding cavities begins with proper, routine oral care. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry advises that everyone brushes their teeth twice per day, for two minutes each session. By brushing for the proper amount of time, you help ensure that your child is cleaning all of the bad bacteria off of their teeth and preventing cavities. Be sure that they brush the entire surface of their teeth, including the backs of teeth – which is often neglected. 

2 – Too Much Sugar 

We all know that too much sugar can cause tooth decay. But how does it work? When you consume sugar, bad bacteria in your mouth feeds off of it and create acids that destroy tooth enamel. Try limiting the amount of sugar your child eats to keep their enamel strong and prevent cavities. Additionally, reduce the amount of starchy carbs that they consume (like bread and chips) to keep teeth strong. When left in the mouth for too long, starchy carbs eventually turn into sugar and fuel bad bacteria.

A good place to start cutting back on sugar intake is in the beverages that your child enjoys. Try to avoid fruit juice, sports drinks and colas, which all contain a high amount of sugar.

3 – Not Enough Water 

Did you know that fruit juices contain about as much sugar as a bottle of cola? If your child is drinking too much fruit juice – or anything other than water – then it is providing sugary fuel that cavities need to thrive.

Water is one of the best things for a healthy mouth. Did you know that saliva is 99% water, or that saliva is critical in the fight against cavities? This makes it imperative that your child drinks plenty of water so that they can keep their enamel strong, and stay cavity-free. By drinking enough water, your child can avoid dry mouth and ensure that their saliva is produced at an optimal rate. 

Fight Cavities with Proper Dental Care 

Your child should visit our dental office once every six months for a routine checkup. This checkup allows us to get ahead of any oral health issues that may be occurring, and helps them maintain a healthier smile that lasts a lifetime.

These Halloween Candies Can Destroy Teeth

Posted on

Halloween is an awesome time for families to dress up like their favorite superheroes and explore their neighborhoods together, searching for candy. However, candy contains a lot of sugar and is really unhealthy for teeth. But, among the bad candy, a few Halloween classic candies stand out as truly bad for teeth.

Circus Peanuts 

How can a candy named “Circus Peanuts” contain zero actual nuts? Regardless of the lack of nuts, Circus Peanuts are a marshmallow candy that is made almost entirely of sugar. It comes in a bright orange shaped peanut, and is textured like a marshmallow. Circus Peanuts are a sticky candy, and that’s terrible news for teeth. Sticky candy is difficult to remove from teeth, and gives bad bacteria more time to eat away tooth enamel and cause cavities.

Atomic Fireballs 

This spicy Halloween favorite is a staple in many candy bowls nationwide, but Atomic Fireballs can harm teeth. Atomic Fireballs are basically spicy jawbreakers, which is a very hard candy. Hard candy comes in nearly every flavor and size imaginable, but chewing hard candy can lead to a cracked tooth. Hard candy also tends to stick around longer than other candy, which exposes teeth to sugar for longer. Extended contact with sugar can lead to more cavities because sugar provides bad bacteria with the energy it needs to destroy enamel.

Candy Corn 

This may be a bummer for a lot of Halloween fans, but Candy Corn is actually awful for teeth, and it’s largely due to one ingredient: confectioner’s wax, which is basically waxy sugar. The waxy consistency of confectioners wax makes it difficult for saliva to break down, and also causes it to stick to teeth. As specified above, sugar that sticks to teeth gives cavities the nutrition they need to thrive and worsen.

Avoid the Candy Binge this Halloween 

Do your best to limit the amount of candy your child has per day, and be sure that they rinse their mouth out with water, or brush and floss after eating candy to thoroughly remove any sugar or candy particles left behind on their teeth. 

If your child begins experiencing tooth pain this Halloween, then schedule an appointment with our office. Have a happy and safe Halloween, and don’t forget to brush! 

Reluctant Brushers? 3 Easy Ways to get Your Kids to Brush Their Teeth

Posted on

Toothbrushing is not the most fun activity for children but it is absolutely necessary for a healthy life. Here’s how parents can encourage their children to brush by making toothbrushing fun!

1 – Brush Together


align=none

align=none

One great way to making brushing fun for young brushers is by brushing with them. This helps you get into a fun routine with your child and have a bit more time together, and allows you to give them specific brushing tips, as well as keep an eye on how long they’re brushing.

2 – Find Fun Brushing Videos

For children, it can be tough to brush for two minutes at a time. This is because it’s difficult to keep young children still and focused on brushing their teeth for two minutes. You can help your child have more fun while they brush by letting them brush while watching a tooth brushing video. These educational videos help guide children through brushing their teeth, and each lasts at least two minutes. We suggest finding one that you deem appropriate for your child, and one that they will enjoy watching.

3 – Try an Electric Toothbrush

An electric toothbrush is an appealing option for children just beginning to brush, since they require less dexterity and physical motion to operate. Additionally, most electric toothbrushes feature brushing timers ensures that they brush for two minutes at a time. We suggest looking for an electric toothbrush specifically made for children that is easy for them to hold, and has a head that fits in their mouth comfortably.

Care for Teeth the Right Way

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry advises that everyone brushes their teeth twice per day, for two minutes at a time. The time limit helps ensure that all of the bad bacteria is scrubbed off of teeth, which prevents plaque buildup and cavities. Make sure your childbrushes their entire tooth surface, including the backside of teeth – which is often neglected.

Brushing isn’t all your child needs to do to maintain a healthy mouth, flossing is also very important. Debris left in between teeth can cause plaque buildup and cavities, which is why it’s important that your child flosses once per day, and cleans below the gumline.

We Help Make Brushing Fun

Our office specializes in caring for children, and helping them understand the importance of oral health. If you have a reluctant toothbrusher, visit our office. We can show your child how fun toothbrushing can be, and how important it is for a healthy life. 

How Dental Crown Help Children’s Teeth

Posted on

In a perfect world teeth would never need maintenance, and every smile would be healthy and bright. But, life isn’t perfect, and teeth sustain a lot of wear over time. Luckily, dental crowns are a fantastic way to combat a number of tooth ailments and improve overall oral health.

Dental Crowns Alleviate Multiple Problems 

Dental crowns are incredibly versatile tools that aid smiles in many ways. They are used to prevent weak teeth from fracturing, as tooth replacements, or to cover a root canal or dental implant. Dental crowns also help maintain proper teeth spacing, and aids in maintaining a proper bite alignment.

The Different Types of Dental Crowns 

Dental crowns can be made out of a gold alloy, stainless steel, all-porcelain or all-ceramic, composite resin, zirconia, or porcelain on the outside fused to metal or zirconia on the inside. Each type of dental crown works, and it’s up to the patient to work with our dentist to decide what works best for your child’s needs.

Do Dental Crowns Hurt? 

Dental crowns are meant to function painlessly as a natural tooth. The procedure to place a dental crown is done with a numbing agent applied to the nearby gums. This allows for less painful procedure. Tooth sensitivity and light pressure can last for 1 to 2 days after getting a new crown.

How Long do Dental Crowns Last? 

Typically, dental crowns last between 5 and 15 years. But, the lifetime of a dental crown depends upon the material it is made of. Porcelain crowns are durable, but not unbreakable, and can crack or chip when patients grind their teeth. Other bad oral habits liking chewing fingernails, chewing on ice, or using teeth as tools to rip and tear can crack and damage dental crowns.

If your child has dental crowns, then try to teach them about good oral health habits that keep their crowns intact. If they grind their teeth, consider getting them a nighttime retainer that protects teeth from the stress of grinding and clenching. 

Dental Crowns Need Maintenance 

Children and teens with crowns and fillings can develop cavities near the device if it becomes old, or worn out. Over time, dental crowns can weaken and develop rough edges. This allows plaque to flourish in a hard-to-reach area, and can quickly result in a cavity. If your child has dental crowns, be sure that they regularly see their dentist to ensure that the crown is monitored and in working order.

Schedule an Appointment with Our Office 

A broken tooth is a serious dental problem that needs to be treated by a team of dental professionals. Our office will be able to treat your child, and inform you on how to avoid an oral emergency in the future. Schedule an appointment today to help your child get a healthy smile that is pain-free.

How Parents can Prepare for Common Dental Emergencies

Posted on

Life can’t be completely mapped out, but parents can take some practical steps to prepare for some common dental emergencies.

Fractured Tooth

Kids play rough, and their teeth sometimes bear the brunt of their actions. If your child fractures a tooth, then gather what fragments and store them in a clean container of cool water, saliva, or milk. It is important that you visit the dentist immediately to prevent infection and other complications that are brought on by chipped teeth. Your dentist will be able to repair your child’s tooth, or fix it with a crown.

How to Prepare: 

A large amount of fractured teeth are sustained as the result of a sports injury. If your child plays contact sports, be sure they wear a mouth guard that protects their teeth.

Knocked Out Permanent Tooth

If possible, find the tooth. Handle the tooth by the crown, and be careful not to touch the root portion. You may rinse the tooth but DO NOT clean or handle the tooth excessively. Inspect the tooth for fractures. If it is sound, try to reinsert it in its socket. Hold the tooth in place by gently biting on a gauze or clean cloth. If you cannot reinsert the tooth, place the tooth in a cup containing the saliva of the person that lost it, or use milk, but NOT water. The tooth may also be carried in the mouth beside the cheek. The person who lost their tooth must see a dentist IMMEDIATELY! Time is a critical factor in saving the tooth.

Ongoing Toothache

If your child has a toothache, then have them rinse their mouth with warm water to ease the pain. Persistent toothaches can indicate more serious problems that need to be observed by a dental professional. If the pain persists for more than 48 hours, then see your dentist as soon as you can. 

How to Prepare: 

Toothaches are often the result of neglecting a proper oral health routine. Be sure that your child drinks plenty of water, and brushes for two minutes at a time, twice per day. They should also floss once daily, and clean the area below the gum line.

Visit Out Dental Office 

If your child has lost their teeth from serious accidents like a head injury or broken jaw, then visit the hospital before you see the dentist. It’s absolutely imperative that you care for the more serious injury first. However, if their oral emergency is not immediately threatening their overall well-being, then call our office. We are equipped to deal with a litany of oral emergencies and will be able to help get your child’s smile back in working order.

How Diabetes Affects Kids Teeth

Posted on

Did you know that periodontal (gum) disease is the most common dental disease affecting those living with diabetes? Here’s how the disease affects kids teeth, and how parents can help their children manage their oral health while living with diabetes.

Diabetes and Gum Disease 

People with diabetes are at higher risk for gum disease because of poor blood sugar management. In fact, gum disease can actually cause a slight rise in blood sugar levels, which makes diabetes more difficult to manage. This makes it imperative that children living with diabetes pay attention to their oral health to best avoid cavities and gum disease.

Oral Symptoms of Untreated Diabetes 

If diabetes is left untreated or mismanaged, then it can lead to a world of painful oral symptoms. If your child experiences any of the following symptoms, then schedule an appointment with our office right away.

Children with untreated diabetes may experience: 

  • Less saliva, leading to dry mouth, and a higher chance of contracting cavities.  

  • Gums may become inflamed and bleed often.  

  • Oral infections may occur more frequently. 

  • Oral wounds take longer to heal.  

  • Teeth may erupt at an early age.

  • Receding gum line.

Kids with Diabetes Need to Care for Their Teeth 

The best way to avoid painful oral symptoms associated with diabetes is by practicing proper oral health. Be sure your child brushes twice per day for two minutes at a time, and flosses once per day. Also, make sure that they stay hydrated and drink an adequate amount of water. This will help keep their saliva levels high and fight plaque buildup and dry mouth.

How a Pediatric Dentist can Help 

Research has shown that treating gum disease can help those with diabetes manage the disease by improving their blood-sugar control. A pediatric dentist will be able to help your child fight gum disease and provide a treatment plan that helps your child manage their oral health.

Schedule a Visit with Our Office 

29 million Americans live with diabetes today, and 1.7 million new cases are diagnosed every year. Additionally, 8.1 million people are living with undiagnosed diabetes. If you think your child may have diabetes, then schedule an appointment with your primary care doctor to receive an accurate diagnosis.

If your child is living with diabetes and struggles to manage their oral health, then visit our office. We specialize in care for children, and will provide you with a treatment plan that can help them better care for their oral health.

Here’s How Preventing Cavities can Save Your Child’s Life

Posted on

Cavities are the most common disease afflicting children today, and they’re almost completely preventable. But, did you know that cavities affect other diseases as well? Here’s how cavities and tooth decay are linked to other common ailments.

Tooth Decay Can Lead to Infection – Or Worse

Severe cavities and tooth decay are major causes of tooth loss, which makes you more prone to infection. In severe cases, gum disease can cause lung infections or even pneumonia. Additionally, cavities and infected teeth are riddled with unhealthy bacteria. If left untreated, a tooth infection can cause a deeper infection in the pulp tissue, which is painful and costly to treat. This may result in a hospital trip or a medical emergency.

Cavities Can Complicate Diabetes

Cavities and gum disease can cause blood sugar to rise, and make it difficult to manage diabetes. Further research has shown that improving oral habits and treating gum disease can help improve blood sugar control, and decrease the progression of the disease. If your child has diabetes, be sure that they are in a regular oral health routine, and that your pediatric dentist is aware of their condition.

Cavities Can Increase Risk of Heart Disease

Many studies have pointed out that plaque buildup can increase the odds of contracting heart disease and stroke. Bacteria that cause oral disease and cavities can release toxins that travel through the bloodstream and help to form fatty plaques in the arteries. This can greatly increase someone’s chances of heart disease.

Cavities are Almost Completely Preventable 

You can help your child prevent cavities through brushing twice per day for 2 minutes at a time, and flossing once every day. Additionally, avoid serving your children sugary drinks, or too many starchy foods, since both have excessive sugar that feeds the bacteria that can cause cavities. Also, be sure your child is drinking plenty of water, which naturally cleans teeth by rinsing away food debris.

Visit Our Office

Tooth decay is painful and can affect the overall health of developing mouths, which is why early treatment is the best way to handle cavities – and that’s where we come in! Our dental practice specializes in treating children and oral health ailments specific to young mouths. Schedule an appointment with our office today so that we can evaluate the state of your child’s oral health, and provide a treatment plan that works for them.  

4 Quick Tooth Tips for New Parents

Posted on

Being a new parent is a HUGE challenge filled with thousands of questions and a lot of research. We’re here to help new parents get their children a healthy smile with some of our favorite tooth tips for new teeth!

Begin an Oral Health Care Routine

Question: do you have to clean baby’s mouth if it has no teeth? Answer: YES! A baby’s first tooth doesn’t typically erupt until they are 8 months old, but it’s still important to keep their mouth clean. You can clean their gums by taking a damp cloth or gauze and gently rubbing it over their gums to remove any food debris. You may choose to use a very soft, baby toothbrush and lightly brush their gums using a very low amount of pressure to avoid upsetting their sensitive gums. However, a damp cloth works just as well.

Establish a Dental Home

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry advises parents to establish a dental home for their children before their first birthday. Usually, a child’s first tooth will appear between 6 and 10 months of age, which makes it the perfect time to choose a comfortable dental home for your child.

By choosing a pediatric dental home for your child, you get them the best oral care specifically designed for young teeth. A pediatric dentist will be able to diagnose any issues in your child’s smile, and provide you with the knowledge needed to help them achieve oral health success. 

Incorporate Mouth Healthy Foods

Around ages 4- 6 months, most children are ready to begin eating some solid foods. You can take this opportunity to introduce them to some mouth-healthy foods that their body and developing smile will appreciate. Soft foods like bananas, cooked sweet potatoes and avocado are fantastic healthy foods for children beginning a solid diet.  Sweet potatoes are high in Vitamin-A, and support healthy teeth and gums, and avocados contain high amounts of Vitamin C, which contains folate – a mineral that combats gum disease.

Be Flexible

Your child’s mouth is going to evolve, and their oral health routine will need to adapt to fit their smile. As they age, be sure to replace their toothbrush when the bristles begin to plume and fray, and pick one with soft bristles that they can easily grab. Also, be sure to visit the pediatric dentist twice per year so that you can stay up-to-date on any changes in their smile that need to be treated. 

Visit Our Office Regularly

Providing the best dental care for your child is our top priority, and we would love to speak with you about your child and their dental needs. Establishing a dental home early is very important, so we suggest that you bring your toddler in right after their first tooth emerges. That way, we can craft a dental plan that will help them earn a healthy smile that lasts for life. We see children of all ages, so call us and schedule an office tour! We want to make visiting the dentist fun, and easy for your child. Call us today to schedule an appointment, or a relaxing meet-and-greet.

Latest News from Children's Dental Specialties