Category: Oral Health

Is Your Child Getting Enough Sleep?

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Your child needs sleep, that’s a fact. But they require different amounts of sleep as they age. Here’s a quick guide outlining how much sleep your child during each stage of their development. 

0 – 3 Months Old 

Sleep can be hard to come by with a newborn baby. That’s because newborns need a total of 10 – 18 hours of sleep per day on an irregular schedule. Newborns will fuss, cry or rub their eyes when they need to sleep, so parents should pay attention to understand when to put them to bed. 

Newborns need 10 – 18 hours of sleep per day.

4 – 11 Months Old 

Around 4 – 11 months, infants are usually capable of sleeping through the night, with occasional disturbances. In addition, most infants will take 2 – 4 naps per day, which can last between 30 minutes and 2 hours. Parents should put their infants to bed when they show signs of sleepiness, rather than waiting for them to fall asleep. This will help them become more independent when falling asleep in the future.

Infants need 10 – 18 hours of sleep per day. 

1 – 2 Years Old 

Around 18 months, your toddler will begin needing less frequent naps, and may only take one nap, for 30 minutes to 2 hours. Many toddlers resist going to bed at bedtime, and experience nighttime awakenings. Parents can help their toddlers sleep through the night by setting a consistent bedtime schedule, which helps set their internal clocks to a designated bedtime.

Toddlers need 9 – 16 hours of sleep per day. 

3 – 5 Years Old 

Preschoolers typically sleep between 11 – 13 hours per night, and only require one nap per day. As with toddlers, preschoolers can experience difficulty sleeping through the night, and some resist bedtime. Parents can help children get past this with a security item like a blanket or teddy bear, which can comfort children through the night. 

Preschoolers need 8 – 14 hours per day. 

6 – 13 Years Old 

As a child’s schedule increases with school and social activities, their need for a good night’s rest increases too. Typically, children don’t need naps, but do need to get a solid 8 – 12 hours of sleep per night.  Try limiting TV and digital entertainment before bed, which can make it more difficult for a child to fall asleep. 

Children need 8 – 12 hours of sleep per day. 

14 – 17 Years Old 

By this point, your teen should be able to sleep comfortably throughout the night, and may only need one nap per day, between 20 – 40 minutes. In fact, your child may come to value their sleep and need no instruction to go to bed. Try to emphasize the importance of adequate sleep with your child, and establish a bedtime routine that takes TV’s and computers out of their bedroom, and avoid caffeinated beverages at dinner so that they don’t have extra energy before bed. 

Teens need 7 – 11 hours of sleep per day.

Does Your Child have Trouble Sleeping? 

Poor and inadequate sleep can lead to developmental problems, mood swings, and impact your child’s ability to learn. Talk to us about your child’s sleep routine, and pay attention to your child’s nightly routine to see if there are any routines that may be impeding their ability to sleep.

Family Dinner is Important to a Healthy Mouth

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Family life can be hectic, and it’s tough to gather the entire family around the table for a meal together. But, a family dinner can be a great tool for parents to help their children get healthier smiles.

Parents can Serve Mouth-Healthy Food

Dietary choices have a huge influence on your child’s mouth health, and food impacts their overall well-being. Parents can use a family dinner to feed their kids food that they will savor, and their mouths will love. Try adding more mouth-healthy items to dinner. Incorporate leafy greens that are high in fiber, and help scrub teeth as they are consumed. Also, add calcium to their meal, which strengthens teeth and fortifies enamel.

A Good Chance to Catch Up

Sitting around the table with everyone gives parents a chance to catch up with their kids, and can be a great time to ask them about their oral health. Parents can use this time to ask how their teeth are feeling, to make sure that they’re properly brushing and flossing everyday, and to get an overall feel for their mouth-health. Usually, children will go to their parents directly with health complaints. However, as children age and schedules become more hectic, dinner time can be a sacred space for you and your family to recharge, hangout, and checkup on one another.

A Place to Serve Water

Water is one the healthiest – if not THE healthiest – substance for the human body. It is also GREAT for mouth and tooth health! Water stimulates saliva production, which naturally cleans teeth free of food debris and bad oral bacteria. Additionally, sugary drinks like soda and juice harm teeth by feeding bad bacteria on teeth that can lead to cavities and tooth decay. When gathering around the table for a family dinner, make sure there’s plenty of water for everyone to drink.

The Final Meal Before Bed

A family meal gives parents a chance to have “the last say” in their children’s food consumption before bed. Since dinner is the last meal of the day, it’s important that parents use this mealtime as a final window for their children to eat before brushing and going to bed. Be certain that your child waits around 30minutes until after they eat before they brush their teeth, then make sure that they don’t eat for the rest of the night. Going to bed with food particles left on teeth leaves teeth vulnerable to acidic attacks that can lead to tooth decay and cavities.

Is Your Family’s Diet Mouth-Healthy?

A mouth-healthy diet is a great way to keep healthy teeth strong, and a poor diet can really leave teeth aching. IF you’re concerned about how your child’s diet may be affecting their teeth, then visit our office. We’ll give you mouth-healthy dietary tips that you can use at home to help your children earn a healthy, bright smile.

How Tobacco Ruins Teeth

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90% of adult smokers began smoking as teens, and each day more than 3,200 Americans younger than 18 try their first cigarette. Unfortunately, tobacco has zero health benefits and can lead to nicotine addiction and serious disease. Tobacco can also harm more than your overall health – it can hurt teeth and gums, too.

Tobacco Hurts Teeth 

Tobacco use harms teeth and health in many ways. It can lead to oral cancer, periodontal disease, delayed healing after oral procedure, bad breath, stained teeth and gums and damage the ability to smell and taste. The health risks related to tobacco use are serious, and negative oral side effects are chilling.

E-cigarettes & Vaporizers

In 2013, the Center for Disease Control reported that 1.78 million students in middle and high school reported trying e-cigarettes, and that their main reason was to be socially accepted and appear cool.

Most young people begin using tobacco after first trying an e-cigarette or vaporizer as a “safe” alternative to smoking cigarettes. In fact, teens that experiment with e-cigarettes are far more likely to try traditional cigarettes than those who did not try an e-cigarette. However, no amount or medium by which tobacco is consumed is ever safe – tobacco use in any fashion is unsafe. 

Make sure your child does not experiment with vaporizers or e-cigarettes, since they are an entry-point to normal, habitual tobacco use.

Chewing Tobacco 

Another way teens try to side-step cigarettes is with smokeless tobacco, or chewing tobacco. According to the AAPD, nearly 15% of high school teens use chewing tobacco. Unfortunately, smokeless tobacco can lead to periodontal disease, oral cancer, cavities, and tooth abrasion. It can cause bone degradation and increase the risk of pancreatic cancer.

The Center for Disease Control reports that smokeless tobacco use has steadily risen in the United States since 2000. If your child uses chewing tobacco, urge them to quit for the consideration of their long-term health. 

Talk to Your Teen about the Dangers of Tobacco Use 

Most studies find that teens that are actively discouraged from smoking, or that live in an environment where smoking is not normalized, are less likely to use tobacco as an adult. You can help your child avoid tobacco use by discussing the dangers of nicotine, and how e-cigarettes can lead to nicotine addiction and smoking traditional cigarettes.

How Diabetes Affects Kids Teeth

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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.

Mouth-Health Valentine’s Day Treats

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Valentine’s Day is a day where people everywhere share candy and sweet treats with their loved ones. It can be fun to celebrate Valentine’s Day, but eating too many treats can harm tooth enamel and lead to tooth decay. This Valentine’s Day, you can celebrate with some treats that will please your taste buds without damaging your teeth!

Frozen Strawberries and Yogurt

These frozen strawberry and yogurt bites are the perfect tooth-friendly treat for Valentine’s Day. Yogurt is a mouth healthy because it is packed with protein and high in calcium – both of which help build strong teeth and enamel. It also contains a healthy amount of good bacteria, which helps eliminate bad bacteria that can stick to teeth and lead to cavities. Strawberries are also high in fiber, which cleans teeth as it is consumed.

Ingredients:
12 oz. package of strawberries
1 Cup of non-fat Greek yogurt

Directions:
Set aside a large baking sheet, and cover it with wax paper or tin foil. Cut off the green tops of the strawberries, and then rinse them under cold water. Next, cut the strawberries in half vertically. Dip the strawberries in the yogurt one by one, and place them on the baking sheet. After each strawberry is on the baking sheet, place it in the freezer and leave them there for 2 – 3 hours, or until the yogurt has completely hardened. 

Watermelon Heart Popsicles

Watermelon is high in vitamin C, which helps teeth and gums by preventing cell damage that can lead to gum degeneration. In fact, a lack of vitamin C in your diet can promote bleeding gums and make it more difficult for your gums to heal. 

These heart-shaped watermelon popsicles will give you a boost of vitamin C, and help you celebrate Valentine’s Day without damaging your teeth.

Ingredients:
1 Watermelon
1 Heart-shaped cookie cutter
25 medium popsicle sticks

Directions:
Cut the watermelon into large disks that are 1 – 1.5 inches thick. Take one of the disks and set it down flat. Then, use the cookie cutter to cut hearts from the pink area of the disk. Repeat this until the watermelon is gone, or you’ve reach your desired number of popsicles. Finally, stick the popsicle sticks into the bottom of the hearts, and put them on a baking sheet and into the freezer. Leave in the freezer until they are frozen through, about 3 – 4 hours. 

Dark Chocolate

For those that aren’t feeling crafty, dark chocolate is a mouth-healthy treat that comes in a variety of shapes and sizes for Valentine’s Day. Dark chocolate is healthier than milk chocolate because it doesn’t contain added milk or sugar. Additionally, dark chocolate contains polyphenols, which are natural chemicals that limit the buildup of bad oral bacteria. Polyphenols also help prevent bacteria from turning sugar into acid, thereby limiting acid attacks that can damage tooth enamel.

When buying dark chocolate, be sure that it is at least 70% cocoa to get the most nutritional value. 

Visit Our Office

A mouth-healthy diet is an important part of maintaining optimal oral health. If you’re concerned about how your child’s diet may be affecting their teeth, then bring them into our office. 

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

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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

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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.

Don’t Let Your Child Use Their Teeth as Tools

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Did you know that you can crack or fracture your teeth if you use them improperly? In fact, cracked and fractured teeth are the third leading cause of tooth loss. If your child decides to use their teeth for anything other than eating, then they face an increased risk of damaging their teeth and facing costly dental repairs. You can help your child avert these risks by teaching them that teeth are not tools.

Don’t let Them Use Their Teeth to: 

Cut Anything other than Food 

It is very tempting to use teeth to open a bag, tear tape or cut a piece of string, but teeth aren’t scissors. When you try to cut something other than food with teeth, they are exposed to harder surfaces that aren’t found in food. Additionally, the pressure needed to cut some of these objects is far greater than the amount needed to chew. This places unnecessary stress on teeth, and can cause them to crack or fracture, which results in a painful dental emergency that needs to be treated ASAP by a dental professional.

Hold Things

It is really easy (and incredibly tempting) to use teeth as an extra set of hands to carry that last item up the stairs or from the car, but teeth aren’t hands and they aren’t meant to hold things. Holding items in teeth is particularly dangerous, because one can easily trip and fall and sustain serious oral and facial injuries. Tell your child that they need to be patient, and protect their teeth and face from unnecessary harm caused by using their mouth to carry things.

Crack Nuts


Nuts are delicious, but a lot come encased in a hard shell that could be cracked by teeth, but teeth are absolutely NOT meant to crack nuts. Trying to crack open a nut with teeth often leaves teeth fractured or cracked, rather than the nut. Tell your kids to stay away from nuts that have the shells on them, or teach them how to use a metal nutcracker. 

Open Bottles


There’s not many glass bottles that contain child-appropriate drinks as it is, but if your child likes mineral water or cola from a glass bottle, then teach them that a bottle MUST NEVER be opened with teeth. This is one of the worst, most traumatic things one can do to their own teeth and will likely cause a cracked tooth. Additionally, the hard metal surface can scrape enamel away from teeth, and leave them more susceptible to cavities. If your child must have a drink from a glass bottle, just go ahead and open it for them. 

Teeth are Made for Chewing Food – and That’s it

The bottom line in all of this is that are not indestructible, and really only designed to process food. If you allow your child, or if you decide yourself to use your teeth as tools, then you are exposing teeth to unnecessary harm that could cause painful, and expensive consequences. Teach your child that the only things they should use their teeth for are chewing, and smiling, and stress to them that teeth are not Swiss Army knives.  

Stocking Stuffers for Kids of all Ages that help Teeth Shine!

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Those of you celebrating Christmas are quite familiar with stockings, and have surely filled them with little gifts on more than one occasion. This year, we suggest balancing out some of the candy and tiny treats with some mouth-healthy stocking stuffers!  

Toothbrush – Great for Any Age

 

Toothbrushes should be replaced every 3-4 months, depending upon the health of the bristles, which makes Christmas the perfect time to resupply your child’s toothbrush stock! When choosing a toothbrush, try to find one that is easy for your child to hold, and that will comfortably fit into their mouth. You’ll also want to find one with soft bristles that won’t be agitate their gums, and look for the ADA seal of approval to ensure that you’re buying one that has been thoroughly evaluated and approved by a respected institution. Toothbrushes are perfect stocking stuffers to help your child keep their mouth healthy during the holidays!  

Sports Mouth Guard – Great for Any Age

Mouth guards are composite inserts that act as a cushion for teeth and the facial area. Mouth guards – sometimes called mouth protectors – work by helping cushion a blow to the face, and minimizing the risk of broken teeth, or lacerating a lip, tongue or cheek. The great thing about mouth guards is that they come in every shape, color and size. If your young athlete is playing sports next year, then protect their teeth by getting them a proper mouth guard. 

Gum Sweetened with Xylitol – Great for Any Age

Instead of candy canes or chocolate bars, try stuffing your child’s stocking with something that tastes great AND cleans teeth – gum sweetened with Xylitol! This mouth-friendly gum benefits teeth because Xylitol stimulates saliva production. Saliva works to clean teeth by naturally clearing debris that can buildup and cause cavities. It also regulates oral acid levels and helps to prevent plaque buildup which can lead to tooth decay. Saliva is also very high in calcium, and can help strengthen enamel – the first line of defense against cavities!  

Toothpaste – Great for Any Age

Another great mouth-healthy stocking stuffer is toothpaste! When buying toothpaste, look for the ADA seal of approval on the package, so that you know it’s effective. We suggest buying toothpaste that provides complete protection, rather than just buying whitening toothpaste – which sometimes contains abrasives that can irritate young gums and teeth.  

The Tooth Book by Dr. Seuss – Fantastic for Young Brushers

Dr. Seuss’ wit and humor brightly shine in The Tooth Book. The story is intended for small children, and teaches them about the different kinds of animal teeth, and how to take care of their own teeth. This is a perfect book for the little ones that are just learning to read, and satiates their curiosity and funny bone!  

We Hope You have a Happy, Healthy Holiday Season

We hope that your family has a happy and healthy holiday season, and that you all take care of your oral health over the break. Remember to brush your teeth twice per day and floss once per day, to help prevent tooth decay. If your child has an extended break, then schedule an appointment in our office for a regular checkup. The holidays are a great time to get ahead on your children’s oral health.  

Some “Health” Food can Cause a Catastrophe for Teeth

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Whether it’s snacking on granola bars, or choosing fruit instead of potato chips, there are endless dietary actions that you can take to improve your child’s health. But, before you overhaul their diet, did you know that some foods that are marketed as healthy are actually terrible for teeth? When shopping for your child, watch out for some stealthy unhealthy food.  

Granola

Granola is typically advertised as a healthier alternative to cereal that people can add into their milk or yogurt for an added dietary benefit. But here’s what they’re not advertising: granola typically contains high amounts of sugar and fat, which we call “sugar bombs.” The added sugar can lead to tooth decay, and the high density of calories can leave your child hungry and cause them to overeat.  

If you do choose granola, compare the nutritional values of your options and choose the one with the highest fiber content, and lowest amount of sugar. This way, you can avoid feeding your child a stealthy sugar bomb.  

“Nutritional” Water & Sports Drinks

Often marketed as a healthy way to recover from a workout, nutritional or “enhanced” water is not good for you at all. In fact, one 20-ounce bottle of Vitamin Water contains more sugar than the recommended daily amount for adults. Nutritional water may taste good, but there’s simply too much sugar in them to be considered healthy. Our advice is to serve your child normal water, which contains no calories or sugar.  

Sports drinks are no better, but usually advertised as healthy drinks. This is patently false, since the most popular sports drinks contains as much sugar as a can of cola. The healthiest beverage you can give your child is water, which also happens to naturally clean teeth.  

Trail Mix

A fantastic substitute for unhealthy snack foods is trail mix. But, be careful! If you decide to serve your child trail mix, look out for unhealthy ingredients that can add unhealthy amounts of sugar and fat to their plate. Try to avoid trail mix that has chocolate, dried fruit, and candy. Look for mixes that are unflavored and don’t contain any added sweets. 

Dried Fruit

Dried fruit is a food that you should avoid if you’re trying to improve your child’s oral health. Dried fruit contains much higher levels of sugar than their natural counterparts, and none of the water that helps make fruit so healthy. Let’s use prunes as an example. Prunes are just dried plums, except just one cup of prunes contains more than 400 calories and 45 grams of sugar. However, one plum contains just 75 calories and 16 grams of sugar. The bottom line is that you should choose fresh fruit and not dried fruit.  

Smoothies


Smoothies can be a fantastic way to get the nutritional benefits of fruit, and the added mouth-healthy rewards of non-fat Greek yogurt. However, if made improperly, smoothies can be packed with sugar and calories. When making (or buying) a smoothie, make sure to limit using fruit high in sugar. Try to avoid figs, grapes, mangoes, pomegranates and cherries, since these fruits have very high amounts of sugar.  

Does Your Child Have a Healthy Diet?

Our office helps parents teach their children about earning a healthy smile, and keeping it long after they leave our office. A mouth-healthy diet is an important part of maintaining optimal oral health. If you’re concerned about how your child’s diet may be affecting their teeth, then bring them into our office. We will evaluate their smiles and offer a variety of treatment options that fit their case. We can also give you tips on eating for better oral health, and point out food that can lead to tooth decay.

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