The Children's Dental Blog for Mom's and Dad's about All Things That Matter
Author: kidstoothhotline
As a Board Certified Pediatric Dentist with over ten years of experience practicing Pediatric Dentistry, I understand that parents and caregivers are in need for information to care for their children's oral health. You may not have your normal lines of communication open or you cannot easily call or visit your child’s Dentist and obtain answers to your questions. Some families may not yet have a Pediatric Dentist to call.
My expertise and knowledge can help serve as your source as I provide answers with information that is current, informative and the Gold Standards of Care which are the practice Guidelines approved by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.
I want to help you access this important information by answering your questions through this site. You may want to submit your own individual questions or you can view my postings and answers to other families questions that may apply to your child's needs.
I am committed to helping you stay informed, after all it is all about your child.
Happy National Parent’s DayCelebrating National Parent’s Day
As a parent you celebrate your child everyday and you are their biggest fan. This Sunday, July 25th is your turn to be celebrated. On this day we show our appreciation and recognition to all parents for all you do, whether you’re Mom, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa, Great-Grandma, Great- Grandpa, Stepmom, Stepdad, Foster Mom and Foster Dad.
Your devotion is vital for your child’s growth. From all of us at KidsToothHotline always know how much we appreciate, value and support you as parents in raising healthy and oral (dental) health conscious children.
All Our Best For A Wonderful Day ~ HAPPY PARENTS DAY!
More tips? We have lots. We’re here just for kids!
Gummy vitamins are very popular with children and parents for getting essential vitamins and nutrients in a tasty gummy treat. While this can be a great way for your children to want to take their vitamins, gummy vitamins can also harm their teeth.
BUT THEY’RE VITAMINS
Yes, they’re vitamins that are chewy, really tasty, and come in an endless variety of colors, shapes and flavors.
THE STICKY TRUTH
It’s really 3 things to keep in mind, Gummy vitamins are high in sugars in comparison to other vitamins. It’s the sticky consistency that makes them stick to the tops and in-between the teeth that’s the concern because it eats away at the tooth’s outer protective enamel layer.
Chewing My Gummy VitaminWhat’s Your Favorite Flavor Of Gummy Vitamins?
Gummy Vitamins Can Also Come Sugar-Free, But…
Xylitol is the only 1 sugar substitute known to help reduce cavities, and that is in very specific amounts.
Manufacturers of gummy vitamins may not use xylitol or use it in different amounts. Some manufacturers may say their vitamin is sugar-free only to find out that they add other sugar substitutes (which doesn’t reduce cavities) and other sweeteners. They may also coat the vitamin with sugar or a sugar substitute (again which doesn’t reduce cavities).
Our Recommendation
It is your and your pediatrician’s decision regarding which vitamin supplement is best for your child. Our suggestion is to please make sure your child takes their gummy vitamin before your nightly tooth brushing routine. This way everyone goes to bed with nice clean teeth.
If your pediatrician wants your child to take their gummy vitamin in the morning, have them take it with their breakfast and when they’ve finished eating then brush their teeth. This way everyone starts the day with nice clean sparkling teeth.
Summer is here and your family wants to have fun, fun, and more fun. Lazy days and yummy foods have been on your children’s minds since the count down to vacation began.
This is also a stressful time for you because you know what they want and you want to keep up their balanced diet and keep going with those good habits you’ve worked hard on.
So how do you indulge those eagerly awaited extra special delights and stay on track?
4 Bite Sized Tips For Healthy Summer Teeth
Keep up with your child’s routine
Whether you’re traveling, day tripping, planing a staycation or a trip to Grandma’s, put together a traveling dental kit. This way if schedule changes disrupt your good habits you can start up where you left off. Also remember that while bottles and sippy cups are good for comforting your child, don’t let them fall asleep with one in their mouth as it increases their risk for cavities.
Stick to your child’s healthy diet
Make those special foods and beverages more delicious when eaten with a healthy and balanced meal full of fresh fruit, veggies, whole grains, lean protein, water, and plain milk.
Indulge with care
Gooey, sticky and chewy are fun to eat, not so much to brush off teeth. Choose treats that are super smooth and slide off the teeth like chocolate bars without crunchies, italian water ices, and ice cream.
Make it fun
Vacation time is happy and new every year. This year tweak your consistent daily routines in a fun way. Try doing something to keep your child’s attention long enough for you to brush all their teeth, like – brushing and flossing together or have a brush-a-thon to your child’s favorite tunes. Children love stickers, so use a sticker chart and remember to be on the look out for their fun flavor toothpaste or a toothbrush with their favorite character.
Summer time is always a busy time for families. Being out of school with a steady stream of activities puts every day life on hold, including good tooth routines and habits.
If your good habits go haywire, pick up where you left off and help your child get back on track with their good brushing, flossing and healthy eating habits.
Enjoy your summer and make those amazing memories while at the same time protecting those beautiful smiles!
How do you keep up with your children’s brushing and flossing over the summer? What are your families favorite summer foods? We’d really like to know! Send us an email at kidstoothhotline@proton.me or Chat with us and Like Us on Facebook at facebook.com/kidstoothhotline
More tips? We have lots. We’re here just for kids!
As parents we all know to say “Wear your helmet!” when our children want to go out to ride their bike, skateboard or scooter. We also say this when our older children play baseball, football, hockey or lacrosse. You may have already seen them used in contact sports, such as football, boxing, and ice hockey.
Mouthguards offer the same protection. While a helmet protects a child’s head, a mouthguard protects their teeth and their head.
How does a mouthguard protect a child’s head? As parents we’ve heard about concussions, and a lot of times we think about concussions as occurring from a blow to the head. What’s important to note is that contact to any portion of the mouth or jaw can cause a concussion.
My Balance Beam Is Really High And The Mat Is Far Away, I’m Happy I’m Wearing My Mouthguard
How can a mouthguard help?
What Is The Benefit Of Wearing A Mouthguard?
Mouthguards are mouth protectors which help cushion a blow to the mouth and face, minimizing the risk of broken teeth and injuries to your child’s lips, tongue, face or jaws.
While collisions in contact sports, such as basketball and boxing are higher-risk sports for the mouth, children can experience a dental injury in non-contact activities too, such as gymnastics and skating.
Findings in Sports Dentistry show that even in non-contact sports such as gymnastics, rollerblading, and field hockey, mouthguards help protect teeth. Many of these experts recommend that a mouthguard be worn for any recreational activity that poses a risk of injury to the mouth.
Most Important Mouthguard Features
To be most effective a mouthguard should have these features:
Be resilient, tear-resistant and comfortable,
Fit properly and stay in place during sports activities,
Be durable and easy to clean,
Not restrict your child’s speech or breathing.
There Are 3 Types Of Mouthguards
Stock These are found in sporting goods stores and come pre-formed, ready to wear. One size fits most and may not fit very well. They are made of hard plastic, can be bulky and which can make it uncomfortable to wear and talk.
Boil and bite These mouth protectors can also be bought at many sporting goods stores and may have a better fit than stock mouth protectors. They are first softened in hot boiling water, then placed in the mouth and with your child moving their lips, tongue and cheeks around and closing their teeth together, they plastic is adapted to the shape of their mouth. Remember to be very careful because this is very hot water and very hot plastic.
Custom-fit These are made by your dentist for your child specifically and because they are customized, usually offer the best fit. They fit snugly, allowing your athlete to run and talk more easily while playing sports. Custom mouth guards are comfortable, and offer excellent protection. They can be made in a wide variety of colors and designs.
How Many Mouthguards Does My Child Have To Wear?
One.
Mouthguards typically cover the top teeth, and are a great way to protect the soft tissues of their tongue, lips and cheek lining.
There are certain times when depending on specific needs your dentist or orthodontist may suggest for your child to instead use a mouthguard to cover their lower teeth.
Mouthguards And Braces
A properly fitted mouthguard is especially important for children who have braces. A blow to the face could damage the wires and brackets or other fixed orthodontic appliances. The mouthguard provides a barrier between the braces and their cheeks and lips, limiting the risk of gum and soft tissue injuries.
If your child has an orthodontic retainer or wears any removable appliance, never wear it during any type of sports activities.
Tips for Caring for Your Child’s Mouthguard
4 tips for keeping your child’s mouthguard sports ready:
Rinse with cool water before each use and afterwards brush with toothpaste, rinse, dry.
Keep the mouthguard in a sturdy container that has vents and in a safe place. This permits air circulation and helps prevent damage to the mouthguard.
Don’t take the mouthguard out and leave it in the sun. Avoid high temperatures, such as hot water, hot surfaces or direct sunlight, which can distort the mouth guard.
Check for wear and tear to see if it needs replacing. A mouthguard that’s torn, in bad shape, or doesn’t fit any more can irritate your child’s mouth and lessen the amount of protection it provides.
When it comes to protecting your child’s mouth, a mouthguard is an essential piece of athletic gear that should be part of their standard equipment from an early age.
As children get older they achieve many new milestones. With each new life change they embark on their mouth also goes through changes. One dental milestone, or right of passage is getting their wisdom teeth.
For parents there are lots of questions about wisdom teeth — What are wisdom teeth? Does everyone have wisdom teeth? Is it painful when wisdom teeth come in? Do you have to have wisdom teeth taken out? Is there a best time for wisdom teeth to be removed?
Doing Our research On Wisdom Teeth
These are some tips to help you be wise about wisdom teeth.
What Are Wisdom Teeth?
Wisdom teeth are the last set of molars to develop and are called wisdom teeth because they appear when children are in their older adolescent years (late teens to early twenties) and are “wiser” than when their other teeth came into their mouths.
Does Everyone Have Wisdom Teeth?
Actually not everyone has wisdom teeth. Approximately 25% to 33% of individuals are born without any wisdom teeth.
When we think about wisdom teeth we usually think about there being 4 teeth. However not everyone has the same number and it is possible to be born having only 1, or only 2, or only 3 wisdom teeth.
Is It Painful When Wisdom Teeth Come In?
As wisdom teeth start coming in they can cause pressure. The top teeth can cause headaches and the bottom teeth can cause ear pain.
Do You Have To Have Wisdom Teeth Taken Out?
Sometimes wisdom teeth can come in aligned with the other teeth as long as the top and bottom jaws have enough room for these teeth to come in. Sometimes wisdom teeth come right in and you’d never know, other times it’s not so easy.
This means that when wisdom teeth come in, they’re usually mis-aligned because the jaw doesn’t have enough space for them, and this can also cause problems for neighboring teeth.
Sometimes wisdom teeth can be “impacted” which means that either they are only partially able to come into the mouth through the gums which creates a risk for infections.
Other times wisdom teeth are “impacted” because there is no room at all for them to come into the mouth and they will continue to grow in the jaws.
Oral Surgeons are the Dentists who remove wisdom teeth due to impaction, mis-alignment and infection issues.
Is There A Best Time For Wisdom Teeth To Be Removed?
Many parents opt to have their child’s wisdom teeth removed during their mid to late teenage years, while others wait to have them taken out in their early twenties. There may be certain situations which may arise during braces or with early detected impacted teeth that may alter how soon wisdom teeth need to be removed.
Everyone who was born without wisdom teeth or whose child was born without wisdom teeth give us a shout out! Everyone who had their wisdom teeth out or whose child had their wisdom teeth removed give us a shout out! Tell us your experience. We’d really like to know. Email us at kidstoothhotline@protonmail.me Like Us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ kidstoothhotline
More tips? We have lots. We’re here just for kids!
Growing up I was always the child in the dental chair. Every check up it was as if I was destined to have another cavity. My parents chalked it up to “soft teeth run in the family.”
Then I went to dental school, got married, had children and became a pediatric dentist. Along the way I learned some tips and tricks that wouldn’t leave our children’s oral health up to genetics or luck. Today I’m happy to say that this approach has kept our children from having cavities and crooked teeth.
My fellow parents, it is not luck that contributes to good teeth, it’s about planning, consistency and adaptability. I want to share with you what I did to help decrease the family trend of cavities and crowded teeth for my children from when they were infants through their teenage years.
Decreasing The Family Trend For Cavities And Crowded Teeth
1. Before your child’s first tooth comes in it is important to wipe their gums with a damp washcloth after each feeding and before nap and bed-time.
2. Teething rings should be placed in the refrigerator only, never in the freezer. You never want anything to freeze to your child’s gums.
3. As soon as your child’s first tooth peaks through their gums it is important to start brushing with a rice grain size amount of fluoridated toothpaste twice a day.
4. For your pre-K child (over 3 years old) brush twice a day with a pea size amount of fluoride toothpaste and there’s no swallowing.
5. You can protect your child from having fear of the dentist. As parents, we’re always saying that words and actions matter.
6. Orthodontic treatment may be beneficial even before your child’s permanent teeth come in.
7. Mouth guards are recommended to protect your child’s teeth from sports injuries.
8. Sealants are effective in preventing cavities on molars by forming a protective coating over the deep crevices so food doesn’t get caught in the grooves.
9. Always replace your child’s toothbrush after an illness.
With everything you have to do, it may be tempting to skip a day. Turns out diligence is the key.
Mommy and Daddy Love That Now I Can Stick Out My Tongue
Tongue tie is a short muscle attachment under the tongue which may restrict tongue mobility and can cause potential difficulties for breastfeeding and speech.
In our last post we talked about recognizing tongue tie, and how the tie affects breast feeding and speech. Today we’re discussing Treatments for Tongue tie.
Some doctors may take a wait and see approach to evaluate if tongue tie goes away as in some milder cases. There are an increasing number of others who recommend prompt treatment to prevent ongoing feeding difficulties for an infant, or for an older child who has speech difficulties, dental problems, and social concerns. Most cases of tongue tie are treated as soon as they are diagnosed, and depending on the child’s age, it can be done either in the office or in the operating room.
Does Tongue Tie Go Away On Its Own?
Treating Tongue Tie
Tongue tie does not really go away on its own. Sometimes the tight tie may loosen slightly as the child’s mouth grows. For some as they get older they seek to accommodate to their limited tongue movement for chewing and speech. Nonetheless there are children who continue to experience difficulties with eating and speech.
Once a child has been examined and it’s decided that the best way to address the tie is to surgically alter the attachment, you may be referred to either an ENT (Ear Nose and Throat) Physician, an Oral Surgeon, or a Pediatric Dentist.
Tongue tie can be corrected in one of two surgical ways:
Frenotomy
The doctor examines the frenum and then snips it free with sterile scissors. The procedure is quick and usually there is little blood. Most times local anesthetic isn’t used because discomfort is minimal due to there being few nerve endings and blood vessels in the frenum. After the procedure, you stay for a while in the office while the baby breastfeeds. In this circumstance, the breast milk is for pain relief and as an antiseptic.
Frenuloplasty
On examination if the frenum is too thick for a frenotomy, a frenuloplasty, may be recommended. This procedure uses general anesthesia and surgical tools to free the tongue from the thick band of tissue in the bottom of the mouth. When the frenum is free the wound is closed with stitches that dissolve on their own within a couple of weeks. The child will most likely not need to stay in the hospital overnight, and will likely go home the same day as the operation. As with all surgeries there are possible complications and can include bleeding, infection, scarring, or damage to the tongue or salivary gland.
Follow-Up Care
After the procedure a follow-up appointment is usually scheduled between 5 and 7 days to check on healing in the treated area.
Your pediatrician may refer you to a speech therapist depending on how your child’s speech was affected by the tongue tie to overcome any articulation and enunciation problems.
The doctor who performed the procedure or your pediatrician may give your child simple exercises to help improve the full motion of their tongue.
Do you know a Mom who is having trouble with painful breastfeeding? Have you seen a child who is unable to stick their tongue out all the way or move it from side to side? Do you know someone whose child doesn’t want ice cream because they can’t lick the cone? Do you know a child who doesn’t want to be in the school band because they can’t play the wind instrument they want? Newborns, babies and children, tweens and adolescents can have tongue tie. Let us know if you know a family whose child has (or had) tongue tie and what they are doing (or did) to address the tie.. Send us an email at kidstoothhotline@protonmail.me Like Us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/kidstoothhotline
More tips? We have lots. We’re here just for kids!
Tongue tie is when there is a short muscle attachment under the tongue which may restrict tongue tip mobility and tongue movement. This limitation in motion can cause potential difficulties for breastfeeding and speech.
A tongue tie is something a baby is born with and can be seen in newborns, infants, children, and even adults. Pediatricians and lactation consultants are often the first to notice the tie, and maybe even before a parent.
This Is How Far I Can Stick Out My Tongue
What Is Tongue Tie?
Tongue tie is also called ankyloglossia. During pregnancy as the baby develops, the connection between the under surface of the tongue and the bottom of the mouth is too tight or too short. When the baby is born this reduces the tongue’s range of motion.
How Do I Know What Tongue Tie Looks Like?
Even though every ones tongue’s look slightly different there are a couple of ways to tell if your child has tongue tie.
The most classic appearance is if there is a small strip of what looks like gum tissue extending from the tip of the tongue to the lower jaw’s front gum area and their tongue looks heart shaped. The heart shape is more evident especially when they move their tongue or try to stick out their tongue.
Another appearance is when the attachment is behind the tip further down on the tongue and also limits tongue movement.
A third type of appearance is when the attachment is thick or stiff and is located in the middle of the underside of the tongue extending to the bottom of the mouth.
The fourth type is when you may not see the attachment, but when touching under the tongue gently with fingertips, it feels tight and the bottom of the mouth may or may not be shiny.
How Can I Tell If My Child Has Tongue Tie?
Do you know a child who can’t lick an ice cream cone or stick out their tongue as far as their friends? This child has tongue tie.
Parents typically notice their baby may be tongue tied while breastfeeding, or trying to breast feed. Babies may have trouble latching on and rather than sucking they compress Mom’s breast causing pain, or they may need long feeding times.
Sometimes Mom and Dad may notice that their child can’t move their tongue from side to side, touch the top of their mouth with their tongue, or stick their tongue out past their front teeth.
Can Tongue Tie Affect Speech?
Tongue tie does not prevent or delay the onset on speech. It may interfere with the articulation and clarity of speech.
There are certain letters and sounds we use our tongues to help us pronounce. They are: D, F, L, R, S, Sp, T, Th, and Z.
These letters and sounds need a specific amount of tongue movement to be pronounced and to be heard clearly. Otherwise it may sound like the child is mumbling.
It’s also important to know that not every child who has a tongue tie has struggles with speech.
Spoiler Alert — Check back next week for our post on Treatments for Tongue Tie.
Do you know a child with tongue tie? Or maybe you know an adult who has tongue tie? What was done (or they wish was done) to help with the tongue tie? We’d really like to know! Send us an e-mail at kidstoothhotline@protonmail.me or Like Us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/kidstoothhotline
More tips? We have lots. We’re here just for kids!
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