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.

Keeping Teeth Healthy This Summer

~ kidstoothhotline

In the Know for You to Know

It’s SUMMER!

Thank You Mommy and Daddy, I love my beautiful Smile

School’s out, Camp and Vacations are in. Long lazy days, family traditions, and fun times are here!

While you’re having fun you can also keep up your families good habits (or tweaking not so good ones) like your balanced diet and oral hygiene routine. This way those eagerly awaited treats taste extra special.

Keep a Routine

Start with putting together your summer dental kit – toothpaste, floss, tooth brush, finger brush, wash cloths.

While you’re doing your regular grocery shopping be on the look out for their fun flavor tooth paste or a tooth brush with their favorite character.

This way if schedule changes disrupt your habits you’re prepared and can start up where you left off.

Also keep in mind that bottles and sippy cups may be good for comforting a tired child, however falling asleep with one in their mouth increases their risk of cavities.

My toothbrush is in my Daddy’s knapsack

Healthy Diet = Healthy Teeth = Happy Family

Those fun foods your child always looks forward to are a special part of summer. Adding them to their healthy diet of fresh fruits, fresh veggies, whole grains, plain milk and water, go a long way to helping you decrease their cavity risk. And they are an incentive for your child to eat the way you want them to (Added Bonus!).

Sticky, Gooey, Chewy

Gooey, sticky and chewy are fun to eat, not so much fun to brush away from teeth.

Yes it’s about those candy apples from the specialty shop you always seem to go to, and the taffy at the seashore which are talked about for days before you get there. Or it’s the ice cream cone with the crunchies on top from the ice cream man coming down the street playing his familiar and anticipated summer tune that your child looks forward to every day.

While these are amazingly delicious and we all love them, the stickier, gooey, chewier and crunchier foods tend to stick into the nooks and crannies of teeth and are really hard to brush out and away.

What to do? Let’s face it when your child is enjoying these treats it is not always at a time you can take out the floss and tooth brush. When you can it is definitely best to do so. If changing your fun food selection is not possible then drinking water will help dilute all that sugar and also help wash away the food on the surface. Perhaps your child is okay with trying something else (think new family tradition), then chocolate (with no mix ins) is a good option since it is smooth and will slide off their teeth.

What’s Most Important?

Keep a consistent daily routine that can be done in a fun way and which you can continue in the summer.

Do something fun to keep their attention while flossing and brushing —

Talk about the great stuff they did today and build anticipation for tomorrow.

Floss and brush together and have a brush-a-thon to your child’s favorite summer tunes.

Make a summer sticker chart and sticker the chart every morning after brushing (2 Minutes) and every night after flossing and brushing (2 Minutes).

Above all, don’t stress, have fun and make wonderful memories.

More tips? We have lots. We’re here just for kids!

What’s the hype about Sports Drinks for Children?

~ kidstoothhotline

In the Know for You to Know

Summer is here and everyone is looking forward to being outside playing sports, running, swimming and having fun.

With all that playing it’s only a matter of time before you hear “I’m thirsty. What do you have to drink?” What do you reach for to satisfy your child’s thirst and keep them hydrated?

As a parent you know that juice and soda are not good for your child’s health and their teeth. Do you know that sports drinks which are considered healthy are actually loaded with sugar?

Sports drink companies have done a great job trying to convince us these drinks have magical powers. While doing this they are omitting that their elixir is a combination of salts and minerals (also called electrolytes) like sodium, potassium, and phosphate mixed together with artificial flavors, artificial colors and a lot of sugar.

A rainbow of drink colors

It may seem like a good idea to reach for a sports drink to ward off dehydration on a hot day when they’ve been playing or exercising. All this sugar makes sports drinks less effective for quenching thirst, since the children are using the water in their body to metabolize the sugar. The American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend these drinks for routine or moderate play or exercise. This is because the sodium, potassium, and phosphate that is put into these drinks is actually stored in our bodies in far greater reserve than anything man can contribute to.

Your child’s healthy body maintains reserves of these vital elements that it can tap into as needed to keep their body’s salt balance in check. It’s natural to lose these electrolytes through sweat, but even with vigorous exercise for many hours, our bodies will correct for any losses with regular healthy meals and drinking water.

These drinks taste good for a reason, and it’s because of the added sugar, which can go on to hurt your child’s dental health. Good habits begin at a young age so encourage your child to make healthy decisions about what they choose to drink as they grow. Your positive example will go far for your family to have happier healthier smiles and a healthier future.

More tips? We have lots. We’re here just for kids!

You Brush Your Child’s Teeth, Do You Brush Their Tongue? – What 2 Know

~ kidstoothhotline

In the Know for You to Know

Yes, you make sure your child’s teeth are brushed for 2 minutes 2 times a day, and when their baby teeth are touching you make sure to floss before every night time brushing.

The next question is, is your little one’s tongue getting brushed?

Why Brush Their Tongue?

The tongue is not smooth. It is covered with nooks and crannies which hold onto everything that’s in the mouth. While no one’s tongue will get a cavity, the bacteria and food that’s on and in the tongue can be spread to the teeth which can develop cavities.

Rinsing may loosen the particles but does not remove them. Food and bacteria in the crevices can also cause bad breath, which can be especially noticeable when awakening from sleep.

What To Do?

Brushing your child’s tongue, gently from back to front and side to side is a good start. This takes getting used to doing, along with patience and practice.

What Do We Use?

Some parents prefer a tongue scrapper. It’s okay if you prefer to use one. I find that for ease of use and since you’re brushing it’s as easy to use your child’s soft bristle toothbrush. Toothpaste on the brush is your choice. All you need to do after brushing their tongue is to rinse the tooth brush under running water and then it’s ready to use for tooth brushing.

Toothpaste or No Toothpaste?

The choice is yours when brushing your child’s tongue. If you do use toothpaste you’ll only need a dab, and remember to always use a toothpaste with the ADA Seal of Acceptance.

How Do I Do This?

The 1st time, begin by brushing the tip of their tongue. Be prepared for lots of giggles since this may feel like you are tickling their tongue. Brush from back to front and side to side. Do this for one week so that you both get used to doing this as part of your routine.

The 2nd week, go a little further back to the center of their tongue and brush towards the tip. Brush from back to front and side to side. There may be more giggles and laughing, and as before keep doing this every day.

The 3rd week, go a little further back to be in line with their last teeth (aka their molars). Hold the tooth brush horizontally and in gentle sweeping motions brush towards the tip pf your child’s tongue and side to side. You may or may not need to stop intermittently at this step. If you need to briefly stop this is all right. Stay the course slowly and softly until you can brush without stopping.

How Often Do We Do This?

Every night after you floss, brush your child’s tongue and then their teeth. This way nothing that gets flossed out from in-between their teeth or brushed off their tongue will stay on their teeth; because you will brush everything away during your 2 minutes of tooth brushing.

Once you have your routine in place for your evening brushing, you can then add it to your child’s 2 minutes in the morning brushing.

Now your routine is taking shape! All you both need to do is keep it up. Congratulations!

More tips? We have lots. We’re here just for kids!

Pacifiers – What 2 Know 2 Say Goodbye

~ kidstoothhotline

In the Know for You to Know

Sucking is natural for infants and babies. This starts during your 7th month of pregnancy and increases in the weeks just before you give birth in preparation for nursing.

After your baby is born your Pediatrician may recommend a pacifier for a variety of reasons, including prevention of SIDS, or to calm and soothe if your baby is restless.

Each baby is different in how they take to the pacifier. Some will not want it at all, others may only want it when they are being put to sleep, and still others will not want to part with their pacifier and not let it out of their mouth.

The emotions they feel from the sucking can give them a sense of security, relaxation, happiness, or calmness. Everything they receive from you!

When and Why to Stop?

The short answer is between 18 and 24 months of age. The key is before 24 months.

Most babies stop sucking on their pacifier by the time they are 1 year old. Others by the time they are 4 years old.

Increased frequency, longer duration, and greater intensity of the sucking action on the pacifier affects the way a child’s teeth come together and the growth of the jaws. The top front teeth may be pushed outward or turned sideways. The jaws may become narrow or there can be other misalignments. The sooner a child can stop a sucking habit the better.

So What to Do?

  • Some parents choose to go cold turkey,
  • Other parents prefer to wean their child off their pacifier slowly at their pace,
  • There are those who snip off the top of the pacifier nipple which takes away the seal and interest in the broken pacifier,
  • Still others prefer to swap the pacifier with a new toy or prize which distracts attention away from the pacifier,
  • While other parents prefer to offer positive reinforcement, re-assurances, and praise when their child comforts themselves at bed time without the pacifier,
  • There’s those who make the pacifier a beautiful present for a relative’s or neighbor’s new baby who really needs a pacifier,
  • Then there’s the parents who throw a Bye-Bye Pacifier party,
  • And those parents who wrap the pacifier in tissue paper and put it on the kitchen counter for the Pacifier Fairy.

Timing is Important

Once you’ve made the decision that it’s time to stop the pacifier make sure that there are no new life changes or transitions going on for your family, and everyone is onboard with this decision. Everyone has to stay with the plan.

If you’re potty training, having another baby, moving, planning a trip, it’s holiday time, or an equally important life event — not a good time to start taking the pacifier away.

Just in Case?

Which ever plan you choose make sure you find all the pacifiers that are around the house, in the car, at Grandma’s house, at the baby sitter’s, or where ever you may have left 1 (or more) “just in case,” and don’t buy any new ones “just in case.” The last thing you want to do is for there to be confusion and have to start this all over again.

More tips? We have lots. We’re here just for kids?

4 Myths About Children’s Teeth

~ kidstoothhotline

In The Know For You To Know

MYTH #1 Baby Teeth Are Not Important

Baby teeth are very important and for 4 reasons. First, they are needed for the growth of your Baby’s jaws, muscles and their face. Second, their teeth are also necessary for your Child to be able to chew their food, eat well and grow healthy and strong. Third, their teeth help them to speak — their tongue and cheeks engage the surfaces of their teeth to help them form the sounds they need to talk. Fourth, their Baby teeth provide the space for their permanent teeth to develop and to guide them into position.

Myth #2 Putting Baby To Bed With A Bottle is NOT A Problem

Putting your Baby to sleep for a nap or at night with a bottle or after breast feeding can cause a serious type of cavities. This is because the sugar in the formula, milk, fruit juice, and other sweetened liquids sit on their teeth and eats away at the enamel. The time for cavities to show up can be as soon as 1 year after their teeth come into their mouth. You’ll most probably see the cavities on their top front teeth first.

What to do? Clean your Baby’s whole mouth and teeth with a wet washcloth after each feeding everyday, from their first to their last feeding of the day. It’s best for you to sit down on the bed or on the sofa where you have room and can comfortably and safely hold your Baby and you can look into their mouth easily.

If they will not go to sleep without a bottle, put water in the bottle. Water not working? Then dilute the sugary liquid with 50% water and keep increasing the amount of water until there is 100% water in the bottle by the end of 1 week.

MYTH #3 Cavities Aren’t A Big Deal For Children

Cavities in children are more prevalent than Asthma. And by a lot, children are 8x’s more likely to have cavities than Asthma.

That’s a lot of children — 20% of preschoolers, 50% of 2nd graders, 75% of 15 year olds.

MYTH #4 Letting Your Child Brush Without Your Help

It takes time for children to develop their motor skills. How old do you think they’ll be when they can wash and dry their own hair from start to finish on their own?

When they can do their hair themselves that’s about the time they can floss and brush on their own also. So you will be doing this for them. Not only that, once they do start flossing and brushing by themselves in front of the bathroom mirror, they’ll do a much better job with you in the bathroom with them.

Brushing is 2 Minutes 2 Times A Day and Flossing is at night before brushing. So it’s brushing in the morning for 2 Minutes after breakfast before leaving for school looking in the mirror, and at night looking in the bathroom mirror to floss first then brush for 2 Minutes, then nothing to eat or drink and straight to bed.

Don’t fall into these common confusions about your Child’s oral health. Now you can take charge and have the power to stop these urban legends before they begin.

What is your power?

More tips? We have lots. We’re here just for kids!

Happy Mother’s Day

~ kidstoothhotline

For All Moms who are forever in the hearts of those who love you and for those you love, wishing you a Happy Mother’s Day!

In the Know for You to Know

More Tips? We have lots. We’re here just for kids!

1st Baby Teeth – What 2 Know

~ kidstoothhotline

In the Know for You to Know

Mom, did you know that 3 months into your pregnancy your Baby’s teeth are already beginning to form?

And, that when you are giving birth all 20 of their Baby teeth are formed and their permanent teeth are beginning to grow?

NEWBORN’S TEETH

Immediately after your Baby is born as parents you can do something in anticipation of their teeth coming in.

What to do? Wipe off your Baby’s gum pads, tongue and all around their cheeks after each feeding. Use a soft wash cloth or a finger contoured cloth or finger toothbrush.

Some babies are born with a tooth or two already visible in their mouth, or may appear within the first month after they are born. There is NO need to be worried. This is normal.

Early baby teeth are called Natal or Neonatal Teeth depending on when they are seen.

Which are which? Natal teeth are present at birth, and Neonatal teeth come in within the first month.

Where will you find these teeth? Natal and Neonatal teeth are found peaking through the bottom front gum pads.

If everything is fine, your Baby is healthy, the teeth are not interfering with feedings or nursing and they do not cause discomfort to their tongue, their teeth should be left in place. I’m saying that if everything is good to keep the teeth because these are their real baby teeth, they just came early.

Sometimes you or your Pediatrician notice small white spots on the roof of your Baby’s mouth. These spots are called Epstein’s Pearls. They are normal, no cause for concern and usually go away on their own within 10-14 days.

When your Baby begins teething you may (or may not) notice bumps on their gum pads that appear bluish. Their teeth are within theses sacs called Eruption Cysts. This is normal, no cause for concern and as their teeth come into their mouth these sacs will pop and dissolve on their own.

TEETHING

Teething usually begins at 6 months of age, and can start as early as 3 or 4 months. This goes on intermittently until your Baby is about 24 to 30 months old.

What to look out for? Drooling and swollen tender gums are common. Sleeping through the night may be interrupted. Some children may run a slight temperature, others may become finicky eaters, or develop isolated episodes of diarrhea.

What to do? Wet a wash cloth with cool water and place it in your refrigerator to make it cold. Then you can hold it and place it on the spot where the tooth is coming in. Frozen cloths are not a good idea because they will freeze to your Baby’s gums. Teething rings, teething beads, teething bracelets, teething necklaces are never good because they contain harmful gels and liquids which leak out and get into the mouth.

During this time it is important to ensure that your child’s usual feedings are maintained.

FIRST TEETH

Where will you see the teeth? As teeth come into their mouth they usually begin in the bottom front followed by the upper front. The lower and upper side come next. Lower and upper back complete the full set of 20 Baby teeth, 10 lower teeth and 10 upper teeth.

With more and more teeth coming into your Baby’s mouth it’s very important to wipe their teeth, lips, tongue, cheeks, and roof of their mouth with a wet wash cloth. Move their lips away from their teeth so you can see the entire teeth to wipe them clean.

TOP TIP

Mom and Dad brushing Baby’s teeth

Start cleaning your child’s teeth when they are a Baby, they will get used to this and it will make your life easier when they are older.

The earlier you start the easier this will be for both of you.

More tips? We have lots. We’re here just for kids!

Autism Speaks – It’s Time to Listen

~ kidstoothhotline

In the Know for You to Know

Empowerment, Acceptance, Support

As parents we are always looking out for our children – empowering and supporting them to achieve their highest quality of life. All parents no matter what their child’s needs or how challenging the situations, we work to promote acceptance, inclusion, and celebrate their differences. This is especially true for parents who have been told their child (or children) has Autism or is on the Autism Spectrum.

Differences bring us Together

Each child responds in their own way to the myriad of experiences they encounter every day, whether at home or outside. The same is true for their oral hygiene routine. Compassion, understanding, and repetition is the solution to gently acclimating your child into their daily routine. For parents this requires a routine and patience.

Routine – Where do I start?

A calm place is a great way to start. Creating a picture guide book, social stories, or an activity schedule is quite helpful and goes a long way to establishing your routine.

Maybe you want to start with a picture guide book. You can begin by yourself or include your child while you coolly talk about brushing teeth, or you can sing some fun tooth brushing songs. Check out Pinterest, Spotify, or YouTube. The American Dental Association has a really amusing and low key series called Dudley goes to the Dentist, which is on YouTube.

If putting together an activity schedule is where you want to start, print out fun monthly calendar pages and include 2 boxes to check off for brushing and 1 box for flossing (recommended but totally your decision when to include) for each day of the month. Mouthhealthy.org (by the American Dental Association) has great activity sheets like the 2022 Brushing Calendar to help get you started. Go to MouthHealthy.org then click on the Resources button and Activity Sheets from the drop down menu.

Putting together stories first? You may want to start with why we have teeth. Then answer that teeth help us eat, talk and give us our smiles.

Sometimes it can take one sitting to complete or it can take several. What’s important is to keep going because when you’re done your creation is going to be AMAZING!

This is Stressful

Yes it is! Especially when your child has sensory issues to sounds, tastes, textures, flavors; or your child is anxious. Even when it is stressful the key is to have a positive attitude, make your child feel comfortable, regroup, and start again. Please don’t give up.

Practice makes Perfect

There are a lot of movements we make with our mouths when we brush, so it’s always good to practice.

It’s great to start with opening wide, and staying open wide. Maybe you make it a game and count to see how long you can both stay open wide.

Second, let’s count teeth. How many teeth are in there? Yes we need to count all the way to the back so be sure to (you guessed it) stay open wide.

Third, let’s brush. We put a dab of toothpaste on the brush, remember to open wide, and let’s brush those teeth slowly and gently. Maybe we can count teeth or sing a brushing song.

Fourth, time to spit out the toothpaste and rinse with water. Spitting not happening? No problem, drooling out the toothpaste in the sink (or washcloth) and wiping with a wet washcloth is a good alternative, or skip the drooling and use the soft wet washcloth.

Sometimes children need more assistance and more practice with brushing their teeth. If brushing is challenging it may be the sensation is uncomfortable. If that’s the case then try showing the brushing on your finger first, then on their finger, then on the back of their hand, then on their lips, then just inside their mouth or pick the 2 front teeth (top or bottom is their choice) and start with brushing those teeth.

Sometimes it’s needing an adaptive toothbrush or flosser. Alternatively it may be that you will need to brush their teeth and there are products that can help you out. There are companies who manufacture and sell specialized dental products to use at home.

Make Oral Health Care a Priority just like Medical Care

As parents you may be dealing with multiple pressing significant health issues for your child and you need to prioritize their (and your) needs. They may be taking medicines that are sugar flavored so that you can get them to take it. Going to bed with a bottle of a nutrition drink may be part of your nightly routine because your child needs to gain weight.

Please don’t let their oral health take a back seat. It can be as easy as wiping their mouths, tongue and cheeks with a wet washcloth while you are holding them. Or alternating their bottle with water so they don’t fall asleep with the sugary liquid on their teeth even though you’re still wiping their teeth with a washcloth. You can always slip in some water for them to drink during the day or begin by diluting their juice with 50% water, then 75% water, then 100% water.

Most Important

Lots of praise and smiles for them and you!

More tips? We have lots. We’re here just for kids!

Happy Jelly Bean Day

~ kidstoothhotline

In the Know for You to Know

Did you know that there is a day dedicated to these glorious treats? Yes there is. Today, April 22nd is National Jelly Bean Day.

Love the sweet flavorful taste of Jelly Beans?

Here are some Fun Trivia Facts about Jelly Beans

  • Yes, I’m a Dentist and Yes I like Jelly Beans!
  • Jelly Beans have been around for more than 100 years
  • It takes 7 to 21 days to make one single jelly bean
  • Jelly Beans come in massive amounts of flavors
  • Most Jelly Bean assortments contain 8 flavors
  • The number of Jelly Beans eaten in 1 year can circle the Earth 5X’s
  • Jelly Beans are popular everywhere, and every place has their own favorite
  • Jelly Beans are associated with Easter because of their egg shape

You can have your Jelly Beans and Eat them too

How are you going to spend National Jelly Bean Day? Share with us your fun fact about Jelly Beans and tell us what is your favorite Jelly Bean flavor.

A quick tip for when you’re done enjoying your Jelly Beans is to floss and brush the sugar away.

More tips? We have lots. We’re here just for kids!