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.

Protecting Your Child’s Mouth While Playing Sports

~ kidstoothhotline

In the Know for You to Know

Did you know that you can protect your child’s mouth from sports injuries?

As parents we are all about protecting our children, especially when all it takes is 1 simple addition to their equipment.

Helmet–Check, Shin Guards–Check, Mouth Guard–Check

Mouth guards aren’t only for high contact sports like hockey and football. Mouth and tooth injuries can also happen during basketball, when they’re in the heat of the game, focusing on the ball and before you know it there is an elbow to the mouth.

Of course it’s an accident. Everyone wants to have fun. It’s those accidents that have an impact on the teeth, gums, and jaws.

Mouth guards can also help prevent or minimize concussions and head injuries by helping to cushion the chain reaction that can occur when an injury to the mouth travels upward.

Fit is KEY

Like all equipment the better the fit the more likely the children are to wear it, no matter their age. Off the shelf mouth guards are most often what parents reach for. They are boiled and molded at home. Soft guards are a better option than those hard, rigid plastic ones.

A properly fitted mouth guard will be comfortable, will not interfere with talking or breathing, and won’t make your child feel nauseous.

The BEST is only having to wear 1 mouth guard

All you need is 1. Usually it’s the guard for the top teeth that feels better, is easier to mold to their mouth, and that your child will wear.

Think of this as protective sports equipment

A mouth guard is a simple piece of protective sports equipment that can make a crucial difference. Nobody wants to miss half of their game to spend their Sunday afternoon in the Emergency Room. This simple piece of protective equipment makes this less likely to develop.

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

Can I Really Prevent My Baby From Getting Cavities?

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In the Know for You to Know

The simple answer is Yes. Yes, you can because tooth decay (aka cavities) is preventable.

TOP TIPS TO PREVENT CAVITIES

  • Cavities can begin just as a tooth is coming into their mouth

This is why even before your Baby gets their teeth it is important for you to clean their whole mouth, including their gums, cheeks, and tongue with a soft wash cloth after every feeding and before you put them to sleep.

Your Baby has to eat to grow. Any type of milk, formula, or juice contains sugar which may not do any apparent harm initially but once teeth begin coming in things change quickly. The sugar in these liquids adheres to each tooth’s surface and hurts the young developing teeth. Using a wash cloth or finger brush to clean these growing teeth after each feeding goes a long way and remember to lift their upper and lower lips so you can see their whole tooth.

The same goes for jam, honey, or anything sweet put on the pacifier. Once the binky is in their mouth their teeth take a sugar bath. Your baby is sweet enough. So nix the sweet stuff and keep those teeth sugar free.

  • It’s best not to put Babies to bed with a bottle

Sometimes there’s no other way for them to go to sleep. So if you must put only water in the bottle and watch them so that you can take the bottle out of their crib as soon as they fall asleep .

  • Cavities can be spread through saliva

The bacteria that causes cavities is in everyone’s mouth. It’s how they are kept in check that make the difference.

So there are 3 things you can do

1st resist the feeling to lick clean your child’s pacifier, spoon or anything that goes into their mouths, what’s in your mouth will soon be in theirs

2nd don’t share plates or utensils because sharing saliva can also share cavities

3rd while you’re making sure to clean and brush your child’s teeth don’t forget your own

  • Some times Children need to take medicine

It’s the flavorings that make children like them that are simply sugar. So what’s a parent to do? Keep a wet washcloth with toothpaste close by to wipe their mouths and teeth after the medicine is swallowed.

  • How much toothpaste?

For children under 3 years old, a smear (meaning a dab) of fluoridated toothpaste on a baby toothbrush or finger brush or wash cloth is the right amount. Keep a wet wash cloth close by to wipe off the teeth.

For children from 3 to 6 years old a rice grain size (which is quite small) of fluoridated toothpaste is all you need on a small soft toothbrush, finger brush or wash cloth and with a parent, grandparent, or caregiver’s help.

The #1 way to prevent cavities is to brush your child’s teeth each and every day.

Taking care of your child’s teeth with these tips allows you to begin good oral health at an early age.

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

How Will You Handle A Dental Trauma?

Playing Baseball After My Dad Gave Me My Mouthguard To Wear
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In the Know for You to Know

The weather is starting to get nicer and your children want to be outside. They want to go to the park, the pool, run, play sports, skateboard… Fun is in the air.

Then you hear your child screaming or they come running to you pointing to their mouth. What do you do now?

This is why it’s important for you to have some basic knowledge about different types of dental trauma and what to do when your child injures their teeth.

Assess what has happened

It’s always important to know what has happened and the extent of your child’s injuries. If there is a serious injury, uncontrollable bleeding or loss of consciousness you need to call 911 and go to the emergency room.

Sometimes it doesn’t look so bad and you’re just not sure. Remember before you leave the place the injury happened, your Pediatric Dentist and your Pediatrician are a phone call away. If you’re not comfortable or you’re worried about a Concussion or Jaw Injury you can still go to the Emergency Room.

Remember – the teeth, lips, tongue and cheeks are connected to the jaw bones, the jaw bones are connected to the face bones, the face bones are connected to the eye bones, the eye bones are connected to the head bones, the head bones are connected to the body bones.

For some injuries you need to go to the Emergency Room

When it comes to certain injuries it does not make a difference if a Baby Tooth or an Adult Tooth is involved, and these are some of those times —

Baby Teeth For baby teeth the concern is the adult tooth that is growing underneath.

If the Baby tooth is:

  • Knocked out of the mouth and in your hand – Leave the Tooth Out
  • Not visible and not found
  • Pushed into the gums or moved forward, backward, sideways, looks shorter or longer
  • Fractured and you can’t find the broken piece

Adult Teeth For Adult Teeth the concern is being able to keep the nerve alive to save the tooth.

If the Adult tooth is:

  • Knocked out of the mouth – Time is Important! Find the tooth, once you do hold it by the root. If the tooth is dirty gently rinse it with cool water. If the tooth looks sound replace it into the socket in the same position as the teeth next to it, and hold in place with a couple of tissues folded or a clean cloth to bite on. If you can’t replace the tooth then put it in a cup of COLD Milk with enough to cover the tooth. No milk, have your child drool their Saliva into the cup and put the tooth in the cup with enough to cover it. Do NOT put the tooth in Water. The longer the tooth is out of the mouth the more it will take to save it.
  • Pushed into the gums, or moved forward, backward, sideways, loose, locked in place, looks longer or shorter
  • Don’t see the tooth or can’t find it
  • Broken off and you can’t find the broken piece

For some things you can go to the Dental Office – Do this Quickly

It’s important to go to the office or call as soon as teeth things happen. Taking quick action can help save a tooth, prevent infections, and help reduce the amount of extensive procedures.

For Baby Teeth and Adult Teeth

  • Chipped Tooth
  • The Nerve is showing when you see a thin red line or red dot where the tooth is broken

This is scary stuff, What do I do next?

Think of this as your Dental Trauma Cheat Sheet.

Take a picture of this post with your phone, put a copy on your refrigerator, keep this where you will find it fast because you never know when you will need to know what to do.

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

Nature’s Cavity Ninja

Family Brushing Time After Trick or Treating
~ kidstoothhotline

In the Know for You to Know

Fluoride works to help prevent cavities Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral found in water. It’s also in toothpaste, mouth rinses, gels, varnish and supplements. In the right amount and on a regular schedule it helps prevent cavities by strengthening the outer surface of teeth. This outer surface is tooth enamel. Tooth enamel is weakened by those not so healthy foods and sweet drinks. To be effective, fluoride works its best when combined with a good diet and good brushing and flossing habits.

Fluoride is safe and effective. Did you know that water fluoridation has decreased the cavity rate by 25%? All it takes is a small amount for the maximum benefit. Proper tooth paste amounts need to be supervised by Mom and Dad, and other forms of fluoride like rinses and supplements must also be carefully monitored. Remember not to leave anything within reach of those inquisitive hands since the flavors that encourage children to brush are also tempting to eat.

For infants and toddlers starting to get their teeth and aren’t able to spit out, you can put a tiny dab of fluoride toothpaste on a washcloth or soft baby sized toothbrush. Once your child is old enough to fully spit out in the bathroom sink, a rice grain size dab of toothpaste with fluoride on their toothbrush is the right amount. School age children, tweens, and adolescents only need a pea sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste on their brush. It’s always important to closely supervise your child’s brushing so they don’t swallow the good tasting toothpaste.

Well Water Mystery Some wells have too little fluoride while others have too much. Bottled, filtered, spring and well waters all vary in their fluoride amount. So what do you do? It’s important to have the water from your well tested for fluoride every year. If you’re not sure if you have well water or town/city water, check with the local water utilities company. If you know your town/city supplies your drinking water you can also check the fluoride level by calling them.

Children between the ages of 6 months and 16 years may or may not need supplements, depending on how much fluoride is in your water, So ask for your water report.

Unlike most other medicines, fluoride dosage corresponds to a child’s age, not their weight. It also depends on the amount of fluoride present in your drinking water. This is why it is so important to have your water tested; so that your child is prescribed the appropriate dose.

Topical Fluoride Topical fluorides come in a number of different forms. There are rinses, gels, foams and varnishes. The flavors and colors are endless, as are how they are used. Some are over the counter and some are by prescription. Those over the counter products are not recommended for children under the age of 6.

Also remember to check the labels for fluoride amounts in your Baby’s powdered and pre-made formulas, as well as in their cereals.

Tell us your Ninja story – We’d love to hear

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

Celebrating National Dentist’s Day

~ kidstoothhotline

In the Know for You to Know

What is National Dentist’s Day? Is there such a holiday?

Yes there is. National Dentist’s Day is celebrated on March 6th every year. It was established to show appreciation to Dentists for all they do in giving good care and keeping your family healthy.

Here are a few ways for you to celebrate –

Brush your and your child’s teeth for 2 minutes 2 times a day and remember to floss. Then take a family selfie showing off your pearly whites.

Celebrate with your children by making and enjoying a healthy tooth friendly meal together. Let us know about your meal.

Spend time together doing arts and crafts and learning about teeth and sugar bugs. Tell us what you learned.

Compose some cool tooth brushing songs with your children. Let us know about your creations.

Make your grocery store list. When choosing snacks be sure to read the labels and choose healthy low sugar snacks. Let us know which are your favorites.

What do we love most about Pediatric Dentists?

They help us put our best SMILE forward. Smiles are the first thing that gets noticed and healthy sparkling teeth allow us to feel our best.

Now go ahead, you know you want to SMILE!

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

Dental Care during your Pregnancy

~ kidstoothhotline

In the Know for You to Know

Your pregnancy is a special time in your life. It’s important for you to know that The American Dental Association and The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists have your back. They both affirm and encourage you to have regular oral health care, especially during your pregnancy.

A lot of expectant Moms are hearing differing opinions and have written in asking how to approach this. Today I am answering your most asked questions –

I was told that while I’m pregnant, my cavity should be filled only if it hurts, is this true? It is always important for you to have regular Dental check-ups and to address whatever comes up as soon as possible. Dentists are very knowledgeable about taking care of you, including during your pregnancy. Talking with your Obstetrician may be a way for you to feel more comfortable about this. Waiting until something hurts creates stress and the potential for more complex problems, this is not something you want during your pregnancy. It’s all about keeping you healthy.

I heard that my cavity can’t hurt my baby’s teeth, then I heard cavities can. Which is it? Your cavities can definitely hurt your baby’s teeth. The same goes for anyone who helps you take care of your baby. Cavities and gingivitis are caused by bacteria. These bacteria are transferred from your mouth to your infant’s mouth during some common parenting behaviors like sharing spoons and licking pacifiers. The bacteria attach to their teeth as they come into their mouths. More teeth –> More Bacteria –> Cavities.

My Dentist told me that even though I am pregnant fluoride toothpaste is safe and in the right amount helps prevent cavities. Your Dentist is right. Drinking community fluoridated water and brushing twice a day with a fluoridated ADA Seal of Acceptance toothpaste are effective methods in helping to reduce cavities. And remember to floss each night before you brush.

My neighbor had a toothache when she was pregnant and didn’t go to the Dentist, and one day her face was swollen. Is it safe to go the Dentist during my pregnancy? Going to Dental appointments is safe, and especially important during your pregnancy. Ask your Obstetrician and they will give you their blessing. Not only are you improving life long health habits but you’re taking care of potential issues and pregnancy changes in your mouth. Plus by taking care of your own mouth and teeth you’re also learning how to prevent cavities for your baby.

Growing up my parents didn’t take us to the Dentist because they said our baby teeth will fall out. Now that I’m a Mom and have another baby on the way I don’t want mine to go through what I did. I learned from you that cavities are not okay-Thank you!

With our first baby I though juice was a healthy drink. Then the cavities started and kept getting worse. I learned that juice is pure sugar. With our younger two all we put in their bottles and sippy cups is water. This was a hard lesson to learn, but so glad I did.

Remember to have regular dental care, practice good oral hygiene, eat healthy foods, and speak with your Obstetrician about attending your prenatal classes.

Thank you to everyone!

Don’t be shy, SEND IN your questions, tell us your story, or let us know what you’d like more information on. We love to hear from you!

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

What are Dental Sealants?

~ kidstoothhotline

In the Know for You to Know

Today I am answering your questions about Sealants. So many of you have been writing in asking about Sealants so for you in honor of National Children’s Dental Health Month I am dedicating this post to your questions.

What are Sealants? Sealants protect the groovy chewing surfaces of back teeth where most cavities in children are found. Made of clear or tooth colored plastic-like material, they are applied to the teeth to help keep them cavity free.

Are Sealants safe? Yes the are. The flowable material is safe and the light used to harden the sealant is a special wavelength that is completely safe. The light isn’t a laser or an x-ray.

How do sealants work? Even with flossing and brushing carefully, it can be difficult to keep the tiny grooves and pits on the molars clean. Food and bacteria build up in these crevices increasing the risk of cavities. Sealants “seal out” food and plaque, reducing the risk of cavities.

How do you apply sealants? The application of a sealant is quick and comfortable. It takes only one visit. First the tooth is cleaned, a conditioner is applied and then dried. The sealant is flowed onto the grooves of the tooth and hardened with a special light. Your child will be able to eat right after their appointment.

How long do sealants last? Sealants can last several years when cared for, and protect your child’s teeth through out the most cavity prone years. With good oral hygiene and avoiding biting on hard objects, sealants will last longer. Sealants are checked during routine dental visits.

Which teeth should be sealed? The natural flow of saliva usually keeps the smooth surfaces of teeth clean but does not wash out the tiny grooves and pits. So the teeth most at risk for cavities are those recommended for sealants and they are the permanent molars, the 6 year old and 12 year old molars. Many times the permanent premolars and baby molars will also benefit from sealant coverage. Any tooth surface with “nooks and crannies” can benefit from the protection of sealants. Sealants offer no benefit to smooth flat surfaces, so sealants are not applied to those areas.

If my child has sealants, is flossing, brushing and fluoride still important? They are definitely important! Sealants are one step in the plan to help keep your child cavity free.

Are sealants recommended for all children? No, just like your child is an individual so are their teeth. A lot goes into a conversation about whether to seal or not to seal teeth. It’s all based on the specific needs for your child.

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

Answers to Your Questions about Alternatives to Tooth Whitening and Whitening Toothpastes

~ kidstoothhotline

In the Know for You to Know

Today I am answering questions in follow-up to my last post on Tooth Whitening. With so many great questions I have selected those which represent what you want to know.

Karly from Missouri wrote in asking – I went for it and let my 18 year old twins have their teeth whitened for the holidays and now they want to go back again. I’ve seen whitening toothpastes, are they effective? Whitening toothpastes only remove superficial staining on the top surface of teeth. These toothpastes are toothpaste and do not whiten teeth like the bleaching service your children had at the Dentist. The toothpastes have an abrasive in them that polishes teeth so over time they lighten but do not change the color of teeth.

It’s best to use these pastes for a once a day use and your regular toothpaste for the other brushing. Remember to always use toothpaste with the American Dental Association (ADA) Seal of Acceptance.

Chloe from Minnesota wrote in asking – Our Dentist keeps talking about different types of stains when I ask him why my daughter’s teeth are yellow. She’s a teenager, so what is he talking about? Adult teeth are not that beautiful pearly white that baby teeth are, no matter how old your daughter is. There are 2 types of stains. The stains on the top surface are called extrinsic stains, while staining inside the tooth are called intrinsic stains. The causes and how the stains are taken care of are totally different.

Think about and look at pictures of her teeth from when they first came in until now. Have they always looked this way? Did something happen that changed the way they look? How are we doing with our flossing and brushing routine? Is this something you’re just noticing now?

Ethan from Virginia wrote in asking – I had my teeth bleached and now my 12 year old wants his done also. Is he at a good age to have this done? While some children at 12 years old may have all their adult teeth in their mouth the roots of these teeth are not fully formed and that is very important because of the effect on root development. For the children who have a combination of adult and baby teeth, they are in their mixed dentition. Which means that a lot of new adult teeth which are not in their mouths yet are forming, especially the roots.

While there needs to be more research on whitening for children, tweens, and adolescents, it’s always good to keep up with flossing and brushing and re-evaluate in another year to two.

Andrew from Illinois wrote in asking – We were told that bonding is the best way to go for changing the color of my daughter’s teeth. I thought this was used for cavities, but she doesn’t have cavities. Help! Bonding might be an option for children with discolored teeth. The procedure itself is called bonding, and it is a multi-step process which uses a color matched composite resin to cover the tooth with a thin coating of plastic-like material. After the coating is applied it is sculpted, shaped and polished to provide a pleasing result.

There are some limitations. Bonded teeth are not as strong as natural teeth. Nail biting, biting into food, any kind of accident to the mouth can damage bonded teeth. The composite itself can become discolored and worn over time, and a bonded tooth can not be whitened.

Emilia from Pennsylvania wrote in asking – What are your thoughts about Baking Soda and Charcoal for tooth whitening? Enamel is the thin outer layer covering teeth. For Baby teeth enamel is 1/2 to 1 millimeter thick, and Adult teeth have a thickness of 1 to 2 millimeters. This is very thin, and enamel does not reform.

Baking soda and charcoal are abrasive. They wear away enamel and can make teeth look more yellow than white. More yellow? Yes, because when enamel is worn away the layers underneath are exposed and those layers have yellow color tones.

Mateo from Connecticut wrote in asking – Are there side effects to using tooth whiteners? There needs to be a lot more studies on whitening and its effects on children, tweens and adolescent’s teeth and gums. For the oldest adolescents who do undertake a whitening regimen-BE CAREFUL.

Watch out for tooth sensitivity, gum irritation and even harm to the nerves in the teeth. These effects can be localized or full mouth and due to inflammation and harming tooth structure. How long they last is individual. As always be careful!

Thank you to everyone who reached out with your questions!

Don’t be shy, SEND IN your questions or tell us what you’d like more information on, we’d love to hear from you!

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


Happy Valentine’s Day

~ kidstoothhotline

In the Know for You to Know

Checking in to see how you are celebrating today, Let me know what you love about today

Enjoy and don’t forget to floss and brush!

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