Can you believe it’s 2026? Here’s to a great year!
Like the saying goes, new year, new dreams, new hopes. This year you’re hoping for only good visits at the pediatric dentist’s office. Finger’s crossed no cavities. Or at least no new ones.
But when cavities are caught early, are they really cavities?
How can you tell if your child has early signs of tooth decay? What do you look for to tell if your child has a potential cavity?
Today we’re talking the tell tale signs of early tooth decay for you to spot.
Early Signs Of Tooth Decay
Recognizing the early signs of decay can help you take action.
What to look for:
White spots on the teeth – this is also called demineralization, and indicates the earliest sign of enamel damage
Brown or black spots near the gum line – indicates cavities are forming or have already formed
Bad breath
Sensitivity to sweets
Sensitivity to hot and/or cold foods and beverages
Pain or discomfort while chewing – can lead to a decreased appetite
Puffy, swollen or red gums
Why Early Decay Isn’t Only About Baby Teeth
Have you heard the myth about baby teeth? The one that goes, “They’re just baby teeth. They’ll fall out anyway.”
Well, this is what happens when early decay is undervalued and overlooked:
Pain and infections lead to missed school and poor nutrition
Premature tooth loss affects speech and adult tooth position
Self-confidence takes a hit and embarrassment takes over due to visible cavities and/or bad breath
Future dental visits may become a source of fear
We’re Reading Our Social Story So I Can Check My Daughter’s TeethI Look At Mommy’s Teeth, Then Mommy Looks At My Teeth
Parent’s Role In Early Detection Of Tooth Decay
Become the tooth detective of your home.
Be on the look out for:
Complaining about teeth hurting when eating or drinking cold foods, beverages, and ice cream
Avoiding chewing on one side or eating less
White or brown spots that don’t go away no matter how much you brush
Bad breath
Gums that bleed when brushed
When your child tells you they have a bad taste in their mouth
Let Me Tell You About My TeethMy Teeth, My Teeth
What To Remember
Tooth decay often starts silently.
As a parent, you’re always looking for anything unexpected when it comes to your child’s health, and that includes their teeth.
So if you’ve spotted something on your child’s pearly whites, you’ll be wondering what’s going on. Whether your child has baby teeth or newly erupted adult teeth, knowing what to look for can give you peace of mind.
When is the last time you looked in your child’s mouth? And looked at their teeth? How did they look? How did their breath smell? Tell Us, We’d really like to know! Send us an email at kidstoothhotline@proton.me Like Us on Facebook
More tips? We have lots. We’re here just for kids!
The holiday spirit is in the air! Spending time enjoying family, friends and food is here. Chocolates, candies, cookies, cakes and donuts are everywhere.
Mostly everything our children eat this time of year is tied to tradition, especially the sweets. As parents we want to create new memories and enjoy family traditions.
This is also a great time to start new family traditions to help your child maintain healthy tooth habits even during your hectic holiday schedule.
How do you do this?
I’ve put together some tips for keeping teeth healthy while enjoying the holidays.
Strive For Moderation
We’ve all heard this from our parents. You can enjoy everything but everything in moderation.
And you know this is true, especially for sugary and starchy foods. But why?
Holiday time with big family meals and lots of special foods and tons of deserts increase the number of times children are eating sweets.
The natural bacteria in their mouth also love all those sugary and starchy foods. When the sugars and starches stay on the teeth, the bacteria release acids that eat away at tooth enamel. Eating away at the enamel is a cause of cavities.
What to do? When your entertaining and festive meals are planned, make sure your child’s other meals and snacks are full of foods that help strengthen teeth, like fresh vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy and lean protein.
If you’ve been invited out for the holidays, stock your own refrigerator and kitchen cabinets with healthy food. This way you know that when you’re at home, your child is enjoying foods with less sugar and important nutrients.
Re-think The Classics
Family time together with home made cookies and hot chocolate is the best. With minor alterations in the recipe these special treats can be even better.
Instead of using all purpose flour, perhaps you can find a recipe that replaces some of the regular flour with whole wheat flour. Maybe you experiment to see how much frosting, icing, sprinkles, jimmies and sugar decorations you can remove from your baked goods and your children and guests will still absolutely love them.
There’s something so special about drinking hot chocolate with marshmallows when it’s cold outside. Maybe instead of mixing up those pre-packaged mixes (which are loaded with sugar), you make it from scratch. This way you can keep the hot chocolate on the yummy side but not the sugary sweet side. Or maybe you’ll add a dash of cinnamon. Remember, that peppermint stick candy is just for decoration.
My Not So Small Mug Of Hot ChocolateCelebrating Kwanzaa with Our FamilyHow Much Powdered Sugar Do You Like On Your Jelly Donut?I’m Decorating My Christmas Cookie By Myself
Make Brushing And Flossing A Priority
Set aside a dedicated time each morning after breakfast and each night before bed devoted especially for you and your child as “our together time.” This way you’ll be reinforcing good toothbrushing and flossing habits.
Making oral hygiene even more of a priority during the holidays can help go a long way to protecting your child’s teeth.
Remember to brush your child’s teeth with a fluoride toothpaste for 2 minutes in the morning and 2 minutes before bed, and floss before their bed time brushing.
If you’re traveling for the holidays, pack all your children’s brushing supplies in your easy to access luggage before you head out on the road.
Checklist:
Toothbrush,
Toothpaste,
Floss.
Try To Avoid Grazing While Enjoying Family Time
Spending time together in the kitchen enjoying all the cooking and baking, or at the table reminiscing after a luxurious meal is amazing and heart warming.
But it’s actually not that great for teeth.
Did you know that the first 30 minutes after eating are the most vulnerable time for teeth? This is when teeth are the most susceptible to those bacterial acids. So eating a cookie here, grabbing a candy there, actually restarts the clock each time.
It’s really better to eat and drink all at once. If your child is having their special treat, juice or soda, it’s best for them to have it with their meal. This is so that it gets neutralized by their saliva.
Give Some Tooth Friendly Holiday Gifts
Include a few tooth friendly gifts into your holiday gift mix as a good way towards keeping your child’s teeth healthy during the holidays and afterwards.
Gift Tips:
Cool character toothbrush,
Cool color toothbrush,
Tempting flavored fluoride toothpaste,
Travel-size dental kit,
Fun brushing timers,
Flavored floss,
Electric toothbrush for an older child.
Encourage Drinking Water
Drinking water helps wash away the residual food that stays around in the mouth as we eat and after we eat. Water also helps to stimulate more saliva to be released into the mouth, which neutralizes the pH of the mouth.
This is a good thing because there isn’t any sugar in water. Which also helps to neutralize the acid caused by bacteria in the mouth.
Drinking water is always a good idea, whether it’s with a meal, after a meal, instead of juice and soda, or after a sugary drink.
An added bonus of water is that it keeps everyone hydrated.
What To Remember
The holidays are hectic enough. Help your child brush like a champ.
Being watchful about the amount of sugary treats they eat during the festivities and downtime at home, and keeping up with their regular dental check-ups goes a long way to happy mouths and bright smiles.
Sugar bugs love to eat sugar and teeth. What do you think is their most favorite time of the year? What is your child’s favorite holiday story? Does your child have a favorite holiday food? Tell Us, We’d really like to know! Send us an email at kidstoothhotline@proton.me Like Us on Facebook
Happy holidays for all, and for all a bright smile!
More tips? We have lots. We’re here just for kids!
Here you are. You have your child’s dental appointment all set. You’ve talked about this. Even read books and watched videos. They’ve practiced how big they’re going to open for the dentist to see all their teeth. This time it’s going to be different. Everything is going great.
Somewhere along the drive to the dental office your child says “I don’t want to go. I’m scared.” They keep repeating this louder and louder. Then they start to cry.
You know their melt down has started. Maybe this time it will get better before you get there. But what if it doesn’t and gets worse?
What do you do? How do you calm and reassure your child there’s nothing to be scared of at the dentist’s office? Will they believe this?
A lot of children are afraid of the dentist. So today we’re discussing children’s dental anxiety and how you can make your child’s pediatric dental appointment a positive experience.
How Common Is Dental Anxiety In Children? What Are The Numbers?
It’s relatively common for children to have dental anxiety. Overall, the prevalence of dental anxiety in ~
Preschoolers is 36.5%,
School age children is 25.8%,
Adolescents is 13.3%
6 Reasons Why A Child Has Dental Anxiety
Fear of Injections and Local Anesthesia – Your child might be afraid of needles, getting a “shot” or a local anesthetic (aka numbing). Pediatric dentists have the equipment and know the techniques for administering injections as painlessly as possible.
Fear of Pain – Children might be afraid that dental treatment will be painful. This fear can come from hearing other children or adults talk about scary moments during their dental procedures. Your child might also be afraid of experiencing pain after a previous bad experience. Pediatric dentists are used to treating children and work with the child to allow them to feel comfortable during treatment.
Fear of Obstructed Breathing – During dental treatment children need to hold their mouth open, and sometimes for a longer time. Dental instruments and the dental team’s hands in the mouth is a lot for a child. Pediatric dentists and their team can distract your child (such as with a favorite movie) to make the procedure less scary.
Fear of Embarrassment – Children might feel self conscious about having dental caries (aka tooth decay) or a dental deformity. For a child who has experienced insults related to the way their teeth look, this fear could become more intense.
Fear of Losing Control – Lying down in a dental chair while the dentist uses instruments inside their mouth can trigger anxiety. Part of this fear stems from the feeling that they will be unable to let you know if something starts to bother or overwhelm them. Pediatric dentists address by having you in the room during treatment, as well as letting your child know they can communicate with a hand signal when something bothers them or becomes overwhelming.
Unexplained Fears – Specifically pinpointing a fear can be difficult with a child. Anxiety can result from sensory challenges or a stressor that the child is unable or unwilling to talk about. Your child might be anxious because they don’t understand what is going to take place, why they need the procedure or how the procedure is going to make things better.
Daddy’s Here and We’re Getting Your Teeth CheckedI Don’t Want To Sit On The ChairI Don’t Want To GoI’m Not Going To Open My Mouth
As A Parent, Ways You Can Alleviate Dental Anxiety And Make Your Child Feel Comfortable
As a parent you can help your child overcome these negative and fearful feelings about dental care with an empathetic attitude and positive reinforcement.
Ways To Alleviate Dental Anxiety
Start dental care early and keep up with regular check-ups
Bring a comfort item from home
Role play at home
Be present
Stay strong
Choose your words carefully and speak honestly
Use positive reinforcement
Avoid delaying dental care
Communicate with your child’s pediatric dental team
What To Remember
Understanding and addressing dental anxiety in children is critical for their long term oral health. Anxiety, often rooted in fear, unfamiliarity, or past experiences can make their dental visits challenging.
We do this by working together. As pediatric dentists our goal is to empower you with knowledge and tools to help your children overcome their dental fears.
Fostering a collaborative approach ensures that children feel they are supported, informed, and involved in their dental health, making dental visits a positive experience. All of which helps to ensure a life time of healthy smiles.
Is your child afraid to go to the dentist? Do you know a child who had meltdown before, during or after their dental appointment? What tips do you have that has worked for you? Tell Us, We’d really like to know! Send us an email to kidstoothhotline@proton.me Like Us on Facebook
I Don’t Want Anyone Looking At My TeethI Don’t Want The Dentist To Make My Tooth Numb
More tips? We have lots. We’re here just for kids!
Your child had their dental appointment for their filling (or tooth extraction) and everything went great. Yea! Everyone is cheering and so happy!
The pediatric dentist talks with you about their after care. You take special note to be especially careful and watch them since the novocaine (aka local anesthetic, numbing) hasn’t worn off yet.
Your child says that their mouth feels funny on that one side. They tell you that they don’t like it. It feels funny and big. They want you to make it “wake up now.” Then they try on their own to pinch and hit their lip and cheek saying “wake up.” You ask them to stop and put their hands in yours. Both of you explain that their mouth will “wake up” in a little while. For now it’s important to let it be and wake up on its own.
Children will be children and this is difficult for them. They want their mouth to feel “normal and regular.”
How many of us have been here? Whether it’s after your child’s or your dental treatment, many of us have experienced this feeling.
As the patient myself, as the mom, and as the pediatric dentist I have been here.
Today we’ll be talking about what happens when despite all of our best efforts your child experiences a lip bite.
What Causes A Lip Bite?
When a child needs a filling (or tooth extraction) local anesthesia is often used to “numb” the area. Depending on the treatment needed and the type of local anesthetic, it can last from 2-4 hours.
This makes it difficult for a child to feel their lips, cheek, and tongue. As a result, they may accidentally bite, chew or suck on these areas without realizing it.
After My Filing I Got To Ride My Bike, I Forgot And I Bit My LipI Bit My Lip
What Does A Lip Bite Look Like?
In the event your child accidentally bites their lip, cheek or tongue, there are a few signs you need to look for ~
Swelling of the lip, cheek, and/or tongue,
A yellowish-white scab develops which resembles an ulcer or an infection,
Bloody crusting around the scab,
Tooth imprints in the area surrounding the scab.
Is the bite limited to the lip itself or does it extend past the border of the lip onto the skin?
How Long Does A Tooth Bite Take To Get Better?
If your child does bite, chew or suck on their lip, cheek or tongue, a yellowish-white scab forms as the wound heals. This may take up to 14 days to go away.
If the bite is larger or includes the skin, it takes longer to heal and may cause scaring.
I Can’t Believe I Bit My LipI’m Not Coming Out Until My Lip Bite Goes Away
What About Eating After A Lip Bite?
Eating is important. Stay with things like ~
Soft easy foods like mashed potatoes, pasta, mac and cheese, oatmeal,
Cool foods like yogurt, ice cream, and popsicles,
Drink from a cup, and don’t use straws which irritates the bite,
Avoid citrus fruits, tomatoes, salty and spicy foods which are also irritating.
How Do You Take Care Of A Lip Bite?
Keeping your child’s mouth and the bite area clean is really important. This is because clean areas heal faster.
It’s important to ~
Clean the area well with a soft wet wash cloth 3 times a day as well as after eating and after tooth brushing,
Brush and floss teeth as normal,
Be gentle around the injured area.
We’re Going To The Dentist To Check Your LipThe Dentist Told Mommy What To Do For Your Lip
A Pediatric Dentist’s Lip Bite Story
A dad brought his 4 year old child to my office for a filling on a bottom back tooth (aka molar). This child did great. They even got an extra prize for being so awesome.
As I was sitting this child up in the chair I could see they felt the one side of their mouth was “feeling funny.”
I reviewed the after care instructions with Dad, and explained to the child (in age appropriate words) about the “funny feeling.”
Everything went well. I checked in on the family that evening and Mom was so happy and pleased. I reviewed instructions for overnight (as I always do).
The next morning Mom brought her child to the office. She was (understandably) livid. When this child woke up their lip and cheek was visibly swollen, there was some blood crusting and had a white-ish yellow covering.
After making sure there wasn’t any infection, this turned out to be a lip bite.
I cleaned the area and instructed mom on how to take care of the bite area. We talked about diet and oral hygiene. I sensed mom’s concern and encouraged mom to speak with her pediatrician.
I also called the pediatrician (which is my usual when there are concerns). The pediatrician encouraged mom to follow my recommendations and would also follow up.
We made appointments and I saw this child everyday in the office to monitor their healing. At the 5 day mark the swelling was resolved and by day 7 the bite was healed. When I saw them on day 10, you wouldn’t have known there was a lip bite.
Mom took a picture on day 10 and compared it with a picture taken prior to the filling. She said that no one could tell any difference.
Are you wondering? Yes, this family still brings their children to my office along with cousins and a few neighbors.
What To Remember
If your child received local anesthesia for their dental treatment their lips, cheek, and tongue will be “numb” for a few hours after their appointment.
Since they can’t feel these areas, sometimes children may accidentally bite them. This causes them to swell.
It’s very important to watch your child closely after their dental appointment. You’ll need to remind them not to suck, bite or chew on their lip, cheek or tongue.
Cold drinks, frozen treats (like popsicles), and cool compresses can help them feel comfortable.
If your child has any swelling or something doesn’t look right to you contact your dentist’s office immediately so they can be evaluated.
Has your child had local anesthetic for a filling or tooth extraction? How did they do afterwards? Did your child bite their lip or cheek or tongue? What did you do? Do you know a child who bit their lip? How did it go? Tell Us, We’d really like to know! Send us an email at kidstoothhotline@proton.me Like Us on Facebook
More tips? We have lots. We’re here just for kids!
As a parent we’ve all been there. Whether we’re out and about or at the grocery store with our children, when they get thirsty they want something sweet. That sugary drink is soda.
It may seem to be okay to occasionally give in and let them have that soda. However, there are things for you to know and consider before saying yes to a soda.
What Is In Soda?
Soda is made from sugar and acids. Over time these 2 things lead to tooth decay (aka cavities).
This is why:
High sugar content – feeds the bad bacteria in the mouth causing them to over grow which leads to cavities.
Acids – the acids in soda make them fizzy, but also breaks down the tooth enamel. This leads to sensitivity and cavities.
You Mean All This Sugar Is In That One Bottle Of Soda?
Acids In Soda
Citric acid and phosphoric acid are 2 acids commonly found in soda, and they directly attack tooth enamel. Which leads to enamel break down and ultimately tooth decay.
How Soda Affects Teeth
Soda affects teeth in 1 significant way that leads to long term troubles.
Tooth Enamel Erosion
Tooth enamel is the hard outer layer of teeth that is there to protect teeth. Soda weakens and breaks down this protective layer causing:
increased risk of generalized tooth damage,
sensitivity to hot, cold and sweet foods and beverages,
increased plaque buildup,
developing generalized cavities.
Tooth Enamel Doesn’t Grow Back
What’s important to know is that tooth enamel doesn’t regenerate or grow back. Once it’s gone, it’s gone.
The issue is that this does not only affect 1 tooth. The sugar and acids melt away the tooth’s enamel by dissolving it until it isn’t there any more.
Remember the science experiment when you put a tooth in a plastic cup and poured soda over it? What you saw on day 1 was very different from what the tooth looked like at the end of the experiment.
What did you see at the end? A gnarly brown tooth with holes in it.
Soda begins to wear down tooth enamel within 20 minutes of that first sip,
Children who routinely drink soda have a higher rate of cavities.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American Heart Association (AHA) agree. Together they put out a joint statement endorsing policies to reduce children’s consumption of sugar.
Cavities and tooth pain are the tip of the iceberg. The effects of drinking soda on a regular basis also set children up for other health problems as they get older.
We Always Have Soda With LunchThis Is Why Mommy And Daddy Don’t Let Me Drink Soda
Regular Or Diet Soda
Regular or diet soda doesn’t matter. They both do the same harm when it comes to teeth.
What To Remember
Knowing the consequences of why soda is bad for your children’s teeth helps you to make informed choices for your entire family.
Realistically your child is going to have a soda at a birthday party or holiday get together. After wards, it’s important to make sure you’re keeping up with their flossing and brushing.
Remember, preventing dental problems is easier than treating them.
Yes, We’re Having A SodaAll This Sugar Is In One Glass Of SodaI’m Drinking All This Soda By Myself
Does your child have a favorite soda? How much sugar do you think there is in soda? Do you think soda is good to drink? How much soda do you think is okay for your child to drink? Do you think soda is bad for your children’s teeth? Tell Us, We’d really like to know! Send us an email at kidstoothhotline@proton.me Like Us on Facebook
More tips? We have lots. We’re here just for kids!
It’s the time of year when children enjoy dressing up in their favorite costume, going out trick-or-treating and trying to see how much candy and treats they can collect from friends and neighbors.
Every where you look there’s chocolates and sugary treats ready to tempt our eager trick or treaters.
So, how do you keep treats reasonable while enjoying your family’s fun Halloween trick-or treating?
I’ve put together our top picks for tooth friendly treats your child will love this Halloween. You can even make them together.
5 Hauntingly Good Halloween Treats
Is this your annual Halloween monster mash or a gathering of your ghosts and goblins? No Halloween bash is complete without some scary snacks.
Chocolate Dipped Orange Pumpkins
Peel mandarin oranges and separate the individual wedges. Dip the orange wedges into melted chocolate, place on a parchment lined sheet pan and chill in the refrigerator until firm. A bite sized black and orange treat that’s right for the season.
Mummy Pizza
Whether you choose pizza dough, english muffins, pita, or a tortilla as your base, cover with your favorite tomato sauce and criss-cross slices of mozzarella cheese (or your child’s favorite cheese). Slice green or black olives to make the eyes. Bake until fully cooked.
Apple Monster Mouth
Between 2 slices of apple spread your favorite nut butter. Place a slice of strawberry, peach, or red plum onto of the nut butter to create the “tongue”. For the teeth place almond slices into the nut butter. Apples are great for stimulating saliva production, which naturally cleanse the teeth, making them an ideal choice for a healthy Halloween snack.
Jack-O-Lantern Peppers with Witch Dip and Vegetable Broomsticks
Remove the stem and seeds from a bell pepper. Make cut outs in the pepper for the eyes, nose and mouth. Fill one pepper with your family favorite dip or dressing. Fill another pepper with pepper slices, carrot sticks, broccoli pieces, cucumber slices, carrot sticks or pretzels. Veggies aren’t only tasty and crunchy. They naturally clean teeth by stimulating saliva production. A great choice for a Halloween snack.
Witches Broomsticks
Witches Broomsticks are fun, yummy and festive. Choose 2 of your family’s favorite cheese sticks. Cut each cheese stick to resemble the bristles of a broom. Place two cheese sticks around a pretzel stick or pretzel rod and tie together with a chive or use a vegetable peeler to create thin carrot ribbons to tie the broom together. Cheese is healthy for teeth and can help prevent cavities.
What To Do With So Many Treats?Having Fun Making My Children’s Halloween SnacksWhich Treat Will I Choose?We Helped Our Mom Pick These Vegetables For Our Witch Dip Ready To Transform Oranges Into PumpkinsMaking Our Halloween Pizza Our Way
5 TOOTH FRIENDLY TIPS FOR A HAPPY HALLOWEEN
When you get home from trick or treating sit down at the table with your child and sort and check treats as you go through their treat bag with them. Help your child pick the healthiest choices. Allow them to eat these choices within a specific period of time in the kitchen rather than continually snacking throughout the day. Remember to keep candy out of their bedroom.
Water is your friend. Drink water to help wash away any gooey chewy candy that’s stuck in their teeth. Water is really good for you and your teeth.
Sticky and hard candies stay in their mouths for a long time. When choosing candy, less sticky and less sour goodies like pretzels, sugar free gum and chocolate are always a good choice. Chocolate without any mix-ins is great because it slides off and there’s nothing to get stuck in their teeth.
Brush the candy away. After trick or treating it’s important to make sure to floss and brush your child’s teeth. It takes 2 minutes of brushing to clean away all the candy and flossing to remove what has gotten in between their teeth. Keeping up with your flossing and brushing routine is important every day and reinforces consistency.
Don’t allow the Halloween candy stash to be a substitute for healthy snacks. Cheese, yogurt, peanut butter, celery, carrot sticks, apple slices are great choices.
Create Great Memories
Halloween is every child’s dream. It’s the season of costumes and candy and candy and more candy. With all the joy trick-or treating brings, we don’t want to crush their excitement.
So be the cool parent and the Halloween Hero because a healthy Halloween doesn’t mean dull and boring. Being creative with snacks and staying committed to your child’s oral hygiene routine allows you both to have fun!
A Small Treat Gives A Big Smile
Does your family like to trick or do you like the treats? Are you doing a family costume theme or does everyone choose their own? What are your children’s all time must have no way it will ever change favorite Halloween treat? Where does your child like to keep their candy stash? Share with us your Halloween treat ideas and experiences! Tell us, We’d really like to know! Email us at kidstoothhotline@proton.me Like Us on Facebook
Happy Halloween!
More tips? We have lots. We’re here just for kids!
Growing up it seemed that at every dental check-up I had another cavity. My parents didn’t know why. Doesn’t everyone have cavities?
During dental school the whole issue around cavities became clear. Then when I became a pediatric dentist it became crystal clear. There wasn’t only one thing that caused cavities. It’s a cycle. A never ending daily cycle.
I want to share with you how you can help protect your child’s teeth.
Protecting Your Child’s Teeth From Cavities
Baby teeth are important for 4 BIG reasons. They help your child learn where to put their tongue and cheeks so they can speak clearly, allow them to chew their food well, help in the growth of their jaws, and guide their adult teeth into position.
Children can get cavities from their bottle or from nursing. Yes, even if they don’t have teeth yet. Don’t put your child to bed with a bottle or nurse them while they are sleeping. The liquid in the bottle or breast milk causes cavities because it stays on their gums and teeth. This allows the sugar in the milk, juice, breast milk to eat away at their teeth. So it’s important to wipe their gums and teeth with a damp wash cloth after each feeding and before nap and bed time.
As soon as your child’s first tooth peaks through their gums it’s time to do 2 things. Make their first dental appointment. Start brushing with a (dry) rice grain size amount of fluoridated toothpaste twice a day.
For your pre-K child (over 3 years old) brush twice a day with a pea size amount of fluoride toothpaste. When 2 teeth are touching, it’s time to start flossing.
Sealants are effective in preventing cavities. Dental sealants are a protective coating over the deep crevices of back teeth (aka molars) so food, sweets, beverages and plaque don’t get caught in the grooves.
After Your Bottle Daddy And I Will Wipe Your Mouth And Then It’s Off To SleepClean Mouth For A Good Night’s SleepNow You Have Teeth Mommy Is BrushingGetting Ready to Brush My Teeth with My DadChecking My SealantsCan You Believe It? My Sealants Are The Same Color As My Teeth
What To Remember
Don’t leave your child’s oral health up to genetics or luck. It’s not luck that contributes to good teeth. It’s about planning, consistency and adapting as your child grows.
With everything you have to do, it may be tempting to skip a day. Turns out diligence is the key.
What are your tips for keeping teeth cavity free? Do you have a routine that works for your family? Tell Us, We’d really like to know! Send us an email at kidstoothhotline@proton.me Like Us on Facebook
More tips? We have lots. We’re here just for kids!
I’m Making Something Special For My Pediatric Dentist
In the Know for You to Know
Choosing a pediatric dentist for your child is a significant decision. A visit to the pediatric dentist needs be a positive experience for your child. So it’s important to find a dental practice where you and your child feel comfortable.
As a mom, I want my child to have pleasant and positive experiences at their dental appointments. Their visits should also be adapted to their age, as they grow and take on a more active role in their dental care.
Whether it’s playing games in the arcade off the waiting room, telling their dentist about the new pair of sneakers they just got, or letting their hygienist know the plans for the park after their visit; you know these things only happen when your child is happy and excited. They’re happy and excited when they know they are going to a friendly, comfortable, and fun place.
But this doesn’t happen at just any dental office. It happens at the right pediatric dental office.
Pediatric Dentist’s Approach To Dental Care
A pediatric dentist’s approach is to provide a calm and welcoming atmosphere.
Our goals are to provide you and your child with exceptional dental care. To help your child develop positive attitudes toward dentistry. As well as to educate and teach them the skills needed to care for healthy teeth and a healthy smile for their whole life.
My Pediatric Dentist Always Tells Me EverythingMy Pediatric Dentist Always Makes Me SmileMy Pediatric Dentist Encourages Me To Ask Questions, And She Answers Them
Characteristics To Consider In A Potential Pediatric Dentist
An attentive pediatric dentist encourages your child to ask questions.
They go at your child’s pace to allow them to feel comfortable.
A thoughtful pediatric dentist can make your child laugh, smile and enjoy themselves.
They engage your child in their own dental care.
They and their office are trained in accommodating children with special needs as well as having designed their office to be accessible.
An engaged pediatric dentist is eager to chat with you and values your questions and input as a parent.
Their whole office is passionate and excited to work with children.
Their office design makes your child feel welcome.
Their education continues. They receive extensive education and training on how to best serve your child and their dental needs.
Your child is eager to see them again and looks forward to their next appointment.
As a mom and a pediatric dentist, I can tell you it’s about 3 things ~
Specialized care,
Compassionate approach,
Child focused.
We Want To Be Just Like Our Pediatric Dentist
Have you found a pediatric dentist you and your child adore? Have you found the pediatric dental office you can see your child growing up going to? What was the spark that led you to this office? If you’re looking for your pediatric dentist, which 3 characteristics are most important for you? Do you have any suggestions about what’s important to you in choosing your child’s pediatric dentist? Tell Us, We’d really like to know! Send us an email at kidstoothhotline@proton.me Like Us on Facebook
More tips? We have lots. We’re here just for kids!
You’re at your child’s dental check-up and everything is going great. Then you hear that dreaded word, cavity.
So now here you are. You know your child has a cavity and you know they won’t sit to have it taken care of.
You’re thinking, should you schedule an appointment and face the music or tough it out? After all it’s only a baby tooth and it will fall out.
It will fall out, right? But when?
At first toughing it out sounds like a good idea but then you look at their face then in their mouth and realize you just have to make that appointment.
But what can the pediatric dentist do?
Well, there is a special liquid that can be applied directly to teeth which can stop or at least slow down the growth of a cavity.
Sound too good to be true? This remedy is Silver Diamine Fluoride.
What Is Silver Diamine Fluoride?
Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) is an FDA and ADA (American Dental Association), approved clear topical liquid that is used to treat cavities. It is applied to the cavity area of a tooth to control and stop the growth of the cavity.
How Does SDF Work?
SDF is composed of two main components, silver and fluoride. The silver part acts on the bacteria causing the cavity while the fluoride helps to strengthen and remineralize the tooth. The third accessory component is diamine which makes the SDF into a liquid.
How Is SDF Applied To Teeth?
Your child’s teeth will be dried and any food or plaque is removed. SDF is applied with a small brush and allowed to dry for one to two minutes.
When Is SDF Recommended?
The AAPD (American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry), has established best practices for the use of SDF. In addition, the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) agrees with the use of SDF as necessary.
Young children, children with special health needs, any child who has a difficult time at the dentist or who may have a lot of cavities may benefit from this type of care.
I Don’t Want My Cavity FixedNo Fillings For Me
What Are The Benefits Of SDF?
There are 5 benefits for using SDF ~
Quick to apply,
Painless,
May stop cavity progression,
Relieves tooth sensitivity,
Helpful cavity treatment for children who are very young or struggle with longer appointment times.
Let’s Do SDFI Don’t Want To Get My Cavity Filled
Any Risks With SDF?
There are some which may include ~
Cavity areas will stain black. Healthy tooth structure will not stain,
If Silver Diamine Fluoride touches skin or gums, a harmless temporary brown or white stain may appear on the area. The stain will disappear on its own in one to three weeks,
Some may notice a metallic taste but this is temporary,
SDF may not stop the cavities from getting deeper and other treatments may need to be discussed.
SDF Is Just Not For Some Children
3 reasons SDF may not be a choice for your child ~
SDF contains silver and children who are allergic to silver or who have sores or ulcers in their mouth should not have it applied to their teeth,
It should also not be used when the cavity is very deep and the tooth’s nerve is involved,
Some parents may not want the cavity areas on their child’s teeth turning black.
Any Alternatives To SDF?
Some possible alternatives may be ~
No treatment or deferring treatment, which may lead to a worsening symptom severity, infection, as well as increasing break down of teeth,
Depending on the extent and location of the cavities other treatment options may be necessary, such as sedation or general anesthesia. This is an extremely important conversation for you to have with your child’s pediatric dentist.
What To Remember
SDF can be an effective alternative treatment.
It can be painlessly brushed on a cavity to help stop the cavity from growing. This may be a consideration if your child is young has special needs or it is difficult for them to sit through an appointment.
I Don’t Care, I Won’t Let You Do A FillingI Don’t Want A Filling
Has your dentist discussed SDF with you? Has your child had SDF applied to their teeth? How did your appointment go? Are you concerned about the fluoride in SDF? Are you concerned about the dark discoloration? Tell Us. We’d really like to know. Send us an email at kidstoothhotline@protonmail.me Like us on Facebook
More tips? We have lots. We’re here just for kids!
Fall is here and practically everyone is planing a trip to go apple picking.
There are so many wonderful things about apples, and just about everyone loves them.
What could be better than watching your smiling child bite into a fresh picked juicy apple and see the juice run down their cheeks?
Did you know that apples are a very important fruit? Yes they are, and for a couple of reasons. Not only are they packed with vitamins for a healthy diet, apples can also help clean teeth.
Apples help to clean teeth? How is this possible?
Keep reading for some FYI’s on how apples help keep teeth and gums healthy.
Eating An Apple Is Almost Like Using A Toothbrush
Eating an apple can help remove plaque from teeth and gums.
How Is This Possible?
There are 3 ways apples help keep teeth clean,
Apples contain a specific acid called malic acid which can break down plaque that accumulates on the teeth and gums.
Biting into and chewing an apple stimulates more saliva to be produced and flow into the mouth. More saliva helps wash away food particles and bacteria as well as diluting and washing away sugars that are attached to the teeth.
Apples are 85% water which also helps dilute sugars in the mouth.
Which Side Of My Apple Should I Bite Into First?This Apple Is The Best
4 Reasons Apples Make Great Snacks
Apples make great snacks with their natural sweetness and high fiber content.
An apple’s natural sweetness decreases cravings for other higher sugar content snacks.
The fiber keeps children full longer so they snack less.
By being high in water apples are naturally juicy so children are less likely to ask for sugary beverages.
Mommy Gave Me Yummy Apples For My SnackReady Set Eat Your AppleI Get To Eat My Apple With Mommy
10 Apple Fun Facts
Over 2,500 varieties of apples are grown in the U.S.
The most popular apples in the US are Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, and Granny Smith.
A bushel of apples weighs almost 42 pounds.
Halloween Tip, Bobbing for apples – apples float so easily since they are 25% air.
Apple trees take between 4-5 years to produce their first apples.
Apples contain 0 grams of fat or sodium and have no cholesterol.
The average size of an apple is 4 grams.
Apple trees can live to be about 100 years old.
On average 1 person eats 65 apples a year.
Johnny Appleseed was a real person. Can you guess his real name? Yes, you got it! His name was John Chapman.
My Wagon Full Of ApplesDaddy And I Are Making A Surprise Apple Desert For MommyI Can’t Wait To Eat My AppleCan’t Wait To Bite Into My Just Picked Apple
Apple picking season has started, does your family have a favorite apple? What’s your super special apple pie recipe? How many apples do you think your family eats in a week? Any apple picking plans? Do you like to get your apples at the farmer’s market or supermarket? Tell Us, We’d really like to know! Send us an email at kidstoothhotline@proton.me and Like Us on Facebook
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