Fall is here and it seems like everyone is planing a trip to go apple picking.
There are so many wonderful things about apples, and just about everyone loves them.
Did you know that apples are a very important fruit? Not only are they packed with vitamins for a healthy diet, apples can also help clean teeth.
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?
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. This also helps by diluting and washing away sugars that are attached to the teeth.
Apples are 85% water which also helps dilute sugars in the mouth.
Mommy Says Apples Are Good For Me And My TeethDaddy Says Apples Help Keep Our Teeth Healthy And HappyApples Are My Most Favorite Snack
Apples Are 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 your child is less likely to ask for sugary beverages.
I Always Eat Apples When I StudyApples Are My FavoriteApple Picking With My Mom Is The Best
10 Fun Apple Facts
There are more than 2,500 varieties of apples are grown in the U.S.
The most popular apples are Red Delicious, Fuji, Golden Delicious, McIntosh, Rome, Granny Smith, and Gala.
A bushel of apples weighs almost 42 pounds.
Bobbing for apples – apples float so easily since they are 25% air.
Apple trees take about 4-5 years to produce their first apples.
It takes 36 apples to make 1 gallon of apple cider.
Apples belong to the rose family.
Apples have no fat, sodium, or cholesterol.
Apples ripen 6-10 times quicker at room temperature than when they are refrigerated.
Johnny Appleseed was in fact a real person.
What’s Your Favorite Apple?Can’t Wait To Eat The Apples We Picked Today
What’s your family’s favorite way to eat apples? Do you have a special apple pie recipe to share? How many apples does your family eat in a week? What’s your family’s favorite apple? Tell Us, We’d really like to know! Send us an email at kidstoothhotline@proton.me Chat with us and Like Us on Facebook
More tips? We have lots. We’re here just for kids!
My Dentist Wiggled 2 Teeth And I Was A Great Helper
Your day is going along as usual, then you get a call from your child’s school telling you to come pick them up.
When you get to school the nurse tells you that your child has been complaining their tooth hurts and there’s a pimple on their gums.
You remember the last time they had a pimple it went away. Now it’s back and you know the tooth needs to come out.
But you thought you had more time, because you’re both not ready.
Today we’re breaking down the basics on how to prepare both you and your child for a tooth extraction.
Why Do Children Need To Have Teeth Taken Out?
Children’s teeth may need to be taken out (aka extraction) for a few reasons.
Sometimes teeth develop an infection (aka abscess) when cavities grow bigger allowing bacteria to keep growing through the tooth.
In some cases a broken tooth can lead to an infection. When a tooth is broken bacteria spreads into and through the unprotected tooth layers to the nerve (aka pulp) of a tooth. The pulp becomes inflamed, starts to die, and an infection begins.
There are other times when there is an accident and a tooth is moved out of place, which disturbs or breaks the nerve and leads to an infection.
Sometimes teeth may need to be removed for Orthodontic reasons, such as to relieve excessive crowding.
There are sometimes when a baby tooth is taking its time in falling out and the adult tooth is growing into the mouth.
My Dentist Is Checking Out My Tooth That Hurts
Prepare Yourself
The first step is to prepare yourself. The more you know the better you can help your child.
Your child needing to have a tooth extracted is scary, for them and for you. So you’ll want to know as much as you can to make this as easy as possible for both of you.
So what do you ask?
First, find out why their tooth needs to be removed,
Second, ask what are the benefits of the procedure,
Third, ask about the procedure itself; what happens and how is it done,
Fourth, ask what your child will feel during the procedure,
Fifth, ask if you can be present during the procedure,
Sixth, ask how you can explain this to your child,
Seven, ask as a pediatric dentist how they explain this to your child,
Eight, ask how you take care of your child afterwards.
Preparing Your Child
You know your child best.
Maybe they do better when you bring things up in advance and they have time to think about it, get used to it and ask you questions.
Perhaps they’ll do better with you bringing this up as you’re going to the appointment with less time to stress.
Or maybe your child is somewhere in the middle.
Also, in addition to timing, the conversation is important.
Let your child ask their questions. Be honest that this is something they need to have done. Bring this up gently and use words that are easy and age appropriate for your child to understand.
I Did Great For My Tooth Wiggle
Staying Positive And How To Respond To Your Child’s Questions About Why Their Tooth Needs To Be Extracted
When talking with your child stay positive, upbeat, and be confident. They feel confident when they see you being positive, confident and upbeat.
Let them know the tooth fairy will be making a visit. Their tooth won’t be hurting any more and they can get back to their pleasant dreams. When their new adult tooth grows in, it will be happy and healthy. They’ll have their smile back again.
Your Child’s Treatment Day
The night before is not the time to worry. Everyone needs to have a good night’s sleep.
Depending on the time of your appointment maybe you can do something fun before hand, like go to the park or the mall.
Does your child have a comfort toy or blanket? You may want to bring them to the appointment for your child to hold. Or you may want to have them on you for afterwards.
Very important, lots of hugs and hi-fives from you.
Preparing For Your Child’s Recovery
Be sure to follow your pediatric dentist’s instructions about antibiotics and pain medication.
Soft, cold foods are a good idea to have on hand. Pudding, ices, ice cream are good for right afterwards.
Tips For An Uneventful Recovery
Eat only soft, cool, easy foods for the first 24 hours.
No rinsing, no spitting, no drinking through straws or sippy cups for the first 3 days.
No hot, spicy, or acidic foods for the first 24 hours.
No eating seeds, nuts, chips, popcorn, pretzels, dry crumbly, chewy foods for the first week,
The area will be numb from the local anesthetic. Watch your child does not bite or suck on their lip, cheek, or tongue.
Instead of a toothbrush, use a soft wet washcloth with toothpaste to clean your child’s mouth for the first 2 days.
Minimize swelling by applying a cold pack wrapped in a towel to the cheek for periods of 10 minutes on/10 minutes off at a time for the rest of the day after the extraction.
Keep fingers out of their mouth and keep their tongue away from the extraction site.
No soda.
No sports, bicycle riding, swimming for the first 2 days.
Follow all additional after treatment instructions given to you by your pediatric dentist.
If your child has any complaints, there’s bleeding from the site, your child starts to run a fever, or something doesn’t look right to you call your pediatric dentist.
What To Eat After A Tooth Extraction
Eat soft, cool, and easy foods that protect the newly healing extraction site like ~
Apple sauce,
Yogurt,
Mashed Bananas,
Mashed Avocado, Mashed veggies,
Mashed Potatoes,
Scrambled eggs,
Oatmeal, pastina,
Mac and Cheese, pasta,
Soup.
Taking It Easy After A Tooth Extraction
After the tooth has been removed, a blood clot forms in the site (aka tooth socket). The clot needs to take hold and become firm inside the socket. This blood clot plays an important part in the healing process.
A clot that doesn’t become firm will continue to bleed and disrupt the healing process. If this happens you need to go back and have the non-healing clot removed and start all over again. This is why the after care instructions are important.
Activities After A Tooth Extraction
Plan some fun activities your child will like for after their tooth extraction and those you know will help with their healing~
Choose a favorite book to read,
Watch a movie,
Go out for ice cream,
Visit Grandma or Auntie,
Crafts, painting, coloring,
Go to the mall,
Screen time,
Rest, maybe take a nap.
What To Remember
Having a tooth extracted can be an intimidating experience for both you and your child. This procedure can be made less frightening if you have a plan in place from the start.
My Tooth Was Sick So My Dentist Sent It To The Tooth Fairy Early
Has your child had a tooth extracted? Do you think you were prepared for their extraction? How did you prepare your child to have a tooth removed? Tell Us, We’d really like to know! Send us an email at kidstoothhotline@proton.me Chat with us and Like Us on Facebook
More tips? We have lots. We’re here just for kids!
You’re having a regular day and while talking with your child you notice their tongue looks strange.
As you look closer you ask them if anything is bothering them. Your child says no but you’re starring at their tongue.
When they stick out their tongue it looks like there’s a map stamped on their tongue. Now you’re thinking, what’s this?
Today, we’re breaking down the basics on a tongue appearance variation called geographic tongue.
What Is Geographic Tongue?
Geographic tongue goes by a few other very technical and official sounding names like benign migratory glossitis and erythema migrans.
Our tongues are not smooth. Feel your own tongue. They are bumpy, and these bumps are due to our tastebuds. We have 3 different types of tastebuds that cover all the surfaces of our tongue in different arrangements.
Depending on the set-up of certain tastebuds on the top and/or sides of the tongue you will see different patterns.
These patterns are called geographic tongue, and make the tongue look like a map.
How Many Tastebuds Do We Have?
On average 10,000 tastebuds. That’s a lot of tastebuds! and children can have more.
What Does Geographic Tongue Look Like?
Geographic tongue can be seen on the top and/or on the sides of the tongue. This appears as smooth tongue colored (or reddish looking) areas surrounded by a white (or off white) border.
Does Geographic Tongue Always Look The Same?
It doesn’t. The pattern on the tongue is random. How and when the appearance changes is based on the tastebuds.
How Long Does Geographic Tongue Last?
Geographic tongue can last a few days to weeks to months. It can last years without changing. These patterns don’t cause tongue scarring.
I Like To Show Off My TongueMy Roadmap Tongue Doesn’t Look Like A Roadmap Anymore
What Causes Geographic Tongue?
While there is no known exact cause for geographic tongue, it is known to run in families.
Is Geographic Tongue Painful?
No. Geographic tongue generally doesn’t cause any pain or discomfort.
How Do You Treat Geographic Tongue?
Since there is no pain or discomfort there is no recommended treatment.
I Have My Daddy’s TongueMy Tongue Doesn’t Look Like A Map Anymore
How Did My Child Get Geographic Tongue?
Anyone can develop geographic tongue, from babies to toddlers to school age children to adolescents to adults; and it can also run in families.
A Pediatric Dentist’s Experience With Geographic Tongue
I recently had a new family join my practice family. This was their first visit to my office. While the parents and I were going over their children’s medical, dental and family histories, Dad said “I dare you to find what’s unique about my child’s mouth.”
After ensuring there wasn’t anything of concern or urgent, the Dad said “tell me what you see.”
Well, can you guess what I saw? Yes, you guessed it! One of the children has geographic tongue.
Then before I could ask, Mom asked if I had any questions. Sure I had questions, and the first one I asked was “Did Mom or did Dad have geographic tongue?”
Can you guess which parent has geographic tongue? It’s Mom, Mom has geographic tongue, and so does Mom’s Mom.
What To Remember
As a parent, it can be surprising to see unusual patterns on your child’s tongue. However, it’s important to know that while geographic tongue may look different it is not serious or contagious, and does not pose any health risks. In most cases, no treatment is necessary.
Taking A Selfie To Show Off My Special Tongue
Have you seen geographic tongue? Have you been told your child has geographic tongue? Does geographic tongue run in your family? Tell us, We’d really like to know! Send us an email at kidstoothhotline@kidstoothhotline Chat with Us and Like Us on Facebook
More Tips? We have lots. We’re here just for kids!
Our Teacher Is Reading Us A Story About Brushing Our TeethBrushing Teeth Like Daddy
An exciting new school year is here and now is the time for your child’s big, healthy smile to shine.
Making your nightly routine enjoyable for your child so they’ll want to take care of their teeth is a good way to start!
Be creative with your own pre-brushing toothbrushing dance, sing some favorite tunes together to help brushing time fly by, buy yummy flavored colorful flossers and have your child choose their color and flavor of the night, and set aside reading time with their best book.
Today we’re talking about tips to setup your routine for motivating your child to take care of their teeth.
The 4B’s For Your Nightly Bedtime Routine
The new school year has started and you’re putting together everyone’s new routine making sure your child starts and ends their day in a healthy way.
Where do you start? Easy, with the 4B’s.
The 4B’s are the key to a consistent bedtime routine for both of you to enjoy together. This helps you to turn challenges into an easy routine and protecting those precious teeth in a big way.
So What Are The 4B’s?
The 4B’s are ~
Bath,
Brush,
Book,
Bed.
Suggestions To Include The 4B’s Into Your Routine
Bath
Low key bath time along with comfy and cozy pjs helps your child to start to relax and wind down from their day.
Depending on how long you both like bath time to linger build that time into your schedule and start earlier before they start rubbing their eyes and you feel rushed.
Ready For Our Pj’s After Our Baths, Then We Brush and FlossDaddy’s Watching Me Brush To Make Sure I Brush RightLaughing With Mommy After My BathBubbles Make Bath Time FunDaddy’s Helping And Watching Us Brush Our TeethGrandma Is Showing Me How Much Toothpaste Goes On My BrushMommy’s Coming To Help Me Brush My TeethGrandma’s Making Sure I Learn How To Brush My Teeth Correctly
Brush
Brushing for 2 minutes with a soft wet cloth or favorite soft tooth brush while singing your favorite brushing song puts brushing in a whole new stress free light.
Once their teeth touch each other it’s time to floss.
Remember, nothing to eat or drink after brushing keeps the sugar bugs away.
Book
Children love the sound of their parent’s voice.
Spend together time reading their favorite good night book in your special place, make up your own stories, or use silly voices to tell the story. Your child can follow along as you read to them, they can read to you, or you can make up fun stories together.
Sharing books and being together at the end of the day, even for 15 minutes builds memories and skills you’ll both cherish forever.
As your child gets sleepy it’s book away and into bed.
We Love To Read With Our Mom and Dad After We Brush And FlossYes I Still Love It When My Mom and Dad Tuck Me InTonight Is Daddy and Me Time To Read Before My Bed TimeToothbrushing And Reading With Mommy Is Always FunI Love When Daddy Gives Me My Bath, Brushes My Teeth And Reads To MeDaddy Brushes Our Teeth And Reads The Best StoriesI’m Dreaming My Pleasant DreamsI’m Starting To Feel Ready For BedGrandma And I Brush My Teeth And Read Every Night Before My Bed TimeI Brushed And Flossed, Now Daddy And I Are Reading Before I Go To Bed
Bed
Setting a regular bed time and tucking your child in with hugs and kisses for sweet dreams and a restful night’s sleep with clean sparkling teeth helps the whole family have a relaxing night and stress free morning.
The Benefits Of The 4B Routine
These 4B’s will help you create a consistent healthy sleep routine for bed time success allowing your child to settle down for a good night’s sleep, good learning in school, and the added benefit of regular toothbrushing time.
What To Remember
YOU have the power. You can do this!
Set a consistent bath and bed time and stick to it,
Let your child choose their favorite color for their toothbrush, so they feel they’ve made a decision in the process!
Don’t forget to Floss,
Encourage your child to pick out their favorite book or two to read with you before lights out.
From each of us at Kidstoothhotline to you, our Best Wishes for Happy and Healthy Smiles this School Year!
What color is your child’s toothbrush? Which cartoon characters talk about the importance of a healthy mouth? Who’s your superstar brusher? We’d really like to know! Send us an email at kidstoothhotline@proton.me Chat with Us and Like Us on Facebook
More tips? We have lots. We’re here just for kids!
You know how it is, the day is going great, everyone is happy and everything is going along smoothly.
Then you hear “Mom, my braces are poking me!!”
Now you’re thinking how did this happen and what can I do to fix it?
Today we’re breaking down the basics on how you can handle the pesky pokey braces wire to help give your child some relief.
Braces 101
Archwires, brackets and elastics are the 3 main components of braces.
Brackets are attached to teeth with a tooth colored material which is similar to (but not the same as) a tooth colored filling. Brackets have openings (aka slots) into which the wire fits. The elastics go around the bracket and hold the wire in place.
Why Are The Wires Called Archwires?
The wires are called archwires because your child top teeth make up their top jaw or upper arch, and their lower teeth comprise their bottom jaw or lower arch.
When the wire is placed into the orthodontic brackets on their top jaw this is their upper archwire, and when the wire is placed on their bottom jaw it is their lower archwire.
What Do Archwires Do?
The archwire is the metal wire which connects all the brackets on the teeth together and curves around the teeth from front to back. The wire corrects teeth alignment and other irregularities to reposition and make your child’s teeth straight.
My Child’s Archwire Is Poking Their Cheek, What Should I Do?
You can use a Q-tip to push the wire so that it is flat against the tooth.
If you can’t position the wire so that it’s comfortable position, place a piece of the wax your orthodontist gave you over the wire where it’s poking your child’s cheek.
Then call your orthodontist to let them know and see your child.
What Is Wax For Braces?
Dental wax is usually made from one or a combination of several waxes, mostly beeswax, carnauba wax, and/or paraffin wax.
Dental wax can also be found under a few different names, including tooth wax, braces wax, and orthodontic wax.
The wax can be applied to create a smooth protective barrier between your child’s mouth and the area of the wire that is causing discomfort.
Similarly, dental wax can be an excellent at-home remedy for relief and protection when a wire has come out of a place. Applying a small piece of dental wax can act as a protective barrier until your orthodontist can correct the issue.
How To Use Wax For Braces
First have your child brush their teeth (or you brush their teeth) to make sure the wire itself is clean, especially the part where you’ll be placing the wax.
After brushing, with clean hands gently pull their cheek away from the area where the pokey wire is. They can wiggle their lower jaw to the side where you’ll be placing the wax to allow you to see better.
Take off a new, unused piece of wax about the size of a small green pea and roll it into a ball. Place the wax where the wire is poking out or causing irritation.
The wax should reduce pain or irritation caused by the wire. Make sure to remove the wax when eating or brushing teeth and then reapply new, unused wax as needed or until you see your orthodontist.
Why Do Archwires Become Loose?
Sometimes a wire can break depending on the food your child eats, as their teeth are moved, if they get hit in the mouth while playing sports (and not wearing a mouth guard), or the wires might be too long in the back of their mouth.
Your child may feel a pokey archwire coming in contact with their gums or cheeks. If this happens. the wires can cause small mouth sores or cuts on the gums and cheek, so it’s important to take action right away.
My Orthodontist Is Removing The Wax From My Broken Brace’s WireMy Broken Wire Is Really Bothering My CheekHaving My Broken Brace’s Wire ReplacedBroken Wire Off, New Wire Going On
Foods To Avoid With Braces
During the time your child is in braces it is important to use caution when eating certain foods and snacks which put their braces at risk.
So what are these foods that can pop off or dislodge an archwire?
Anything that is hard, or sticky, or gooey, or chewy,
Chewing gum,
Nuts and seeds
Popcorn
Want to eat a bagel or an apple? Instead of biting in, cut the food into bitesize pieces and eat on their back teeth.
What To Remember
It is expected during the course of your child’s braces the wires will pull out and cause poking.
These are 3 steps to help you to help your child stay comfortable ~
Stay calm and check things out – look in their mouth to see what’s happening. If you can, with a clean finger try to move the wire away from their cheek back towards the teeth.
Always keep the small container of orthodontic wax handy. Take a small green pea size amount of wax and roll it with your fingers into a ball and place it over the end of the poky wire,.
Never hesitate to call your orthodontist, no matter how many times this may happen.
Remember to remove the wax before eating and brushing, and don’t reuse the wax. Once you remove it you’ll need a new piece of wax.
What’s been your experience with poking wires? Does wax do the trick for comfort until your child’s next orthodontic appointment? How often do poky wires occur? Tell Us, We’d really like to know! Send us an email at kidstoothhotline@proton.me Chat with us and Like Us on Facebook
I May Be Smiling But The Wire Poking My Cheek Really Hurts
More tips? We have lots. We’re here just for kids!
As parents we love that cute adorable stage when our child’s teeth are white picket fence perfect.
Then they start losing their baby teeth and their adult teeth start coming in and they don’t look as perfectly positioned.
When you talk with some other parents they’re saying the same thing but some are making appointments to have their child examined by an orthodontist.
You know your child’s dental check-up is coming up and you think to yourself that you’ll bring it up then.
Today we’re breaking down the basics on when a child should be evaluated for possible braces.
Braces Evaluation For Children, Helping Develop A Healthy Smile
For children (and adults) oral health is a window into their overall health.
Potential orthodontic treatment can be an important part of your child’s oral health care. Teeth that are correctly positioned make for confident smiles as well as eating and chewing properly.
Starting Early
The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends children have their first orthodontic evaluation around the age of 7, or when a potential problem is recognized.
It’s important to remember there is a big difference between an orthodontic consultation and actually beginning orthodontic treatment.
So Why Age 7?
This is because around the age of 7 years old, children have a combination of baby teeth and permanent teeth.
An examination with an orthodontist at this age provides a lot of information. If a problem exists, or if one is developing, then the orthodontist can advise you on what treatment is recommended, when it should begin, and estimate how long it will last.
However, if you notice something, it’s not necessary to wait until your child turns 7 years old.
Should Your Child Be Evaluated For Braces? Signs To Check For
The first step is to look inside your child’s mouth.
A few things to look out for ~
Crooked teeth,
Too many teeth in a too small mouth,
Difficulty flossing and brushing,
Frequently biting the inside of their cheek,
Jaw discomfort or a clicking sound when chewing or jaw pain upon waking,
Losing baby teeth early or late,
Adult teeth coming in early with no room or coming in late,
Problems with chewing food,
An underbite, An overbite, A deep bite,
Mouth breathing,
Thumb or finger sucking,
Missing teeth or extra teeth.
3 Reasons Why This Matters
Losing Baby teeth either too early or too late can cause problems for the permanent teeth to come into your child’s mouth.
How teeth come together is important for the life of the tooth. In what is considered “a good bite” the outside surface of the upper teeth prevent the cheeks from getting caught between the chewing surfaces with the bottom and top back teeth. If the teeth aren’t matched up, this can cause constant cheek biting and prevent a child from wanting to eat.
Bite problems can over time also lead to jaw problems such as pain, clicking, popping, or locking.
My Mom And Dad Are Talking About Braces For MeI Got My Braces Last ChristmasStill Getting Used To My Braces But I Like How My Teeth Are LookingI’m So Happy When I Look At My TeethChecking Out My Braces
What Is The Purpose Of Evaluating My Child’s Bite When They’re So Young?
Parents want their child to have healthy teeth and a good bite. To have this means that they need to have 2 things, good tooth alignment and good jaw position.
4 Benefits Of Early Braces Evaluation
Starting at an earlier age can help avoid more complicated and lengthy treatments when a child is older.
Most children will have a mix of baby teeth and permanent teeth, so the way their permanent teeth come in can be evaluated and potential issues can be addressed such as a cross-bite, crowding, or impacted teeth.
Proactive steps can be an advantage for younger children to correct issues as their jaws grow utilizing interceptive treatments such as palatal expanders.
A beautiful smile can boost a child’s self-esteem and confidence.
What Will I Learn From A Consultation With An Orthodontist?
The orthodontist will examine your child and discuss with you when it will be best for your child to begin treatment as well as the type of treatment they are recommending.
Each child has their own specific individual treatment needs. For some children starting early when they still have baby teeth may be best for them. Other children may benefit from some extra growing time and waiting until they’ve lost their baby teeth. Some children may wait until they have all their adult teeth to begin braces.
Depending on your child’s needs, they may be evaluated every 6 months or 1 year to watch their growth and development progress to take advantage of their natural growth.
Why Would An Orthodontist Recommend Early Treatment?
Early treatment is a proactive and valuable way to address some issues so they don’t become more involved long term problems.
4 Reasons An Orthodontist May Recommend Early Treatment
Create room in a child’s mouth to decrease crowding for adult teeth,
Help with facial growth,
Preserve space when baby teeth are lost early and adult teeth aren’t ready to come in
Decrease trauma risk for protruding top front teeth.
What To Remember
There is a big difference between an orthodontic consultation and actually beginning braces.
An evaluation when your child has a combination of baby teeth and adult teeth doesn’t always mean that they’re getting braces right away. If and/or when treatment is needed, it can begin at the appropriate time for your child.
Cool Braces To Match My Cool ShadesLove To Show Off My Brace’s SmileWearing My Braces To PromLoving The Color Of My New Brace’s Elastics
Do you feel like braces runs in your family? Have you thought to yourself that since you had braces your child will also? Did you want braces as a child but didn’t have them and you want to make sure that your child doesn’t feel the way? Have you thought about getting braces as an adult? Do you have braces now? Tell Us, We’d really like to know! Send us an email at kidstoothhotline@proton.me Chat with us and Like Us on Facebook
Everything is going according to plan with your at home toothbrushing and flossing routine.
Then your child comes to you and says their tooth and/or their gums hurt, or they’ve been up at night crying needing pain medicine, or when you look inside their mouth you see a pimple on their gums, or you notice their face is swollen.
You’re thinking, what is this?, why did this happen?, and what do I do?
These are some signs of children’s tooth infections, also known as an abscess, and need to be taken seriously.
Today we’re breaking down the basics on abscesses involving children’s teeth.
What Is A Tooth Abscess?
A tooth abscess is an infection. The abscess is buildup of pus that looks like a red, swollen bump or pimple on the gums.
The most common type of abscess involving children’s teeth is a periapical abscess, which is a bacterial infection.
This type of infection forms when the bacteria from a cavity or fractured tooth spread from the outermost layer of tooth enamel through the to the nerve (aka pulp) of the tooth and out of the tooth to the area around the tooth that is in the bone.
There are 2 other types of abscesses which are ~
A gingival abscess starts in the gum tissue and does not touch nearby teeth. There are some medical conditions which cause this type of abscess to occur. A popcorn kernel stuck in the gums is also a likely cause of this type of abscess
A periodontal abscess is located in the gum tissue and alongside the root of a tooth. This is less often seen in children and is most commonly seen in adults.
Why Do Children’s Teeth Abscess?
Cavities are caused by bacteria. When cavities go untreated they grow bigger which allows more bacteria to grow through a tooth.
In some cases a broken tooth can lead to an infection. When a tooth is broken the inner parts of a tooth are exposed and bacteria grows into and through these unprotected tooth layers.
When the bacteria reach the pulp of a tooth, the pulp becomes inflamed, starts to die, and the infection begins.
In addition, there are other instances when there is an accident (aka tooth trauma) and a tooth is hit and/or moved out of place, which can disturb or break the nerve and lead to an infection.
What Are The Signs Of A Tooth Abcess To Look For?
A child’s symptoms depends on several factors including how long the pain has been bothering them and how far the infection has spread.
Also be on the look out for ~
Pain in the affected tooth may come on suddenly and increase quickly to severe pain (and possibly in other teeth, their ear, their jaw, their neck, their temples, and/or their eyes),
Pain mostly at night when they are lying down,
Decrease in eating and drinking,
Temperature sensitivity,
Sensitivity to pressure placed on the affected tooth,
Tooth mobility,
Color change in the affected tooth (e.g., the tooth turning brown or black),
Swelling and/or redness in the gums around the tooth,
Facial swelling,
Their tongue feeling like it doesn’t fit in the bottom of their mouth,
Swollen lymph nodes under the child’s jaw or in their neck,
Bad breath,
Bad taste in their mouth,
Fever,
Feeling sick.
Daddy, Why Is My Face Swollen?Mommy And Daddy Please Make My Tooth Stop Hurting
Can An Abscess In A Baby Tooth Affect The Permanent Tooth?
Yes.
Abscesses in baby teeth can affect the development of permanent teeth growing underneath the baby tooth and lead to discoloration, weakened enamel, malformed or mottling of the adult tooth.
Do Children’s Tooth Abscesses Go Away On Their Own?
No.
An abscess in a child’s tooth will not go away on its own.
The pus bubble may pop BUT that does NOT mean that the infection has gone away.
Even if your child’s symptoms appear to be improving, this does not mean that the abscess is healing, an abscessed tooth still requires dental treatment.
In fact the infection will come back worse (and it does) because the bacteria continue to grow causing more pain and swelling.
At the first sign of pain and/or swelling you need to contact your pediatric dentist or pediatrician right away.
When left untreated the infection will not only affect other teeth, it will become a medical emergency.
Daddy’s Taking You To The Dentist To Check Your GumsMommy And Daddy Are Taking You To The Dentist To Make Your Tooth Stop Hurting
Are Antibiotics Needed For A Child’s Tooth Abscess?
In most cases a child will first be prescribed antibiotics to control the infection and reduce swelling so that treatment can be performed.
Contact your pediatric dentist or pediatrician to have your child examined for them to determine the best course of antibiotic treatment for your child.
Can A Child’s Tooth Abscess Turn Into An Emergency?
Yes.
If you suspect your child may have a tooth abscess, call your child’s dentist’s office right away and tell them your child’s symptoms.
If left untreated, a tooth abscess can spread to other parts of the body, potentially leading to serious medical complications.
There are times when a tooth abscess can lead to life-threatening conditions.
If your child is experiencing difficulty breathing, difficulty swallowing, swelling in their neck, facial swelling or other potentially life-threatening conditions, you should first seek immediate treatment at your closest hospital’s emergency room.
What To Remember
Abscesses occur as a result of prior injury to a tooth or untreated cavities.
They can affect the development of your child’s permanent teeth.
These infections do not heal on their own and become serious very quickly.
A child’s symptoms depends on a several things in addition to how long the pain has been bothering them and how far the infection has spread.
It’s important to watch for any of the symptoms I’ve described above, and to contact your pediatric dentist or pediatrician immediately with your child’s first complaint.
I Don’t Want To Play Because My Tooth Hurts
Do you know a child who has had a tooth abscess? or a dental infection? We hope that everyone is okay, what needed to be done to take care of the infection? Have you ever had an infected tooth? Tell Us, We’d really like to know! Send us an email at kidstoothhotline@proton.me Chat with us and Like Us on Facebook
More tips? We have lots. We’re here just for kids!
Daddy Says To Smile Pretty Since The Spots On My Front Teeth Are Better Than The One’s On My Back Teeth
You feel like you’re in a good place keeping up with your child’s twice a day tooth brushing routine. Flossing and brushing is going really well so you know what’s going on with their teeth and gums.
Then you notice there are some spots on their teeth which you didn’t notice before and you’re wondering what they are and why they’re there.
Thinking back to your child’s last dental check-up you remember hearing about the areas of hypoplasia on their teeth. Since they didn’t have any cavities you thought everything was all right.
Now you’re thinking, why does my child’s teeth have these spots and what caused them?
Today we’re breaking down the basics about the spots on children’s teeth which is called enamel hypoplasia.
Tooth Basics
Enamel is the hard outermost layer of teeth and the hardest substance in the human body.
Dental enamel needs to be hard because it forms an insulating barrier that protects the inner layers of the tooth from chewing and biting forces as well as sensitivity from hot and cold foods and drinks.
Dental Enamel Starts Developing Early
Around the time Mom’s are finding out that they are pregnant, tooth enamel is starting to form for baby teeth.
Tooth enamel continues to form as baby teeth develop during pregnancy. Around the time your baby is born the dental enamel begins to form for their adult teeth.
Adult tooth enamel continues to develop as these teeth form during early to middle childhood.
Any type of disruption to the enamel formation process will cause defects in the enamel, including hypoplasia.
What Is Hypoplasia?
Enamel hypoplasia is a developmental defect when tooth enamel doesn’t develop properly causing it to be too thin.
Enamel formation is a complex process of formation and timing. Any disruption leading up to the final step in completing the process can affect the thickness of the enamel layer.
What Causes Enamel Hypoplasia?
The enamel forming cells are precise and sensitive, so hypoplasia can affect a whole tooth, part of a tooth, some teeth, certain teeth or less commonly all the teeth.
Some factors which can cause hypoplastic teeth are ~
Premature birth,
Low birth weight,
Health concerns for Mom or Baby during pregnancy,
Health concerns for Baby after birth,
Failure to thrive, Malnutrition,
Certain bacterial or viral infections,
Dental trauma,
Fever,
Some early childhood diseases and/or chronic illness in the first few years of life,
Genetic conditions, such as Treacher Collins syndrome.
Does Enamel Hypoplasia Affect Baby Teeth And Adult Teeth?
Enamel hypoplasia can occur in both baby teeth and permanent teeth, depending on the timing of the disruption.
If enamel formation is disrupted during pregnancy, baby teeth can be affected with hypoplasia.
When the disruption occurs from birth through middle childhood, the permanent teeth which are developing at that time can be affected with hypoplasia.
We Thought The White Spots On My Teeth Were Supposed To Be There, They’re Called HypoplasiaMommy Says My Front Teeth Look Great But My Back Teeth Have HypoplasiaMy Dentist Told My Mommy And Daddy That I Have Hypoplasia On Alot Of My Teeth
What Are The Signs Of Enamel Hypoplasia?
When looking at your child’s teeth some signs to check for to see if they have hypoplastic teeth are ~
White spots on teeth,
Teeth with ridges, grooves or pits,
Stained teeth or teeth that look yellow, brown, or grayish because the enamel is thin and the underlying dentin layer which is yellowish in color shows through,
Sensitive teeth due to the thinness of the enamel and the dentin being close to the surface,
Excessive enamel wear or enamel fracturing off,
Teeth that look mis-shaped,
Teeth that look like they have cavities.
Do You Treat Enamel Hypoplasia?
Yes, teeth with enamel hypoplasia do need to be treated.
Even teeth with mild hypoplasia, which may initially be a cosmetic concern, needs to be monitored since they can go on to become a significant dental issue due to the thin enamel.
In addition, the thinness of the enamel places children with hypoplastic teeth at more of a risk for developing cavities faster, having increased sensitivity to hot and cold foods, increased risk for tooth damage, and can impact the position of their teeth and their bite.
How Do You Treat Teeth With Enamel Hypoplasia?
Treatment for teeth with enamel hypoplasia depends on the tooth’s location in the mouth (front tooth or back molar), as well as the extent and severity of the hypoplasia.
For hypoplastic teeth where there is purely an aesthetic concern without any other dental complications, cosmetic treatment options can include ~
Fluoride treatments to help strengthen the enamel,
Tooth bonding where tooth colored materials are applied over the thin enamel,
When your child is older and has passed their last growth spurt, other esthetic restorations are a consideration.
For hypoplastic teeth that are more seriously involved including molars, treatment considerations may include ~
Desensitizing toothpaste,
Dental sealants,
Fillings, tooth colored bonded fillings don’t bond well to teeth with defects in the enamel and can come off or chip the enamel more, so there may be other options depending on the specific tooth involved,
Dental crowns,
Other restorations when your child has completely finished growing,
Orthodontic consultation.
What Can We Do At Home To Help The Hypoplasia From Getting Worse?
Some helpful suggestions for at home care ~
Brush teeth for 2 minutes every morning and 2 minutes every night before bed,
Floss every night before brushing teeth,
Use an alcohol-free fluoride mouth rinse every night after flossing and brushing. You can place a small amount in a disposable cup (enough to cover their tooth brush bristles) and dip their tooth brush into the fluoride rinse, then brush their teeth for 1 minute. If your child is old enough to spit out (and not swallow) then watch them as they swish for 1 minute and then spit out the rinse,
After meals, snacks and drinks rinse their mouths with plain water,
Water is the best beverage, serve it routinely and encourage your child to drink water,
Choose healthy snacks and meals to stay on track with their dental health.
My Mommy And Daddy Thought I Have A Cavity, But It’s Called Enamel HypoplasiaMy Dentist Told My Parents The Spots On My Teeth Are Called Enamel HypoplasiaMy Dentist Always Checks My Teeth Really Well Since I Have Enamel HypoplasiaWe Have To Take Very Good Care Of Your Teeth So The Hypoplasia Doesn’t Get Worse
What To Remember
Taking care of teeth with enamel hypoplasia is super important.
This is important because these teeth simply don’t have a thick enough enamel layer to protect them from cavities as well as pain and sensitivity to hot and cold foods and beverages.
Teeth use each other as a guide for their positioning and alignment. Thin enamel doesn’t provide the support teeth need to stay in place, so these teeth are more susceptible to being misaligned which affects a child’s bite.
Your twice daily at home care routines, healthy choices for meals, snacks and beverages, and regular dental visits are a good place to start to help protect your child’s teeth especially when they have enamel hypoplasia.
My Mom Says The Spots On My Teeth Are Called Hypoplasia
Have you been told your child has enamel hypoplasia? Does your child have another defect involving their tooth enamel? Have you been told your child has a different defect involving their 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!
Open Big And Say Cheese Just Like Counting My Teeth At My Pediatric Dentist’s Office
As parents you want to soothe any dental anxiety and remove fears of the dentist for your children, and one of the best tools at your disposal is knowledge.
Keeping descriptions simple, easy going, and relatable is always important no matter what your child’s age. Using child friendly words when explaining the people they will meet, the sites, sounds and instruments (aka tools) go a long way to easing your child into their dental visits.
Today we’re breaking down the basics on how to keep things simple, honest and understandable when preparing your child for their visit with the pediatric dentist.
Child Friendly Language Is The Key To Creating A Fun And Positive Dental Experience
Each visit is an opportunity for you and your pediatric dentist to create a positive dental experience for your child. Fun and self-explanatory word exchanges allow for understanding and encourage confidence toward dental appointments.
Child Friendly Dental Words
Adult Dental Words
Child Friendly Dental Words
Dental Chair
Recliner
Dental Chair Light
Flashlight
Saliva Ejector
Mr. Thirsty or Straw
Dental Mirror
Looking Glass
Explorer
Tooth Counter
College Pliers
Picker Uppers
Air Water Syringe
Water Squirter or Super Soaker or Wind & Water
Examine Teeth
Counting Teeth
Cleaning
Tickle Teeth
Prophy Brush
Tooth Tickler or Electric Toothbrush
Prophy Paste
Yummy Flavored Toothpaste
Floss
Tooth String
Fluoride
Tooth Muscles or Tooth Vitamins
X-ray Machine
Camera
Intra-oral Sensor
Tooth Selfie or Photo
Lead Apron
Emoji Cape or Superhero Cape or Blanket
Cavity
Sugar Bugs
High Speed Handpiece (aka fast drill)
Mr. Whistle or Airplane
Slow Speed Handpiece (aka slow drill)
Mr. Bumpitty Bump or Motorcycle
Bur
Shower Head
Injection
Sleepy Juice For Teeth
Topical Anesthetic
Jelly or Spicy Jelly
Remove A Tooth
Tooth Dance or Tooth Wiggle
Infection
Bubble
Rubber Dam
Raincoat
Rubber Dam Clamp
Tooth Ring
Isodry or Isolite
Mr. Fish or Tooth Pillow
Nitrous-Oxide Oxygen
Magic Air
Nitrous Oxide-Oxygen Nose
Ice Cream Nose
Curing Light
Tooth Dryer or Magic Light
Crown
Chapeau or Fancy Hat or Baseball/Football Helmet
Space Maintainer
Tooth Jewelery
Sealant
Tooth Polish
Child Friendly Dental Words
A Big Thumbs Up To My Pediatric Dentist For Being Creative In Helping Me Understand Everything TodayToday Is My Dentist’s Appointment And I Can’t Wait To GoTelling Daddy About The Fun Words I Learned At My Pediatric Dentist Visit TodayDaddy’s High Five With Me For Having Such A Great Visit With My Pediatric Dentist, Thank You DentistMommy Is Showing Me How Much Fun I’m Going To Have At My Pediatric Dentist Appointment TodayMy Mommy Is Tickling My Tummy And My Pediatric Dentist Will Tickle My TeethThumbs Up To My Pediatric Dentist For Helping Me Today, And For Being Such A Good Helper I Get Extra Game TimeMy Pediatric Dentist. Makes Me So Comfortable When They Use The Mirror And Tooth Counter To Check My Teeth, No Matter How Old I GetI’m Drawing A Thank You Tooth For My Pediatric DentisMommy Is So Happy Since I Listened So Well To What My Pediatric Dentist Explained To Me At My Visit TodayThumbs Up To My Pediatric Dentist For Counting My Teeth and Using The Tooth TicklerMy Pediatric Dentist Did A Great Job Explaining Everything To Me, So I Was A Really Good Helper And Daddy’s Proud Of Me-High 5 DaddyThumbs Up For The Best Dentist Appointment EverBlowing Bubbles With My Prize From My Pediatric DentistThumbs Up To Me For Being Such A Good Listener At My Pediatric Dentist’s Appointment YesterdayWe’re Dancing Our Way To Our Pediatric Dentist
What To Remember
It’s not what we say but how we say things that make all the difference. Effective language is key to having a positive experience. As children grow and mature pediatric dentists tailor their explanations to be age appropriate.
No matter what their age, children remember the fun words at the dentist as they grow which helps them have a positive experience and attitude for their dental visits.
Before you know it they’ll be saying to you “I remember when you explained to me about Mr. Whistle and the sugar bugs, by doing that you made it so easy for me at the dentist.” Now that’s empowerment.
I’m Giving My Pediatric Dentist A Thumbs Up For Explaining Everything So I Wasn’t Nervous TodayMy Children Just Had The Best Pediatric Dental Appointment
How do you prepare your child for their dental visit? Have you come up with any fun words to explain to your child their upcoming appointment? Which are your favorite children’s dental terms? Tell us, We’d really like to know! Send us an email to kidstoothhotline@proton.me Like Us or chat with us on Facebook
More tips? We have lots. We’re here just for kids!
Your child is crying and complaining to you because their mouth hurts and burns when they eat and when you brush their teeth. You check that they’re not getting sick, and when you have them open their mouth wide you see these small yellowish sores on the inside of their mouth.
You think to yourself, what can this be? Then you remember you’ve heard about canker sores and wonder if these are canker sores.
Today we’re breaking down the basics on what you should know about canker sores.
What Are Canker Sores?
Canker sores, also called aphthous ulcers, are a common condition that 20-30% of children and adolescents experience.
Minor aphthous ulcers have a yellowish-white color and are surrounded by a red inflamed looking border. These sores measure 3-10 millimeters (pinpoint to 1/3 of an inch) in diameter; and are found on the soft tissues in the mouth, such as the inside surfaces of the lips, cheeks and the area where the gums and soft tissues meet. In a single outbreak you can expect to find 1-5 ulcers, and they heal in 7-14 days without scarring.
Depending on where the sore is located, your child may experience difficulty talking or eating, and pain when touching or brushing around the area.
Major Aphthous Ulcer
These ulcers are larger, deeper and take longer to heal than the minor aphthous ulcer. They occur on the lips, soft palate, the tonsillar arches, and can take up to 6 weeks to heal with the potential to cause scarring.
What Causes Canker Sores In Children?
It’s not exactly known what causes children, adolescents, and even adults to get canker sores.
There are some factors that can trigger the development of canker sores:
Stress,
Injury to the inside of your mouth,
Acidic foods, such as citrus fruits,
Food allergies or Vitamin deficiencies,
Irritation from orthodontic appliances, such as braces.
What Are The Symptoms Of Canker Sores In Children?
Canker sores are diagnosed on visual examination by their appearance and symptoms.
Common canker sore symptoms include:
One or more painful sores inside of the mouth. These ulcers may form on the inside of their lips, the inside of their cheeks or above their gums where the gums meet the cheeks,
Burning or tingling sensations.
Small, round ulcers that are yellowish-white with a red border.
Are Canker Sores And Cold Sores The Same?
Canker sores and cold sores are not the same thing. They are very different for several reasons.
What Is The Difference Between Canker Sores And Cold Sores?
Canker sores are only found inside the mouth. They are flat and look like an ulceration with a light center and red edge. These sores can appear as a single round sore or up to 5 sores. Canker sores are not contagious.
Cold sores, or fever blisters are caused by a virus, are highly contagious and easily spread from person to person. They are fluid filled and can appear as a blister or cluster of blisters usually outside of or around the mouth.
How Are Canker Sores Treated In Children?
Treatment usually isn’t necessary for minor canker sores, since they tend to heal on their own in 7-14 days.
However, if you’d like to do something more than wait it out, these are some ways to reduce your child’s discomfort:
Keep your child hydrated with water, hydration helps with healing;
Encourage your child with soft, cold, cool and easy to eat foods;
Avoid spicy, acidic, salty foods and drinks since they irritate the canker sores and make their mouths more painful. Think bland food;
Good sleep habits and sleep times encourage healing;
Keep up with your oral hygiene routine gently, take it slow, keeping up with their brushing and flossing helps with healing.
How Long Do Canker Sores Take To Heal?
Canker sores take 7-14 days to go away, and there isn’t anything that will make them go away faster. However, there is a tendency for the sores to re-occur.
Grandma And Grandpa Are So Happy My Canker Sore Is All Healed And So Are Mommy And I
Is There A Way To Prevent Canker Sores?
There’s no way to prevent canker sores.
However, there are several things you can do to have your child be more comfortable while the sores are healing:
Try stress reduction techniques, such as mindfulness and meditation, giving your child a warm bath before bed, having them take a warm shower, or enjoyable family time;
Stay away from acidic, salty and spicy foods;
Keep up with your good oral hygiene routine;
Encourage good sleeping habits;
Talk with your pediatrician for nutritional guidance.
When To Call Your Pediatrician
Call your pediatrician’s office for an appointment if your child begins to experience:
Recurring sores with new break outs before the existing sores heal,
Frequent episodes of canker sores,
Large canker sores,
Non-healing sores, or sores not healing within 14 days,
Sores outside their mouth,
Increasing pain,
Increasing difficulty eating and drinking,
It hurts to swallow,
Fever of any kind.
I Know You Don’t Want To Eat Because Of Your Canker Sore
How Do I Stop Getting Canker Sores?
What Will Make My Canker Sore Go Away?
Why Do I Keep Getting Canker Sores?
II Know The Sore In You Mouth Hurts, Let Me Make It Batter
Why Do I Have Another Canker Sore?
What To Remember
Canker sores are small, shallow yellowish-white ulcers that are found on the soft tissues in your child’s mouth like the inside of their lips, cheeks, or below the base of their gums. They can be found as a single ulcer or as several together, and can be painful initially which can make eating difficult.
Unlike canker sores, cold sores are found outside the mouth, such as on the outside surface of their lips, at the corners of their mouth and they are very contagious.
Most canker sores go away in 7-14 days on their own. Call your pediatrician or pediatric dentist’s office if something doesn’t seem right, your child develops a fever, your child looks and/or feels sick, eating and drinking is becoming an issue, the canker sore isn’t healing, or you have any concerns.
Has your child ever experienced a canker sore? Have you had a canker sore? Do canker sores run in your family? We’d really like to know! Send us an email at kidstoothhotline@proton.me Like Us or Chat with us on Facebook
More tips? We have lots. We’re here just for kids!
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