What To Do When Your Child’s Broken Braces Wire Is Poking Their Cheek

August 15, 2024August 13, 2024 ~ kidstoothhotline

In the Know for You to Know

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 Wire — My Orthodontist Is Removing The Wax From My Broken Brace’s Wire

My Broken Wire Is Really Bothering My Cheek — My Orthodontist Is Removing The Wax From My Broken Brace’s Wire

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!

Why Does My Child Need Braces? Aren’t They Too Young?

August 8, 2024August 7, 2024 ~ kidstoothhotline

In the know for You to Know

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 Me

I Got My Braces Last Christmas — My Mom And Dad Are Talking About Braces For Me

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.

Love To Show Off My Brace's Smile — Cool Braces To Match My Cool Shades

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

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

My Child Has A Pimple On Their Gums, Why Does Their Tooth Have An Abscess?

August 1, 2024July 31, 2024 ~ kidstoothhotline

In the Know for You to Know

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.

Mommy And Daddy Please Make My Tooth Stop Hurting — Daddy, Why Is My Face Swollen?

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 Gums — Daddy’s Taking You To The Dentist To Check Your Gums

Mommy And Daddy Are Taking You To The Dentist To Make Your Tooth Stop Hurting — Daddy’s Taking You To The Dentist To Check Your Gums

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 — 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!

My Pediatric Dentist Said My Child Has Hypoplastic Teeth, What Are Hypoplastic Teeth?

July 18, 2024July 16, 2024 ~ kidstoothhotline

In the Know for You to Know

Daddy Says To Smile Pretty Since The Spots On My Front Teeth Are Better Than The One's On My Back Teeth — 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 Hypoplasia — We Thought The White Spots On My Teeth Were Supposed To Be There, They’re Called Hypoplasia

Mommy Says My Front Teeth Look Great But My Back Teeth Have Hypoplasia — We Thought The White Spots On My Teeth Were Supposed To Be There, They’re Called Hypoplasia

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 Hypoplasia — My Mommy And Daddy Thought I Have A Cavity, But It’s Called Enamel Hypoplasia

My Dentist Told My Parents The Spots On My Teeth Are Called Enamel Hypoplasia — My Mommy And Daddy Thought I Have A Cavity, But It’s Called Enamel Hypoplasia

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!

Creating a Fun and Positive Dental Experience with Child Friendly Language

June 27, 2024June 26, 2024 ~ kidstoothhotline

In the Know for You To Know

Open Big And Say Cheese Just Like Counting My Teeth At My Pediatric Dentist's Office — 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 Today

Today Is My Dentist's Appointment And I Can't Wait To Go — A Big Thumbs Up To My Pediatric Dentist For Being Creative In Helping Me Understand Everything Today

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 Today — I’m Giving My Pediatric Dentist A Thumbs Up For Explaining Everything So I Wasn’t Nervous Today

My Children Just Had The Best Pediatric Dental Appointment — I’m Giving My Pediatric Dentist A Thumbs Up For Explaining Everything So I Wasn’t Nervous Today

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!

Understanding Canker Sores in Children: Causes and Treatment

May 16, 2024May 15, 2024 ~ kidstoothhotline

In the Know for You to Know

Mommy Knows Canker Sores Aren't Any Fun — Mommy Knows Canker Sores Aren’t Any Fun

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.

There are 2 types of canker sores. The most common type of canker sores occurring 80% of the time is called Minor aphthous ulcer and the second type is called Major aphthous ulcer.

Minor Aphthous Ulcer

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.

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!

How To Make It Easier To Take Care Of Your Children’s Teeth – Strategies For Making Your Social Story When Your Child Has Autism Spectrum Disorder

April 25, 2024April 21, 2024 ~ kidstoothhotline

In the Know for You to Know

As a parent, you know that preventing dental related issues is important, and you also know that this is not so simple to do when your child has Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Some children may be fearful of new surroundings or sensitive to light and sounds or smells and tastes and do not know how to express these feelings. You may or may not have already established a consistent way that comforts your child when introducing them to new experiences.

These last 3 weeks we’ve discussed the challenges and strategies to help you help your child achieve successful dental care in the office, as well as strategies for your at home toothbrushing routine, and strategies for your at home flossing routine.

Today we’re breaking down the basics on how to create your own dental social story.

Helping Your Child To Learn And Prepare For Going To The Dentist

Your approach needs to be tailored to your child’s individual needs.

For some children with ASD, it’s your calm reassuring voice talking with them about the Pediatric Dentist’s office, the people they’ll meet, the chair they’ll sit in, the toothpaste that’s used to brush their teeth.

While other children may like to read or look at books, some like to look at actual photos on your phone, or role play, and for some it’s your social story.

Which ever works best for your child, always stay positive and portray their dental care (whether in the office or at home) in small, repeatable steps.

Read A Social Story With Your Child About Taking Care Of Their Teeth

Social stories use simple, straight forward language to describe the sequence of events a child will experience. The stories usually have photos or pictures to help show the things they will see, hear, and do.

Before creating your own social story, a good resource for you to see examples of social stories is the website for the Pennsylvania Autism Services, Education, Resources, and Training Collaborative.

You’ll find social stories about going to the Dentist, having their teeth cleaned, having dental x-rays taken, and having a cavity filled.

Create Your Own Social Story About Going To The Dentist

Once you’ve made your child’s appointment it’s best to introduce this early on.

Before you do, consider taking pictures of the street the office is on, the parking lot, the outside of the building, the office’s front door with the Dentist’s name.

You might want to stop by and ask if you can take some pictures of the office to include in your social story.

This way you’re establishing what your child will be expecting step by step.

To go along next to the pictures you can include a description—

We’re going to the Dentist and we’ll be driving down this street,
Then we’ll park the car near the Dentist’s office,
After we park the car we’ll walk to the Dentist’s office,
The office is upstairs/downstairs/on the walk-in level so we may/may not need to take an elevator ride; or we may or may not take the stairs,
When we get to the Dentist’s office we’ll open the door and walk in,
There is a lady sitting behind a desk to say hello to us when we walk in,
After we say hello, we’ll tell her my name,
The lady behind the desk may ask us to sit down and watch a movie, or play one of the games until it’s my turn,
When it’s my turn the hygienist will call my name,
We’ll all walk together to a room with a few special chairs that look like Daddy’s recliner chair,
The hygienist will ask me to sit down in the chair,
The hygienist will tell me that this chair is special because it moves up and down and reclines back almost like a bed, but I don’t have to take a nap,
The hygienist will tell me that the chair moves back so she and the Dentist can look at all my teeth even my teeth all the way in the back,
The hygienist will also tell me that when I’m lying back on the chair I can hold my Mom’s hand and put my legs straight out in front of me,
The hygienist will ask me how big I can open my mouth, and we will count how long I can stay open wide,
The hygienist will show me the big light she and the Dentist use so they can see all my teeth,
Before she turns the light on, the hygienist will ask me if I want to wear sunglasses because the light is bright or if I want to close my eyes,
The hygienist will show my the special mirror she and the Dentist use to look at my teeth. She’ll let me touch the mirror will also show me what the mirror feels like on my lips and tongue and cheeks,
Then the hygienist will show me the tooth counter she and the Dentist use to count and check my teeth,
The hygienist will show me the special floss string she uses to clean in-between my teeth, she’ll let me touch the floss and she’ll show me how it feels in-between my fingers and then she’ll floss my teeth,
The hygienist will show me the special power toothbrush and special toothpaste she uses to clean my teeth, then she will let me touch this special toothbrush and she’ll show me what the brush feels like on my finger and then on my teeth; the best part is that the hygienist says I will get to pick the flavor of the toothpaste,
The Dentist may want to take special photos of my teeth, the hygienist explains that these photos are called x-rays and I get to wear a super special emoji apron to take the x-rays, and my Mom gets to watch me,
When I’m all finished the hygienist will give me a fun bag filled with a brand new toothbrush and toothpaste, and I’ll get to choose a super special prize.

What To Remember

Preparing your children with ASD for their Dentist’s appointment and dental care in advance can be helpful for having a calm and successful visit.

Ask your child’s Pediatric Dentist about scheduling a pre-visit introductory walk about, or if you can take pictures of the office to help you put together your own social story.

Your child’s needs always come first, so if you feel doing everything at one appointment is too much, ask about breaking up the visit into smaller steps and introduce the appointment more gradually. This way your child will become more familiar and feel more comfortable.

Most important, praise and reward your child and you for a job well done!

How did you prepare your child for their first dental appointment? How did it go? How have your subsequent dental visits been? Have you heard of social stories? Have your read social stories or created your own? Tell us, We’d really like to know! Send us an email at kidstoothhotline@proton.me Like Us or Chat with us on Facebook at facebook.com/kidstoothhotline

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

How To Make It Easier To Take Care Of Your Children’s Teeth – Strategies For Your At Home Dental Care Flossing Routine When Your Child Has Autism Spectrum Disorder

April 18, 2024April 17, 2024 ~ kidstoothhotline ~ 1 Comment

In the Know for You to Know

Children’s oral health (aka dental health) is essential for their overall health and well-being. As a parent, you understand that preventing dental issues are important.

You also know that this is not so simple to do when your child has Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), since establishing and following a daily brushing and flossing routine can be quite challenging.

For some children this may be due to sensory sensitivities, for some it’s due to taste and texture sensitivities, and for some it’s tactile sensitivities which leads to everyone’s frustration.

These last 2 weeks we’ve discussed the challenges and strategies to help you help your child achieve successful dental care in the office , as well as strategies for your at home toothbrushing routine.

Today we’re continuing to break down the basics on challenges and strategies for your at home flossing routine.

Strategies For Your At Home Flossing Routine

Almost everyone thinks you need to brush teeth first and then floss. Brush and floss, right?

It’s actually a good idea to floss first and then brush, so this way you brush away everything that was caught in-between the teeth.

Dental Floss Choices To Help Get You Started

Hand held flossers in fun colors and fun shaped handles
String floss (aka regular floss) waxed or unwaxed
String floss in plain (no flavor) or fun flavors (like grape or bubblegum)

Flossing Steps

Start by showing your child the floss and have them touch the floss. You can touch the floss to the back of their hand and then slide it gently up and down along the side of one of their fingers.

You can then gently touch the floss to their lips. Ask them to open their mouth (as big as they can) and touch the floss up to one or two of their front teeth. Count together how long they can keep their mouth open.

Next Comes Flossing

Whether you’re using a hand held flosser or string floss always remember to gently slide the floss between your child’s tooth and their gums.

The gums between the teeth are triangle shaped and you want to gently slide the floss to the side of the gums next to the tooth, never straight up onto the gums.

If you decide to use a hand held flosser keep a tissue or two close by so you can clean off the floss as you go from tooth to tooth. You don’t want to transfer the stuff in-between teeth from one tooth to the next.

If you’re using string floss, here are 5 steps to help stream line your flossing technique—

Wrap about18 inches of floss around one of your middle fingers. Wind the remaining floss around the same finger of your opposite hand. This finger will take up the floss as you move along.
Hold the floss tightly between your thumbs and forefingers.
Guide the floss between your child’s tooth and gums using a gentle, rubbing motion.
When the floss reaches the gum line, curve it around the tooth into a C shape against the tooth. Always gently slide floss into the space between the gums and each tooth.
Hold the floss against the tooth away from the gums. Gently rub the side of the tooth with an up-and-down motion, following the shape of each tooth. Don’t forget the back of their last teeth.

What’s The Order To Floss Teeth?

Most of the time the order you’ll floss is the same as toothbrushing. Since you’re going slowly and introducing flossing, it may be helpful to try this tooth flossing order—

Top front teeth
Bottom front teeth
Top right back teeth
Top left back teeth
Bottom left back teeth
Bottom right back teeth

4 Important Tips To Remember

Always support your child’s head,
Always have good lighting so you can see inside their mouth as well as what you are doing,
Always be able to easily move the floss around their mouth, and
Always find the safest and most comfortable position for you and your child to floss and brush their teeth.

A Parent’s Experience Establishing A Daily Oral Hygiene Routine For Their Child With ASD

Remember the child we’ve been discussing the last couple of weeks? The child who took 4+ years to be able to become the ideal child and accept dental care.

This family’s schedule and calendar for their AM and PM routine included separate check boxes for AM brushing as well as for PM flossing and PM brushing.

Then after each part was completed they helped their child check off that box. If it was partially completed, that box got a partial check mark, and if it wasn’t going to happen they left that box blank.

At the end of the week they counted up the number of checked boxes, the number of partially check boxes, and the number of no checked boxes. Then they determined a prize for the checked boxes, and kept moving forward in a positive way.

What To Remember

Flossing is hard and can be a struggle, but it is important because it is the only real way to clean in-between teeth.

Introducing flossing and incorporating it into your child’s daily oral routine takes time and may take multiple revisions and repeats.

1 of the most important things to remember, praise and reward your child and yourself for a job well done!

Stay Tuned — We’re looking forward to seeing you next week when we discuss tips for creating your own story.

Does your child have ASD? Have you attempted flossing? What are your at home care challenges? How is your routine going? What are your successes? What have you learned works for your child? Tell us, We’d really like to know! Send us an email at kidstoothhotline@proton.me Like Us or Chat with us on Facebook at facebook.com/kidstoothhotline

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

How To Make It Easier To Take Care Of Your Children’s Teeth – Strategies For Your At Home Care When Your Child Has Autism Spectrum Disorder

April 11, 2024April 10, 2024 ~ kidstoothhotline ~ 2 Comments

In the Know for You to Know

Children’s oral health (aka dental health) is an extremely important part of healthy everyday life. As a parent, one of your first goals is to focus on prevention and at home oral hygiene routines.

However, for some children who have Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) following a brushing and flossing routine can be quite difficult. This makes establishing and maintaining these daily routines challenging.

For some children this may be due to sensory sensitivities, for some it’s due to taste and texture sensitivities, and for some it’s their inability to communicate which leads to everyone’s frustration.

Last week we discussed the challenges and strategies to help you help your child achieve successful dental care in the office.

Today we’re breaking down the basics on challenges and strategies for your at home tooth care routine.

Strategies For Your At Home Tooth Care Routine

Almost everyone thinks you need to brush teeth in the bathroom, it is not always the case.

A Few Ways For You To More Easily Brush Your Child’s Teeth

Try brushing your child’s teeth with your child lying down on your bed, or
With you sitting on a chair have your child sit down on the floor in front of you and lean back against your legs. Have them tip their head up so you can see inside their mouth, or
Have your child lie down on the floor. You can either sit beside your child, or put a pillow on your lap and place your child’s head on the pillow, or
Standing in the bathroom with your child standing in front of you, have them face the bathroom mirror with their head slightly tilted against your body. Place your hand gently over their hand so that you can help guide the toothbrush around their mouth.

What You Need To Get Started Brushing Your Child’s Teeth

Soft-bristled toothbrush-choose your child’s favorite color or cartoon character
Electric toothbrush
Bubble gum or fruity flavored toothpaste
Hand held Flossers in fun colors
2 Minute Timer-a traditional fun colored plastic timer and watch the sand as you brush teeth, play a favorite song, or sign up for the 2 Minute 2X A Day App
Fluoride Rinse- which is available in several flavors

Parent Choices

Electric toothbrush-some children like the feeling of the moving bristles in their mouth and some children do not
Toothpaste- if you’re concerned about sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) in your child’s toothpaste, there are toothpastes without SLS, you may want to consider the Hello brand or Tanner’s Tasty Paste (Disclaimer: I do not receive any endorsements and do not have any affiliations with any of the mentioned products).

Toothbrushing Steps

Start by showing your child their toothbrush and have them touch the brush handle and then the bristles with their fingers, then rub the bristles gently in small circles on the back of their hand.

You can then touch the toothbrush bristles to their lips. Ask them to open their mouth (as big as they can) and touch the bristles to one or two of their front teeth. Count together to see how long they can keep their mouth open.

Place a rice grain size (if your child is younger than 3 years old) or a small green pea size (if your child is older than 3 years old) amount of toothpaste on their toothbrush.

Next Comes Toothbrushing—

Brush the outside, inside and chewing surfaces of the top right back teeth five times,
Brush the outside, inside and biting edges of the top front teeth five times,
Brush the outside, inside and chewing surfaces of the top left back teeth five times,
Brush the inside, outside and chewing surfaces of the bottom left back teeth five times,
Brush the outside, inside and biting edges of the bottom front teeth five times,
Brush the bottom right back teeth outside, inside and chewing surfaces five times.

4 Important Tips To Remember When Brushing Your Child’s Teeth

always support your child’s head,
have good lighting so you can see inside their mouth as well as what you are doing,
be able to easily move their tooth brush around their mouth, and
always find the safest and most comfortable position for you and your child.

A Parent’s Experience Establishing A Daily Oral Hygiene Routine For Their Child With ASD

Remember the child we discussed last week? The child who took 4+ years to be able to accept dental care.

You know that agonizing, tearful, disappointing, painful and frustrating dental appointments are compounded at home when you try to brush your child’s teeth, let alone try to floss.

They read social stories and made step by step story boards. They coordinated their oral hygiene schedule with other parts of their daily AM and PM routines.

They involved anyone in the family they could. They tried distraction and demonstrated through role playing.

They came up with a calendar for their AM and PM routines, made this something fun to look forward to, and they included a rewards calendar.

The hardest part was staying positive and motivated no matter how frustrated or defeated they felt.

Then one day out of the blue it came together after more than 4 years in the making. Yes this may seem amazing, but it can happen because each child is on their own time line.

I Always Brush My Teeth Twice A Day — I Just Want To Do My Puzzle

What To Remember

It takes time to establish a routine, and it may take multiple revisions and repeats. Try incorporating oral care into your daily life to become part of what you do everyday.

Consider talking with your child’s teacher, principal or the school district about adding daily oral hygiene to to your child’s Individualized Education  Plan (IEP).

It’s important to take this one step at a time, reward your child’s successes and acknowledge that somethings may need to be tweaked.

2 of the most important things to remember—
When you get to where you want your child’s oral hygiene routine to be it will be so worth it!
Reward yourself for a job well done!!

Stay Tuned — We’re looking forward to seeing you next week when we continue discussing Strategies For Your At Home Care Routine with tips for creating your own storyboard.

Does your child have ASD? What are your at home care challenges? How is your routine going? What are your successes? What have you learned works for your child? Tell us, We’d really like to know! Send us an email at kidstoothhotline@proton.me Like Us or Chat with us on Facebook at facebook.com/kidstoothhotline

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

How To Make It Easier To Go To The Dentist When Your Child Has Autism Spectrum Disorder

April 4, 2024April 3, 2024 ~ kidstoothhotline ~ 3 Comments

In the Know for You to Know

Going to the Dentist is hard. For parents whose child has Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) it is especially difficult.

What is important to know is that dental care and oral hygiene routines may go very slowly at first. Over time, and with compassion, patience and determination at home and in the pediatric dental office achieving positive results is possible and can bring invaluable rewards for your child and you.

ASD is complex and individual. There can also be associated medical issues that your family is dealing with and need to be taken into consideration.

Some children are distant and detached from people and their surroundings, and may or may not be verbal. Other children may have repetitive routines and behaviors, unpredictable body movements, or self-injurious behaviors. There are some children who have sensory, taste and/or texture sensitivities. Any of these behaviors can complicate dental care and establishing oral hygiene routines.

Today we’re breaking down the basics on challenges and strategies to help you help your child achieve successful dental care in the office.

Challenges And Strategies For Dental Care

Pediatric dental offices have all the bells and whistles for making going to the dentist fun. However they still have bright lights, loud noises and unfamiliar sights, smells and tastes.

Dental visits and procedures can be difficult for children with ASD who are sensitive to strong smells, tastes, and textures, or can not tolerate people or objects near their ears, face and mouth.

Strategies For Making Dental Visits Successful

Call the office ahead of your visit to discuss your child’s medical history, needs and preferences. Ask if you can tour the office with your child before their appointment.
While you’re on the phone or during the tour, ask if the office has or if you can bring noise-canceling headphones, a weighted blanket, or sunglasses, You can also ask if your child can listen to music or watch a movie. It’s okay to ask if it would be possible to turn off the fluorescent ceiling lights in the treatment room, and/or have limited talking during the dental procedure. If your child has self-soothing or a repetitive routine when they’re in a new environment remember to let the office know.
Some children with ASD may benefit from a gradual introduction to each step over multiple successive visits, rather than trying to accomplish everything at once. You can also ask the office if they offer introduction or “desensitization” visits to help prepare for your child for their first visit, their cleaning appointment or their dental procedure.
Tell your child ahead of time they are going to the dentist.
Read a social story about going to the dentist or create a story board about going to the dentist.
Read a book about going to the dentist. Some of our favorites are —Just Going To The Dentist by Mercer Mayer, The Berenstain Bears Visit The Dentist, Dentist Trip (Peppa Pig), Dora Goes To The Dentist.
Role play a dentist visit at home – You can put on disposable gloves, let your child touch them when they’re on your hands so they get the feel of the gloves’ texture, and practice looking in their mouth and counting their teeth. You can also do this with their toys.
Encourage your child and and do something fun as a reward for success at the end of the visit. (just not sweets or candy). This gives them positive reinforcement and associates the visit with something happy and something to look forward to.
Always be positive when talking about the dentist and their upcoming appointments.

A Pediatric Dentist’s Experience Treating A Child With Autism Spectrum Disorder

As a pediatric dentist it is a pleasure and privilege to treat all children. The greatest compliment I can receive is when a parent entrusts me with the dental care and treatment for their child.

I would like to tell you about a patient of mine who has ASD. This child is amazing in the office now but our dental journey did not start out that way 4+ years ago. For this child’s parents it was agonizing, hair pulling, tearful, disappointing, painful and frustrating. What worked once didn’t always work twice. Each time we regrouped and eked forward. Today I’m happy to say that this child is incredible for their dental appointments, and I am so proud for this family.

What To Remember

Pack your patience. It may take a while to get to where you want to be. When you get there it will be so worth it!

Stay Tuned — We’re looking forward to seeing you next week when we discuss Challenges And Strategies For Your At Home Care.

Does your child have ASD? What are your dental visit challenges? What are your tips for dental visits? Tell us, We’d really like to know! Send us an email at kidstoothhotline@proton.me Like Us or Chat with us on Facebook at facebook.com/kidstoothhotline

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

Braces 101

Why Are The Wires Called Archwires?

What Do Archwires Do?

My Child’s Archwire Is Poking Their Cheek, What Should I Do?

What Is Wax For Braces?

How To Use Wax For Braces

Why Do Archwires Become Loose?

Foods To Avoid With Braces

What To Remember

If this is helpful for You Please Share:

Braces Evaluation For Children, Helping Develop A Healthy Smile

Starting Early

So Why Age 7?

Should Your Child Be Evaluated For Braces? Signs To Check For

3 Reasons Why This Matters

What Is The Purpose Of Evaluating My Child’s Bite When They’re So Young?

4 Benefits Of Early Braces Evaluation

What Will I Learn From A Consultation With An Orthodontist?

Why Would An Orthodontist Recommend Early Treatment?

4 Reasons An Orthodontist May Recommend Early Treatment

What To Remember

If this is helpful for You Please Share:

What Is A Tooth Abscess?

Why Do Children’s Teeth Abscess?

What Are The Signs Of A Tooth Abcess To Look For?

Can An Abscess In A Baby Tooth Affect The Permanent Tooth?

Do Children’s Tooth Abscesses Go Away On Their Own?

Are Antibiotics Needed For A Child’s Tooth Abscess?

Can A Child’s Tooth Abscess Turn Into An Emergency?

What To Remember

If this is helpful for You Please Share:

Tooth Basics

Dental Enamel Starts Developing Early

What Is Hypoplasia?

What Causes Enamel Hypoplasia?

Does Enamel Hypoplasia Affect Baby Teeth And Adult Teeth?

What Are The Signs Of Enamel Hypoplasia?

Do You Treat Enamel Hypoplasia?

How Do You Treat Teeth With Enamel Hypoplasia?

What Can We Do At Home To Help The Hypoplasia From Getting Worse?

What To Remember

If this is helpful for You Please Share:

Child Friendly Language Is The Key To Creating A Fun And Positive Dental Experience

Child Friendly Dental Words

What To Remember

If this is helpful for You Please Share:

What Are Canker Sores?

Minor Aphthous Ulcer

Major Aphthous Ulcer

What Causes Canker Sores In Children?

What Are The Symptoms Of Canker Sores In Children?

Are Canker Sores And Cold Sores The Same?

What Is The Difference Between Canker Sores And Cold Sores?

How Are Canker Sores Treated In Children?

How Long Do Canker Sores Take To Heal?

Is There A Way To Prevent Canker Sores?

When To Call Your Pediatrician

What To Remember

If this is helpful for You Please Share:

Helping Your Child To Learn And Prepare For Going To The Dentist

Read A Social Story With Your Child About Taking Care Of Their Teeth

Create Your Own Social Story About Going To The Dentist

What To Remember

If this is helpful for You Please Share:

Strategies For Your At Home Flossing Routine

Dental Floss Choices To Help Get You Started

Flossing Steps

Next Comes Flossing

What’s The Order To Floss Teeth?

4 Important Tips To Remember

A Parent’s Experience Establishing A Daily Oral Hygiene Routine For Their Child With ASD

What To Remember

If this is helpful for You Please Share:

Strategies For Your At Home Tooth Care Routine

A Few Ways For You To More Easily Brush Your Child’s Teeth

What You Need To Get Started Brushing Your Child’s Teeth

Parent Choices

Toothbrushing Steps

4 Important Tips To Remember When Brushing Your Child’s Teeth

A Parent’s Experience Establishing A Daily Oral Hygiene Routine For Their Child With ASD