Kids Teeth

Flossing is incredibly important to keep the spaces between teeth clean, which are often neglected. If your child doesn’t floss regularly, then their teeth – and overall health – could suffer.  

Excessive Plaque and Cavities

If your child is not flossing, then plaque can build up between their teeth and lead to cavities. Plaque is colorless and difficult to see. When you eat, the bacteria in plaque use the sugars found in your food to create an acid that attacks your teeth. Repeated acidic attacks can wear down tooth enamel and lead to cavities, gingivitis and periodontal disease.  

Tartar Buildup

Excessive plaque buildup can eventually turn into tartar – a hard, dark substance that can make it harder to clean teeth. Tartar buildup can cause gum disease, and lead to serious gum infections. These infections can damage the tissue that holds teeth in place, and lead to tooth loss. Additionally, tartar can’t be brushed or flossed away like plaque, and can only be removed by professional dental treatment. 

Bleeding Gums

Not brushing and flossing regularly can cause swollen, sensitive gums that bleed when they are brushed. Bleeding gums are often an early indication of gingivitis, otherwise known as gum disease. Plaque between teeth that is not flossed away can infect the gum line and lead to gingivitis.  

If your child has tender, swollen gums that bleed when they brush or floss, then it’s time to schedule an appointment and evaluate their oral health. Gum disease is very treatable and can be prevented by regular brushing and flossing. 

Our Favorite Flossing Tips

Here’s a basic guide that will help you floss your children’s teeth: 

1. Use about 12-18 inches of dental floss. If that is too difficult, try using flossing tools like soft flossing picks. 
2. Use wide, flat dental tape to floss your children’s teeth. The width of the floss helps with the larger spaces in children’s teeth. 
3. Be gentle when flossing children’s teeth, and avoid applying too much pressure on their gums. 
4. Floss both sides of the teeth, and make sure to gently dip beneath the gum lime.  

For more detailed flossing pointers, check out this handy flossing guide provided by the ADA.  

Begin Flossing Early

Recent studies have found that 43% of school-aged children have never flossed. To help familiarize your child with flossing, begin flossing their teeth as soon as their first two teeth touch. It’s important to get into a healthy mouth care routine with your children at an early age so that they can brush and floss as they get older and become more independent. 

If your child is uncomfortable flossing, then schedule an appointment with our office. We’ll help teach them about the proper way to floss in a relaxed way that encourages them to take action in their oral health.  

As your family prepares to go back-to-school, we wanted to give you a quick checklist that will help prepare your children for a mouth-healthy school year!

Fresh Toothbrush 

Did you know that you should replace your child’s toothbrush, or electric toothbrush head every 3 – 4 months? Toothbrushes face a couple of different problems that can cut their lifespan short. General use wears down bristles and limits their effectiveness over time. Back-to-school season is the perfect time for a new toothbrush that will keep your child’s teeth clean until around winter break. 

New Mouth Guard 

Does your child plan on playing sports this fall? If so, be sure to get them a mouth guard to protect their teeth from injuries. Facial injuries are one of the most common injuries in sports, and many can be made less severe with proper protection like a mouth guard. If your child is playing a sport, then you can keep their teeth safer this season with a sports mouth guard.

Reusable Water Bottle 

Water helps strengthen and clean teeth. With every sip, water cleans teeth by ridding them of any leftover foods or acids. It also washes away bacteria and sugars that can eventually lead to cavities. Water has zero calories, and helps restore the mouth’s pH balance to fight unhealthy levels of acid. But, water also hydrates the body as it sweats. If your child’s school allows it, a water bottle is a great way to ensure that your child stays adequately hydrated while at school. 

Consistent Brushing Routine 

The strongest tactic in any oral health routine is maintaining a positive oral health routine. You can help your child establish a mouth-healthy routine right now by having them brush their teeth twice per day for two minutes at a time, and floss once per day, making sure to floss the tough-to-reach areas of their teeth. Use the summer to help your child get into a positive oral health routine that they can carry over into their school year.

A Dental Health Checkup 

A dental health checkup it the best way to get a clear understanding of the specific issues (or non-issues) present in your child’s oral health. We will evaluate the state of your child’s oral health, and provide actionable advice that will improve their oral health, and give them a healthy leg-up on their school year.

A healthy, bright smile is a powerful thing – especially for kids. But many parents turn to whitening products to help improve their child’s smile. One of the most common teeth-whiteners is whitening toothpaste – but is it OK for your child to use?

Whitening Toothpaste 

Whitening toothpaste can work to remove stains on the surface of teeth, but it does not work to change the natural color of teeth or lighten their shade at all. Whitening toothpastes usually contain mild abrasives that work to polish teeth, and have chemicals that break down or dissolve tooth stains.

Whitening toothpaste will work to remove small stains, but it won’t alter your child’s teeth to make them appear drastically whiter. It can also cause teeth to become sensitive to cold or hot, as microscopic holes in tooth enamel may become exposed from the abrasives. 

Professional Alternative to Whitening Toothpaste

Dental bleaching is a form of cosmetic dentistry that whitens teeth through the controlled application of carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide. While you can get dental bleaching products at the store or pharmacy, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry advises that parents consult a pediatric dentist when bleaching their children’s teeth. 

With professional bleaching, your pediatric dentist also has more control when placing the whitening appliance. The added control will empower them to fit a customized tray to your child’s teeth that will work better than a store bought appliance, and help curtail negative gingival effects. Additionally, professionally applied dental bleaching whitens better than store bought products, and affords your child more tissue protection than an over-the-counter product.  

If we Choose Whitening, what Age Should My Child Begin?

Your child needs to wait until the enamel on their permanent teeth has fully calcified BEFORE beginning any whitening treatment, which usually takes 2 years after an adult tooth emerges. If your child uses a whitening treatment before all their adult teeth come in, then they risk breaking down their tooth enamel and damaging their gum tissue.  

Before beginning any whitening treatment at home, it’s best to consult with your child’s pediatric dentist first.  

Ask Our Office! 

If your child is self-conscious about stains on their teeth, then visit our office. We will evaluate the state of their oral health, and offer care tips that can help them get a healthier smile.  

It is important to consult with a pediatric dentist before beginning any teeth-whitening treatment for your child. This way, you can help earn your child a brighter smile under the professional supervision of a pediatric dentist, and you can avoid potential painful side effects common with at-home teeth-whitening products.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry advises that parents establish a dental home for their child before their first tooth emerges, or around the ages of 8 – 10 months. But, what is a dental home, and why is it important? Why not simply visit a general dentist?

Extensive Pediatric Training

Pediatric dentists have had 2-3 years of special training to care for young children and adolescents. Check out the “about us” section of our website to learn more about our dentist’s degrees, professional associations and affiliations, as well as distinguishes and honors. You can rest easy knowing that we have had extensive training which has equipped us to care for your child.

Knowledgeable Guidance

Children’s teeth grow, and their smile changes over time. Pediatric dentists are experts at growing healthy smiles for children, and guiding parents by providing them with actionable oral health advice. No one smile is the same, and we understand this. Our office has helped guide thousands of families to oral health success, and we’ve treated smiles of all shapes and sizes. We understand that parents need the best information possible to help their children earn a healthy smile that grows with them. We are happy to teach parents about oral health care, and the methods needed to grow a wonderful, healthy smile.

Early Diagnoses

A Pediatric dentist understands the common ailments that afflict children, and how to combat them. Early childhood carries, gum disease, tooth decay and halitosis are all common in children, and require specific care and treatment from a pediatric dentist. Most of these ailments can be avoided with early diagnoses, and preventative treatment. Our dental office helps prepare parents with the knowledge and tactics they need to side-step common oral health issues, and maintain a healthy smile at home.

Exclusive Care for Children

Pediatric dentists care for children of all ages. From first tooth to adolescence, we help your child develop a healthy smile until they’re ready to move on to a general dentist. We work with you to teach your kids healthy brushing habits, inform them about the importance of flossing, and give them dietary tips that will keep their mouth clean for years to come.

Does Your Family Have a Dental Home?

A pediatric dentist is one of the most important care providers a child can have, and we would love for our office to be your dental home. We are trained to specifically care for children of all ages, and provide a relaxing office that helps comfort anxious children. Call our office today to setup a stress-free first visit for your child, and get ahead of any oral health issues before they become a more serious concern.  

Raising young children is a full-time job, and as a parent, your child’s health and happiness is your top priority. Taking care of your children’s teeth can be confusing, and sometimes frustrating. But, don’t lose all hope, these books can help young children learn about their teeth, and grow to enjoy taking care of them. 

Brush Your Teeth, Please 

This fun book teaches children about proper dental hygiene through beautiful, animal popups. The book features a lion brushing his teeth, a shark flossing, and has interactive, moving elements that kids love. Your child will enjoy reading this popup book, and learning about proper oral care from some of their favorite animals. 

Bear’s Loose Tooth 

Losing a tooth can be a hard experience for a child, but “Bear’s Loose Tooth” teaches children that losing a tooth isn’t all that bad. This book is easy to read for children, and is written in an extended nursery rhyme – making it fun for parents to read aloud with their kids.

Sugar Bugs

Sugar Bugs is a fantastic, educational book that teaches kids about how sugar can harm teeth, and how to avoid the nasty sugar bugs! This book covers the importance of a healthy diet, and how a dentist can help keep sugar bugs away! It’s a light-hearted and fun way to introduce children to cavities and proper oral health. 

You Think It’s Easy Being the Tooth Fairy? 

Have your kids ever wondered how the tooth fairy visits kids all over the world to exchange treats for teeth? Well, this book tells all about how the tooth fairy finds kids with missing teeth, and what she does with all of those extra teeth. This book does a great job of helping kids accept losing a tooth, and normalizes what can be a painful experience.

What to Expect When You Go to the Dentist

A lot of children experience quite a bit of anxiety when they first visit the dentist, and this books seeks to help with that. “What to Expect When You Go to the Dentist” teaches children about the dentist’s job, and helps children overcome their fear of visiting the dentist. This book does a great job of explaining dental tools, and the importance of regular dental checkups.

Treat Your Children to Healthy Teeth

Schedule an appointment with our office so that we can evaluate your child’s oral health. We are trained to see children of all ages, and would be happy to provide you with helpful advice on how to keep your children’s teeth healthy at home.

Flossing is an important part of getting a healthy smile and keeping cavities and gum disease away. Yet, it is entirely possible to floss the wrong way – and damage sensitive gums in the process. Below, we cover why flossing is important, and a few common flossing mistakes.  

Brushing Only Does So Much

Flossing removes plaque buildup in the places where toothbrushes can’t reach – between teeth. Brushing alone only covers about 1/3 of the total tooth surface area in the mouth, which leaves a lot of space for plaque – and cavities – to thrive. Flossing helps fix this by removing food and other debris in between teeth that causes plaque accumulation. Plaque accumulation leads to oral disease and cavities. Flossing helps completely clean the mouth to help avoid oral disease.  

Quick Flossing Tips

It’s never too late to begin flossing. Here’s a basic guide to flossing your children’s teeth: 

1. Begin flossing your children’s teeth when any two teeth touch. 
2. Use about 12-18 inches of dental floss. If that is too difficult, try using flossing tools like soft flossing picks. 
3. Use wide, flat dental tape to floss your children’s teeth. The width of the floss helps with the larger spaces in children’s teeth. 
4. Be gentle when flossing children’s teeth, and avoid applying too much pressure on their gums. 
5. Floss both sides of the teeth, and make sure to gently dip beneath the gum line.  

For more detailed flossing pointers, check out this handy flossing guide provided by the ADA.  

4 Common Flossing Mistakes 

1 - Moving Too Quickly

If your child moves too quickly from tooth to tooth, then they risk not fully cleaning the tartar buildup on their teeth. Remember: flossing cleans debris from between teeth, but also helps remove a thin, damaging layer of plaque that can lead to cavities. We suggest spending about 10 seconds flossing each side of the tooth.   

2 – Bleeding Gums may Happen

If your child hasn’t flossed in a while, they may bleed a bit when they begin flossing again. Bleeding gums often indicates oral disease, which is caused by plaque and bacteria buildup – exactly what flossing helps to prevent! In order to fight oral disease, your child actually needs to continue flossing. Eventually, their gums will become less swollen and no longer bleed.  

3 - Flossing Too Often

Flossing too often can damage gum tissue and prolonging gum sensitivity. To clean properly without hurting gums, floss once per day, right after brushing. We suggest having your child floss right before bed, since it provides ample time for flossing.  

4 - Missing Both Sides of the Tooth

A lot of people only floss one side of each of their teeth – focusing on the gaps between teeth as singular spaces to be cleaned. Again, flossing fights plaque buildup on teeth, so have your child focus on flossing each side of their teeth below the gum line.  

Children Should Floss Regularly

A full flossing routine should include cleaning teeth below the gum line, where dental plaque can go unseen and unreached by toothbrushes. If left untreated, plaque buildup near the root of teeth can lead to gingivitis and tooth loss. Bleeding gums when brushing or flossing is often an early sign of gum disease.  

If your child has tender, swollen gums that bleed when they brush or floss, then it’s time to schedule an appointment and evaluate their oral health. Click here to use our pediatric dentist locator and find a dentist in your neighborhood today.

For children, Halloween is all about getting spooky costumes, and bagging as much candy as they can get. But how are those sweets affecting your child’s teeth? Today we’ll look at some of spookiest Halloween candy for teeth, and some candy that can be real “treats” this Halloween.  

The Tricks 

Hard Candy

Hard candy is very popular, and comes in nearly every flavor and size imaginable. But, be vigilant when letting your child eat hard candy, because it can crack their teeth. Hard candy also tends to stick around longer than other candy, which exposes teeth to sugar for longer. Extended contact with sugar can lead to more cavities because sugar provides bad bacteria with the energy it needs to destroy enamel. 

Sticky Candy

Like hard candy, sticky candy can get stuck in tooth crevices and stay around long after it’s been swallowed. Sticky candy is difficult to remove from teeth, and gives cavity-causing bacteria more time to eat away enamel.  

Sour Candy

Sour candy can leave teeth susceptible to cavities more so than any other candy. This is because sour candy contains a high amount of acid. In fact, the elevated acid content is what makes it so sour. The acidity can eat away the enamel of teeth, and leave them vulnerable to cavities. 

The Treats 

Candy Bars with Nuts

Regular candy bars aren’t the best things for your teeth, and depending upon their ingredients, can be very sticky and damaging to teeth. This is why you should look for candy bars that have a lot of nuts in them: the nuts break up the sticky consistency, and leave sugar on teeth for far less time than candy bars without nuts. We like the KIND Bar with Almonds and Macadamia nuts as a tooth-friendly sweet treat. Just remember to have our kids brush their teeth after consuming them, because debris can get left in their mouth afterwards. 

Dark Chocolate

Chocolate is a better sweet option this Halloween, since it washes away easier than other candy, and is less destructive to enamel. But, dark chocolate is the best type of chocolate for oral health because it contains less sugar than milk chocolate and can actually help keep cavities away! That’s because it contains a flavanoid called epicatechin. Epicatechin has shown to slow tooth decay and also reduces cholesterol, blood clots and clogged arteries.  

Dark chocolate also contains polyphenols, which are naturally occurring chemicals that limit bad oral that attacks your teeth. The polyphenols in dark chocolate also reduce bad breath! 

Remember to Brush Twice Daily

Did you know that just over 25% of candy purchased in America each year is bought at Halloween? It’s important to be diligent, and not let your child overindulge on candy this season. This will help avoid any oral health issues that could arise from consuming too much sugar. 

Schedule an appointment with our office if your child experiences tooth pain this Halloween. We will thoroughly evaluate the state of their oral health, and provide a treatment plan that works for them. Have a happy and safe Halloween, and don’t forget to brush!