Summer lovin’ fun days are still in full swing, and we know you’ve been enjoying time poolside, neighborhood and friend barbecues, and hopefully have already had a summer vacation trip or have one in the works. Our pediatric dentists and staff enjoy the summer fun, especially appreciating the air conditioning in our offices, all while hearing stories from our pediatric patients about family trips and summer activities.
We want to see your kids’ smiles. Is it time for a pediatric dental office visit? Do you know what types of services we offer? Do you know why you should visit a pediatric dentist instead of a general dentist? Here’s a rundown of everything you should know about pediatric dentistry.
Pediatric Dentistry FACTS
Did you know pediatric dentists have more training than general dentists? Pediatric dentists complete an additional two to the three-year unique program following dentistry school. This additional training is specific to pediatric care, which means different sized tools and techniques for procedures. Additionally, their learning and training are focused on children’s psychological and physical development from infancy through their teenage years.
Dental hygiene habits start in infancy. Even before their first tooth, you should gently cleanse their gums with a soft, wet washcloth (be sure it’s clean!) after breastfeeding or bottle feeding. Once that first tooth has popped, use an infant toothbrush to build the habit of brushing it in the mornings and the evenings before bed.
Your little one should have their first dental visit either when they turn one 3year old or when their first tooth has come in. As with starting dental hygiene habits early, dentist visits should become a routine part of their life, similar to a visit to the doctor’s office. Positive dental experiences are essential. Furthermore, we know that the earlier we start with those, the less likely it is that dental anxiety will be an issue in the future.
Cavities in baby teeth should be restored, not ignored. Nor should the baby tooth be removed. Why? The primary teeth serve multiple essential functions for the development of your child. Firstly, the cavities can be extremely painful. Secondly, as your toddler is learning to switch from a liquid diet to foods, chewing is essential! Thirdly, the primary teeth help your child’s speech development; the tongue touching the teeth is necessary for most of the sounds we use in our speech. Lastly, the primary teeth also serve as placeholders in our jaws for the permanent teeth. The surrounding teeth may move around if a primary tooth is extracted before its natural timing.
Dental sealants are a necessary preventative procedure in pediatric dentistry. They are painless and serve to help protect the teeth from cavities. Kids can have trouble reaching the deep grooves and valleys in the molars; after all, motor skills are learned over time, and even adults have trouble with those spots in their teeth. The dental sealants are typically a transparent color or colored to match the tooth. The procedure is quick and painless. We thoroughly clean and dry the tooth before applying a gel to rough the surface up slightly for better adhesion. Following that, the sealant is applied. Once the sealant has dried (typically, we use a blue light), the procedure is finished. Usually, your child can eat at their next snack or mealtime without a problem. Dental sealants have been proven to reduce the risk for decay in molars by up to 80%. For more information about sealants, click here.
Utah Pediatric Dentists can help you with breastfeeding. Each of our locations has the CO2 LightScalpel laser, and our pediatric dentists have been specially trained in its proper use. This cutting-edge technology allows us to help breastfeeding mothers whose babies have a lip tie or tongue tie. We have had mothers travel to see us from hundreds of miles away because the CO2 laser is proven to be a better, more effective, and less painful process than other tools or technologies. Read here for more information about how our CO2 laser may help you and your baby.
We recommend mouth guards for all sports, not only contact sports. A broken, chipped tooth that has been knocked loose can be painful and alarming for your kid. More than 80 million kids nationwide participate in sports, and studies have shown that athletes using mouth guards are 82-93% less likely to have a dentofacial injury. Protect those smiles, and avoid painful mouth injuries by talking with your pediatric dentist about a mouth guard. For more information about mouth guards, click here.
Most kids get cavities. Don’t feel guilty, parents, even when you’re a champion for moderation in sweets. Moreover, you try to limit sodas and sugary drinks, but the truth is that most kids get cavities. In fact, according to the CDC, over 52% of kids between the ages of six and eight have had a cavity in a primary tooth. What does this mean for you? The meaning for you is two-fold: number one, don’t beat yourself up about it, and number two, talk to your pediatric dentist about preventative care, your dental hygiene routines in the house, and schedule biannual teeth cleanings.
Schedule Your Biannual Checkup for Your Kids with Utah Pediatric Dentists
We care about our community and our patients and their families. Come and see us; we want to hear about your summer. Show us those smiles, and tell us summer stories while we clean your kids’ pearly whites. We have three convenient locations in the Salt Lake City area (Bountiful, Taylorsville, and Stansbury Park), all fully staffed and equipped so your kids can receive the best care.
Any child, regardless of age, might experience anxiety or panic at the mere mention of a dentist appointment. Fear of the dentist can develop at a young age. Although dental anxiety is not something that is innate in children, certain events or experiences in their lives can cause it. Kids’ dental anxiety is frequently brought on by their parents’ dread of the dentist or their own negative dental experiences.
There are actually a high number of grownups who are utterly terrified of seeing the dentist. When you have a child who is terrified of the dentist and you want to calm his or her anxieties, it can be difficult if you happen to be one of those people who are afraid of the dentist yourself. Here are a few strategies you can use to lessen your child’s fear of the dentist and make their visits there seem more enjoyable, regardless of whether you’re terrified of going to the dentist yourself or not. Keep reading to learn these important tips to ease your child’s fear of the dentist.
1. Take Your Child to the Dentist From An Early Age
The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends introducing your child to a dental expert as early in life as you can as one of the best methods to help them develop a comfort level with visiting one. Some professionals advise bringing your child to the dentist as early as age 1. Your child will become more accustomed to and at ease with the regular visits if you give them a “dental home” at a young age. They can become accustomed to the sights, sounds, and smells of the office. The sooner they become accustomed to going to the dentist, the sooner they will realize that it’s just a regular checkup.
2. Watch Your Choice of Words and Keep Things Simple
Keep your descriptions of the trip to the dentist as simple as you can whenever you are discussing it with your child. You don’t want to overwhelm a young child with information and details they may find overwhelming. Keeping things simple and uncomplicated will make your kid feel less perplexed and/or anxious.
In order to avoid associating unfavorable words with the dental visit, you should also be mindful of the language you use. Never describe or explain a trip to the dentist’s office using the words “hurt,” “pain,” or “shot.”
3. Don’t Tell Them Your Scary Dental Stories
It’s crucial to refrain from discussing any unpleasant or painful dental experiences you’ve had in the past with your child. Some parents do this in an effort to “scare” their kids into caring for their teeth. To encourage their child to brush their teeth, parents may, for instance, mention how, when they were younger, they had to have four cavities filled at the same time because they neglected to brush correctly. Most of the time, all this will do is make your youngster more fearful of their upcoming dental appointment. Remember, your experiences may not be the same as their experiences will be, so it’s best to allow your child to go into it with a blank emotional canvas and allow them to paint their own experience. Our minds are powerful and can create our realities how we choose them to, so it’s best to be mindful of this and allow our children to create their own reality based on their own experience of any situation.
4. Do Not Use Bribery
Bribing your child to go to the dentist may seem like a “simple” method to soothe them, but it’s not a good idea. The focus will be taken off the notion that good oral health is a reward in and of itself since kids will begin to expect a reward each time they visit the dentist.
Additionally, promising a sweet treat after a dentist stresses the importance of maintaining clean, healthy teeth by avoiding sugary treats that can result in cavities may send the wrong message. Instead, commend your child for their bravery and good behavior after the visit is finished. Encourage them occasionally by surprising them with a sticker or a little toy.
5. Stay With Your Child
No matter how well you have planned for this moment, your child will probably feel a bit uneasy when he or she sits down in that large dental chair for the first time. By remaining close by, you can help him keep calm. Most dentists accept and encourage parents to accompany their children during appointments since having you around can make your youngster feel more at ease about getting a checkup alone.
6. Emphasize the Significance of Maintaining Good Oral Hygiene
Your child will be more receptive when you explain the significance of regular dentist visits to their dental health if you emphasize the value of proper oral hygiene to them and make it a habit in their daily lives.
Teach your child that going to the dentist is something they must do, not something they can choose to do and that the dentist will take care of their teeth so they are sturdy enough for them to eat with. Additionally, you might mention how the dentist works to prevent cavities and guarantees that his patients will have a bright smile for years to come.
7. Take Them Along to Your Appointments
Take your child along if you can to your own appointment. Allowing them to observe you sitting calmly and unbothered during your procedure will enable them to realize they have nothing to fear as well. After all, parents are their children’s biggest role models, so this is one of the most effective methods in eliminating your child’s fear of going to the dentist.
Please note that we do provide all four levels of sedation at our offices in order to ensure your child does not feel any pain or discomfort from any type of dental procedure they may require.
Your child’s oral health along with their comfort is extremely important to us, and taking your little one for regular dental visits not only saves you money in the long run by avoiding the progression of dental decay, cavities or other ailments, but it also makes your child’s experience much more comfortable when they see a familiar face every time they need a dental checkup. We hope this article was helpful and some of these tips help ease your child’s fear of visiting the dentist. Call us at 801-948-8880 to book an appointment for your child today!
If there’s drool constantly dripping from your baby’s mouth and chin and she wants to put everything in her mouth all of a sudden, then congratulations! Your baby’s tooth is probably on its way.
While you might be concentrating on relieving her gum pain and providing her with the most comfort possible while she is teething, it’s also critical to start considering how to take care of those tiny pearls.
This is why: Babies who have teeth are susceptible to tooth decay and cavities. Additionally, children are more likely to develop cavities in their adult teeth if they have cavities in their baby teeth. Therefore, it’s crucial to establish a dental care routine early. Also, healthy baby teeth are super important because they form the shape of your child’s face, they make it easier for your child to talk more clearly, and they make eating and chewing easier.
How might you go about doing this? We have some pointers just for you.
Infant Oral Care
It’s crucial to understand that a bacteria known as Streptococcus mutans is one of the factors contributing to some kids’ increased risk of developing cavities. Because it consumes sugar and produces acid that dissolves the teeth’s protective enamel, it is the primary cause of tooth decay.
Although this bacteria is not present at birth, studies have shown that babies can pick it up very early on through the saliva of a parent or caregiver. Streptococcus mutans can be contracted by kissing a baby on the lips, sharing a spoon, or cleaning her pacifier in your mouth. The more cavity-causing bacteria an adult has in their mouth, the more cavity-causing bacteria the baby will get. We advise parents or any other adults not to share a toothbrush or eating utensil with a child, or to clean off a pacifier with their mouth.
The way a baby is fed can also affect the condition of their teeth. Babies who go to sleep with a bottle of milk, juice, or a pacifier coated in honey or sugar run the risk of developing baby bottle tooth decay. When sugar builds up around their teeth while they are sleeping, it feeds the Streptococcus mutans bacterium, causing decay.
At this age, oral hygiene also plays a huge role. When a baby’s first tooth erupts, you should begin brushing it. The American Dental Association advises using a dollop of toothpaste the size of a grain of rice up until the age of three and a small, soft toothbrush to gently brush all the way around the teeth. The fluoride in toothpaste will help fortify tooth enamel, making it more resistant to decay. When using fluoride-containing toothpaste on babies and young toddlers who are unable to spit, you should use a piece of damp gauze to remove any excess toothpaste. Although the fluoride is not hazardous to their health, when developing teeth are exposed to excessive amounts of the substance, they can begin to appear chalky and white (dental fluorosis) so just be wary of this.
By their first birthday or six months following the eruption of their first tooth, children should begin visiting the dentist.
Brushing Your Toddler’s Teeth
You’ll have to take the lead until your child is old enough to brush his/her own teeth, and we advise sitting cross-legged while holding your small toddler in your lap so they can gaze up at you. You get easy access to the rear teeth thanks to this.
Giving your toddler something to play with or watch can be a great distraction if they aren’t being cooperative.
Until your child learns to spit, you should be brushing twice a day and wiping away excess toothpaste with a piece of gauze.
Kindergarten and Up
You can start using a little larger, pea-sized dollop of toothpaste on the toothbrush once a child is able to spit. Children should clean their teeth twice daily for two minutes each.
And let’s not forget about flossing! The parent should be actively flossing their child’s teeth as soon as they come into contact with one another. This is typically the case when the child’s molars, which typically erupt between the ages of 3 and 4, come in.
Up until the age of 8, you should continue to supervise your child’s dental routine, as they might not have the manual dexterity required to reach every part of the mouth before that age.
Additionally, the American Dental Association advises seeing the dentist regularly and changing their toothbrush every three to four months.
Other Things to Prevent Tooth Decay And Promote Infant Oral Care
Make sure your toddler doesn’t consume food or liquids regularly during the day. Within 20 minutes of ingesting or drinking something, the sugar turns into an acid.
Only use a bottle at feeding time. Never breastfeed or use a bottle as a pacifier.
Avoid putting your baby to bed with a bottle of formula or breastmilk.
Take the breast out of your baby’s mouth if they nod off while you are breastfeeding.
Avoid night feedings and frequent, on-demand feedings once the first tooth erupts.
By the age of 12 months, transition your child from a bottle to a cup.
Once your child turns one, they are allowed to drink water whenever they are thirsty during the day. Give them only water at meals; do not give them other beverages.
Fluoride makes teeth strong and less prone to decay, so having your dentist put a cap of fluoride on their teeth may be beneficial
As soon as your child’s first tooth erupts, you should start teaching them proper oral hygiene practices to prevent cavities and provide the foundation for a lifetime of good oral health. Please give us a call today at 801-948-8880 to book an appointment for your infant/toddler and let us ensure that their tiny teeth are well taken care of.
Ever wondered how to get your young child to start flossing? Many questions arise, like, what’s the best age to start flossing? Do they start with traditional floss or floss sticks? How frequently should they floss? What’s the best technique to teach them to floss so they don’t become fearful or turned off by this new habit? If so, you’ve come to the right place. This article will cover the dos and don’ts of flossing for young children, all the right tips to get you started on teaching your young one how to do it, and what the right tools are to get started. Let’s dive right in!
What’s the Right Age to Start Flossing?
Like brushing, flossing at a young age is crucial to maintaining your child’s oral health and preventing unwarranted tooth discomfort brought on by plaque and cavities.
As soon as a child has many baby teeth, parents and kids can begin the habit of brushing their teeth. However, it is not necessary to start flossing until their teeth begin to fit closely together. Most kids can begin flossing between the ages of two and six, but as more teeth erupt, keep a close check on your child’s mouth to determine when you should start doing it frequently. You will need to floss for your child if they are younger than this age range until they are old enough to learn how to do it on their own with your assistance. You should continue to observe and assist your child until they are about 10 years old, even after they are physically able to floss their own teeth. This way, you can make sure they are always flossing fully and getting the spaces between each tooth.
Bleeding Gums When Flossing?
If you’re a first-time parent, you could become alarmed if you see your child’s gums bleeding during the flossing process. It’s completely common to experience some bleeding when starting a flossing practice, so don’t be alarmed! Adults who begin flossing their teeth on a regular basis for the first time may also experience this. After you’ve been flossing for your child every day for a few days, your child’s gums should stop bleeding as their gums become stronger and healthier.
Turn It Into a Family Affair and Make It Fun!
Making flossing a nightly ritual will improve your family’s overall hygiene practices. By incorporating this into daily routines, parents may set a positive example for their children by practicing good oral hygiene. Tonight, start by getting everyone together, humming a song, and flossing. You could play a fun video for your kids on flossing, or use reward systems like prize boards with fun stickers to motivate your child. There are a ton of great games and ideas online to find ways to motivate your child and get them excited about flossing.
Don’t Be Reluctant to Let Children Choose Their Own Floss
Just like we appreciate having options as adults, so do children. Not every person is the same or likes the same things, and the same goes for children. Some kids may prefer starting with dental floss, while others may prefer floss sticks. Children who feel like they have some control over their regular flossing routine are more likely to like it. Children’s favorite themes are now used to create kid-friendly dental flossers, so don’t be hesitant to choose one of the entertaining options that are sold in stores.
Making the purchase of their first floss part of a memorable day will help your children connect flossing with fun. For young children, choosing the floss they want to use the most can be an empowering option. Make sure to commend your children for making the right choice.
Avoid Getting Caught Up With the Timing of Children’s Flossing
Setting certain criteria for flossing is a wonderful idea, but don’t go overboard. For instance, it doesn’t really matter if your children floss their teeth before or after brushing their teeth. Whether it’s ideal to floss at the beginning, middle, or end of your daily dental care regimen is a question that experts are still debating. Therefore, listen to your children and allow them to make decisions.
It doesn’t really matter if your kids floss in the morning or right before bed, either. They only need to floss once each day, and consistency in the time of day is the best approach. No matter if your children prefer to floss in the morning or in the evening, flossing is still helpful.
What’s the Best Technique?
If your child chooses to floss by hand, cut off a piece of floss that is about 18 inches long and have them wrap the majority of it around one finger, usually the pointer on the left or right hand. The remaining floss will be wound around one finger on the opposite hand by the person (but be careful not to wind it too tightly!). The finger with the most floss will release the most between each tooth, and the other finger will pick up the floss that has been utilized. You could also consider tying tiny circles at each end to make it easier for children to grasp the floss. Give them flexible, soft floss that will be gentle on their gums and teeth.
Have your youngster move the floss along the gum line of both the top and bottom teeth, going up one side of the tooth and down the other (show them how to softly slide the floss between their teeth rather than snapping it against their gums). Repeat this between each set of teeth.
Many kids (and even many adults) prefer floss sticks. Although they are simpler, conventional floss still outperforms them in terms of effectiveness. While picks are still an excellent alternative for children who struggle with traditional floss, we would advise using traditional floss for adults.
Floss picks come in harp or Y shapes. Like with regular floss, just move the floss up and down the teeth. When the floss appears worn, rinse it off between the teeth and replace the pick.
We hope this article was informative in helping you decide when and how to introduce your child to flossing!
While the majority of our population is in fact, not dental experts, society actually as a whole has a few very firm (and correct) understandings and expectations when it comes to the topic of healthy teeth.
We expect our babies to grow the first few adorable little whites within the first year. Most homes generally have a routine to brush teeth in the mornings and again at night before bed. We teach our children to put their lost teeth under their pillow for the tooth fairy, and we associate healthy smiles to the general color category of white. So, what does it mean then, when one of your kids’ pearlies is actually a grey color?
A grey tooth is what we call a necrotic tooth or pulp necrosis. This means that the pulp of the tooth has suffered damage to its blood supply. Without proper blood supply, the tissue begins to die, thereby changing the color of the tooth from white to grey.
Why is My Child’s Tooth Grey?
The potential causes of a grey tooth include the following:
Dental trauma – this is the most likely cause of a necrotic tooth in children. One of the reasons we strongly advise parents to invest in mouth guards for kids who play sports of any kind is because the use of mouth guards can actually reduce the chances of a dental trauma injury by 73%-83%. Nevertheless, even with the use of mouth guards while engaged in sports activities dental trauma injuries can occur. An accidental elbow to the face, or a head first tumble for your walking toddler. These injuries can occur even with the best of safe guards in place. If your child has suffered a dental injury such as a chipped tooth or a tooth has been knocked loose or all the way out, follow these steps and give us a call immediately. Quick reactions can save the tooth.
Severe and untreated tooth decay – this cause is less likely if you’re keeping your kids to the recommended biannual cleaning and checkup schedule in addition to encouraging healthy dental hygiene routines at home.
Gum disease – another cause avoidable with healthy dental hygiene at home and routine checkups and cleanings at your local pediatric dentist.
Can a Grey Tooth Be Saved?
Actually, a grey tooth can be saved if action is taken quickly enough. When the whole of the tooth is mostly intact in spite of the dead or dying pulp tissue within, measures can be taken to save the tooth itself. For this we may perform a pediatric pulpotomy or a root canal.
This means we must first create a hole within the enamel to get inside the tooth to remove the infected or decaying pulp from the inside of the tooth. Next a healing medicine is applied to soothe the nerves and treat any bacteria attempting to grow (which can spread to the root and cause an abscess if untreated). Once that part of the treatment is completed, we reseal the entry and create a cap to cover the tooth. If the tooth in question is a baby tooth (primary tooth) we may opt to cover the entry with a composite filling instead of a cap. A composite filling is a more economic route, and only appropriate in the case of a primary tooth because the tooth’s lifespan is only a few years as opposed to if it were a permanent tooth in question.
Does a Dead Baby Tooth Need to Be Pulled?
In general, we avoid tooth extractions whenever possible. The primary teeth, serve as place holders for their permanent teeth and our bodies generally allow primary teeth to loosen and fall out naturally in accordance for the timing of the eruption of the permanent teeth. Additionally, primary teeth serve to help our children chew and eat foods properly and develop proper speech patterns.
Nevertheless, if your child has a necrotic tooth that is causing severe pain, an infection in the gums or spreading to other teeth, a pediatric pulpotomy may not be appropriate. In these rare circumstances, we may need to simply extract the tooth. For this to be necessary your child would likely be experiencing severe tooth pain, therefore we urge parents to listen to their children when they complain of tooth pain. Don’t wait for it to become severe before scheduling an appointment for a consult.
What if the Teeth Have Grey Spots?
If the tooth or teeth are not wholly grey but instead have grey or black spots or streaks, that doesn’t necessarily mean necrosis is to blame.
These grey colored spots may be indicative of too much iron in their diet. Iron supplements, fortified cereals, or iron-rich water may be to blame. When iron is the culprit, assist your child with tooth brushing for a time and they will disappear.
Grey spots could also be an indication of over exposure to fluoride. Is your child using an appropriate amount of toothpaste when they brush? Are they spitting out the toothpaste or swallowing it instead?
If grey lines or spots are visible near the gum line, they could be indicative of decay, because that area of the tooth can be the hardest for kids to brush properly. Are you taking a turn to help them brush at night before bed?
Call Utah Pediatric Dentists and Schedule a Consult
In any of the aforementioned cases, it is important to seek advice and assistance from your pediatric dentist. We can determine the cause, and appropriate treatment while providing you and your child with reassurance and choices about the best way to move forward with a healthy smile.
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