Parents have a lot of questions when it comes to taking their children to one of our four pediatric dental locations. For that reason, we have put together answers to some of our most frequently asked questions about our kids dental offices.
At what age should I first take my child to the dentist?
Getting children familiar with visiting the dentist starts earlier than you might think. Your child’s first dental visit should occur either when their first tooth appears, or when they turn one year old: whichever occurs first.
What’s the difference between a family dentist and a pediatric dentist?
Pediatric dentists have completed an additional two to three years of training specializing in the care, and equipment required for children’s dental needs. A pediatric dentist limits their practice to children from infant to adolescence only. A pediatric dentist is not only specially trained to work with children, but also children and teens with special needs.
How do I clean my baby’s teeth?
Even before your baby’s first tooth erupts, you can begin to get them accustomed to the idea of dental hygiene by gently rubbing a clean wet washcloth over their gums. Once their first tooth erupts, use a small soft bristled toothbrush. You can find specially designed infant toothbrushes in stores.
When should my child stop thumb-sucking or use a pacifier?
Sucking on a thumb, or using a pacifier isn’t a dental issue right away. Often toddlers will leave behind these habits on their own. If your child is three years old, however, and still engaging in one of those soothing habits, we recommend that you work to break the habit. Visit with your pediatric dentist for tips.
Are dental X-rays safe?
In general, dental X-rays have very little risk. Moreover, pediatric dentists are cautious about the amount of radiation a child is exposed to. We use high-speed film, and protective lead aprons to minimize risk and exposure for your child.
What do I do if my child knocks out a permanent tooth?
First, you should locate the tooth that has been knocked out. When you reach to pick it up, avoid touching the root of the tooth. If it is dirty, you can rinse it with milk. Next, you have two options. You can submerge the tooth in milk until you get to your pediatric dentist. Alternatively, you can reinsert the tooth, root first, by holding onto the crown of the tooth and placing firm pressure. If you opt for reinserting the tooth, have your child bite down on a clean washcloth to hold it into place until you can get to the pediatric dentist’s office.
This situation definitely constitutes a dental emergency, your pediatric dentist should see you right away.
How can I find a pediatric dentist near me?
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry has a registry of all pediatric dentists. You can search by zip code, and adjust the distance from 5 miles up to 100 miles, if necessary. You can find this registry here:
If there are several near you and you don’t know how to choose, take a look at our in-depth guide on how to select a pediatric dentist, “How to Find the Best Kids Dentist Near Me“. In it we’ll walk you through different things you can do to inform your decision, and what to look for.
When should we begin using toothpaste?
As soon as the first tooth erupts, you can begin using a tiny amount of fluoride toothpaste to clean your baby’s teeth. Brush even those baby teeth in the beginning, twice a day. From ages three to six, increase the amount of toothpaste to the size of a pea.
What are dental sealants?
Dental sealants are a preventative measure that we firmly advocate for. Children aren’t terrific brushers, and their back teeth are often difficult for them to reach. Those molars have grooves in which food particles and plaque love to hide out. We apply the dental sealant in those grooves. It is a painless procedure, and won’t interfere with your child’s next meal. The sealant acts as a protector to the tooth to keep bacteria, food, and sugars out. Dental sealants are known to reduce tooth decay in molars by 80%!
For more information about our dental sealants, go here.
How can I prevent bottle rot?
Bottle rot is baby teeth decay that can be tied back to inappropriate bottle use (or even sippy cups). Just because your baby uses a bottle doesn’t automatically mean they will get bottle rot. It’s important that your baby use a bottle only for drinking formula, milk, or water, but not juice. If the bottle has milk or formula in it, they should not be allowed to sip on it over an extended period of time. The bottle rot happens when the teeth have extended exposure to sugar. Furthermore, they should not be put to bed with a bottle of milk or formula. If you want to put them to bed with a bottle, then fill it only with water.
Yes! Mouthguards will protect your child’s teeth and jaw from dental injuries. For more information about mouthguards, go here.
Should a cavity in a baby tooth be filled?
Absolutely, yes. A cavity in a baby tooth can be quite painful. That aside, the baby tooth needs to stay in its place until the body is ready for it to fall out to make room for the permanent tooth. Baby teeth are place holders that assist in proper eating and even speaking.
How often should my child see the dentist?
As a general rule, we encourage parents to have their child scheduled for bi-annual checkups. However, each child is unique and if we feel a more frequent schedule is appropriate, we will discuss with you why we feel it necessary so you have a clear understanding of our recommendation.
Has it been longer than six months since your child’s last dental visit? Give us a call and get an appointment on your calendar so you don’t forget. Happy smiles come from healthy teeth.
The beginning of a new year is a good time for reflection, making plans, and making changes. It is also an opportunity to have fun with numbers and lists. We’ve put together a list of 21 dental hygiene tips for you and your family for 2021.
1. Instead of buying bottled water, buy a refillable bottle, and fill it from the tap.
In most (not all) households that have running water, that water has been fluoridated. Fluoride is a major player in the mouth’s daily defense against bacteria and plaque. Drinking fluoride water and giving your teeth that fluoride rinses several times a day in between meals and snacks, is important. The fluoridation of community water is likely a benefit in your home that you’ve never considered. However, it’s considered one of the ten biggest public health achievements for the entire 20th century, take advantage of it!
2. Incorporate more crunchy fruits and veggies into your meal and snack routines.
The downside to a lot of the delicious foods that we eat is that they lodge in between our teeth and in the crevices of our molars. When those food leftovers side on the gum line and around our teeth they often have time to do their dirty work on our teeth before the next time we brush. Crunchy fruits such as apples, pears, carrots, and celery. In addition to doing a little scrubbing while we crunch these fruits and vegetables are loaded with vitamins.
3. Routine dental visits
Even if you and your kids don’t have any symptoms of tooth problems, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have regularly occurring visits. An important part of dental care is prevention. Make sure your kids are scheduled for their yearly checkups and cleanings. Check with your insurance provider, some insurances are acknowledging the benefit of cleanings every six months.
4. Quit smoking/chewing tobacco.
This one doesn’t need a long-drawn-out explanation. Bottom line, smoking and chewing tobacco are bad for your teeth and bad for your overall oral health. Now’s a great time to work on quitting if you do either of these in order to set a better example for your kids to follow.
5. Quit or limit alcoholic beverages.
Regardless of your personal beliefs, alcohol is generally bad for your oral health. Alcohol can cause dry mouth which reduces your body’s natural defenses (saliva) against sugar, acid, and bacteria in the mouth. Many alcoholic beverages can stain your teeth, while the acidic content in many of them eat away at your tooth’s enamel. As a parent, your actions and feelings towards alcohol will influence those of your children, especially teenagers.
6. Cut back on the soda.
We know that sometimes you just really want something to drink other than water, but the truth is soda/pop is really harmful for your teeth. It’s very acidic and for every sip of soda you take, you’ve started a 20-minute-long acid attack on your teeth. So if you’re going to drink it, drink it quickly instead of dragging it out, and brush or at least rinse your mouth out with water when you’re done.
7. Use mouthwash.
Add the use of a therapeutic mouthwash to your morning or nightly routine. Proper mouthwashes can kill bacteria, fight plaque, and help prevent gingivitis. Recommended only for children over the age of 6 who aren’t at risk of swallowing the mouthwash.
8. Brush twice daily for two minutes.
Yes, this one made the list. Can’t have a list without this one. We always remind you!
9. Floss at least once a day.
Even our best brushers will admit to skipping flossing, or not doing it at all. Correct that misstep this year! Flossing is important and will grab food debris that will surprise you.
10. Chew sugar-free gum.
If you or your kids are in the habit of chewing gum, take a close look at the gum you buy. Is it sugar-free? Does it have the ADA seal?
11. Use a mouthguard when participating in sports.
Most people are familiar with football players using mouth guards for their sport, but you should really consider a mouth guard for your kids for other sports as well. Sports accidents can cause painful dental injuries. For more information about mouthguards, read our in-depth post, “Why Your Kids Should Use a Mouth Guard”.
12. Brush up on your brushing skills.
Take a moment to examine the way you and your kids brush your teeth. The technique is important; here’s a quick video put together by the ADA:
13. Let your kids pick out their own toothbrush.
Get your kids invested in brushing their teeth. Taking some ownership can help with that. Let them pick out their own toothbrush.
14. Brush with fluoride toothpaste.
Check your toothpaste and be sure it has fluoride. Look for the ADA seal too.
15. Replace your toothbrushes every three to four months.
Yes, your toothbrush needs to be replaced about 4 times a year. When the bristles wear out they can cause damage to your gums. Additionally, over time your toothbrush begins to collect bacteria.
16. Switch to whole wheat.
White flour products such as pastas, crackers, and breads turn into a lot of sugar for your teeth, and worse they can really stick in the crevices. See about transitioning to whole wheat products.
17. Bring nuts into your meal stable.
Peanuts, almonds, and cashews have the benefit of providing your body with protein, and minerals including calcium and phosphorous. Those minerals are important for your dental health because they are the minerals that are commonly eaten away from our tooth’s enamel by the sugars and acids that we consume and they need replenishing.
18. Set a schedule for eating and avoid grazing.
Do you know what we mean when we say grazing? Grazing is that slow snacking that all of us have done before where you just eat a little bit, and then a few minutes later, a little bit more, and so on. It might not sound so bad, but the truth is, it’s incredibly harmful to your teeth. When you graze, your teeth are under near-constant assault by the sugars, and acids introduced to the mouth with your food. Your tongue instinctively tugs and pulls at your teeth to try and clean out lodged foods, and your saliva is a professional defensive linebacker working hard for your teeth. Stop putting them under non-stop assault, and commit your family and yourself to set times for eating.
19. Don’t let your baby/toddler go to sleep with a bottle.
Even if your baby hasn’t gotten their first tooth, don’t start the habit of them going to sleep with a bottle. The milk or juice in a bottle can sit in their mouths and foster bacteria and tooth decay while they sleep.
20. Rinse your mouth with water after snacking or drinking.
After you and your kids snack or drink anything that isn’t water, make a conscious effort to follow it up with drinking water. Water will help to rinse the sugars and bacteria.
21. Get your kids floss picks
If flossing is difficult for your kids, don’t give up on the idea of flossing, instead, look to floss picks. Floss picks are individual flossers that can fit in tight spaces but may be easier to maneuver than regular floss. The ADA has given its seal to the DenTek Kids Fun Flosser Floss Picks.
We hope some of the tips on this list can be easy for you to incorporate into your dental hygiene routines in your home. Some may take trial and error while others may take a little longer to turn into habits, but we know you can do it. When was the last time your kids had a dental checkup? Give us a call today at 801-948-8880 and we’ll find an appointment time that works for you at whichever of our four locations is nearest you.
We’re in the thick of a beautiful but cold Utah winter, and sometimes this time of year brings winter tooth pain. While you might have noticed that one of your kids has a sensitivity to cold slushies or ice cream in the summer months, winter tooth pain can hit even if you’re avoiding ice-cold treats.
Why #1: High Altitude
If your family has been hitting the slopes this winter season and you’ve had complaints of tooth pain while skiing or snowboarding, then the high altitude may be the culprit. When your body reaches high altitudes, the atmospheric pressure can have effects on our bodies, including our teeth. This type of tooth pain is called barodontalgia, or “tooth squeeze”.
Barodontalgia is typically a symptom of an underlying issue that is often dental related (although not exclusively). Possible dental underlying conditions to the pain of tooth squeeze include:
cavity
damaged filling
cracked tooth
enamel erosion
pulpitis
impacted teeth
pulp necrosis
To-Dos for Altitude Tooth Pain
If your kids’ winter tooth pain comes on when you hit the slopes, you’ll need to keep them away from hot beverages as well as cold beverages. Extreme temperatures will only exacerbate the pain. Often the pain will ease once a more normal elevation is reached, so you might have to stay off the mountain for a while.\
Give us a call so we can set up an appointment to see your child. We’ll want to rule out the possibilities and isolate the problem so that we can get your kid back to being on the slopes pain-free with your family.
Why #2: Dental Trauma
Sledding, tubing, skiing, and snowboarding are all great ways to spend the winter weekends. However, these sports can also result in dental injuries such as a cracked or chipped tooth that will result in winter tooth pain.
To-Dos for Dental Trauma
If your child gets a chipped or cracked tooth in a sports accident, give us a call right away. Place the tooth fragment (if you can find it) in a container with milk until you can get in to see us. For more information read our in-depth post, “My Child Chipped a Tooth: What Should I Do?”
Why #3: Tooth Sensitivity
Tooth sensitivity to cold beverages and treats may be annoying or painful in the warm months, but it can be aggravated in the winter months when your teeth are exposed to cold air. Tooth sensitivity is often painful but, as is the often case with barodontalgia, it is typically a symptom of another issue: enamel erosion or root exposure.
The crown of your tooth is covered by a protective layer of enamel. The enamel is the pearly-white part that you see when you smile, and while it is a protector, it can be weakened and eroded. Causes of enamel erosion include:
teeth grinding
excessive teeth whitening
acid reflux disease
excessive acidic content in your diet
bulimia (stomach acid from frequent vomiting)
overzealous teeth brushing technique
What you may be surprised to learn is that the root of your tooth does not have enamel. Instead, it is covered by cementum which is softer than enamel and serves as connective tissue to keep the tooth rooted in your jaw. The root of your tooth simply does not have the same protection in place that the crown of your tooth and this is why an exposed root is painful. Causes of root exposure include:
aggressive teeth brushing
use of a hard bristle toothbrush
receding gums
gingivitis (gum disease)
dental trauma
dry mouth
To-Dos for Tooth Sensitivity
For tooth sensitivity, it’s important to get your kids in to see their pediatric dentist to identify the cause and begin the appropriate dental treatment. Some treatments are mild, while others may be more involved.
We may recommend a special desensitizing toothpaste to help with the pain while we determine the cause and appropriate treatment.
We may do fluoride treatments in the office or prescribe fluoride treatments at home. Fluoride treatments will help to strengthen the tooth’s enamel.
We may do a bonding. Bonding in this instance is when we apply our composite resin over an exposed root area.
We may recommend a root canal. We perform root canals in our office when necessary. They treat the pulp of the tooth and are one of the most successful treatments for addressing tooth sensitivity.
We may refer your child for a surgical gum graft. This procedure is done when the root is exposed because gum tissue has been lost in some way.
There are things that you as the parent can do in this situation as well. If your kids are 12 years or older, consider purchasing Sensodyne toothpaste (ADA approved) to help with the pain of sensitivity. Avoid extreme temperature beverages hot or cold, but also consider eliminating sodas and high sugar juices from their daily intake.
Next, take a look at your kid’s toothbrush. Is it a soft bristle brush? If not, replace it with a soft one. Take note of your child’s brushing technique, are they a hard or aggressive brusher? Proper teeth brushing technique should look like this:
Prevention of Reoccurrence of Tooth Sensitivity
Proper brushing technique, two times a day for two minutes. Regular cleaning of the teeth will help keep the enamel strong.
Use mouth guards for any sports activities, or if your child grinds their teeth at night. Read our in-depth post, “Why Your Kids Should Use a Mouth Guard“.
Eliminate or slide back to a moderate amount of carbonated drinks and citrus fruits in their diet.
Finish off a snack or a meal with a drink of water to rinse out any acids or citrus from your teeth.
We know that tooth sensitivity can be painful and frustrating for kids. Don’t wait to see if it simply goes away over time. Give us a call to schedule an appointment so that we can root out (pun intended) the cause of your child’s winter tooth pain and move forward with making it better!
My Child Chipped a Tooth: Now What? Are you wondering if a chipped tooth or a knocked-out tooth is a dental emergency? The answer is an unequivocal yes. This might not be something that you see every day, and yet it is surprisingly common, that a child will chip their...
As a parent, when your child is sleeping, the only noises you want to hear them make are the sounds of soft breaths, sweet dreams, and maybe an occasional sigh. The last thing you want to hear is the harsh sound of grinding and gnashing teeth, also called bruxism. However, bruxism is actually very common in children – but it can be particularly distressing for parents. Hearing your child grind their teeth at night is a frightening sound and it evokes much anxiety in parents. In fact, Dr. Chuck Odion says that some parents even compare the sound to that of construction!
Why do kids grind their teeth? What are the effects of teeth grinding? How can I stop my child from grinding their teeth? Today we are going to provide you with answers to these very common questions parents ask at South Davis Pediatric Dentistry regularly. First, watch this short video with Dr. Jason Horgesheimer and Dr. Chuck that explains more about teeth grinding and how it’s handled.
What is Bruxism?
The medical term used to describe the grinding of teeth and clenching of jaws is referred to as “bruxism”. According to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, three out of every ten kids will clench their jaws or grind their teeth. While tooth grinding usually occurs at night time when your child sleeps, you may notice the bruxism randomly throughout the day as well. Most children will eventually outgrow this habit.
What are the Causes of Bruxism?
Dentists don’t always know the exact reason why a particular child grinds their teeth, but there are a few different known causes for bruxism. It’s important to note that misalignment issues and pain are causes for bruxism that children typically outgrow. However, if your child grinds their teeth as a response to stress or as a symptom of hyperactivity, the habit may be harder to break.
Misalignment Issues
“Teeth are meant to snap together like Legos. If a lego is off you slide it around until it snaps together – and that’s subconsciously what they’re doing at night.” – Dr. Chuck
As Dr. Chuck explained, sometimes when a child has misaligned teeth where the top and bottom aren’t connecting, they may grind them.
Pain
Some kids might exhibit bruxism as a coping mechanism while they are dealing with pain of some sort that might be from an earache or teething. Just like you would rub a muscle that is sore, they grind their teeth to help ease the pain and discomfort.
“Teeth grinding is often associated with the eruption or coming in of new molars.” – Dr. Jason
Stress
Stress can be a reason why a child might grind their teeth or clench their jaws. Typically a child experiences stress in the form of either tension or anger. If your child is worried about something coming up at school or a new change in their life they must adjust to (like a new teacher or sibling) – they might grind their teeth. Arguments with parents or other household members can also cause the child enough stress that they either clench their jaws or grind their teeth.
Hyperactivity
It is not uncommon to find a child who has hyperactivity and bruxism, as the two often run hand in hand. Because the child is often “sped up” they may grind their teeth as a response to that increased energy running through their body.
Medical
There are some medical conditions that can cause a child to grind their teeth, such as cerebral palsy. There are also several different types of medications (especially those used to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, ADHD), that indicate bruxism is a common side effect.
What are the Effects of Bruxism?
Some children may experience headaches or earaches that are caused by the grinding of teeth. In most cases, the parents are the ones most greatly affected because the grinding sound can be quite bothersome and cause anxiety.
The vast majority of bruxism cases go undetected and the child experiences no ill effects from the habit. Dr. Jason explains that most kids “require no treatment at all.” He then goes on to explain that “only if they have severe wear patterns occurring would we ever recommend a mouthguard.”
As Dr. Jason touched upon, there are some children who can experience ill effects of bruxism, such as:
Chipped teeth
Wearing down of tooth enamel
Increased sensitivity to temperature
Facial pain
Jaw problems including temporomandibular joint disease (TMJ)
Keep in mind that in children, the cases of TMJ are rare and this would only occur if the child is doing a lot of clenching and grinding.
What are the Signs of Bruxism?
Things you should watch out for regarding bruxism include:
Grinding and gnashing noises while your child is sleeping
Complaints of a sore face or jaw when the child wakes up in the morning
Pain with chewing
If you are concerned that your child is grinding their teeth and you are worried about the health and integrity of their teeth, you can bring them to our experienced pediatric dentists. One of our Bountiful dentists will perform an examination in which they look for any type of unusual wear and tear and spray water on the teeth to watch for signs of increased sensitivity to temperature.
What is the Recommended Treatment for Bruxism?
As Dr. Jason explained, typically there is no treatment needed. Most kids will grow out of this phase without any ill effects on the integrity of their adult teeth that start to come in as the grinding usually only occurs on the baby teeth which will fall out.
If the child is experiencing unusual patterns of wear and tear or complaining of facial or jaw pain, our pediatric dentists may recommend a special mouth guard to be worn at night. This type of protective mouthguard is similar to the ones worn by athletes and our dentists will create the appliance to perfectly mold to your child’s teeth.
How can I Help My Child with Bruxism?
Depending on the cause for your child to grind their teeth, there are a few different approaches that can be taken to help the child reduce the bruxism.
Helping the child relax before bed by reading them a book, giving them a bath, or putting on some soothing music can help decrease bruxism.
If you feel your child is grinding their teeth as a response to stress, open communication can help you find a way to help them. Talk to your child and ask them what’s on their mind and if anything has been bothering them.
When a child is taking a medication that can cause teeth grinding, be sure that you bring this issue up with your pediatrician and seek alternative medications or therapies when possible.
Have you noticed your child exhibiting signs of bruxism? Are you concerned that there may be severe damage happening to their teeth as a result? If so, you should make an appointment at South Davis Pediatric Dentistry. Call us today at (801) 294-8880.
Recent Comments