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!
A baby’s first tooth is a big deal. In fact, a baby’s second and even third tooth eruptions are huge milestones not only for the tots themselves but for parents as well. These little teeth will serve essential roles throughout the growth and development of your child’s mouth. This guide will cover the basics of what you need to know about baby teeth, including when to expect their eruption, how to care for them, why they are important, and more.
Why are Baby Teeth Important?
Baby teeth, technically called primary teeth, are the first set of teeth that a child receives. Primary teeth are not only adorable and make for amazing pictures of lovely toddler smiles, they also serve several functions inside the child’s mouth. The following are a few reasons why baby teeth are important:
Baby teeth are needed to help a child learn how to speak. A child is better able to form their words and speak clearly when they have a healthy set of primary teeth that are well-spaced and aligned.
Primary teeth are essentially placeholders for permanent teeth. Baby teeth are there to help guide primary teeth along the path as they emerge through the gums.
Baby teeth help with proper eating. These teeth are important because they aid in the chewing process to ensure that food is broken down into small pieces that are easily digestible, which is particularly important when the child is very young.
Keep reading to learn how you can keep those baby teeth healthy and prevent potential dental problems in the future. First, we will start with the basics of primary teeth and what to expect in terms of eruption ages.
What is Teething or Tooth Eruption?
Teething is the common word for what is known as “primary tooth eruption”. Essentially, teething is when a child’s first set of teeth break through their gums. For most babies, teething begins around six months of age, but it is considered normal for a child to get their first tooth any time between three months and one year of age. Take a look at the chart to learn about the average ages for the eruption and shedding of baby teeth.
Temporary Tooth Eruption Timeline
Teeth start to form inside of a baby’s mouth while they are still in utero. During the second trimester of pregnancy, tooth buds start to grow. After babies are born, the roots underneath of the teeth begin to grow – which pushes the teeth up through the gums. While all children are different, in general, most babies will have all 20 of their primary teeth by the age of three years old.
What are the Signs of Teething?
Some children experience difficulty during teething and will display signs of discomfort, while others may go through it without any symptoms at all. If your child does experience symptoms during teething, the most common ones include:
Suckling or biting
Ear rubbing
Irritability
Drooling
Facial rash
Mild temperature
Swelling or redness of gums
How Can You Ease a Teething Child’s Discomfort?
When a child experiences a difficult time during teething there are some options you can consider that could potentially help them with pain and discomfort.
Offer the child something to chew on. You can use a cold washcloth or a firm rubber teething ring – either one can be first chilled in the refrigerator but not in the freezer. Chewing is an effective coping mechanism as it helps relieve the pressure on the new teeth emerging.
Gently rub your baby’s gums. You can use a wet gauze pad, a silicone baby brush made for massaging gums, or simply a clean finger to rub gently on the gums of your baby.
Offer chilled foods. If your baby is eating solid foods, you can offer frozen fruits as snacks such as applesauce, peaches, or yogurt. You can find small pacifier-type devices that have a net on one end for holding the frozen foods that can make this easier for babies and young toddlers.
Give extra cuddles and affection. Sometimes the most soothing thing you can do for a teething baby is to hold on to them and give them plenty of extra snuggles and kisses. This can help distract them from the pain or discomfort.
*Be careful not to mistake a different problem going on with your child for teething. If your baby seems to experience these symptoms and they do not go away or if they seem to get worse, be sure to get in touch with your family pediatrician.
Brushing Primary/Baby Teeth
You should begin washing and cleaning out your baby’s mouth and gums long before their first tooth is even visible in their mouth. Every day, you can use a soft and moist washcloth to wipe out their mouth. Once the teeth become visible, they should be brushed twice daily with a small soft bristle toothbrush and only a rice-size amount of baby toothpaste (preferably fluoride-free as it is easy for babies to swallow some by accident). Encourage your child to spit out the toothpaste and rinse out their mouth when you’re done.
Concerns About Baby Teeth and Cavities
Baby teeth can get cavities just as permanent teeth can suffer from tooth decay when not properly cared for. In fact, babies whose teeth have prolonged or frequent contact with too much sugar can develop what is called “Baby Bottle Tooth Decay”. The name comes from the fact that the condition is usually the result of a child either being put to bed with a sippy cup or bottle or carrying one around for long periods that is filled with milk or juice. The decay is a result of the fact that natural bacteria found inside the mouth will feed on the sugar and produce an acidic byproduct, which attacks the tooth enamel. Read our previous blog post about baby teeth decay for more information on this subject.
Ways to Prevent Cavities in Primary Teeth:
Only give your child water in bottles or sippy cups at bedtime.
Limit the amount of juice given to your child to no more than six ounces per day.
Babies under six months old should not have juice.
Avoid giving your child or baby unhealthy drinks or snacks, such as soda or sticky/sugary foods. Healthy alternatives include yogurt, fruit, or cheese.
Try not to give your child a pacifier. If your baby does use a pacifier, be sure that it is kept clean.
Concerned About Your Child’s Primary Teeth?
Have you seen any spots developing on your baby’s teeth? If so, then you should call us to get an appointment at one of our four pediatric dentist locations in Bountiful, Taylorsville, Herriman, and Stansbury Park, Utah. Call us today at 801-948-8880.
To have children means to have joy, love, frustration, and responsibilities. Lots of responsibilities. Among that long list of responsibilities is your child’s dental care. There’s a lot more to understanding the world of children’s dental care than simply connecting to your local pediatric dentist (although that is definitely important).
Here we’ve put together a list of tips for maneuvering the world of pediatric dental health. Some things may seem obvious and intuitive, but you may be surprised by a few others.
1. Start Dental Hygiene Habits Early
Even before their first tooth comes in, you can introduce the idea of mouth hygiene to your child. Gently wipe their gums with water and a clean wash cloth. Once their first tooth erupts it’s time not only to go to your friendly pediatric dentist, but also to start establishing the routine of brushing their teeth (or tooth if it’s just the first one).
2. Find a Pediatric Dentist that You and Your Kids Feel Comfortable With
You may be happy as a peach with your own dentist, but the reality is for your children, you really need a pediatric dentist. Pediatric dentists have an extra two years of schooling under their caps that has prepared them to work specifically with children. This means they’re better prepared for the psychology of working with children, and that they’re specially trained for the dental issues and treatments that are specific to children as well.
For more information on how to select a pediatric dentist for your kids, read our in-depth post titled, “How to Find the Best Kids Dentist Near Me” where we list how to look and what to look for. This is an important decision because positive dental experiences in children lead to better dental health in adults.
3. Baby Teeth Require Care, Regardless of the Fact That They’ll Fall Out
Unfortunately, some parents believe dental health for baby teeth isn’t terribly important because they’ll all fall out anyway. Proper dental care of baby teeth is important for several reasons. Starting with the fact that dental issues, even in baby teeth, can be very painful. Save your baby/child the pain when you can. Secondly, habits that are formed early are very hard to break. If you’re child learns the habit that dental care isn’t a priority, when their permanent teeth come in, it’s going to be difficult to change that habit on its head. And finally, the baby teeth help your child learn to chew, to speak properly, and reserve the space in their growing jaws for when their permanent teeth come in.
Until at least eight years of age, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends parents do or assist in their children’s teeth brushing. The reasons vary depending on age, development, and character, but don’t take away from the necessity.
Just because it’s a “must” doesn’t mean it has to be misery however. Get them fun colors or characters of toothbrushes. Instead of setting a timer, listen to a fun song to get them to last the full two minutes of brushing. The American Dental Association (ADA) put together a playlist of fun tooth brushing songs. Check them out, and find a favorite!
5. Careful and Cautious with Loose Teeth
If your child has a tooth that is knocked loose from an accident or a fall, just because it’s a baby tooth doesn’t mean you should pull it out. In these circumstances, it’s best to contact us right away to get in and let one of our pediatric dentists check it out.
If it’s a tooth that is wiggly and loose just because, then let your kid wiggle it all they want, but don’t try to pull it out. Teeth get loose because the roots are being pushed out by the permanent teeth preparing to erupt. This is a natural process and is best left alone.
Fluoride may be controversial in some circles, but the truth is, fluoride makes tooth enamel stronger, helps teeth resist the acid and bacteria that are found in our mouths, and community water fluoridation is considered one of the top public health achievements of the 20th century. Make sure the toothpaste for your kids (and you!) has fluoride added, and if your water supply at home is fluoride water, be sure they’re drinking it instead of store bought bottled water.
Additionally, fluoride varnishes are a preventative service that our pediatric dental practice and others offer.
7. Healthy Eats Help Healthy Smiles
Even with routine brushing and flossing, fluoride water and toothpaste and routine checkups healthy eating is important. We explore this topic thoroughly in our post titled, “Do-Eats and Don’t Eats for Kids to Promote Healthy Teeth“. Furthermore, we realize that getting your kids to eat healthy can seem like an impossible challenge. Because of that, we put together a list of hacks to encourage healthy eating in your home. Read our post, “To Get Your Kids to Eat Healthy – Try These 7 Magic Tricks“.
If your child is due for a checkup, don’t wait until the holidays are over to get it done. We’re offering patients with appointments until the end of the year, $25 gift cards. For more information about this promotion, give us a call today!
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