During this appointment, your kid-friendly dentist will gently but thoroughly examine your child’s smile and can even help determine if your child could be at higher risk for cavities. How can you prepare your child for their first dentist appointment, especially if they are older?

Stay Positive

Even if you yourself are not a fan of the dentist, it’s important to stay positive and not pass your fears onto your child. Children are perceptive and may pick up on your anxiety prior to their appointment. Do your best to be optimistic and confident about their appointment, both when talking about the visit beforehand and on the way to the dentist office to help your child stay relaxed and worry-free for their first appointment.

Educate Your Child

Let your child know why they’re going to the dentist as well as what will happen during the appointment. They don’t need to know every single detail, but you should give them a good general idea of what to expect [2]. Some things that will happen during your child’s first dental visit include:

• An exam of their teeth, jaws, bite, and gums
• A gentle cleaning (if needed)
• A review of proper oral care techniques for brushing and flossing
• Depending on your child’s age, x-rays may be recommended (typically only for older
  children)

The entire visit will take approximately 30-45 minutes. If your child is old enough, you can use books or videos to help explain what will happen during the appointment so that your child isn’t apprehensive and has a better idea about what to expect. You can also play dentist at home—act out the appointment or have your child play dentist using stuffed animals!

Consider the Appointment Time

It’s a good idea to make your child’s first dentist appointment during a time when they are generally more relaxed and comfortable. For example, making the appointment during naptime or lunchtime may make your child more tired or irritable during the visit.

Generally, morning times work better for children, as they are rested, alert, and have already eaten their first meal of the day. Ask your dentist what appointment times are available so you can better prepare your child!

Find a Great Pediatric Dentist

Your child’s dentist will be their partner in oral care as they grow and develop their permanent teeth. Working with a dentist you trust and whom you feel has a great rapport with your child is important. Research pediatric dentists in your area, or consider using the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry’s tool to find an accredited practice near you [3]. Your child’s smile will be strong and healthy for life with regular dentist visits!

Sources:
1. https://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2018-archive/august/aapd-research-
2. https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=a-childs-first-dental-visit-fact-
3. https://www.aapd.org/publications/find-a-pd/

The post Preparing Your Child for Their First Dental Appointment appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

In addition to having a fussy baby during the teething process, it can be difficult to see your child experiencing discomfort. How long can you expect your toddler’s teething pain to last, and what can you do about it in the meantime?

Teeth Erupt Over a Period of Three Years

Your baby’s gums will likely feel sensitive before their first tooth erupts, and the process could take a few days. Once the tooth appears through the gumline, you can expect them to start feeling better.

A total of about 20 primary teeth will eventually appear throughout a period of roughly three years [1]. By the age of three, most children have all their baby teeth in. So while you can expect the process to last a few days or so for each tooth, you can expect teeth to appear here and there until your child reaches their third birthday.

Symptoms Your Toddler May Be Teething

How can you know if your baby’s first teeth are about to appear? Common symptoms for children about to get their primary teeth include [2]:

 Sensitive or sore gums
 Frequent or excessive drooling
 Being picky about eating
 Trouble sleeping
 General irritability

While these symptoms are considered normal and will subside once your toddler’s teeth are in, you should be on the lookout for uncommon symptoms of teething, including a fever, diarrhea, and lack of appetite. Don’t hesitate to contact your child-friendly dentist or pediatrician with questions!

How Can You Help?

While your baby’s teething discomfort won’t last for long, it helps to know a few ways you can help your child feel better during this time. Consider firm teething toys, such as wood or rubber, but avoid liquid-filled teething objects, as your baby can potentially puncture them and ingest the liquid [3].

Try gently rubbing your baby’s gums with a clean finger. The pressure can help alleviate discomfort for some children! You can also try chilled items such as fruit or a wet washcloth, but always give to your child under supervision, and never give completely frozen items, as they can be too harsh for your baby’s mouth.

Don’t Forget Your Baby’s Dental Checkup!

It’s a good idea to schedule a checkup for your baby around the time that he or she gets their first tooth in. Your child-friendly dentist can ensure that your baby’s teeth are on track and that they are healthy and free of decay. Your dentist can also provide you with more tips on dealing with your child’s teething pain to help you both get through this trying time!

Sources:
1. https://www.ada.org/~/media/ADA/Publications/Files/ForthePatient_1114.pdf?la=en
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12415773
3. https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/publication/helping-your-baby-teething-pain

The post How Long Will Your Toddler’s Teething Pain Last? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

These unique braces are made with the same surgical steel as traditional orthodontic brackets, and so are considered safe and effective to wear [1]. They provide fun bracket designs for your child to choose from!

What’s Different About WildSmiles Braces?

WildSmiles are designer braces that allow children and teens to get creative with their orthodontia. These special brackets give patients the freedom to choose from different bracket shapes, including stars, hearts, flowers, footballs, sports balls, and diamonds.

While WildSmiles braces allow kids to be expressive, they are first considered a form of professional orthodontic treatment. WildSmiles are just like traditional braces but with the ability to help patients choose their bracket style and get excited about braces!

Get a Custom Look with the Benefits of Regular Braces

While some kids dislike wearing braces, WildSmiles give children and teens a fresh take on orthodontia. In the past, braces have focused exclusively on correcting smiles, but with WildSmiles, kids can have the confidence of a custom look while still straightening their teeth.

WildSmiles doesn’t change the length of time or quality of treatment, and it won’t affect comfort either. Remember, the length of your child’s orthodontic treatment will depend on their unique smile as determined by a professional orthodontist.

The average treatment time for braces is approximately 24 months, but every case is different. Some patients will only need to wear braces for a few months while others will need them for a few years [2].

What Cases Can WildSmiles Braces Treat?

Since WildSmiles brackets work just like regular braces, they can treat all cases that traditional braces with standard brackets can treat. The only difference is that WildSmiles brackets extend beyond the “wings” on the bracket—the metal above the slot where the wire goes through—so you can see the shape, and doesn’t affect the cleaning of your child’s braces.

Regular braces are an excellent treatment option for all types of issues with your child or teen’s smile, including misaligned teeth, an irregular bite, gapped teeth, and crowded teeth. This means WildSmiles can work for nearly all orthodontic cases!

Contact Your Orthodontist to Learn More!

While not every orthodontist is a WildSmiles provider, you can ask your orthodontist if WildSmiles brackets are an option for your child. There’s typically no additional charge for these fun shapes, and they can make your child’s treatment time feel more fun and personalized than standard brackets. Ask your orthodontist about WildSmiles today!

The post Make Your Child’s Orthodontic Treatment Fun with WildSmiles Braces appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

A chipped tooth has the potential to cause your baby discomfort, so what can you do if this
happens? Here’s how you can treat your baby’s chipped tooth until you can get to your child-
friendly dentist.

Contact Your Dentist

If you’re able, contact your child’s dentist after you notice your baby’s tooth has been chipped.
Your dentist can provide you with more specific instructions about what to do, and may even
be able to squeeze you in for an appointment.

Your dentist may want to know if the tooth is bleeding, if the tooth fragment has been found,
or if your child appears to be in pain. It’s a good idea to keep contact information for your
child’s dentist and pediatrician on hand for events such as these.

Rinse and Store

If you’re able to find the fragment of your child’s tooth, you can rinse it gently with water and store in saliva, milk, or water until you can bring it to the dentist. In the meantime, you can gently rinse your baby’s mouth with warm water—this is especially important to do if you cannot locate the tooth fragment and there’s a chance it may still be in your child’s mouth.

Your dentist can provide you with further instructions about storing the tooth fragment until
you can get in for an appointment. In some cases, as long as the tooth fragment is kept moist,
your dentist may still be able to reattach it to your child’s tooth.

Utilize a Cold Compress

If your baby appears to be in pain, you can utilize a cold compress to reduce any discomfort or
swelling. Never give a baby any over-the-counter pain medication or numbing gel without first
consulting with your dentist or pediatrician.

Quick action after the accident can help prevent infection and discomfort, so never ignore your baby’s chipped tooth and always follow your dentist’s instructions for handling the problem to keep your baby safe and healthy.

Just because your baby’s primary tooth isn’t permanent doesn’t mean you shouldn’t seek
treatment for your child. A tooth chip can not only be painful, but can also allow bacteria to
enter the tooth root, which can cause an infection and even early tooth loss, which can disrupt
the alignment of the adult teeth that will come in in a few years.

By securing the tooth fragment if you’re able, rinsing your baby’s mouth, and keeping your baby comfortable, you can ensure your child is ready for their dentist appointment to repair the chipped tooth!

The post How Do I Treat My Baby’s Chipped Tooth? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Whether you want to help your kids take better care of their oral health or if you just want to
enjoy some teeth-friendly snacks, the following options are sure to make your summer (and
your smile) shine all season long!

Fresh Fruit

Summer offers an array of fruits that are in season. The natural sugar in these fruits is different
from refined sugars—their high water content and fiber makes them a healthy snack for your
teeth as well as your body.

Get creative when eating fruit this summer, especially if you have kids in tow! Try making:

 Sorbet. From frozen strawberries and fresh lime juice to bananas and cherries, simply
blend and enjoy!

 Frozen fruit bars. These tasty bars are easy when you have a popsicle mold and some
fresh pureed fruit.

 A fruit salad. Try grapes, cherries, peaches, kiwis, pineapple, and strawberries.
Whatever your kids are crazy about!

 Fruit kabobs. Have your kids make their own fruit kabobs, or, you can try fruit and
cheese kabobs for an extra calcium boost.

 A fruit necklace. Your kids will love making these (and eating them too)!

 Fruit pizza. Use watermelon as a base for this “pizza” and have your kids top with their
favorite fruits!

Sundried Tomato Hummus and Veggies

Give your hummus a summer vibe with sundried tomatoes. Add about a quarter cup of
sundried tomatoes to your favorite hummus recipe and enjoy! The crunchy veggies you can
enjoy with hummus—including carrots, celery, cucumber, and green pepper—can actually help
clean your teeth and get rid of plaque.

Do you live with picky eaters? Try having kids make a cup filled with their favorite vegetables
that they can use to eat the hummus or make veggie “pictures” on a tray and then decorate
with hummus for a custom hummus plate!

Frozen Yogurt Bark

This twist on frozen yogurt adds nuts and seeds for extra protein, fruit, and fiber while you and
your kids enjoy the calcium and probiotics of yogurt. To make frozen yogurt bark, simply spread
yogurt onto a layer of parchment paper, have kids add their toppings (or add your favorites!)
and freeze.

Once firm, break apart and eat quickly—this snack will melt fast! If you or your kids are lactose
intolerant, you can try cashew milk yogurt, coconut milk yogurt, or soy milk yogurt for similar
results. For toppings, you can add almonds, blueberries, blackberries, or chia seeds for
something fun and different!

You can enjoy all summer has to offer with these fun and unique snacks you and your kids are
bound to love. Your teeth will reap the benefits of extra hydration from fruits, scrubbing action
from vegetables with hummus, and calcium from frozen yogurt. Enjoy them while they
last—soon summer will be gone!

The post Healthy Summer Snacks Your Teeth (And Your Kids) Will Love appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Thumb sucking is usually harmful if it persists beyond the ages of 5-6 years. What long-term
impacts is your child at risk for if they continue sucking their thumb?

An Improper Bite

Perhaps the most obvious effect of prolonged thumb sucking is a misaligned bite, also called a
malocclusion. Thumb sucking has the potential to cause an overbite, underbite, or an open bite
due to shifting teeth from the presence of the thumb being in the mouth.

The pressure of the thumb can cause teeth to shift outward and upward, leading to protruding
teeth or teeth that don’t touch when the mouth is closed. An improper bite normally requires
orthodontics to fix and may cause discomfort to your child when they speak, chew, or even
when the jaw is at rest.

Speech Problems

Speech problems such as a lisp or trouble pronouncing certain words can happen as a result of
thumb sucking. This is because constant thumb sucking can affect the development of your
child’s jaw, leading to a problem that could even require surgery to fix.

Thumb sucking may also prolong tongue thrust, a condition that infants grow out of once they
begin eating solid foods. Tongue thrust occurs when the tongue protrudes through the front
teeth, and can cause crooked teeth or a malocclusion.

Increased Risk of Infections

Children who suck their thumbs well into and beyond their toddler years are at greater risk for
infections due to constantly exposing the mouth to bacteria. These children are typically
introduced to antibiotics earlier than children who cease the thumb sucking habit.

If your child is old enough, explain to them that sucking their thumb can put them at risk for getting sick, something that will make you both feel bad!

How Can You Get Your Child to Stop?

It’s important that your child eventually stops sucking his or her thumb, but perhaps even more
important is how you go about discouraging this bad habit.

Be gentle when encouraging your child not to suck their thumb. They should be old enough to
understand the reasons why this habit is harmful. You can also try distracting them when they
begin to suck their thumb to help break the habit.

Remember, this is a behavior typically done under stress, so minimizing stress in your child’s life
may help prevent them from feeling the need to suck their thumb.

Is your child still sucking their thumb? This habit has long-term consequences for children if it’s
allowed to continue past the age of 5. You can also talk with your dentist about clever ways to
get your child to stop sucking their thumb if the habit proves difficult to break. Consider these
long-term impacts of thumb sucking when trying to get your child to stop!

The post The Long-Term Impacts of Thumb Sucking appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Primary teeth are essential to the healthy development of adult teeth, which will be present in your child’s mouth for life! So how can you best take care of your child’s baby teeth?

Infancy: Wipe Out the Mouth to Clean

When your child is an infant, mouth cleanings are still important. Since teeth won’t come in until your baby is about six months old, brushing won’t be necessary until this time. However, you should simply wipe out your child’s mouth after feedings with a clean cloth. Once their baby teeth begin to come in, you can gently brush them. As soon as they have two teeth that touch together, you can begin flossing. Remember, your child should see the dentist as soon as their first teeth begin to come in!

Toddler: Begin Teaching Brushing Habits

As your baby grows into a toddler, you can begin to teach them oral care habits. It’s essential that you still supervise your child’s care of their teeth, as they likely won’t be able to master this practice yet. You can get them into the habit of brushing their teeth every morning and every night, helping them along the way. Your child should be familiar with the dentist and go every six months or so to ensure their teeth are healthy and that tooth decay isn’t present.

Child: Supervise Brushing and Healthy Habits

Once your toddler has become a child, they should be able to brush their teeth on their own. At around age six, they’ll begin losing their primary teeth and adult teeth will make an
appearance. You should still check in to ensure they are brushing and flossing properly, and the dentist visits should be routine by this point. It’s important to encourage healthy snacking with limited juices, soda, and other sugar products. This will help your child develop healthy habits for life!

Teen: Emphasize the Importance of Care

Typically, around age 12, kids have their full set of adult teeth in. This means your child should be pretty well established to continue caring for their teeth and have a routine in place. Regular dentist visits can help remove any plaque that’s built up, helping to keep your child cavity-free. It’s important to continue emphasizing care of their teeth, especially if they have braces. Your child’s adult teeth will now last them for life thanks to your help!

Caring for your child’s baby teeth is important even though they’ll eventually lose these little teeth. Not only can you help your child establish healthy habits, but you also help encourage a strong full set of adult teeth for your child, setting them up for a great smile for life. Your dentist is your partner to ensuring your child has great teeth, so don’t skip those visits!

The post How to Best Take Care of Your Child’s Baby Teeth appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Many kids love sugar and some are actually twenty times better at identifying
sugar than other kids — their genes are to thank for this. These kids will find it
even more difficult to decrease the amount of sugar they consume, but a good
trick is to let them eat a bit of sugar at mealtimes if they simply can’t resist
having a sweet snack. Eating healthy foods at the same time as a sugary treat
encourages more saliva to be produced in the mouth, which will protect their
teeth against decay by washing away sugar residue.

There are other things you can do to encourage healthy teeth and prevent
cavities.

Let Them Brush With Fluoride

Cavities develop from acids in foods, such as sugar that destroy minerals in
tooth enamel. But tooth decay can be reversed if it’s caught early, because
enamel can heal by getting the minerals it needs to be strong from fluoride in
toothpaste. It’s therefore essential for your children to be using a fluoride
toothpaste to protect and repair cavities before they get worse.
If you’re worried about fluoride consumption, teach your kids to spit toothpaste
out instead of swallowing it.

Replace Candy With Healthy Sugars

Your children will be glad to know that not all sugars are bad for them. Simple
sugars found in beans, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, are natural. Such
foods also contain many other nutrients children need to be healthy, as well
as fiber. Foods high in fiber delay the body’s absorption of sugar, which isn’t
only good for teeth but prevents blood glucose levels from getting too high.

Find sweet veggies and fruits to feed your children to give them a sugar hit in
a healthy way. Examples include melons, papaya, berries, and carrots.

Encourage After-Snack Brushing

Children should brush their teeth at least twice a day, but if they’ve consumed
a sweet snack it’s a good idea to send them back to the bathroom for another
brushing session. This is because some sugary foods are sticky, such as
raisins and jelly beans, and they can get stuck onto teeth. Children should
brush this residue away so that they don’t cause cavities. Baby teeth have a
thinner coat of enamel than permanent teeth, so it’s even more important to
brush your baby’s teeth after sweet snacks.

Avoid “Baby Bottle Tooth Decay”

Get out of the the habit of giving your infants baby bottles that contain sugary
liquids, such as fruit juice. It might be marketed as healthy, but one cup of fruit
juice contains 23g of sugar, which is almost five teaspoons. If you're topping
up your baby’s bottle with fruit juice throughout the day, they could easily be
consuming 10 or more teaspoons of sugar a day. That’s way too much,
especially if you consider the sugar limit for adult daily consumption is six
teaspoons for women and nine teaspoons for men.

Start weaning babies and toddlers off these liquids by diluting their baby
bottles with water, slowly and over a period of a few weeks. You could also
switch them over to healthier liquids, such as milk that contains calcium to
fortify their teeth.

Stick To Dental Appointments

Have your child’s teeth broken through their gums yet? That’s a sign they’re
ready for their first visit to the dentist. Children should see their dentists at
least every six to 12 months so that they can prevent cavities from developing.
This also gets them into the habit of looking after their dental health as they
grow older, while showing them that dental appointments don’t have to be
scary.

If you’re not mindful of your children’s sugar-eating habits, their teeth could
become one of the casualties. Getting them in the habit of healthy eating as well as good dental care from an early age will go a long way to keeping their teeth strong and their smiles beautiful.

The post How To Protect Your Child’s Teeth From Sugar Damage appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Start Early

The earlier you get your children used to oral care, the more readily they’ll accept this habit. You can begin brushing your child’s teeth as soon as they have teeth. Prior to this, wiping their mouth with a clean cloth will suffice. And you can begin flossing as soon as your child has two teeth that touch. These habits will get your little one used to care before they’re able to do it themselves!

Have them Teach a Sibling

Many kids love teaching other kids how to do things. After your oldest has learned how to properly brush their teeth, have them show their little brother or sister. This will encourage them both to brush their teeth, floss, and show their healthy smiles to mom and dad before school or bedtime!

Make Brushing Time Fun

If your child is resistant to brushing, you have lots of options for making this time more creative and fun. Here’s how you can teach your child that brushing doesn’t have to feel boring or unnecessary!

 Listen to a two-minute song. Encouraging kids to brush for at least two minutes can feel like an eternity, depending on how young your child is. To make the time go by, listen to a favorite song that’s about two minutes and brush together the entire time!

 Use a reward system. In the event that brushing is a really trying time in your house, try a reward system. Create a chart and give your kids stickers or tokens every time they brush their teeth and floss. When the tokens add up, they get a prize!

 Consider apps to track progress. There are many apps that can help your kids see just how well they’re doing with their oral care. There are even toothbrushes that you can sync with your phone that shows you where you’re missing spots!

Be Familiar with the Family Dentist

Trust your kids to brush well, but always check their progress. An important part of doing this is through regular checkups with your family dentist. The earlier your kids see the dentist, the more comfortable they’ll be when they go for checkups. They’ll learn the dentist is friendly and fun, not scary and painful. Your dentist can also assess your child’s oral health and tell you what needs to improve as well as what he or she is doing well.

Teaching your kids about how important oral health is can feel like a long process. Start early to help ease the transition into self care. Have them teach their little brother or sister how to brush their teeth. Make brushing time fun when things get tough and as always, visit your dentist to ensure your child’s smile is as healthy as possible!

The post How to Promote Healthy Dental Habits for Your Children appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Wiggling the Tooth

To wiggle that tooth out, use a piece of clean gauze and wrap it around your child’s tooth. Gently wiggle it back and forth. You never want to force a tooth to come out. If the tooth doesn’t feel very loose, leave it alone. If, however, the tooth is very loose and practically hanging there, could can employ the wiggle method until the tooth comes out. You may try twisting a bit to encourage it. Using gauze will help you get a proper grip on the tooth and lessen the chances of a slip!

Eating Crunchy Foods

Crunchy foods are not only great for getting loose teeth to come out, they’re also great for your smile! Foods such as apples, carrots, and celery can actually act as little scrubbers on the teeth and remove plaque and bacteria. These are excellent snacks to keep on hand or to pack in school lunches. If your child has a loose tooth, you can simply encourage them to crunch into an apple or eat some carrots and celery. The chewing action combined with the crunchy, firm nature of these foods can help encourage the loose tooth to come right out!

Employ the Help of Floss

Flossing should be a regular part of your child’s oral care routine, as this important step can remove unseen plaque, food particles, and bacteria. Floss is an excellent tool for when you’re trying to get a stubborn baby tooth to come out as well. You can wrap the floss around the tooth just like you would during normal flossing. Gently pull on the floss near the crown of the tooth and see if the tooth is ready to make its exit!

Leave It Alone

It’s never a good idea to pull a baby tooth before it’s ready and this is never advised. Your child’s set of adult teeth are working their way in at their own pace. Removing the tooth too soon could impact the growth of the adult tooth, or cause unnecessary bleeding and pain for your child.

On the contrary, if the new tooth is clearly coming in and the old one clearly isn’t coming out, it could be time to see the dentist. Regular checkups are a vital part of any child’s oral care. Visit your dentist to ask how your child is doing with their tooth development. Your dentist can advise you what’s normal and even assist with pulling out that tooth!

Your child’s tooth will let you know when it’s ready to come out. Encourage your child to wiggle the tooth on their own until it’s ready. If your child needs assistance, employ one of these dentist-approved ways to remove your child’s tooth!

The post The Best (Dentist-Approved!) Ways to Remove Your Child’s Loose Tooth appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.