Whether or not your child is accustomed to the dentist, it can be difficult getting kids to feel good about seeing an oral healthcare professional. However, seeing a dentist in their early years is an instrumental part of helping your kids set up healthy habits for life when it comes to taking care of their teeth and gums. Not to mention those regular visits are going to help prevent cavities and gum disease.

When you want your child to love the dentist, here are five tips to help you get started!

Start Early

Children should ideally have their first dentist visit between the age of six months and one year, or whenever their first tooth comes in [1]. The earlier you get your child used to the dentist, the better!

You can and should start with their oral care shortly after birth—wiping their gums with a clean cloth after feedings before they have teeth, and brushing and flossing once the teeth come in, to get them used to oral care.

Go to the Dentist Yourself

Practice what you preach when it comes to the dentist! By going to the dentist yourself and placing an emphasis on your oral care, you can show kids how to take care of their teeth by being an example.

However, remember that it’s generally not a good idea to take your child to your own dentist, as the environment and treatment can make them feel intimidated. A child-friendly dentist will seem much less scary!

Offer Incentives

If your kids really dread going to the dentist, you can offer incentives in exchange for them going and doing their best to maintain a positive attitude while receiving treatment. You can offer healthy treats or have them pick a prize after each dental appointment.

Many pediatric dentists will already offer prizes and incentives for receiving oral care, so you might not have to further incentivize your kids!

Try Attending a Dental Presentation

You can get your children excited about going to the dentist by attending a dental presentation [2]. Call your local pediatric dentist and ask about a day where kids can come in and tour the office, sit in the exam chair, see Mr. Thirsty, and play with stuffed animals that have teeth they can brush.

Even if your dentist doesn’t offer a child-friendly dental presentation, you can certainly suggest they consider doing one or call around to see if another dentist has such an event you and your kids can attend.

This will not only get them more familiar with the dentist, but learn that it’s a fun place and not as scary or boring as they might think.

Have Fun at Home

You can encourage oral care habits at home and motivate kids to get excited about the dentist. Try purchasing stuffed animals where you can brush and floss their teeth and pretend to fill in cavities. Take kids to the store to pick out a fun toothbrush and toothpaste.

Make oral care fun at your house and extend this routine to the dentist—it just might get your kids excited about going for their regular checkups and cleanings!

Sources:
1. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/babies-and-kids/first-dental-visit
2. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/resources/lesson-plans/presentation-resources

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Teething can be a challenging time for baby and parents alike. Fortunately, this phase of your child’s life won’t last forever—but in the meantime, what can you do to help your baby be more comfortable?

Freeze a Wet Washcloth

Cold objects will help numb your child’s gums and alleviate the pain and swelling that can come with teething. You can wet a washcloth and place it in the freezer before allowing your baby to chew on it. Of course, you should always supervise your child with any toy or  object.

Teething necklaces and bracelets aren’t recommended as the materials that are used for these items can cause children to choke [1]. Regardless of what teething toy you choose for your baby, supervision is always important.

Invest in a Rubber Teething Ring

Many babies find relief from teething pain by chewing on a solid rubber teething ring. There’s no need to chill or freeze these rings as the pressure from chewing on the toy will help your child’s mouth feel better.

Freezing the teething ring can make it too hard for baby’s mouth and have the potential to cause additional discomfort.

In addition, the American Dental Association recommends avoiding teething rings that are filled with liquid, as your child could puncture them and either choke or swallow the liquid inside [2].

Try a Gum Massage

This home remedy is easy and doesn’t require any toys or a washcloth, although you may choose to use a clean piece of gauze.

Try giving your baby a gum massage for their teething pain. The pressure from the massage can help alleviate discomfort from teething. Just be sure your fingers are clean before putting them in your child’s mouth!

A gum massage can be done virtually anywhere and at a moment’s notice in the event that your little one is inconsolable on a trip out or in a place where a teething ring isn’t available or the frozen washcloth isn’t ready yet.

Use Caution with OTC Medications

Although it may be tempting to search for a quick-fix for your baby’s teething pain, The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t advise immediately reaching for over-the-counter (OTC) medications or homeopathic remedies as they can be harmful to your child [3].

In the event that none of the above remedies works for your child, you can follow up with your baby’s dentist or pediatrician regarding the use of medication or topical ointments to help your baby feel better.

Soothing Baby’s Teething Pain

It can be difficult to watch your little on go through the discomfort of teething. However, don’t fret—your baby will be done teething soon enough and won’t remember teething or the discomfort it can cause.

Give these home remedies a try to soothe your baby’s teething pain and keep everyone in your house happy during the teething process!

Sources:
1. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/teething-tooth-care/Pages/Teething-Pain.aspx
2. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/t/teething
3. https://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm385817.htm

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Teething can be a challenging time for babies and their parents, causing symptoms that range from drooling to irritability to trouble sleeping. Your child may also be trying to chew on objects, rub their face, or be difficult to soothe.

You can help your baby through the teething process with the following tips to help reduce their teething discomfort.

Massage Your Child’s Gums

Applying light pressure to your child’s gums via a gum massage can help temporarily alleviate their teething pain until an episode passes. Be sure to always wash your hands before putting your finger in your baby’s mouth.

You can gently massage your child’s gums to help soothe them while their teeth are coming in. Be sure not to apply too much pressure and if your baby shows signs of additional distress, discontinue this practice.

Keep Stress to a Minimum

Inflammation during the teething process causes your child’s mouth to hurt. Any additional stress on your baby can exacerbate their symptoms, so keeping your baby as comfortable as possible during this time is important.

For some babies, soothing activities such as breastfeeding (if you choose to breastfeed your child) or a warm bath can help distract a baby from their discomfort and calm them down.

Give Them a Cold Object

There are many objects on the market today that can be chilled or frozen for your baby to chew on to help numb their mouth and stop their teething pain. These include:

 Teething toys. These may include teething rings, wooden toys which can help apply pressure, or even teething necklaces that go in the freezer and can be given to baby for them to chew on for cool relief.

 Frozen fruit. Never give your baby whole frozen fruit as they may choke; instead, you can try putting the fruit in mesh bags that are tied off or sealed and allowing your baby to chew and refilling as needed.

 Other frozen objects. You may also choose to try a cold spoon, a frozen washcloth, or other objects to help alleviate your baby’s pain, just be sure your child cannot choke on the object and always supervise your baby!

Teething Gel

Your dentist may recommend a teething gel to provide your baby with quick relief in the event that they are inconsolable with these other tips during the teething process. Your dentist can let you know what gel they recommend and where you can find it as well as how to apply it. Typically, any type of pain medication is used as a last resort for babies who are teething.

Is your child going through the teething process? Emerging teeth can be uncomfortable for babies and anxiety inducing for parents who have to comfort their baby during this time. You can help alleviate your baby’s discomfort and stress with the above tips for teething pain!

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Caring for primary teeth until they naturally fall out can help your child have the best chance for a healthy smile. Children begin to lose their teeth beginning around age six and will continue until all their primary teeth have been replaced with adult teeth.

What are some best practices when it comes to your child losing his or her primary teeth? Here’s what you should know as a parent when your child is getting their adult teeth in.

Your Child’s Tooth Most Likely Is Fine

If your child is starting to lose their baby teeth, it’s important to let the natural process continue rather than trying to help it along. Your child’s tooth most likely is fine, so don’t pull on your child’s loose teeth or attempt to extract them early.

Your child’s loose tooth will come out when it’s ready. If you do decide to pull the tooth, you could cause your child undue pain, excessive bleeding, or even risk an infection. Simply letting your child’s tooth come out naturally is all you need to do!

When to Intervene with Your Child’s Loose Tooth

If there ever is a baby tooth that needs assistance with coming out, your dentist will let you know. If the baby tooth in question needs to be pulled, your dentist will speak with you about what the problem is as well as how to proceed.

It’s never a good idea to attempt to pull your child’s tooth without an evaluation from a dentist, so always get regular checkups to ensure your child’s adult teeth are coming in properly. Unless your dentist tells you otherwise, it’s best to leave your child’s loose teeth alone.

How to Help Your Child

You can encourage your child’s permanent teeth to come in properly without a hands-on approach!

First, seeing your child’s dentist can help encourage proper tooth development and a beautiful smile. Secondly, having your child care for their teeth—including brushing, flossing, and eating the right foods—can further facilitate healthy teeth and gums.

Finally, when your child’s baby teeth do begin to fall out, you can encourage your child to gently wiggle the tooth back and forth, but be clear that they shouldn’t pull on a tooth that simply isn’t ready to come out. Don’t be afraid that your child will choke on or swallow a loose tooth; this rarely happens!

When it’s time for your little one to lose their baby teeth, you can be encouraging and supportive during this time without hurting your child’s smile. It’s always a good idea to let baby teeth fall out naturally rather than attempting to pull them out yourself, although your dentist can let you know if you need to intervene in any way. Schedule an appointment with your child’s dentist today to ensure your little one’s teeth are on track to become a beautiful adult smile!

The post Can You Pull Your Child’s Loose Teeth or Should They Fall Out Naturally? 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.

At this age, your child is still shedding their primary teeth and getting their permanent teeth in.
Their mouths are growing and flexible. At this age, some orthodontic issues may be present,
such as a bad bite and crooked or crowded teeth.

Getting your child evaluated for orthodontia at a young age has numerous benefits that your
child will thank you for in the future!

Facilitate Good Oral Hygiene

If your child’s teeth are crowded or crooked, they can be difficult to clean. In addition, children
are still developing their brushing habits, so it’s likely that every area that needs to be cleaned
in the mouth isn’t getting cleaned. With the right orthodontic treatment, your orthodontist can
make room for all your child’s teeth to safely and healthily emerge.

For people who have overcrowded teeth, it can be impossible to get in-between all the tight
spaces where plaque, bacteria, and food particles accumulate. With orthodontic intervention at
the proper age, you can get those teeth into their proper positions and help prevent cavities
and gum disease as your child grows up!

Correct Serious Bite Problems

At the age of 7, your child’s jaw is still growing. Your orthodontist should be able to evaluate
your child’s bite and determine if early orthodontic treatment is necessary. Your child may
suffer from an overbite, underbite, open bite, or crossbite. Bad bites do more than affect your
child’s appearance—they can lead to jaw pain, headaches, and trouble chewing and speaking.

Early orthodontic treatment catches your child’s jaw while it’s still growing and can fix a bad
bite before it becomes problematic or painful for your child. It can also save you and your child
future stress from dealing with the bite as the jaw becomes more mature and more difficult to
fix as they get older.

Save Time and Money

Since orthodontic treatment that’s facilitated early on in your child’s life can halt problems
before they have a chance to develop, this can save you time and money in the future. Your
child’s bones are still flexible, so their treatment can be faster and more effective. Consulting
with an orthodontist at the proper age is often cheaper than waiting to seek treatment.

In addition, your child will have a healthy foundation for all their permanent teeth to come in
properly, therefore potentially eliminating the need for future orthodontic work, and
sometimes even helping to halt the progression of tooth decay or gum disease, as your child
will be able to more easily clean teeth that are in the correct positions, and not crowded or
crooked.

Orthodontic treatment is necessary for many children to have a healthy smile for life. Have you
gotten your child evaluated by a professional orthodontist yet? It’s never too late to begin
correcting you or your child’s smile. Schedule a consultation today to discover how you can
create a healthy foundation for your child’s oral health for life!

The post What Are the Benefits of Early Orthodontic Treatment? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Brushing and flossing are great, but what about the foods your child eats? Diet hugely impacts oral health. Having your kids eat the right foods and develop healthy snacking habits can not only help protect their smile from tooth decay, but strengthen it to be healthy for life.

Here are some of the top teeth-friendly foods your child is sure to love!

Fruits and Veggies

Of course, not all children are keen on vegetables. However, you can try to incorporate as much of them into their diet as you can. Here are some snack ideas to try to get your child to eat more fruits and vegetables that are healthy for their teeth!

Baby carrots and hummus. Experiment with different kinds of hummus such as sundried tomato, roasted red pepper, or make your own!

Celery and cream cheese. You can make your own creations by adding raisins, sunflower seeds, or blueberries to the cream cheese on the celery.

Fresh sliced fruit. Try different kinds of fruit to see what your child likes. Watermelon, pineapple, grapes, pears, and oranges are all fun choices.

Apple with peanut butter. Get your child’s favorite kind of apple and serve with peanut butter. If your child is allergic to peanuts, you can try almond butter or sunflower seed butter.

Try Seeds and Nuts

Seeds and nuts are not only fun to eat, but are also full of healthy fats that are excellent for your child’s brain and skin. Some great choices to have on hand include:

Almonds
Walnuts
Sunflower seeds
Pumpkin seeds
Cashews
Brazil nuts
Pecans

Nuts are also easy to take with you and don’t need to be refrigerated, so you can easily take them along for a snack after sports or send with your child to school.

Yogurt and Cheese

Dairy is rich in calcium and vitamin D, two important nutrients for your child’s smile. You can serve cheese with fruit or vegetables for added appeal, and yogurt always makes a great snack.

Choose yogurt that’s unsweetened, as some sweetened yogurts can contain as much sugar as a can of soda! You can buy unsweetened and add your own goodies, such as homemade granola, fresh fruit, or honey if your child likes a bit of sweetness.

Yogurt also makes a great dessert choice instead of ice cream—try frozen yogurt treats or make your own at home for a fun activity with your child. If your child is lactose intolerant, you can still enjoy coconut milk or soy milk yogurt.

When it comes to getting your child to eat healthy, there are so many foods out there to try. Sugar is best enjoyed in moderation, so you can substitute natural sugars such as those in fruit whenever you like. Enjoy these foods and choose to eat healthy to build strong smiles for your kids!

The post Teeth-Friendly Foods Your Child Is Sure to Love appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Tooth Decay

Tooth decay in children is pretty common. Children are often exposed to sugary beverages and snacks and lack the ability to properly care for their teeth, so tooth decay sets in. This is why regular visits with your child-savvy dentist are so important! Tooth decay could be causing discoloration of your child’s tooth, so get a check-up to see if your child needs treatment for decay.

Tooth Injury

Toddlers are always exploring and learning about the world they live in—this also means they’re prone to fall! Has your toddler experienced a tooth injury? It could have happened and you may not have noticed any visible effects of the fall or injury, but often teeth cracks or chips can be hard to spot. Your dentist can help identify if any tooth injury has occurred and is causing the discoloration!

Soft Enamel

Tooth enamel can get damaged for several reasons. Your child could have a mineral deficiency, or he or she may have too much plaque or bacteria that’s attacking the enamel and causing it to soften. Acidic and sugary foods can also be responsible for soft enamel. Since enamel is porous, it could be the cause of your toddler’s tooth discoloration. The signs of enamel loss usually aren’t apparent, but your dentist should be able to tell if your child’s enamel is damaged.

Too Much Fluoride

Fluoride can be beneficial for your child’s smile, but too much of it can cause tooth discoloration! Get your drinking water tested to determine how much fluoride your child is consuming. If your child is also using a toothpaste or mouth rinse with fluoride, he or she could be getting too much—talk to your dentist about how much fluoride is too much for your toddler!

Sickness or Medications

Underlying medical conditions or certain supplements or medications could be affecting the color of your child’s teeth. Ensure your child is healthy and take a second look at any supplements or medications your child is on. Antibiotics in particular could cause tooth discoloration. It’s always a good idea to talk with your dentist about what could be affecting your child’s teeth, especially when it comes to their health and medicines.

Tooth discoloration should be a cause for concern, and a simple visit to your dentist can help identify if there’s a problem and if so, what you can do about it. Your child’s primary teeth are important placeholders for their adult teeth and help set up healthy habits for the future. Work with your child to prevent tooth decay and always visit your dentist for checkups!

The post Causes of Tooth Discoloration in Toddlers appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.