Five Ways To Fight Enamel Demineralization And Keep Your Kids’ Teeth Healthy

As a parent, you spend a fair amount of time thinking about your kids’ teeth. Are they brushing right or are they just chewing toothpaste? When they do brush, is it long enough? All these concerns can be addressed once they get them into the habit of good dental hygiene. You can try to keep them from eating too much candy and sweets, but chances are they will go out of their way to satisfy those cravings.

Despite your best efforts, your kids’ teeth can develop stains due to what’s known as enamel demineralization.  How then, is it possible to keep those little teeth healthy and clean without turning into a drill sergeant? There are some simple steps you can take to keep those teeth strong and white for as long as possible.

What Causes Enamel Demineralization?

Demineralization happens when acid attacks the tooth enamel, which causes it to erode and eventually leads to staining and cavities. As the enamel breaks down, the teeth begin to discolor and turn yellow. Your kids may also complain of sensitivity when chewing or you may notice white spots on your kids teeth. The most popular culprits of erosion-causing acids are found in the foods and drinks we consume, especially sodas and fruit juices.

Limit Fruity Drink Intake

Keep your kids away from sugary drinks as much as possible. Help them become more accustomed to drinking water and low sugar alternatives. If they must have a soda or juice here and there, steer them towards those that do not include citric acid. Insist upon rinsing as best you can.

Increase Water Intake

Besides the fact that it doesn’t contain citric acid, another benefit to your kids drinking plenty of water is that it increases saliva production. Saliva helps to clear debris away from the teeth and restore a normal pH balance in the mouth.

Brush and Floss

You may not be able to watch everything your kids consume but making sure they brush and floss regularly is critical. Brushing with a fluoride toothpaste for two minutes at least twice a day can help stop them from developing white spots on baby teeth and dealing with demineralization.
Calcium is known as an enamel protector and is a great neutralizer of erosion-causing foods. You can also add more dairy, almonds or kale to your kids’ diet to increase calcium intake.

Pediatric Dentist Office Check-ups

Whether it’s preventing erosion before it starts or treating white spots on teeth, your pediatric dental group can certainly help protect your kids’ smile. Regular check-up appointments every six months are usually the recommended check-up schedule.

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Why Dental Sedation Might Be Right for Your Anxious Kid

If your child is terrified of visiting the dentist, it’s important to find a solution that works for your family. Your toddler needs to see a dentist on occasion to ensure their teeth and gums are developing the way they should be and no issues are apparent. However, if you can’t get your child to cooperate at your family dentist, a pediatric sedation dentist might be just what you need.

Goals of Dental Sedation

Before you take to the internet looking for a “kids dental office near me,” you need to understand what dental sedation is all about and how to know you’ve chosen a dentist who will fit your toddler’s needs. Here are some of the things you can expect from an excellent pediatric sedation dentist.

• - Keeping your child safe throughout dental exams and procedures
• - Controlling anxiety and minimizing trauma with the best chance of post-dentist amnesia
• - Lessening any pain or discomfort associated with the dentist office
• - Controlling movements and behavior while the procedure is safely completed
• - Returning the child to a state where safe discharge with no further professional supervision is needed

Levels of Sedation

There are four different types of dental sedation for kids. The first is mild sedation, which puts the child in a state where they can respond normally to verbal commands but may have impaired coordination and cognitive function. This is often the best choice for children.

The other types of sedation include moderate, deep, and general anesthesia. Each involves progressively stronger drugs and requires more care during and after the procedure that is taking place. The medications, depending on sedation level, may be oral, intranasal, intramuscular, or intravenous.

Deciding if Sedation is Right

In the end, as a parent, you are the one who determines the final treatment offered for your child. However, you can expect that your pediatric sedation dentist will offer guidance and education to help you make the right decision. An experienced dentist will explain the risks to your toddler and explain what practices are in place to avoid bad reactions.

Choosing the Right Pediatric Sedation Dentist

When you look for a dentist for your child, be sure they are experienced in dental sedation for young children. You want a pediatric dentist office staff who are pleasant and friendly in order to avoid additional anxiety for your kid. Be sure to ask questions and listen to your gut when making this important decision. Your child will be happy that you did.

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How Smart Moms Choose a Kid-Friendly Dentist

Modern moms must wear many hats. Not only do they work hard at developing children into well behaved teens, they must instill a commitment to a healthy lifestyle. Fortunately, if you start early, you can likely teach your young ones the importance of good oral health. Finding an affordable dentist for kids that stresses healthy oral habits is a good step in the right direction. To reduce your anxiety throughout the day, you need choose a kids dental office that’s fun and close to school and other errands you may have throughout the day. Here are some ways smart moms choose a kid-friendly dentist.

Ask Other Moms

Successful mothers usually aren’t shy about sharing insights and advice with other moms. If an online search for “dentist for kids near me” produces too many results, we recommend you take a deeper dive into the reviews and comments being shared for each pediatric dentist near your home. Even if you don’t ultimately decide to visit a recommended dental office, you may learn what you need to watch out for.

Look at the Décor

Before you schedule your child’s appointment, you should plan to visit the dentist’s officeyou are considering on your own just to see how inviting the environment is and how welcoming the staff is. Have a child-friendly waiting room alone is just not enough. In addition to colorful décor, the dental office should have exam rooms that are pleasant to the eye, clean floors, story books for a young mind and meet your insurance needs.

Talk to the Staff

Visiting the dentist can be unpleasant at any age. For young patients, it can be downright terrifying. Before you decide on a dental office for your kids, be sure you speak to the receptionist, assistants, dentists and other staff members. If the personnel in the office have a kind, caring demeanor, you have probably found the right childrens dentist near you.

Think About Location

Some children simply don’t travel well. If you have kids that become irritable in the car, you are setting yourself up for failure if you choose a dentist that is too far away. Even if your child doesn’t mind doing errands with you, asking him or her to devote a significant amount of time traveling to and from the dentist may be unreasonable. Try to find a provider that is near your home or your child’s school.

Don’t Forget Insurance

Finally, you can’t forget about the costs involved so looking for an affordable dentist for kids, make sure the places you consider accept the insurance plan you have. If you have a strict policy, speak with a representative of the insurance provider before scheduling your first dental visit.

Smart moms know they must encourage their children to have good oral health. To help your young ones put their best tooth forward, find a kids dental office that’s fun and welcoming. While your search may take a while, the benefits of finding the best pediatric dentist in Langhorne, Levittown area are impossible to overstate.

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Kids With Special Needs Need Dental Specialists

Children with special needs must see dentists just like any other child, but not all dentists have been trained to care for patients with special needs. That’s why your child deserves to see a dentist who is specifically trained to cater to children with special needs. When you’re asking, “What’s the best children’s dentist near me?” you’ll want to go to a practitioner who understands and accommodates the issues your child faces.

It’s About More Than Dental Care

Dental services for children with special needs should be more comprehensive. When doctors, hygienists, and assistants know how to accommodate emotional, physical, cognitive, developmental, mental, or sensory impairments, it makes all the difference to you and your child. Of course, the oral treatment includes the necessary exams, cleanings, and fillings, but special needs dentists are uniquely trained to understand how certain conditions may affect treatment.

How An Appointment Differs

When you go to an appointment with a special needs dentist, you’ll notice that the dentist’s approach is different than a typical dentist. In general, there may be a slower and more gentle approach. It’s even better when the pediatric dental office isn’t busy. Some dentists will provide special needs patients with general anesthesia as a surgeon would in an operating room. This is very wrong but it does happen.

Choosing the Right Dentist

The parent should take several things into consideration when it comes to deciding on a dentist for your special needs child. It’s great if the office staff is well-trained to identify children with special needs. Choose a dentist whose receptionist will make the proper accommodations, such as making the appointment slightly longer.

Another important factor is whether the childrens dental practice has specialized equipment. For example, you may want a dentist who has a theater set up in the exam room. This way, your child will get to watch his or her favorite movies or TV shows, making the experience much more pleasant. The dentist should also provide unique advice for dental hygiene with your kids. For instance, he or she may advise you to use a toothbrush with a cartoon character on it.

You Should Feel Comfortable and Confident

Taking your child to the dentist shouldn’t be a stressful or an uncertain process. You deserve to go somewhere where you and your child feels welcomed and accommodated. The right dentistry practice will go above and beyond to ensure your child’s needs are met.

Raising a child with special needs is rewarding, but it comes with its fair share of challenges. Going to just any pediatric dentist near me shouldn’t be one met with challenges. The right one will make it an easy and fulfilling experience.

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Your Child’s First Visit to the Dentist – What To Expect

Children should see a dentist for the first time before their first birthday. They may not even have all their baby teeth at this point, but it is vital for an experienced dentist to inspect your child’s oral health to ensure the teeth will be healthy when they do come in. There are certain things you need to anticipate in order to have a productive meeting and to ensure your child receives the best dental treatment. We feel each parent must have a good positive attitude about the dentist they choose for their child.


This Video Portrays One Parent’s View of Her Pediatric Dentist



What Can A Parent Expect?

You may be wondering what exactly happens at a child’s first dental appointment. For the most part, you dentist will most likely not do anything extensive to the teeth or gums. Instead, this visit is meant to acclimate the child to the dentist’s office and to get him or her used to all the various sights, smells and noises. During the oral examination, your new pediatric dentist will evaluate the tooth eruption progress and any structural or developmental red flags that may need closer examination.

You will sit next to your child as the dentist examines the gum tissue and any teeth that have come in so far. The dentist will also most likely clean the gum tissue. These initial examinations helps your child overcome any dental phobias and provide the reassurance your child needs to feel comfortable with oral exams.

How Can You Prepare Your Child for the Visit?

The best way to help your child feel more at ease is by appearing calmer yourself. If you personally have dental anxiety, it is very important that your child does not adopt those feelings so positive body language helps you communicate a positive message to your child. Children, even when they are only one year old, are very perceptive and will take note if you appear nervous or exhibit apprehension before their first dental visit.

You should also practice brushing your child’s teeth before the first appointment. Your child may be resistant at first, so try to make the experience fun. Play a song as you brush your child’s teeth. After brushing, play a fun game so that your child associates brushing with positive experiences.

What Should You Tell the Dentist?

This visit is also an opportunity for you to increase your own dental knowledge. The dentist will tell you if there are any areas of improvement concerning your child’s oral health. The pediatric dentist near you will ask you if your child still sucks his or her thumb and what kinds of food make up your child’s diet. Take all of these dental hygiene tips for kids to heart because it could vastly help your child down the line.

Find an experienced children’s dentist in Levittown who can help your child maintain healthy teeth and gums throughout his or her life. The first few years are critical to developing good oral hygiene habits. After your child’s first appointment, you should schedule the next one six months in the future.

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Preventative Dentistry for Kids Includes the Following

If you are a mother of young children, you realize the importance of helping your little ones develop good healthy habits. As part of your plan to teach your kids about oral health, we encourage you to establish a positive working relationship with your pediatric dentist. Every six months, plan to take your child for a checkup and cleaning. If your child has sensitive teeth or is exposed to sugary snacks, we often recommend dental sealants for kids that have a sweet tooth.

Dr. Ross will elaborate in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54jE9yjDHHw

Baby Teeth Establish The Foundation For Adult Teeth

Your child will have baby teeth for years, so you want to be certain they stay in good shape. With a good preventative dentistry plan, you can improve your child’s odds that they will have healthy teeth for years to come. In addition to helping encourage good oral health habits, we recommend discussing dental sealants and fluoride treatments for your children. By helping your child avoid cavities, tooth decay, and gum disease, your pediatric dentist can protect the baby teeth until adult teeth replace them. It is our experience that if the gums are in good shape prior to the arrival of adult teeth, the new teeth come in straighter and with less complications.

Establish Healthy Habits

To promote a life-long commitment to good oral health, parents must help their young children establish healthy habits. Pediatric dentists who focus on preventative care are more inclined to spend quality time teaching children how to brush properly, how to use floss, will discuss the importance of healthy snacks, rinsing behaviors and other dental hygiene practices. When instructing children under the age of 3, dentists generally make sure parents are brushing with their children so that kids can mimic parents as they brush their teeth. Some pediatric dentists may also recommend at-home fluoride treatments to help promote overall dental health. Dr. Radin and Dr. Levine are skilled at winning over the confidence of young children if they happen to be inattentive initially.

Achieving Positive Outcomes

When children have access to preventative dentistry, they generally experience positive outcomes overall. Not only are kids with healthy teeth usually more confident, they typically have more nutritious diets. Similarly, those who take good care of their baby teeth tend to have healthier permanent teeth. Because a child’s dental appointments help parents stay on top of the oral health for kids, adults experienced positive outcomes as well. At an early age, the dental services for children that a parent should be most concerned about is preventative dentistry.

Preventative dentistry includes more than just dental sealants for kids. While a pediatric dentist in Langhorneuses a variety of treatments to fix immediate problems, he or she helps establish the important habits your child needs to have a healthy mouth throughout life. Scheduling checkup and cleaning appointments early and often is a proven way to take full advantage of preventative dentistry for kids.

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Managing Childhood Fear of Dentists

Fear of the unknown is a real emotion, whether you are an adult or a child. But for children, who have no control over the situation, the fear of the unknown can be traumatic and distressing. Many children react to fear with panic attacks and tears when they are told they must visit a dentist because it is an unknown. They may have heard an adult talk about a dental visit, or they may have seen a dentist on a television show, but the child’s perception of a dentist can often bring about the same reaction as a doctor visit. To ensure your child has good oral health, begin overcoming dental anxiety by demystifying the visit.

Reasons Children Fear Dentists

Between the ages of two and eight, childhood fear comes in many forms and for many reasons. One of the main factors for overwhelming fear of your children’s first visit to the dentist is often his or her perception of other family members feelings toward dentists. Thus, your child’s anxiety level may be based on what their belief is about your perception of a dental visit. By overcoming dental anxiety, you may be taking the first step in helping your child become less anxious.

Other reasons children may fear dentists can include:
-Emotional insecurity
-Fear of strangers
-Panic disorder
-Fear of pain
-Social anxiety
-Concern about possible threats
-Separation anxiety

Ways to Overcome Children’s Anxiety

Overcoming dental anxiety in children can often be relatively easy because they take their reaction cues from those they trust. You may be able to project positive feelings toward the dentist in a few simple ways. Here are a few suggestions:

1. Visit a pediatric dentist before baby’s second birthday.

2. Role play a dental visit with your child and their favorite doll and make it fun.

3. Keep your words simple. Don’t include shot, drill, hurt, etc.

4. Avoid bribery because kids are smart enough to know something is probably wrong if they must be bribed.

5. Find a television show they love with an episode about dentists and share it with them several times.

6. Make brushing teeth a fun experience each night.

Using Positive Reinforcement Works

Pediatric dentists are typically specially trained to deal with overcoming dental anxiety in children, so finding one you trust can be the first step in developing good oral health for your young child. Finding a dentist for children in Langhorne and talking to your child about the dentist as if he or she were a friend may ease the first office visit anxiety for both of you.

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Common Dental Emergencies Faced by Kids and Families

There are a variety of common disasters and small emergencies that pediatric dentists face on a daily basis and obviously parents worry each time a dental emergency strikes. It’s understandable, because if left untreated any of these common occurrences could become serious. At the same time, though, it’s worthwhile to remember that most kids’ dental offices have seen it before, so as long as you seek medical attention promptly, it should not be difficult to get all the help you need.

Toothaches

This one is the most common for both kids and adults. Toothaches tend to have a variety of causes, but the first aid is simple:

1. Clean the area with warm water
2. Inspect for impacted food and other debris and clear it
3. Compress the aching tooth with cold and call the dentist

Your dentist will be able to tell you whether the symptoms are serious enough to need attention, and if they do, the dentist will want to schedule an appointment to address the challenge ASAP.

Dental Avulsion

This is just a fancy term for knocking a tooth out, and pediatric dentists see plenty of it. If it’s possible to grab the tooth on your way in, do so. Pack it in ice, and follow first aid procedures to stop the flow of blood. Then, you will want to consult with your dentist. If the injury is small and the tooth is a baby tooth, an effort to replace the tooth may not be necessar. If it is an adult tooth, you might need a couple of appointments to discuss implants.

Displacement

Tooth displacement happens when new adult teeth growing in begin to push baby teeth or more established teeth out of place, causing alignment issues. It can happen slowly, from growth, or it can happen quickly due to truama.

A Broken Tooth

A crown fracture happens when your child is grinding his or her teeth or an impact createsa crack in the visible part of the tooth. That crack can eventually lead to tooth decay or even the need for a root canal if it is left untreated.

What to do About Dental Emergencies in Kids

A pediatric dentist in Newtown-Langhorne recommends that you call your local dentist for advice whenever you are worried about a dental emergency in kids. That way, you can get timely and relevant advice, including advice about emergency procedures that you might need to apply immediately to help start the healing process in the event of dental trauma. That’s why you need to keep the phone number for your kids dental offices on hand in case of an emergency. Kids have been having accidents that cause dental trauma since the dawn of time and most pediatric dental offices in lower Bucks County have seen it all.

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What Are Those White Spots on My Baby’s Teeth?

As a parent, you want your children to be healthy, and that includes their teeth. Baby teeth may be replaced in a few short years by the permanent set, but they still require care to prevent decay and other more significant issues. Any untreated dental problems may affect their adult teeth if left untreated.

Perhaps you have noticed white spots on your child’s teeth and have wondered what causes them. In most cases those white spots are no cause for alarm, but they should be evaluated by a dentist to determine if treatment is needed. There are two main causes for white spots on baby teeth, overexposure to fluoride and tooth decay. Luckily, both of these conditions can be diagnosed and addressed to protect your young child’s dental health.


The Good News

Fluoride is one of the best ways to protect young teeth from cavities caused by the buildup of plaque, which is why it is added to water supplies in most areas. If your child drinks a lot of water, be happy that floride is being delivered via the water supply. White spots may develop on his or her teeth due to too much fluoride, a condition known as fluorosis. While it may be concerning, you should not worry too much. There is little risk that these white spots will affect the development of adult teeth; in fact, the exposure to fluoride may strengthen the enamel of adult teeth as well while they begin to form under the baby teeth. Check with your dentist to see if fluorosis has caused these white spots to appear. You may also want to make sure your child is not using too much toothpaste when brushing to limit the fluoride intake.

And the Not So Good News

The other main cause of white spots on your baby’s teeth is decay. Tooth decay can result from not enough brushing and flossing to remove bits of food. When bacteria has the opportunity to take hold, you may notice white spots near the gum line and other signs of tooth decay in toddlers, such as puffy gums and bad breath. A trip to the dentist for a cleaning and checkup, followed by a fluoride treatment, can take care of your child’s baby teeth to keep them healthy and prevent cavities or deeper infections.

Teach your child proper dental hygiene now to take care of teeth for a lifetime. Colgate Oral Care Center has lots of good tips to help you instill healthy habits at any age as well as more information on white spots on baby teeth and other dental concerns. This is just one of the signs of tooth decay in toddlers that you should keep an eye out for. Even the best pediatric dentist in Langhorne can’t force you to teach good dental hygiene at home. This often comes from patient persistence between the caregiver and the child.

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Water Flossing for Kids Fights Bad Breath

We try to drill the message of important dental hygiene into our kids’ heads every day, yet statistics seem to show that those efforts are largely unsuccessful. So much so, in fact, that the American Association of Pediatric Dentists reports that 42 percent of U.S. parents recognize that their children’s dental hygiene standards are not up to par. Yet if you feel you’re losing the battle of getting your kids to understand the importance of dental health, don’t be discouraged. There are several tools and techniques out there that can help make the process of brushing (and more importantly, flossing) easier and even fun for kids.

Helping Kids to Develop a Good Dental Perspective

The trouble in getting your kids to see why they need to take care of their teeth and gums is often due to the fact that the message of having a healthy smile as an adult typically falls on deaf ears. Most children have trouble picturing themselves in a week, much less 10-15 years in the future. Thus, you need to try and show what the benefits of good dental hygiene are in the here-and-now.

What about avoiding bad breath? Given their many daily interactions with their peers, no kid wants to be singled out as the one with bad breath. The trouble is that brushing alone often isn’t enough to completely prevent it. Much of the plaque and tartar buildup that contributes to halitosis falls into the spaces between teeth, which is almost impossible to reach with a toothbrush. Therefore, if your kids are to avoid bad breath, flossing needs to be part of their daily routine.

Water Flossing is the Way to Go

Enter the concept of water flossing. Rather than trying to prefect the process of traditional flossing, kids can use an easy-to-operate device which uses a pulsating watering action that serves to first decompress and then compress the areas between the teeth, allowing for the simple removal of all harmful particulates. Best of all, kids find the gentle sensation produced by a water flosser feels cool and even ticklish, which helps to turn the task of flossing into a fun activity.

While your children will enjoy the fact that water flossing helps them to avoid bad breath, you’ll rest easy knowing that it also helps prevent oral ailments such as:

• *Gingivitis
• *Gum recession
• *Tooth decay

It’s Never Too Early to Introduce Good Habits

When is it too soon to start introducing your kids to flossing? The truth, if they’re ready to brush, they’re also ready to floss. Starting early will help make maintaining good dental hygiene for toddlers a veritable breeze.

Your kids want to enjoy a happy, healthy smile and the pediatric dentist in Levittown PA we spoke with agrees; they just don’t yet appreciate the work that goes into maintaining one. By incorporating techniques such as water flossing into their dental hygiene regimens, and getting your childrens dentist to make flossing fun during the initial instruction, you can help them to develop healthy patterns that they’re more likely to adhere to as they get older.

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Doylestown Kids Castle and Other Playgrounds

Doylestown, PA, is home to several fun playgrounds for kids such as Build the Kingdom, Kids Castle and Meyer Way Community Park. Kids Castle in particular stands out and has even been lauded along with other playgrounds in countries such as Sweden, Australia and France as a top attraction. Here is a look at what makes these playgrounds in Doylestown special.

A Playground Fit for Royalty

Kids Castle was built in 1997 and has recently passed a safety audit by continuing to make safety improvements in 2013-2015. The full name of this playground is Build the Kingdom at Kids Castle, and it is filled with magnificent child-size structures such as castles and turrets. It is comprised of four parts, or kingdoms, and one is geared toward children age five and younger. In addition, Kids Castle is designed to be accessible for all children, including those who use wheelchairs. The playground strives to address developmental needs by using sensory, emotional, mental and cognitive equipment in addition to serving as a physical outlet. Among the many features of the playgroundis a solar climber, chime panel, glide slide, a rockblocks curved wall and a hoop climber.

Old-Fashioned Fun

Meyer Way Community Park is technically in Jamison, a stone’s throw from Doylestown. It can be especially delightful for children on summer afternoons, as it offers a splash pole for bathing fun. Summer concerts are free and popular with families. In fact, there is something for everyone at this park, which makes sense since it stretches over 27 acres. Highlights for children include a small zip line, slides and plenty of climbing opportunities. While the children play, adults can relax in the shade, play basketball or take advantage of multi-use paths to run or bike.

When Kids Stumble

No matter how safe a playground is and how well supervised children are, accidents happen. For example, children can hit their teeth on the monkey bars or fall and chip a tooth. It is important that equipment is well maintained and not broken or rusty. That only complicates accidents and it is important that children use equipment designed for their age range. To help prevent accidents, also tuck in shoelaces and loose clothing.

If a pediatric dental emergency in Doylestown occurs, it is best to contact a pediatric dentist in Doylestown, PA. There are also some dentists that specialize in special needs dentistry for children in Bucks County. If the child injured has ADA requirements, the personnel at these offices have been specially trained and often well-versed in playground mishaps. Seeking professional attention as soon as possible also helpsprevent additional consequences such as infections, unnecessary pain, and in serious cases, increases the chances that a child’s tooth can be saved.

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Preventing Expensive Dental Work Requires Regular Visits as a Child

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, dental caries affect upwards of 25 percent of children between the ages of 2 and 5 in the United States. By the time children reach the ages of 12, half of them are estimated to have serious tooth decay. The state of a person’s teeth when they are young is a fairly reliable predictor of what their teeth will be like when they are older.

If preventative steps are not taken throughout a child’s life to temper cavity development and keep teeth healthy, expensive dental work will almost certainly be required at some point in the future. For this reason, it is important for parents to dedicate themselves to finding the best kid’s dentist near them and start taking their children in for regular visits once they reach the age of four or five years old. Worried about the costs associated with regular dental visits? Regularly taking your kids to an affordable kid’s dentist is actually less expensive than trying to treat years of dental neglect later on.

What You Can Do to Prevent Childhood Tooth Decay

Prevention is the most effective way to keep cavities at bay and prevent them from developing into more serious dental issues.  When children are brought to a dentist for regular checkups, they are less likely to require extensive (and expensive) dental work. This is because it takes time for dental conditions and diseases to develop, and if they are detected early on they can normally be treated with minimal cost and invasiveness. Here are a few things you can do to promote dental health in your child:

• *Religiously schedule 6-month checkups from the age of 4 and upwards.
• *Avoid feeding your child excessive sugar, which has been linked with tooth decay.
• *Teach good dental habits like brushing twice each day.
• *Understand that dental decay is more about dental care than it is about genetics.
• *Feed your child a healthy, balanced diet that will facilitate proper dental development.

If childhood dental diseases are left undetected and untreated, they can develop into more serious conditions that require more aggressive treatments. Allowing a cavity or other dental issue to progress unchecked will not only cause your child unnecessary pain, but can also negatively affect his or her dental and overall health. Find yourself a great pediatric dentist in Levittown or your home town that connects well with your child.

Above all, it is important to realize that proper dental care for your child is well worth the cost. Regular dental checkups will not only help keep your child free from dental pain, but will also help you avoid expensive dental repairs and treatments down the road.

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Summer Sweets Linger On Teeth

It’s easy to get out of your routine during the summer when the kids are home from school. Healthy choices like brushing and flossing don’t have to go by the wayside when you’re going to theme parks and enjoying some last-minute fun.

*Limit sweet treats like sodas, ice cream and slushees. These treats are packed with sugar, so make them rare treats. Oral bacteria feeds on sugar in the mouth, which can cause cavities in baby teeth and permanent teeth. Even though saliva has minerals to repair the enamel on teeth, there’s only so much your mouth can do to fight the damage sugar causes.

*Watch for added sugar in treats. Read the ingredient list before giving your children a packaged treat. You may be giving them more sugar than you realize. High protein snacks, such as cheese or nuts, provide long-lasting energy without extra sugar. Watermelon and cantaloupe are very refreshing, have a higher water content and have a type of sugar that readily absorbed by the body.

*Drink water. Water is the best source of hydration for kids and adults. It promotes salivation, which reduces the acids that accumulate in the mouth. Add flavor with fruit or herbs like your favorite restaurant does. Keep water available not only for dental health, but overall well-being all year long.

*Brush after snacks. Sure, a toothbrush seems like one more thing you have to pack, but keeping a toothbrush on hand to use after snacking keeps those pearly whites sparkly bright. Look for travel toothbrushes and toothpaste to take to the theme park or pool. Good habits now keep those baby teeth healthy.

*Maintain your healthy routine. Remember to have kids brush their teeth when they wake up and before bed. Even on those mornings when you’ve let them sleep in or when they’re staying up late, don’t forget to take care of their teeth. Younger children may still need some guidance when brushing, for example, remembering to spit out the toothpaste or assistance when flossing.

Summer is a great time to enjoy some down time from the routine, but it shouldn’t be time to slack off fighting cavities in baby teeth. Encourage good dental health for kids all summer long to keep your children’s teeth looking their best. It’s one less stress you’ll have when you bring them in for their semiannual checkup with the pediatric dentist near me. It’s easy to take a few steps every day to protect those pearly whites, but you have to make it a priority in your routine.

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Preventing Chipped Teeth and Other Childhood Dental Accidents

Accidents are a normal part of childhood, but dental emergencies can be avoided with a little bit of planning. Chipping, cracking, or breaking a tooth is a painful experience that requires immediate dental care. Cuts and abrasions to the gums, tongue, and oral tissue should also receive prompt attention from a dentist or health care professional.

Dental Emergencies Can Happen Anywhere

The playground is often the site of childhood injuries. Even with supervision accidents can sometimes happen. Slipping on sand, gravel or a wet surface can lead to many different types of injuries including broken teeth, a misalignment of a tooth or cause cuts to the lips and gum tissue.

Playing sports is another common cause of kids dental emergencies. Although contact sports are often regarded by parents as the most dangerous types of children’s sports, injury risk is associated with all types of play. For instance:

- Stray soccer balls can strike a child’s face and head.

- Blows from elbows, knees, shoulders, heads, and basketballs can damage teeth.

-Being struck by a softball can cause impact trauma that requires prompt medical attention.

-Falling during dance, gymnastics, or training can cause facial or oral injuries.

Understanding the various risks faced by children playing sports or participating in athletics will help parents make the right choices regarding preventative protection and emergency management.

Preventative Measures

Mouth guards are used by athletes of all ages and skill levels. These can be purchased at any sporting goods store and may even be available from a kids dentist near me. Mouth guards minimize impact damage to teeth and prevent teeth from harming oral tissue.

Helmets with face guards are essential pieces of equipment in many sports. Make sure that any helmets required for a sport are in excellent condition; cracked, broken, or weak equipment will fail to provide adequate protection.

Chin guards are used in some sports. Among other things, these protect teeth from knocking against each other in a fall or impact.

Parents should acquire each piece of recommended equipment and review proper use with your young athletes. Speak with coaches and instructors if there are any questions about equipment use.

Take Dental Care Seriously

Sports and athletics are an important part of childhood. Lots of fresh air and activity can set a child up for life-long health. To make sure that each child gets to enjoy the positive aspects of these activities, parents should think proactively about safety gear and other protective measures. Knowing how to respond to kids dental emergencies and how to reach a pediatric dentist near me will help ensure a good outcome after an accident has occurred.

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Do Your Kids Need to Floss?

As an adult, you now know the importance of flossing and good dental hygiene. Imparting that knowledge to your kids who have yet to experience the consequences can be a challenge. Getting kids to adhere to a good oral care routine is even more important. Brushing, flossing and rinsing after each meal should become a habit for your children to combat tooth decay. Just because the baby teeth will eventually fall out should never be an excuse to not teach your children these important lessons during their formative years?


Why Floss at All?

Too many adults struggle with flossing daily. What they fail to understand is that brushing alone only does half the job. While it cleans the easy-to-reach front and back surfaces of teeth, a toothbrush cannot adequately reach the accumulation that builds up in the gaps between them. Only flossing prevents the harmful buildup that, if neglected, can make you more susceptible to gum infections, which can ultimately results in gum disease and, potentially, tooth loss.

This takes us back to the question of why floss between baby teeth if they will eventually fall out? More than protecting your child’s teeth, flossing helps to ensure healthy gums so that when permanent teeth do arrive, they’re coming into healthy gum tissue. Plus, introducing flossing now helps establish an all-important routine.

Teaching Proper Flossing

The ideal time to introduce flossing to your kids is when their baby teeth begin to touch each other. Yet before you can teach them to floss, you need to ensure that you’re doing it properly. Helping your kids to do it will also allow you to correct any bad habits in your own flossing technique. Stick to the following steps when showing them how to do floss:

• - Start by breaking off an 18 inch length of floss and wrapping both ends around the middle fingers until only about an inch of space is left between.
• - Slide the floss in between your teeth, guiding it with your thumb and index fingers.
• - Gently move the floss back-and-forth up the gap to slightly under the gum line.
• - Repeat the process with a new piece of floss with each subsequent tooth.

Too many parents place the bulk of their children’s oral care concerns on questions like “Where can I find a good pediatric dentist near me so they can teach my kids good oral hygiene?” Yet equally as important as finding an affordable dentist for kids is helping your children learn the proper techniques needed to form a good oral hygiene routine while they’re young. Doing so helps to place them ahead of the curve in the lifelong battle they’re destined to face with plaque and tartar. Introducing the concept of flossing now will help put your kids on the path to enjoying a happy, healthy smile when they’re your age.

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Does Your Kids Dentist Have a Good Chair Side Manor?

New dental patients often have to overcome feelings of fear and anxiety of the dentist’s chair. A disarming and pleasant chairside manner of the dentist can do a long way to assisting a patient with this desire to feel comfortable. Below are few tactics good dentist can employ and will improve tier overall chairside manners for future dental patients and keep them coming for return visits

1. The Greeting

When a young patient meets the pediatric dentist’s exam room, the patient’s chair is lowered to make it easy to climb in and we recommend keeping, the instruments out of sight initially. The dental hygienist is usually the first clinician they meet and this first impression must be warm and welcoming. Greet your patient by using their first name and be sure to use eye contact and a warm smile. When the overhead lamp is turned on, ask your patient if it is too bright for his eyes or offer dark glasses.

2. The Ice-Breaker

If they are a new patient, ask about past experiences with previous dentists. Be sure to ask open ended questions that encourage conversation, allowing the patient to decide what to share with the dentist. This can help your patient relax and guide the dentist on how they like to communicate. For regular patients, the dentist should still ask questions that solicit more than a yes or no answer. A two way conversation is always best for building rapport with anyone.

3. Talks to the Patient

Even if there is a dentist assistant in the room, the dentist should continue to talk with the patient and not just to the assistant. The patient will appreciate knowing that your next clinical step is and how it feels, for instance. Obviously the answers will be shorter responses when their mouths are open during a procedure. Inquire if the patient feels okay or ask if he would like a break in the case of longer procedures. The dentist refrains from talking about his self, his family or hobbies, unless the patient has established this type of relationship that makes these topics appropriate.

4. Pays Attention

It is not always easy to stay focused on the patient’s well-being, especially when the visit is routine. An essential chairside manner is to stay focused on the patient’s needs, own dental health and get their willingness do see a treatment plan through.

5. Establish Communication Signals

When there are instruments in the mouth of the patient, it is hard for the patient to let you know if he is uncomfortable. Before starting, the dentist establishes signals with the patient that allow the patient to communicate pain, fear and other discomforts. A good pediatric dentist in Trenton uses fun playful signals that the patient and dentist can clearly understand and can easily use.

Being a good dentist goes way beyond being skillful. When there is a kids dental emergency situation, no doubt you want the most skillful dentist dealing with your son or daughter. Some f the best pediatric dentistry offices are the ones that help kids overcome their dental phobias

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