BRUXISM: SOMETHING GRINDING IN THE NIGHT Does your little guy grind his teeth while sleeping? It’s not unusual. Experts say teeth grinding or bruxism is common, particularly in toddlers and preschoolers. Most kick the habit by age 6 or 7 when their permanent molars erupt. Others continue to grind through their teen years. So why …
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WHEN DOES MY CHILD NEED TO SEE AN ORTHODONTIST? Orthodontists do more than straighten teeth and create pretty smiles. While aesthetics are extremely desirable, the health of the bite (the way the top and bottom teeth fit together) and the prevention of crooked and overcrowded teeth are more important. Overcrowded teeth can lead to tooth …
HOW SUGAR AFFECTS YOUR CHILD’S TEETH A spoonful of sugar may help the medicine go down, but it also helps your child’s risk of cavities go up. Here’s why. Everyone has bacteria in their mouth. To survive, the bacteria feed on sugars found on teeth. These sugars come from the breakdown of starchy foods or …
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When It’s Time to Meet the Tooth Fairy A little one’s first wiggly tooth is a bittersweet milestone for parents. It’s another sign they’re growing up. But when this happens varies widely. Babies are born with 20 primary teeth just under their gums. These teeth, like adult chompers, vary in shape, size, and location. Like …
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TWO DENTAL TREATMENTS EVERY CHILD NEEDS Your child brushes twice daily and visits his pediatric dentist twice a year. What else can you do to ensure a happy, healthy smile? Ask your kids’ dentist about fluoride treatments and sealants—two powerful cavity-fighting procedures. Here’s how they work. Fight decay with fluoride. Fluoride is a natural cavity …
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WHAT EVERY PARENT SHOULD KNOW ABOUT BABY BOTTLES & SIPPY CUPS It’s OK for your baby or toddler to drink from a bottle or sippy cup. It’s what you put in it and when they drink that matters. Baby bottle tooth decay is what happens when a child who drinks from a bottle or sippy …
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ORAL PIERCINGS: THE FACTS Teens look to oral piercing as an awesome form of self-expression. However, the medical community almost unanimously views it as a dangerous practice. Here’s why. Piercings promote dental problems Any puncture of the tongue, lip, cheek, and uvula (the tiny tissue that hangs at the back of the throat) is considered …
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3 MUST-HAVES FOR YOUR CHILD’S DENTAL ROUTINE From toothpaste to floss, your child has a lifetime of oral health ahead of him. Steer him in the right direction by knowing when to introduce these dental hygiene products. Start with toothpaste. Your child is ready for a smear of fluoridated toothpaste after the first tooth erupts. …
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PICK ONE OF THESE TOP TOOTHPASTES FOR KIDS When it comes to toothpaste, it’s all about the fluoride—the No. 1 cavity-fighter for children and adults. But with all the different brands available, which one should you choose for your child? Start by understanding not all brands are the same. Sure they may carry a lot …
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HOW TO HANDLE YOUR CHILD’S DENTAL EMERGENCY A tooth emergency can happen to any child, any time. Your child might fall and break or knock out a tooth. Another might bite her cheek or tongue to the point of bleeding and swelling. Depending on the situation, you may need your child’s pediatric dentist to mend …
