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The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry advises that parents establish a dental home for their child before their first tooth emerges, or around the ages of 8 – 10 months. But, what is a dental home, and why is it important? Why can’t your child just visit a regular dentist? 

Extensive Pediatric Training 

Pediatric dentists have had 2-3 years of special training to care for young children and adolescents. Check out the “about us” section of our website to learn more about our dentist’s degrees, professional associations and affiliations, as well as distinguishes and honors. You can rest easy knowing that we have had extensive training which has equipped us to care for your child.  

Knowledgeable Guidance 

Children’s teeth grow, and their smile changes over time. Pediatric dentists are experts at growing healthy smiles for children, and guiding parents by providing them with actionable oral health advice. No one smile is the same, and we understand this. Our office has helped guide thousands of families to oral health success, and we’ve treated smiles of all shapes and sizes. We understand that parents need the best information possible to help their children earn a healthy smile that grows with them. We are happy to teach parents about oral health care, and the methods needed to grow a wonderful, healthy smile.  

Early Diagnoses 

A Pediatric dentist understands the common ailments that afflict children, and how to combat them. Early childhood carries, gum disease, tooth decay and halitosis are all common in children, and require specific care and treatment from a pediatric dentist. Most of these ailments can be avoided with early diagnoses, and preventative treatment. Our dental office helps prepare parents with the knowledge and tactics they need to side-step common oral health issues, and maintain a healthy smile at home.  

Exclusive Care for Children 

Pediatric dentists care for children of all ages. From first tooth to adolescence, we help your child develop a healthy smile until they’re ready to move on to a general dentist. We work with you to teach your kids healthy brushing habits, inform them about the importance of flossing, and give them dietary tips that will keep their mouth clean for years to come.  

Does Your Family Have a Dental Home? 

A pediatric dentist is one of the most important care providers a child can have, and we would love for our office to be your dental home. We are trained to specifically care for children of all ages, and provide a relaxing office that helps comfort anxious children. Call our office today to setup a stress-free first visit for your child, and get ahead of any oral health issues before they become a more serious concern.

Almost half of all children will sustain some sort of tooth injury during childhood, most of which are preventable. Here’s some common tooth injuries that a child can have at home, and how to prevent them.

Permaturely Lost Baby Tooth

The most common injury to primary teeth is the premature loss of the front teeth. Typically, children can lose their front teeth by tripping and falling onto their face, or while playing sports with friends. If your child prematurely loses a baby tooth, then visit your dentist immediately so they can repair or replace your child’s lost tooth.

Broken Tooth

Broken teeth are incredibly common and are the result of a high impact force on the face or jaw. If your child breaks a tooth, then preserve the broken bit in a bag of water or milk and visit their dentist immediately. Damaged blood vessels and nerves commonly accompany broken teeth, so your child needs to see their dentist as soon as possible.

Dislocated Permanent Tooth

A dislocated permanent tooth is a dental emergency that requires your dentist’s immediate attention. If possible, have your child place the lost tooth back in its socket immediately. At least 85 percent of teeth that are put back in the tooth socket within five minutes survive, compared to very few teeth that are stored dry and re-implanted after one hour.

Preventing Common Dental Injuries at Home

Safer Stairs 

You can make stairs much safer for your infant by placing baby gates at the top and bottom of any stairways in your house. This can help prevent your child from accidentally falling and injuring themselves.

Make Your Fireplace Safe

If you have a fireplace, be sure to buy a sturdy safety gate to protect your baby from crawling into unsafe territory. If you have fireplace tools, be sure to keep them behind the fireplace safety gate.

Prevent Tripping

Tripping is one of the leading causes of prematurely lost teeth, and dislocated permanent teeth. To help your children avoid tripping at home, walk around your house and identify any uneven surfaces in your home, and check for wires or cords that cut across high traffic areas. Try to make sure that any rugs are securely in place, and that their edges are firmly on the ground. By identifying potential problem areas in your house, you have the power to prevent unnecessary oral injuries at home.

Protect Your Athlete’s Teeth

Did you know that your child is 60 times more likely to sustain damage to their teeth when they aren’t wearing a mouth guard? Or that dental injuries account for nearly 20% of all sports related injuries If your child is a bit more grown up and playing sports, then get them an athletic mouth guard to help prevent oral injuries while they’re playing.

Visit Our Office

Children’s tooth injuries are very common, but most need the attention of a pediatric dentist. If your child experiences any of the tooth injuries above, then call our office and explain your situation. We will help you manage the situation and do what’s best for your child’s long-term dental health. 

February is National Children’s Dental Health month, and we’re here to help parents and children celebrate the right way – by learning better oral health practices. 

Maintain a Regular Oral Health Routine 

Avoiding cavities begins with proper, routine oral care. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry advises that everyone brushes their teeth twice per day, for two minutes each session. By brushing for the proper amount of time, you help ensure that you are cleaning all of the bad bacteria off of your teeth and preventing cavities. Be sure to brush the entire surface of their teeth, including the backside– which is often neglected.

Floss Everyday 

Flossing removes plaque buildup in the places where toothbrushes can’t reach – between teeth. Brushing alone only covers about 1/3 of the total tooth surface area in your mouth, which leaves a lot of space for plaque – and cavities – to thrive. Flossing helps fix this by removing food and other debris in between your teeth that causes plaque accumulation. If left untreated, plaque buildup near the root of teeth can lead to gingivitis and tooth loss. Bleeding gums when brushing or flossing are often an early sign of gum disease. People who regularly brush and floss their teeth suffer from gum disease and tooth decay far less than those that do not. 

Drink More Water 

Water is an essential tool to keep teeth clean, and fight against cavities and tooth decay. With every sip, water cleans teeth by ridding them of any leftover foods or acids. It also washes away bacteria and sugars that can eventually lead to cavities. Water has zero calories, and helps restore the pH balance in the mouth to fight unhealthy levels of acid.

Enjoy a Healthier Diet 

Try adding fibrous fruits and vegetables to your diet to help keep your teeth clean and healthy. Fibrous fruits and vegetables actually scrub teeth as they are being consumed, which helps remove bad mouth bacteria that lead to cavities and tooth decay. When eating fibrous fruits and vegetables, be sure to wash them thoroughly and leave the skin on – which is a huge source of fiber. Good sources of fiber are: apples, kiwi, berries, bananas, carrots and celery. 

Remember to Visit Your Pediatric Dentist Every Six Months 

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) suggests that children visit the pediatric dentist every six months to ensure that they are keeping their mouth as clean as possible. This regular checkup allows dentists to check on any potential oral health issues, and gives parents a chance to learn more about the overall health of their child, and how they can improve their oral health. Missing a checkup appointment can allow untreated oral health problems like cavities and tooth decay to worsen into more serious ailments that are more difficult and costly to fix.