August 19th, 2015
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August 13th, 2015
As children become more independent, parents often have less direct influence over their child’s oral care. The transition to adolescence means that schedules become more crowded and teens are left with more responsibility in caring for their own teeth. Too often, this results in first-time cavities and missed opportunities to catch dental issues when they are just beginning and are easiest to treat. Here are 6 guidelines to make certain your child’s dental care remains a priority through their teenage years.
1. Keep dental supplies handy.
What better motivation do any of us have to brush than a new toothbrush? Teens may be independent, but they aren’t buying their own dental supplies. Be sure there’s plenty of toothpaste, floss and mouth rinse handy.
2. Get an orthodontic consultation.
Kids (and adults) get braces at all ages, but it’s certainly most common during the teenage years. As they have grown rapidly, so have their facial muscles and bones. We can guide you in the right direction and provide advice about your teen’s specific needs. You may be surprised at the number of options that are now available.
3. Purchase less junk food.
You can’t always control what your teens buy when they aren’t with you. But you can make certain that your refrigerator and pantry aren’t well stocked with sugary drinks and your pantry isn’t full of junk food. Keeping your own purchase of unhealthy foods to a minimum will mean that they are less available when your kids want to grab a quick drink.
4. Play to their vanity!
Teenages are more aware of their looks than at any time in their lives. Use this to your advantage by stressing how attractive a healthy smile can be. It truly is one of the primary reasons each of us cares for our teeth…white, healthy teeth make us all look good!
5. Make them use mouthguards.
Adolescents are more active than ever with sports that can be dangerous to still-growing mouths. Be sure your teen wears a mouthgaurd whenever possible, especially in teen sports where contact is common. Mouth injuries caused by sports are some of the most common we see on a regular basis.
6. Don’t neglect regular checkups.
We know that your family is busy, even more now that each member is “doing their own thing”. And while it can be easy to miss scheduled dental visits, you shouldn’t neglect to do so. Even though adolescents have bigger bodies than they used to, they are still kids. It’s going to remain your job to stay on top of dental appointments. Give us a call today and help your teens transition into adulthood knowing that dental care is a priority.
July 30th, 2015
One of the many milestones that parents anticipate as their children grow up is the loss of baby (primary) teeth. It’s an exciting part of the transition from baby and toddler to becoming a “big kid”. We’re often asked questions about what to expect. While every child is different and no child follows an exact schedule, we’ve provided a few general guidelines:
What timeline can be expected?
Most children will have all of their 20 primary teeth around the age of 3. Some of these primary teeth stick around until your child becomes a teenager. Although they will eventually fall out, it is very important that you and your child takes care of their primary teeth to prevent cavities, decay and gum disease. Caring for primary teeth now will set the stage for healthy adult teeth when they are ready to grow in.
On average, the first tooth falls out when children are 6 years old and will usually fall out in the order they came in. Around this time children will also begin to receive their first permanent molars at the back of their mouth where there is already a space waiting for them. Around the age of 8, you can generally expect the bottom 4 primary teeth (lower central and lateral incisors) and the top 4 primary teeth (upper central and lateral incisors) to be gone and permanent teeth to have taken their place.
After these major changes, many parents experience about a one-two year break when their wallet can take a breather from dishing out tooth fairy cash. By approximately 13 years old, the rest of your child’s primary teeth (canine/cuspid, first premolar, and second premolar) should have fallen out and the second (12 year old) molars will start to erupt. The third molars (wisdom teeth) will come in around 17-21 and these are the last set of teeth to grow in.
Is special care needed?
When your child is starting to lose his or her teeth, they will want to wiggle and play with it. This is normal and encouraged. The tooth will eventually fall out on its own. However, you should instruct your child to not yank or put unnatural force on the tooth if it’s not quite ready to come out. This can damage roots, harm sensitive gum tissue and even cause infection. Losing a tooth is usually never painful.
What if my child is late in losing her teeth?
Certainly, the exact age of losing teeth differs for every child. It is to be expected that if your child received their baby teeth early and quickly, the same will happen for when they start to fall out and vice versa. Again, all children are different and there is no need to be alarmed as long as their teeth are falling in the right order. If you do have some concern, please do not hesitate to give us a call.
July 16th, 2015
There are a lot of myths and misconceptions about a child’s first teeth. Primary teeth, also called milk teeth or baby teeth, are the temporary teeth that end up under pillows and provide plenty of business for the tooth fairy! Here are four myths about baby teeth that every parent should know:
#1 Baby teeth aren’t important.
Many parents mistakenly believe that baby teeth are less important than permanent teeth because they are just going to “fall out anyway”. But baby teeth serve a very important purpose as place-holders in growing mouths during early years of development. They help maintain the proper structure of the mouth in providing a guide for permanent teeth to move in behind them when the time comes. A baby tooth lost too early can lead to crowding of adult teeth, for example.
#2 Cavities in baby teeth do not matter.
This one is similar to dismissing the importance of a baby tooth because it’s based on the idea that since these teeth will eventually come out, what happens to them beforehand doesn’t matter. Unfortunately, cavities cause more than just a cosmetic blemish. Cavities can cause pain or discomfort for children and even abscess if left untreated. Further, cavities harbor bacteria that can spread through the bloodstream and effect your child’s overall health.
#3 There’s no need to brush baby teeth.
Parents should begin brushing teeth as soon as they appear. Not only will this help prevent tooth decay, but it also begins a lifetime of good dental habits. It’s even a good idea to begin oral care before teeth appear. A soft, damp rag rubbed over your baby’s gums reduces bacteria and helps emerging teeth get off to a great start.
#4 Kids don’t need to see a dentist until they are older.
Unfortunately, many parents don’t take their child to the dentist until there is a problem. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) suggests that parents bring their children for a first dental visit as soon as the first tooth emerges or by age one at the latest. Establishing a “Dental Home” early will ensure that your child has a good experience on their first visit and develops a trusting relationship with the dentist.
Do you have questions about your baby’s teeth? Don’t hesitate to ask! We would love to talk to you about any questions or concerns you might have!
