Periodontal (gum) disease, affects as many as half of all Americans. Gum disease can cause minor symptoms like inflamed or bleeding gums to an even more serious loss of soft tissue and bone. If left untreated, gum disease may mean that teeth are lost or have to be removed. What to look for. If your gums or those of your …
Is Thumbsucking Bad For Little Mouths?
Not all children suck their thumbs or fingers and for those that do, it’s not always problematic. For some children, however, the thumb sucking habit can be a hard one to break. This can have a negative impact on growing mouths and developing teeth, causing the front teeth to push forward over time. According the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, …
7 Tips for Teething Babies
Teething can be an uncomfortable time for babies, with little gums experiencing tenderness and swelling as emerging teeth break through the surface. In light of a recent FDA warning against using lidocaine for teething infants, we wanted to put together a few helpful tips for managing this sometimes-difficult time for your child. Massage sore gums. Gently rubbing your baby’s tender …
Get Your Kids to Brush, Five of the Best Ideas
One the biggest challenges parents face during the nightly routine of bedtime is getting their kids to brush. Constantly needing to remind and cajole your child to take care of his or her own teeth can be frustrating for everyone involved. We’ve got a few ideas to help weary parents and reluctant kids: Use music or video to keep kids …
Greek Yogurt: Super-food For Your Family’s Teeth
Greek yogurt is a dental super food. Yogurt is more popular than ever as a healthy choice for those seeking to supplement their diet with a food that will help their overall health. Several respected studies over the last few years have continuously shown that Greek yogurt has benefits far beyond digestive health. Here are a few of the exciting …
Teenage Teeth? Seven Healthy Mouth Tips
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 …
3 Foods that Can Harm Your Child’s Teeth & 3 Easy Alternatives
What your child eats affects their oral health. The best thing you can do as a parent is to encourage your children to make healthier food choices. Here are a few common snacks that can be detrimental to the health of your child’s teeth and a smile-friendly alternative for each of them. Sodas & Sugary Drinks Sodas and sugary drinks …
Top Six Steps to a Cavity-Free Childhood
Did you know that the most common chronic disease of children and teens is tooth decay? Even worse, the CDC reports that nearly 20% of children’s cavities are left untreated. What may be even more surprising is that nearly all cavities are 100% preventable. In fact, simply by following these 6 steps, you could help your child enter adulthood without …
Sports Drinks & Kids: The Shocking Truth
Kids and teens love sports drinks. In fact, studies have shown that these “thirst quenchers” are consumed by 62% of adolescents every day. But are they good for your child’s body or teeth? And are they truly necessary for sports performance? Here are a few facts, some of which may surprise you: Sports drinks contain more sugar than you may …
5 Crazy Things We Do to Our Teeth!
Kids and adults do some crazy things to their teeth! Avoiding our list of the top five is a great way to save yourself from future tooth trouble.