Early Orthodontics

Straighter Smiles to Combat Bullying?

It’s fairly natural for parents to want their children to have sweet, straight smiles. In fact, studies have found that the reason most parents choose to pursue orthodontic treatment for young children is because of this cosmetic issue, and because they believe that improving the appearance of a child’s smile will lower her risk of being the target of vicious bullies.

Unfortunately, parents could be right. Appearance is a big issue not only in the hallways of high schools nationwide, it’s also an issue on playgrounds. Name brands rule. Right now, “sillyband” bracelets rule. In six months, who knows what trend children will be expected to keep up with in order to fit in with their peers?

So investing in a healthy, gorgeous smile and the well-documented increase in self-confidence that comes with orthodontic treatments is probably not the worst way parents can spend their money.

On the other hand, there are some non-cosmetic issues to take into consideration when seeking early orthodontic treatment for children, including reduction of the total treatment time, to receive the best result, to reduce the need for or in support of speech therapy and to avoid surgical intervention.

There are also several conditions under which an orthodontist may advise early treatment. These include:

Crossbite – This condition happens when teeth are trapped inside lower teeth. Dentists start management of this condition on young patients of between the ages of 8 and 10, even though patients of these ages still have most of the baby teeth.

Deepbite – This occurs when the upper front teeth cover almost all the lower front teeth. This is also caused by severe crowding. Dentists typically begin managing this condition in between the ages of 11 and 12.

Underbite – Underbite refers to the excessive protrusion of the lower jawbone. Because an underbite is a difficult problem to correct, most orthodontists like to see children with this condition as young as 7-8 years of age.

Sesame Street Play Shows How to Protect Teeth From Decay

In Sesame Street tradition, this video shows Bert worrying and attempting to rally those around him, while the show just goes on. In this case, the show is about brushing your teeth, and how to protect them from decay.

Share this gem with your kids to help them understand what decay is, and what they can do to prevent it.

Good News For the Tooth Fairy

Tackling the Sweet Tooth Head On

If you’re one of the many parents who has wondered if there is anything you can do to cure your child’s sweet tooth, the news is good: yes, you can!

Let’s start with the basics – having a sweet tooth is just a figure of speech. Teeth, themselves, do not prefer any particular types of food. Studies have actually shown that children form their food preferences based on the foods offered to them by their parents.

With that in mind, here are some tips to help your little ones not develop that nagging sweet tooth that could lead to REAL tooth problems down the road!

Limit Sweets

It may sound like a simple tip, but really think about it. How often do you offer your kids sweets? Once a day? Several times each day? Many parents and caregivers still use foods as a reward. Even schools use food rewards, offering kids ice cream parties for completing tasks!

Ideally, we should only indulge in sweets once a week. No matter how old you are or how old your children are, this is a good rule to establish and follow.  It’s good to keep this rule in mind when something out of the ordinary is on the week’s schedule – like that in-school ice cream party, or an upcoming family get-together. Teaching children that the exception follows the rule of only one sweet per week will really help keep those sugar cravings at bay.

Model Behavior

Regardless of the temptations in your personal life, be true to your commitment to cut out sweets. It’s a great step to take toward a lifetime of better health and once you get used to eating fewer sugary snacks, you’ll probably start feeling much better.

Teach Your Children About Food

Bring your children to the supermarkets and let them see that stores are filled to the brim with foods that are both unhealthy and healthy, and that making the healthy choices is really up to us. The grocery store is also a fantastic place to talk with your children about eating a diverse array of foods to keep our bodies healthy.

Cooking Is a Great Place to Start

Since kids love to help, a great place to get them involved in making good food choices – and in curbing those sweet-tooth tendencies – is to recruit them in the kitchen. They can help with food prep, measuring and reading recipes in the kitchen. They can also help prep the table for a meal and – perhaps even more importantly for tired moms and dads – they can get involved in post-meal clean up.

The Thumb-Sucking Facts

To moms, dads and grandparents, there are few sweeter sights than your sweet baby sucking her thumb and she drifts off to sleep. It is an iconic picture of babyhood bliss.

Why Do Babies Suck Their Thumbs?

All babies have a natural instinct to suck. Many babies develop the habit of sucking something, be it their thumbs, a finger, their hands or a pacifier. Babies suck to soothe themselves when they are tired or upset, and when they are hungry. It is perfectly natural for babies to suck their thumbs. In fact, many parents try to lead babies to suck their thumbs so they can be more contented, and learn to self-soothe.

How Long Do Children Suck Their Thumbs?

Sometimes babies simply stop sucking their thumbs around the time they are six months old, simply because the urge to suck declines as babies’ diets change from primarily liquids to more solid foods.

By the time children are preschool age, most have tapered their thumb-sucking habits, and generally have given up thumb-sucking by the time they are about six.

If Thumb-Sucking is Natural, What’s the Big Deal?

For one thing, long-term thumb-sucking can cause a whole host of dental problem, from improperly aligned teeth to a malformed palate (roof of the mouth). The longer a child sucks her thumb, the more likely it is to cause dental problems.

For another, thumb sucking can cause speech problems, including lisping and difficulties in pronunciation, stemming from the dental issues.

Thumb-sucking in older children can cause social issues and anxiety. Children older than 6 may need help to quit thumb-sucking. If your child is older than 6 and needs help curbing thumb-sucking, talk to your family dentist or your child’s pediatrician.

Smile!

Tips for Keeping Your Child’s Teeth Healthy

1.    Start cleaning your child’s teeth and gums with gauze or a wash cloth and warm water as soon as the first tooth erupts. Most dentists suggest using fluoride-free toothpaste until kids are old enough to spit toothpaste out themselves.

2.    Don’t put kids to bed with bottles or sippy cups. Not only can this habit cause tooth decay, it actually doesn’t bode well for potty training down the road! Help children learn to fall asleep on their own.

3.    Go to the dentist. Schedule your child’s first dental appointment after her first tooth erupts through the gums. Try to get your child to the dentist by the time she’s one year old, even if she has no teeth.

4.    Take away the pacifiers, or try to curb thumb sucking. Pacifiers and thumb sucking are harmful to the formation of your child’s bite.

5.    Get your children interested in brushing their own teeth at a young age. While kids generally aren’t ready to brush their teeth without assistance until they are 5 or 6 years old, letting them help when they are younger will help them understand the importance of good, consistent oral care.

6.    Give your child a soft tooth brush, and teach her to brush all sides of all teeth – not just the fronts.

7.    Give your child a stool to stand on, so she can watch herself brush.

8.    Make sure she takes her time when brushing. Ideally, everyone should spend at least 2 to 3 minutes brushing teeth gently in a circular motion from the gums down.

9.    To teach children how to spit, have them aim at the drain in the sink while making the “patooey!” sound. This will help them position their lips properly for spitting – and it makes a pretty fun game!

10.    Floss your child’s teeth, especially in places where the space between teeth is tight or if teeth overlap. Flossing your child’s teeth at a young age will help her understand the importance of this life-long habit.

11.    Use oral care probiotics. These beneficial bacteria help support the good bacteria that reside in the mouth to support tooth health. They can reach into the crevices of tooth surfaces where brushes and floss can’t quite reach.

A Sesame Street Classic

The Importance of Owning a Good Toothbrush!

Watching classic Sesame Street is like a blast from the past for many of today’s parents.

Share this clip with your kids to have a good laugh over Grover the toothbrush salesman attempting to sell a fancy toothbrush to a toothless Kermit the Frog.

Mom, My Teeth Hurt!

Tooth Sensitivity in Children Could Be a Sign of Something Serious

Many of us are familiar with the fleeting tooth pain of an ice-cream headache, but when children frequently complain of tooth sensitivity, it might be time to see a dentist. Children with tooth pain could be suffering from conditions that should be evaluated and addressed by a dentist.

Tooth Decay

Sometimes tooth sensitivity in children is an indication of tooth decay. Since children perceive pain differently than adults, children may complain of minor tooth sensitivity instead of a tooth ache when decay is present.

Allergies or Cold

Children may complain of tooth sensitivity when they have a cold or allergic reaction involving the sinuses. Sinus pain can often be felt in the teeth. If you suspect your child is suffering from seasonal nasal allergies or a cold, it’s probably best to see your pediatrician before involving a dentist because of the tooth sensitivity. If the tooth sensitivity remains after you have the allergies or cold under control, it may be time to call the dentist.

Grinding Teeth

Grinding teeth, or bruxism, was once thought of a problem only faced only by adults. According to MedicineNet.com, 15-33% of children grind their teeth, mostly for unknown reasons. Some speculate the issue sprouts from an excess of stress, others believe children grind their teeth when their bite is “off,” and teeth don’t meet correctly. For these children, the best course may be to have a dentist create a night guard, which can curb night-time tooth clenching. It is believed that most children stop clenching or grinding their teeth after their adult teeth come in.

Don’t Ignore Tooth Pain & Sensitivity

Aside from the occasional complain of sensitivity to extremely cold foods, it is not normal for children to complain of tooth pain or sensitivity. If your child says his teeth hurt, it’s best to have him seen by a dentist to ensure that it is not being caused by something serious, like a cavity or tooth grinding.

It’s Time for a Visit From the Tooth Fairy

The Excitement of Losing Baby Teeth

It’s one of the most exciting and memorable days of childhood, for children and their parents alike – the day you lose your first tooth. Visits from the Tooth Fairy are as exciting to 5- and 6-year-olds as visits from the Easter Bunny and even Santa Claus.

Children generally lose teeth in the order in which they grew in, which means that, for most children, the bottom two front teeth are usually the first two to go.

Should I Pull a Loose Tooth?

It’s best to not pull a loose tooth, according to dentists. Generally teeth fall out when they’re ready; pulling them could expose the root and increase the risk of infection. If a tooth is loose enough, it should fall out if you hold a tissue next to it and wiggle it a little side-to-side.

What If a New Tooth is Growing In, But The Baby Tooth Hasn’t Fallen Out?

If a secondary tooth is growing in but the primary tooth has not yet fallen out, or isn’t loose yet, it’s time to call the dentist. Sometimes the new tooth with cause the old tooth to fall out, but sometimes it’s best to have the old tooth pulled so the secondary tooth grows in the correct location.

The End of Baby Teeth

By the time most kids are 12, the last of their baby teeth have usually fallen out.  Your child’s dentist will be sure to tell you if your child is on track with losing primary teeth and growing secondary teeth. In fact, an X-ray can show the teeth that are formed below the gum line and give the dentist a good idea of how much longer it should take to lose the remaining baby teeth.

Preparing a Child with Special Needs for a Visit to the Dentist

Taking kids to the dentist can be difficult even under the best circumstances, but children with special needs can present even greater challenges when it comes to a trip to the dentist.

What to Expect

One of the many challenges parents of children with special needs may face when it comes to visiting the dentist is preparing for the transition. Many children with special needs struggle with a change in routine and will resist leaving for an appointment unless the plans are thoroughly discussed in advance. One way to help a child get used to the idea of visiting the dentist is to create a picture schedule that shows where they are going and when. A step-by-step guide can help children visualize what’s coming next and soothe anxieties.

Similarly, creating a social story about a trip to the dentist, including where you are going and when, who your child will meet there and what will happen during the appointment, can also help your child understand that a trip to the dentist is nothing to fear.

Getting Used to the Feeling

There are many things about visiting a dentist that can make a child feel physically uncomfortable. One of the best ways to prepare a child for the feeling of being in the dentist’s chair is to have him lie on the couch with his head in your lap (putting him basically in the same position as he would be in the dentist’s chair, and allowing him to get used to someone working over his head). Once the child is comfortable and relaxed, get him to open his mouth as wide as possible and gently touch his teeth with a spoon, so he can become accustomed to the feeling of metal instruments in his mouth. Because this is asking a lot of a child, be sure to do this often for several weeks before the actual appointment, so he can become a little desensitized to the things he may fear.

Come Prepared

Since it’s likely that you will have to wait at least a few minutes for the dentist or hygienist, it’s best to bring a book or electronic game to occupy your child while he waits. It’s also a good idea to bring sun glasses so the light above the dentist’s chair doesn’t bother his eyes. Most importantly, remember to bring a reward. Positive reinforcement for a job well done will make it much easier to get your child back to the dentist for his next visit.

Keep Sipping During the Summer Months

Tips to Keep Your Children Hydrated

“Mom! I’m thirsty!” Sound familiar? Just like adults, children’s bodies are about 60% water, but unlike adults, kids are far more prone to succumb to dehydration, especially during the long, hot days of summer.

Dehydration simply means that you’re using and excreting more fluids than you’re taking in. Children are at higher risk for dehydration because their bodies don’t cool down as efficiently as adult’s bodies do.

Symptoms of dehydration include excessive thirst, dry mouth, sleepiness (or a decrease in energy for children), dizziness, muscle weakness, headache and irritability.

Thankfully, reversing mild to moderate dehydration is as simple as drinking, but the easier path is to not let kids become dehydrated to begin with. By utilizing the following tips, you can ensure that your little ones are safe from dehydration this summer.

Tips to Keep Kids Hydrated

1.    Get your children used to drinking lots of fluids, especially water. Try prompting kids to drink at least 8 oz. of water between meals, along with enjoying a drink with meals.

2.    When children are extremely active – swimming, playing in the sun, playing sports and even exploring amusement parks, consider offering a sports drink, which can help balance the body’s electrolytes which are lost through sweating.

3.    Mix it up. Studies show that children drink up to 90 percent more when their drinks are flavored. Adding low-sugar flavorings could make a significant difference in how much fluid your children drink, especially if they’re not big fans of drinking water.

4.    Freeze! One of the easiest ways to get fluids into children is through frozen ice treats. Single stick ice pops offer about half of a serving of fluids for children. Every drop counts!

The best thing you can do for children to keep them hydrated is to get them in the habit of drinking at least six 8-ounce servings of fluids each day. One kids have become accustomed to drinking regularly, it’s much easier to ensure they are adequately hydrated during the steamy summer months.