Brush Pediatric Dentistry Blog

When the school year starts, there’s so much hustle and bustle that it’s hard to notice the early signs of common oral health problems, like canker sores, cavities, and teeth grinding. With the proper preventive practices in place, like routine brushing and flossing, your little one can excel in school in addition to reducing their risk of these common issues. Read on for four back-to-school dental hygiene tips that will help keep your favorite smile healthy, happy, and bright.

Although most people wouldn’t make the connection between children’s dental health to their academic performance, studies have unveiled that these two parts of little ones’ day-to-day lives are related to each other. The National Survey of Children’s Health, taken in 2007, surveyed over 40,000 children on their school performance, psychosocial well-being, and dental health, taking into account social determinants. Their conclusion was that with improved dental hygiene practices, school focus and participation can be improved.

Thumb-sucking and pacifiers are two of the most common ways that children comfort themselves. From infancy to toddlerhood, these habits can soothe not just your baby’s nerves, but also your own by calming their crying. While there are plenty of developmental benefits pacifiers can offer, there are also some negatives, especially if they continue using them well into their toddler years. Read on to learn about some of the pros and cons non-nutritive habits can have on your little one’s development.

Tooth enamel is highly durable and considered to be the hardest substance in the human body. However, not only is it not indestructible, but it can weaken and wear down over time, resulting in tooth sensitivity. For young smiles that are still developing, this problem can create much discomfort. So, what can you do for your child with sensitive teeth? Read on to hear from a pediatric dentist who can explain why it happens and which treatments are most effective.

Do you have a child who is an avid athlete? Do you spend your weeknights and weekends at practices and games? Whether you’re busy carrying around equipment for multiple sports or just one, you’ll want to make sure they’re protected from possible harm on the court, track, or field. While helmets, shoulder pads, and other similar gear are important, take the time to learn why your child should wear a mouthguard while participating in their favorite sport.

Children can easily get bored with mundane tasks like making the bed, cleaning their room, and brushing their teeth. Oftentimes, parents need to liven up these duties and turn them into exciting games or activities. If you’re not exactly sure how to get a child excited about oral hygiene, here are three tips you can use to make brushing, flossing, and visiting the dentist fun.

You thought the teething days were over. The endless nights of crying while trying to soothe your little one’s discomfort are just far enough in the distance that suddenly, you wonder why it is happening again now that they are a bit older. Two-year molars are the last set of baby teeth your child receives and unfortunately, they can be just as uncomfortable erupting. Hear from a pediatric dentist who can explain what you should do for your little one to manage their pain and when you might consider seeking professional help.

Does your child tend to suck their thumb when feeling scared, bored, or overwhelmed? While this is not an uncommon practice among toddlers, it can become a serious problem if it continues as your child grows. Although it might seem harmless, the reality is that this non-nutritive habit can create significant issues with oral and facial development if allowed to continue. If you want to learn how to stop thumb-sucking habits, here are 3 effective ways that will benefit your child.

Improving your child’s oral hygiene habits early on is highly recommended. Even better is getting them excited about the idea of brushing, flossing, and visiting the dentist’s office. Because so many little ones feel anxious about their upcoming visits, dental toys for kids are a great way to introduce them to the world of dentistry and further explain why there’s nothing to be afraid of when having their teeth checked.

The idea of losing baby teeth can be a bit scary for some children. So much time was spent welcoming these pearly whites that the thought of them falling out can leave a child fearful that it will hurt. A local pediatric dentist is here, however, to calm nerves and offer reassurance to little ones that this phase is normal. Here are four tips you, as the parent, can keep in mind to make saying goodbye to baby teeth exciting and less frightening.