How Pacifiers Affect Your Baby's Teeth

AS CHILDREN GROW OLDER, some parents begin to worry about their child’s thumb sucking or pacifier habits. This is a normal behavior for an infant, but the older a child gets, the more harm it can do to their oral and dental development.

The Pros And Cons Of Pacifiers

Pacifiers have many benefits for infants, including reducing a child’s chance of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), or simply helping them drift off to sleep at night! However, if pacifier use or thumb sucking is prolonged, it can negatively impact your child’s growing teeth and mouth.

Some side effects of prolonged pacifier use and thumbsucking include:
~protrusive upper front teeth,
~tipped back lower front teeth,
~open bite,
~and crossbite.

There’s More Than One Way To Help Your Child Quit

When is the right time to help your child kick the habit of using a pacifier or sucking their thumb? To allow the body to correct any oral health issues that may have been caused by persistent sucking, the Academy of General Dentistry suggests that an infant quit using a pacifier before the age of 2. If your child enjoys sucking their thumb, it is best to help them stop no later than age 4.

Tips for helping your child quit thumb sucking:

Praise your child for not sucking her thumb, instead of getting angry or irritated when he or she does.

Consider rewards when your child abstains for a certain period of time.

Tips to help your baby quit using a pacifier:

Dip the pacifier in vinegar.

Pierce or cut the top of the pacifier to decrease the amount of sucking possible.

Let’s Visit About Your Questions Or Concerns

If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s thumb sucking or pacifier habits please contact us! We would love to discuss what’s best for your child. Do you have any tips of your own for quitting pacifier use? Please share below!

Thanks for being a valued part of our practice family!

*Image by Flickr user David Goehring used under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Image cropped and modified from original.

Is Chilly Weather Hurting Your Teeth?

WE MAY FEEL the dropping temperature in our toes, but we shouldn’t be feeling it in our teeth! Some of us experience a shock of pain as we breathe in the crisp air, or sip some hot chocolate. Tooth sensitivity tends to manifest in temperature extremes, so we notice it more during the winter season.

Sensitivity Is A Cry For Help

Tooth sensitivity is fairly common, but that’s no reason to ignore it! Tooth sensitivity could be your mouth’s signal that something is wrong. For the most part, solutions are simple. And, as with most dental problems, sensitivity is best dealt with early on.

Some Causes of Sensitivity Can Lead To More Severe Problems

Healthy teeth are guarded from extreme temperatures by the tooth’s enamel layer, and by your gums. Sensitive teeth may signal receding gums as a result of gum disease or overbrushing. Sensitivity could also be caused by damaged enamel from a cracked tooth, acid erosion, or decay.

We Can Help You Find A Solution

Whatever the cause of your sensitive teeth this season, it’s important to get it checked out by a dental professional. We can help you determine the cause, and find a solution. It may be a simple change in your dental care regime. Other times, a dental procedure can relieve your discomfort.

No One Should Suffer From Tooth Pain

We believe that no one should suffer from dental problems without hope of a solution. Please talk to us if you ever have questions about your dental health. We consider it an honor to be your trusted health partner, and to keep your teeth healthy for life.

Thanks for your trust in our practice. We appreciate you!
*Image by Flickr user Jason Ippolito used under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Image cropped and modified from original.

Your Regularly Scheduled Visits Are About More Than Clean Teeth

HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED why it’s so important to see us every six months? From oral health maintenance to serious disease prevention, there are a lot of reasons to keep your semi-annual visits on your calendar.

Open Wide And Say “Aahhh”

So what do we look for when we examine your pearly whites? During typical checkups we examine the overall health of your teeth and gums, looking for signs of tooth decay, gum disease and checking up on the condition of existing dental work. X-rays may also be taken to ensure the health of the roots of your teeth, and to reveal things we cannot see.

Once we examine your mouth and teeth, it’s cleaning time. We do so by:
Doing an overall cleanliness check
Removing plaque and tartar
Polishing your teeth
Flossing between your teeth

After your teeth are cleaned, we’ll talk about recommendations for keeping your teeth and gums healthy until your next regular visit.

Thinking Outside The Mouth

While a clean and vibrant smile is a definite confidence booster, it can also promote sound overall health. Bacteria from untreated gum disease can spread to other parts of the body and increase the risk of heart disease and other serious conditions.

We can also spot warning signs of other conditions. Things such as vitamin deficiencies, osteoporosis and even diabetes can present symptoms in our mouths.

We Care About Your Whole Body Health

Our practice is focused on the latest treatments to create healthy and resilient smiles. In addition to helping your smile look and feel its best, we’re committed to your overall health. We want to make sure you’re as healthy as possible when you visit us!

Thank you for being our valued patient and friend!

Image by Flickr user Seth Lemmons used under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Image cropped and modified from original.

Protect Your Child From Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

DO YOU EVER put your baby to bed with a bottle? It may seem harmless. But if the bottle is full of milk or juice, it may begin to erode their teeth.

Acid-Producing Bacteria Cause Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

Baby bottles full of milk or juice are also full of sugars that combine with bacteria to produce acids. When a baby drifts off with a bottle still in his or her mouth, the fluid pools around teeth and slowly erodes the enamel throughout the night.

The result can be painful tooth decay—also known as caries—and/or the need for crowns or extractions. In addition, since children’s teeth are still coming in they’re more susceptible to decay beneath the gum line. This decay can become so severe that delicate surgery under a general anesthetic is sometimes required to remedy the problem.

Protect Your Child’s Teeth From The Start

Give your child’s teeth the best protection you can, from the start! Dental health habits should begin before your child even grows their full set of baby teeth.

Baby teeth may be temporary, but they’re essential for your child’s health and development. They help your child eat and learn to speak. They also play an important role in guiding permanent teeth as they grow in properly.

We’re Here To Help

We’re here to help you help your child during this important time of life. If you have any questions about your child’s dental health, please send them our way. You can give us a call or reach out to us on Facebook! We’re excited to join forces to make sure your child has excellent oral health.

We appreciate your trust in our practice!

Image by Flickr user Zhao ! used under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Image cropped and modified from original