Pediatric Dentistry of Redlands

Now that spring is here it is time for decluttering and cleaning. But don’t forget to clean out your old toothbrushes and upgrade to a fresh new one. Bacteria can live on your toothbrush and over time it is no longer the fantastic functional brush you need for your children. Spring is the perfect time to go and get your children brand new toothbrushes that have bright colors and help them to enjoy brushing their teeth again. This will help decrease the risk of bacteria, fungus and germs from building up to significant levels.   The other problem with toothbrushes that are used over three months is also the bristles. Eventually the bristles on a toothbrush begin to break down and begin to not be as effective as possible. While adults may not brush as vigorous, children tend to push harder on the toothbrush when they are brushing. This causes the toothbrush to break down faster. Spring is the time for cleaning and if you get in the habit of changing out your children’s t...

Getting your kids to floss their teeth can be a nightmare. It may be something you dread and a routine you fight with every night. But this is one bedtime routine that your children should not get out of. While it is not terribly common, millions of young children around the United States are impacted by periodontal disease. This disease is not something that should be messed with, because the impact can last a lifetime. Here are 4 reasons why flossing should be your #1 priority. 1.      When your child has periodontal disease it causes inflammation in the gums. This triggers a response from the body and the body gets into a cycle where it is constantly trying to fight the disease. Overworked, it can eventually begin to shut down the body causing other problems. 2.      The bacteria that is present in people who have periodontal disease can spread throughout the body damaging other organs. It can also spread be...

There is a myth going around that putting Aspirin on the gums provides a remedy to a child’s toothache. This in fact is not an approved remedy for a toothache. Prior to giving your child any medicine it is recommended by Dr. Fuller you contact your child’s pediatric dentist to determine if a more intensive procedure needs to be done. Just giving a child aspirin may cover up a serious problem. Putting aspirin on the gums can cause what is called an aspirin burn. It actually burns the gum tissues and can cause more pain then what they started with. In order to avoid dental pain for your children, have them brush 2x a day for 2 minutes. The toothbrush should fit comfortably in their mouth. They need to floss 1x a day to remove food from between the teeth.   It is also important for them to brush their tongue to remove any bacteria stuck on the tongue and in between the grooves. If you need to give your child aspirin, they should always take it as d...