Pediatric Dentistry of Redlands

Even though fall is here and the temperature is beginning to cool off remember to have your kids continue to consume water. Kids can become dehydrated even when they think they are not thirsty. Unfortunately, once they feel thirsty, this is already a sign of dehydration and the drier the mouth is, the more likely it is for the bacteria that is already present in your child’s mouth to cause cavities and other dental problems. It may be difficult to get them to drink water if they do not feel thirsty. Try adding fresh fruit or vegetables to their water, and avoid sugary drinks, soda and other fruit juices as they not only cause further dehydration, but the extra sugar that is present in these drinks can create a long-term problem for you child’s smile. As the weather cools down many children don’t think they need to drink water because they do not feel thirsty, but being thirsty only means that it is too late and that your child is already dehydrated and the bacteria in thei...

Pumpkin spice flavor is hitting the stores in waves and Pumpkin Spice Lattes are in full effect in coffee shops around the United States, but here is why your teen should avoid consuming these drinks.   Pumpkin Spice Lattes contain a large amount of sugar. The more sugar that a drink has the more susceptible your teen’s smile is to developing cavities and other problems.   The longer the sugar is on the surface of the teeth the extra time that decay has to set in. The larger the size of drink the longer it takes to drink it and the more time that bacteria has to cling onto your teen’s smile and eat away at their healthy teeth. It is critical that your teen develops healthy dental habits now. Helping them to avoid this coffee craze is the best option available to you. If they are begging you for the pumpkin spice latte and you feel inclined, there are healthier ways to prepare this delicious drink that has less sugar and fewer calories. They could enjoy this drin...