Pediatric Dentistry of Redlands

It can be frustrating to watch your kids go to the dentist every six months and get back the report that they have cavities. "Or that they need root canals or crowns due to decay," says Dr. Cameron Fuller . Scary bacteria can free roam in their mouth creating a nightmare for you and them. Instead of becoming frustrated read these 4 tips on how to have them properly brush, and decrease their risk of dental decay.  Have your child brush for 2 minutes. Each side of the mouth should be brushed for 30 seconds. Setting a visual timer can ensure your child brushes for the correct amount of time. Brush gently. It’s a dental myth that individuals who brush harder have a better smile. In fact brushing hard can cause gums to recede causing other problems. Brush in circles. Brushing in small circle motions can decrease the amount of bacteria, plague and leftover food from the surface of the teeth. By removing these...

At your child’s dental visit, after an extensive health history is taken and your pediatric dentist has taken a look at your child’s teeth, it may be recommended for them to have x-rays taken. It may also be recommended that your child has X-rays more frequently than you as an adult. The reason is because their mouth changes quickly.  An x-ray allows the dentist to see what is below the gum line, between the teeth and shows potential problems that may impact your child in the future. X-rays should be taken every six months at their regular dental appointment. Once the x-rays are taken not only is the dentist able to see if there are any problems below the gum line, but they also can determine if there are cavities between the teeth that need to be taken care of. The number of x-rays that need to be taken will depend on the size of your child’s mouth and how well the x-ray is able to be taken.  If it is recommended that your child have x-rays they...

            Staining on your child’s teeth can be very concerning, especially if you are not sure what is causing the staining. There are multiple causes of discoloration. The foods they eat and drink may be impacting the look of their smile. Pediatric dentist Dr. Cameron Fuller, "some foods such as some berries and ketchup are more likely to cause stains to remain on the enamel of their teeth after they brush. If you are concerned about staining look at reducing the amount of sugar or caffeinated drinks they consume and reducing foods that have food dye in them.             Polish, which your pediatric dentist will do at their six-month routine cleaning is very helpful in keeping their teeth white and can reduce the amount of staining. This procedure is safe and will be done every six months. If you notice there is more discoloration than normal have the dentist t...