Pediatric Dentistry of Redlands

Water is an essential element to keep your children’s smile healthy. When your children consume food that is high in carbohydrates and run around and play all day, their mouths can dry out. Dry mouth can feel like a dry, sticky substance is coating their throat and mouth. Dry mouth can lead to dental decay and other serious dental problems. Consuming water can help not only to rinse the holiday cookies and treats from their teeth but it can ensure that cavities and dental decay are not reeking habit. Dry mouth can be caused by a variety of foods, medication and lack of water consumption. Dehydration does not just impact their body but it can negatively impact their dental health for a long time. If your child suffers from dry mouth, try having them consume fruits and vegetables with a high concentration of water. When they are drinking water, you can infuse their favorite fruit or vegetable to prompt water consumption. While fruit drinks and soda may se...

  With all the options out there for food, it can be tricky to find the healthy foods that are great for your child’s teeth. But here are some rules to live by when picking snacks and food to help keep your child’s smile as healthy as possible.   Avoid these 4 foods and help to support healthy dental habits and their smile can last for a lifetime. 1.      Pickles. The acid in pickles can damage the enamel on their teeth. Damaged enamel leaves them susceptible to decay and other dental problems. 2.      Chips that are fried. The extra grease and fat is bad not only for your health but the carbs stay on the surface of the teeth. The longer that food is on the teeth, the more opportunity that plaque has to build and cause cavities and decay. 3.      Ice can chip or break the teeth. While water is important for your teeth and for your body, ice can cause sensitivity issues and is bes...

Spring is here and the weather is warmer, but do you have everything you need to keep your child’s smile healthy when you’re out in the sun? While a quick trip to the store may not seem like a big deal, the longer they go where they have dry mouth the more likely bacteria is growing, causing cavities. Keep an extra bottle of water in your purse or sugar free gum for older children to help prevent dry mouth. The longer your child’s mouth is dry and they are impacted by dehydration the more opportunity there is for bacteria to strike. Adding a small snack of fruit or vegetables such as watermelon or cucumbers can also help to replenish their thirst before it is too late. If you don’t want a plastic container that can spill in your purse, cut some fruit up and throw it in their water for an extra bonus.   These extra nutrients can remove any carbohydrates they may have had for lunch that are stuck to their teeth and it helps to provide extra saliva and ...

  While the holidays are upon us, it is critical to keep your child’s dental health in mind. While eating some of the food may not be bad, don’t wait to brush their teeth. The longer food sits on their teeth the more opportunity it has to create a problem in their mouth.    Pediatric Dentist Cameron Fuller recommends instead of having your children snack on chips, and bread dips, to allow your children to consume fruits and vegetables while they’re watching the football game or helping in the kitchen. Olives can be a great nutritious snack and contain water that helps remove food naturally from the teeth.   During the turkey time, any food that adds fruits and vegetables into the meal can help increase the benefit to their teeth and add to your child’s overall health. Snack dishes with carrots, tomatoes or celery ca...

The foods your children consume can positively or negatively impact their teeth. While food may be produced with harsh chemicals, processed and then loaded with sugar, in a rush it can be difficult to find healthy alternatives. Here are three of the worst foods for your children’s teeth.  Avoiding these is a step in the right direction. Mouth drying foods, such as foods that are high in carbohydrates, are bad for the teeth. The food sticks to the surface longer than food that has a higher concentration of water. Pediatric dentist Dr. Cameron Fuller, reminds parents, “The longer food is on the teeth, the higher chance of decay and other problems occurring.” Foods high in sugar and that are also sticky are bad for teeth. The longer sugar stays on the teeth, the more problems that can occur. The stickiness of candy is to allow it to last longer than other candies, but as the candy sticks to the teeth, it caus...

Tooth decay is an increasing problem for children around the world. Children who have tooth decay are more likely to miss school, be ill and require expensive dental procedures in order to fix their smile.   Children who live in poverty are even more likely to be impacted by tooth decay. Here are four ways to help decrease tooth decay. 1.      Increase fruits and vegetables. “Children who consume eight or more servings of fruits and vegetables a day can decrease decay because the high water content can rinse food from the teeth in between brushing,” Dr. Cameron Fuller suggests. 2.      Help your children brush and floss two times a day. Utilize a toothbrush that fits in their mouth comfortably. Brushing removes food from the surface of the teeth while flossing removes the food between the teeth. 3.      Your children should drink at least eight or more cups of water. Water can help remo...