Pediatric Dentistry of Redlands

Our teenager’s dental needs are unique because their bodies are changing. But their dental needs are no less important than younger children. While they are fiercely independent and brushing and flossing can seem like another power struggle among many, the dental habits they develop today can impact them for a lifetime. 1.      Brush and floss your own teeth regularly. “The more they see you setting the example, the more they will understand and internalize the importance of it,” says Dr. Fuller. While they may appear to be ignoring you, teens admit one of their role models is their parent. 2.      By a toothbrush and toothpaste they like. We are more likely to complete a task if it is something that we enjoy doing. Dr.Cameron Fuller suggests, “If the toothbrush is babyish or not one that seems appropriate, it may prevent them from enjoying the experience.” 3.      Set a consistent routine. The more routine th...

Our busy lives are filled with responsibilities. Pretty soon, we hope, that our four- year old will be brushing and flossing on their own. We have so much to do and seem to be always rushing out the door. But it’s important for us to turn up our level of commitment to our children. Here are four ways to make sure your child is brushing and flossing correctly to decrease the number one childhood disease in America - decay. 1.      Brush to music for two minutes. Just two minutes a day is all it takes to make sure your child is attacking the plaque and bacteria. Turn on some music and dance with them while they are brushing. You can also brush your teeth at the same time. Make it a family fun time instead of a dreaded time. 2.      Buy toothpaste that they love. “Buy a toothpaste in a flavor that they love and then watch them enjoy brushing time,” says Dr.Cameron Fuller. Purchasing a flavor of toothpaste they want ...

It is the preference of many teens to have a healthy, white smile. While puberty sets in and they become more self-conscious they may conduct experiments at home to whiten their teeth or to change what they do not like about their smile. If they have braces, you may notice them smiling less. No matter the trend, at home whitening kits for teens should be done carefully and after some research. Some at home products contain a precut piece that is placed in the mouth. Since it is not custom made, it can cut into the back of the mouth, opening your child up for an infection. This mouth-piece in these kits is not measured to fit the unique shape of their mouth, which is so important. When whitening is not supervised, many times it can mean your teen could end up with a higher level of sensitivity to hot and cold items. Inside each tooth is a pulp chamber, which contains the blood supply for a tooth.   Dr. Fuller states, “In a teen’s tooth, the pulp cha...

Everyone’s teeth are as unique as their fingerprints. These differences help identify who you are. Here are three facts about your child’s teeth you may not have known. Dr. Fuller says, “The more you are educated about your child’s smile, the better you can help your child take care of it.” There are twenty primary, or baby, teeth in your child’s mouth by the age of three. After the first tooth erupts you will want to schedule that appointment to the dentist in order to double check and make sure everything is okay with their smile. Your baby’s mouth will produce 25, 000 quarts of salvia in a lifetime. Saliva is important in order to keep the mouth healthy. Bacteria thrive on bacteria, and the more there is, the higher rate of decay and problems that can occur.   In order to help keep saliva flowing, you may want to pack foods in their lunch box that are high in water concentration, especially on warm days. “Flossing one time a day means abo...

 Let the Friday Night fun begin with spirals, snaps, nachos and hot chocolate. While you bring out your jackets, and stadium seats to hit the, “Friday Night Lights,” "keep in mind that your children may be consuming over the amount of calories they need," says Dr. Cameron Fuller. Not to mention carbs and soda negatively impact the enamel on their teeth increasing the risk of dental decay.   If you are a regular at the games, think about packing some healthier treats for your kids to snack on. Carrots, celery and fruit can help remove food from sticking to the teeth and don’t have a ton of calories. If you are not able to bring food to the stadium where you are enjoying the game, don’t forget the water. Drinking water after consuming foods that are higher in carbohydrates can help remove food from the teeth.  Help your children stay away from the soda and fruit juices. The acid in soda can eat away at the enamel on their teeth. Enamel helps to pr...

  Your child’s smile is important, but keeping their smile at its best can be a chore. There are numerous factors that can negatively impact their oral health. “The best advice,”   says pediatric dentist Dr. Cameron Fuller is, “brush, floss and visit the dentist. Most challenges can be cleared up right up doing these simple things.” Here are five of the most common problems facing your child’s smile today.  Dental decay is the number-one childhood disease. The good news is that it is preventable. Consuming foods that are high in water concentration can help remove food from the teeth. Brushing, flossing and visiting the dentist regularly are also very important to preventing decay.  Your son may be sensitive to hot and cold items. This may be indicative of a bigger problem. If your child is complaining of sensitive teeth, Dr. Fuller recommends, “Schedule an appointment to visit the dentist to check.”  Thumb sucking causes...

Tongue thrusting is similar to when your child sucks on their thumb or fingers. The tongue pushes against the front of the teeth, pushing them slowly out of alignment. Dr. Cameron Fuller states, “When your child’s tongue moves in this manner, they are cutting off the mouth’s ability to swallow.” When the teeth are pushed out, it creates an overbite and can cause difficulty with your child’s ability to speak correctly.   This pattern of swallowing usually develops when your child is learning to chew and swallow. The pattern can be difficult to break, and it is recommended that you consult your child’s dentist, who can work with your child and develop a new pattern of swallowing.    As your child begins to talk and say sounds, it is critical that teeth are in their correct positions. If you wait to deal with your child’s ...

3 Tools You Can Use to Help Your Child With Teething. It can be painful when the first tooth erupts for your baby and for you. They may scream, cry, run a fever and get very little sleep. While all of these symptoms are normal, here are a few tricks you can do to help during this difficult time. Allow your baby to chew on a cool washcloth or tether. This can help numb the area and sooth the pain. Tethers can be purchased generally at any store that sells baby supplies. Your child may find other things left down and around the house to chew on to relieve the pain if an item is not provided. Dr. Cameron Fuller states,   “Avoid giving your infant items that have been in the freezer, these can damage the gums.” If your baby is four months old, you may want to introduce a teething gel. Be careful on these as the e...