Pediatric Dentistry of Redlands

While it may be difficult at first for your children to understand, there are alternatives to trick or treating that can keep your children’s teeth healthy and free of decay. Here are five activities that are fun for the family instead of trick or treating.   Watch a movie. Spend a few minutes preparing for a fun at home movie night. Comfortable seating, healthy snacks, popcorn and some drinks. Now you are ready to enjoy a movie night. Don’t put your front lights on & you will let your neighbors know that you are not available to give out candy this year and your family movie night will remain a quiet, fun night at home. Pediatric dentist, Dr. Cameron Fuller suggests, “Go bowling or hit up a healthy restaurant.” It can be fun to spend time with family. Relax with your kids inside a location that is not promoting or giving candy away. Your children will enjoy the quality time with you and the fun instead of what candy they didn’t get. Play a ga

Halloween is right around the corner & last post we discussed the three worst Halloween candies for kid’s teeth. This post we are going to focus on the best candy for their teeth. Here are four of the best treats for children, if they are going to participate in trick or treating. Lollipops are a great way to increase saliva production. The more saliva that is produced the better chance your child has of warding off cavities. Saliva will rinse food from the surface of the teeth. Hard candies are also good for increasing saliva and helping to reduce the risk of cavities. “After candy is consumed it is important to have your child brush their teeth in order to remove any leftover sugar from the teeth,” says Pediatric dentist Dr. Cameron Fuller . Sugar-free gum helps to remove food particles from the teeth as well as increasing saliva. Dr. Fuller suggests, “While sugar free gum may not be a common Halloween candy, you can replace each piece of candy off of

It is that time of year again when the kids get excited, candy over flows and the negative impact on teeth begins. There are good and bad candy choices for children. Here are the top five worst candies for children’s teeth. While Dr. Cameron Fuller and his team advocate for alternative candy choices, if they are going to eat candy here are some that your children and you should attempt avoid. Chewy treats like starbursts and gummy bears are the worst for children’s teeth because they stick in the teeth, creating a problem for children to remove the food from between the teeth. The longer candy stays on the teeth the more time it has to begin to eat at the enamel of the teeth. Chewy treats are a large source of cavities, especially when the candy gets stuck between the teeth, making it more difficult for it to be removed. Sour candies break down the tooth enamel allowing cavities to attack the teeth. If your child is going to consume sour candies it wou

It can be very difficult to get your child to brush and floss their teeth. It can be even more difficult for parents who have a child with special needs. They may dig in their heels, have trouble with the bristles of the brush, or not like the toothpaste. Whatever the reason that is negatively impacting the tooth brushing process, here are 3 tips from pediatric dentist Dr. Cameron Fuller on how to help your child brush their teeth. Let your child pick out their toothbrush and pick more than one. Just because a toothbrush looks awesome in the box doesn’t mean it will be awesome when they put it in their mouth. Purchase a couple of different ones they want to try to allow you some options. The head of the toothbrush should fit comfortably in their mouth. Give them plenty of time in the morning and evening. Instead of rushing them to brush their teeth, try setting a timer that allows them to know that within a certain amount of time they will need to beg

High carb foods, soda, and candy are available at every turn for our children.How do we stop it? Halloween is right around the corner and as parents we may be very aware that the candy battle is about to become a fight on our front door, and all of that dental work paid for is about to be put to the test. There is a better way though. Here are five tips & tricks to decrease candy and increase oral health. 1.      Trade in their candy for extra time with you. Spending time with parents is the ideal for our little ones. If you have a teenager, spend time doing something they love to do to encourage them to make positive candy choices. For each piece of candy they are willing to give you, spend ten minutes doing something fun with them. Play video games, go for a walk, or just sit and listen to them. 2.      Hit the houses with the teal pumpkins. This year, individuals are putting out a different color pumpkin. The teal allows parents to know that these are the ho

It can not doubt be a challenge to get any child to brush their teeth two times a day, but a child who has a disability and/or who has high sensory needs, behavioral challenges or low motor function can make the task of brushing their teeth seem overwhelming. But every child deserves to have a decay free mouth.   Here are two tips that can help you through the process of brushing their teeth. 1.      Start when they are young. “The earlier you start the better,” says Dr. Fuller. After your infant eats, use a cloth to wipe milk off of their gums. This way you begin to simulate the process of brushing their teeth. As they get older, and their first tooth erupts, move into using a toothbrush that fits comfortably in their mouth. 2.      Use positive praise. This process can be frustrating for both you and your child, but without praise there is only negativity. This can fester into a melt down and a desire to give up on the process. Remember tooth decay is the number

Gums help protect your child's teeth from moving around their mouth. Gums have the important job of protecting the root of the tooth from damage as well as providing security from decay and cavities. The unfortunate part is that gums have one of the most important jobs in the mouth, but children around the world take this important part of their smile for granted. “The only way to ensure your child does not have cavities between their teeth is by regularly flossing,” says Pediatric dentist, Dr. CameronFuller. Without completing this task, gums become swollen, bleed and can eventually suffer from gingivitis. Flossing is the single most important task to save the gums, because brushing alone will never remove food from the tight surfaces between teeth. If gums are not in top shape, they can begin to pull away from the tooth. Teeth fit in between the gums and are held in place. As bacteria moves below the gum line, a pocket forms, this pocket can create

Our kids hear and see all that we do. If we have healthy habits, they'll follow suit. Take time to share with your children the why behind healthy dental habits. Pediatric dentist, Dr. Cameron Fuller suggests, "habits are formed by patterns of behavior that are lived day in and day out." Here are three instant habits you can integrate into you and your children's dental routine to decrease decay. 1. Chew sugar free gum. Saliva is important to rid food from the surface of the teeth. A small stick of sugar free gum not only freshens your breath between brushing but it also allows the increase in saliva production to decrease the amount of food stuck to your teeth. 2. Reduce overall sugar intake. Sugar left on the surface of the teeth for long periods of time begins to break down the enamel of teeth causing cavities. The sugar combines with other substances in the mouth increasing plaque, which then attacks the enamel and increases the risk of decay. 3.

Fall is here and the fun is just beginning. Now come the months of the holidays with food, fun and travel. "Before you begin your food festivities, here are five helpful tips to keep your child ’ s smile healthy," Dr. Cameron Fuller . 1.      Spend time brushing and flossing. We know how hectic everyday is, but don ’ t forget to spend 2 minutes a day brushing and flossing their teeth to prevent dental decay. 2.      Have them drink water. Water helps keep the mouth moist, which reduces the growth of bacteria. It also helps remove food from the teeth in between brushes. 3.      Eat fruits and vegetables. While Halloween and other holidays typically have mounds of candy and unhealthy treats, you can choose to limit your child's intake and instead choose healthy vegetables. 4.      If you plan to travel during the cooler months, don ’ t forget the toothbrushes. They are the number one forgotten item when traveling. 5.      Take care

In the event your child has sustained severe dental decay or breakage, it may be the recommendation of the pediatric dentist to remove the tooth.   There are several things that Dr.Cameron Fuller will evaluate prior to the removal of a tooth. Here are the three most common questions asked by parents when their child is going to have a tooth removed.   1.      Will my child be awake during the procedure?                         a. Most of the time, yes. We want to make sure that your child is able to stay still during the procedure in order to avoid problems. There are multiple options when it comes to the treatment for your child and depending on their needs will depend on what type of atheistic is recommended. 2.      How can I help ease any anxiety?                   a. Kids who are going to have a major dental procedure may feel anxious prior to the appointment. In order to help, explain to your child what to expect. They can take a stuffed anim