Pediatric Dentistry of Redlands

Getting your kids to floss their teeth can be a nightmare. It may be something you dread and a routine you fight with every night. But this is one bedtime routine that your children should not get out of. While it is not terribly common, millions of young children around the United States are impacted by periodontal disease. This disease is not something that should be messed with, because the impact can last a lifetime. Here are 4 reasons why flossing should be your #1 priority. 1.      When your child has periodontal disease it causes inflammation in the gums. This triggers a response from the body and the body gets into a cycle where it is constantly trying to fight the disease. Overworked, it can eventually begin to shut down the body causing other problems. 2.      The bacteria that is present in people who have periodontal disease can spread throughout the body damaging other organs. It can also spread between other children, if they are shari

There are plenty of items that can contribute to an unhealthy smile over the summer. With vacations planned, family gatherings and time spent in the pool, each one of these activities holds a unique threat to your child’s healthy smile, the one you spend all year trying to protect. Here are 5 ways to protect their smile. 1.      Drink lots of water. Drinking water can remove extra food from the teeth and gums to help keep bacteria that causes decay down to a minimum. 2.      Don’t forget to pack the toothbrush and the floss. Over half of families forget to pack a toothbrush when they go on vacation. Regular brushing and flossing is the only way to protect against decay. 3.      Eat lots of fruits and vegetables and use them for snacks. Dr. Fuller recommends your children eat 8 servings of fruits and vegetables a day because it not only is healthy for their body, but it has extra water that helps to rinse away carbohydrates left on their teeth dur

It is not uncommon for your two-year-old to crawl up into your lap and take a drink of your water, or take a bite off of your fork, but did you know bacteria can be transmitted from mother to child? If you are sharing saliva with your child and you have periodontal disease they are more likely to have cavities and other dental problems. Here are 5 tips from Dr. Fuller and the pediatric team at Pediatric Dentistry of Redlands, that can help decrease the chance of your child having dental issues. 1.      Don’t share utensils. Keep a plate with their own utensils next to your food. Only allow them to eat off of their own plate and their own fork. 2.      Don’t share cups. There are different types of cups that your child may prefer to drink out of, but always having an option is better for your kiddo then sharing with them. 3.      Don’t share gum. While it may be tempting to just tear some of your gum and give it to them, this helps spread the bacte

It can be difficult to teach your kids to enjoy the positives of life and to not dwell on the negative. Especially if you struggle to see the positive side of life yourself. But having them take care of their smile by brushing, flossing and visiting the dentist can create a healthy smile they love to show off. Dr. Fuller and his team give you 7 reasons why you smiling is great for your children. 1.      Smiling can change their mood even if they are feeling blue. Pretending to smile and be happy will eventually turn your child’s mood from unhappy to happy. 2.      Does your child struggle with anxiety and stress? A smiling child can help to reduce the overall stress they feel. 3.      A child who struggles to make friends, can increase the number of friends they have and the people they have around them by smiling. Happiness attracts other people that are happy. 4.      Is your child more likely to hold onto the negative? Having them smile more can ac

Your children deserve the best dental health they can have, but it can be difficult when they are fighting against you to brush their teeth. Or you rush out the door in the morning and you smell your child’s breath and you realize they once again did not brush their tongue. No matter what is going on in their mouth, it is important to help them have healthy dental habits. Here are 5 tips and tricks from Pediatric Dentist, Dr. Cameron Fuller, to help. 1.      Have them brush and floss at a very consistent time every day? Everything is better when you have them do something at the same time every day. 2.      Get a toothpaste flavor they like. Taste is half the problem. If you have a strong peppermint flavor it may not encourage them to brush. 3.      Spend time modeling what you want. If you take time to brush and floss your teeth, that will help show your child that this is important. Modeling behavior is the number one way to show your kids how imp

There is a myth going around that putting Aspirin on the gums provides a remedy to a child’s toothache. This in fact is not an approved remedy for a toothache. Prior to giving your child any medicine it is recommended by Dr. Fuller you contact your child’s pediatric dentist to determine if a more intensive procedure needs to be done. Just giving a child aspirin may cover up a serious problem. Putting aspirin on the gums can cause what is called an aspirin burn. It actually burns the gum tissues and can cause more pain then what they started with. In order to avoid dental pain for your children, have them brush 2x a day for 2 minutes. The toothbrush should fit comfortably in their mouth. They need to floss 1x a day to remove food from between the teeth.   It is also important for them to brush their tongue to remove any bacteria stuck on the tongue and in between the grooves. If you need to give your child aspirin, they should always take it as direc

Does your child ask for gum in the checkout line and you quickly dismiss this? Now there is a reason to say yes. “Here are 8 reasons why sugar free gum can help to decrease cavities and decrease the need for major dental procedures,” says Dr. Cameron Fuller. 1.      Chewing gum between meals increases saliva production. Increased saliva removes food from the surface of the teeth between brushing and decreases bacteria that can result in cavities. 2.      Sugar free gum can help aid in children’s digestion which can reduce symptoms of acid reflux. 3.      Can save you money on dental costs by decreasing cavities. 4.      Chewing sugar free gum can decrease the desire to consume unhealthy snack foods. 5.      Sugar free gum kills bacteria in the mouth. 6.      Some gums contain xylitol, an ingredient that decreases bacteria that causes cavities. 7.      Chewing gum helps to clean teeth in between meals. 8.      Gum can help to remineralize to

If your kids are interested in science and interesting facts here are 9 fun facts to share with them about their teeth that they may not have known before. While these facts may not change their life, it can open up the door for further dialogue about their teeth and the importance of brushing and flossing regularly. Our teeth are fascinating and the benefits of them exceeds just allowing your child to eat. 1.      There are stem cells in the teeth that are allowing teeth to grow. 2.      Particles from flushing the toilet can travel up to 6 feet, it’s best to keep your toothbrush far from the toilet. 3.      Elephant teeth are their tusks and weigh up to 400 pounds. 4.      Children in prehistoric times did not have access to sugar and therefore did not have cavities. 5.      Teeth cannot self-repair or regrow themselves and therefore require dental procedures to fix problems.     6.      Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the body. 7.  

Flossing is one of the most important activities your child can do, but it is often skipped over. The only way to protect your child from periodontal disease and gingivitis is to remove food from between the teeth. If your child flosses 1x a day, it will save your child from years of problems. Here are 5 tips to flossing correctly from Dr. Fuller & his team. 1.      Get floss that has wax. It can be difficult to get floss in between their teeth if their teeth are close together. Wax floss helps to glide between the teeth instead of getting stuck. 2.      Get floss that is meant for kids. Depending on the age of your child, the floss you purchase can make a big difference. Your seven year old may not yet have the dexterity they need to get regular floss between the back teeth. Providing a flosser can help. 3.      Floss 1x a day at the same time every day. By keeping the routine consistent from an early age it will help your child see this is an