Pediatric Dentistry of Redlands

Your child’s gums will be thankful, no matter when they begin the healthy habits of brushing and flossing regularly. Gums do not hold a grudge, but if your child is not engaging in healthy dental habits, it can be hard on their mouth. Over time, as they continue to not brush and floss decay, periodontal disease, and other dental problems can begin to cause more problems for their smile. Dr. Cameron Fuller recommends having your children brush at least 2x a day. If they are consuming more foods that are higher in carbohydrates, sugar or other substances that can bond to the teeth, he recommends brushing more. The toothbrush they use should have a smaller head that fits comfortably in their mouth and in their hands. Flossing is recommended 1x a day unless they are consuming meats, popcorn or other items that can get stuck in the teeth. Flossing can be tricky with younger children, so getting flossers or other item that hold the floss can help improve t...

When your child smiles are they impacted by multiple problems? Do they have tooth decay or bleeding gums? Are they prone to broken or cracked teeth? Does your child eat certain food and complain of being in pain? Here are 4 common dental problems that may be impacting your child’s smile. Tooth decay is preventable if your child develops and sticks to healthy dental habits. This includes brushing, flossing and visiting the dentist regularly. You may also want to have them avoid foods that are high in carbohydrates, sugar and other processed foods that can stick to their teeth. Sensitive teeth can be caused by a variety of things, but usually result in your child struggling to consume foods that are either too hot or too cold. If this occurs often, your child may be impacted by receding gums or tooth enamel that is damaged. Ask Dr. Fuller about options for your child to help with this situation. Canker sores, are small sores in the mouth. Some may be reocc...

It may have surprised you that your teen has come to you and asked for a cosmetic procedure, but millions of teens express a self-conscious side when it comes to their smile. Here are a few of the options for your teen that are safe. As always, Dr. Cameron Fuller encourages you to do your research prior to picking any procedure that alters your teen’s smile. 1.      Crooked teeth. If your child is impacted by crooked or wide spaces between their teeth, it may be recommended by their pediatric dentist that they visit an orthodontist. While crooked teeth may not seem like a big problem, they may impact your child’s ability to read and say certain sounds correctly. 2.      Stained teeth can be enhanced using whitening trays. There are multiple options when it comes to whitening. It is important to do your research and check with your child’s dentist to ensure the whitening product you chose is safe for your teen. 3.  ...

You may think that your children’s baby teeth are not that important. They fall out anyway, why worry about what happens before then?   Dr. Cameron Fuller and his team share the four reasons why baby teeth matter to your children and how you can save them from problems. 1.      Baby teeth hold the spot for adult teeth. Without a tooth being in the spot as adult teeth come in they may shift into other locations. It can be expensive to fix these problems as your child gets older. 2.      Baby teeth allow your child to begin to eat heathy solid foods. Without their baby teeth being in place, it can make it difficult for them to consume certain healthy fruits and vegetables. 3.      Speech and language problems can impact a child long term. If a child does not say certain sounds by the age of three, it may make it difficult for them to eventually say the sounds correctly. This can make ta...

It is the summer time. Time for travel, fun trips and opportunities to see the world. It is also an opportunity for plaque and decay to run rampant through your child’s smile. Planning ahead is the key to keeping their smile healthy during travel. Here are 6 tips that can help. Dr. Fuller recommends planning ahead when traveling and to keep your children on a regular dental plan during trips. 1.      Always pack a travel toothbrush in order to make sure your children continue to brush their teeth on a regular and routine manner. 2.      Don’t forget to have your children floss.   Flossing is the only way to remove food from between the teeth. 3.      Sugar free gum is a great way to remove food from the surface of their teeth in between brushing. 4.      Don’t forget the water. Water helps remove food from the teeth and gums in between brushing. 5.    ...

Summer sports for your kids are heating up. If they are in sports such as baseball, football or other contact sports or if they ride bicycle, don’t forget to get a mouth guard and protect their teeth. There are usually three types of mouth guards you can purchase, “but here are 4 things to look for before purchasing one at the store,” says pediatric dentist, Dr. CameronFuller. 1.      It should fit properly. You do not want a mouth guard that is too small or too big. The mouth guard needs to fit comfortably in the mouth. Ensure that the guard does not inhibit your child’s breathing. 2.      Ensure the mouth guard has the right type of protection. There should be a minimum of 44 mm of material at each of the contact zones. Never re-use or use someone else’s mouth guards. 3.      Make sure the mouth guard is made of the right material. You do not want to have a mouth guard where the material easily c...

Does your child grind their teeth at night or during the day? Grinding their teeth can cause jaw problems but if not treated it can also cause cracked or broken teeth. As they chomp down and grind the teeth together it puts a ton of pressure on the jaw. Over time, the jaw muscle can hurt, making it difficult for your child to consume the foods they love. Here are three reasons your child may grind their teeth and ways to help. 1.      Stress is the number one cause of grinding. Reducing the amount of stress in your child’s life and having more fun can improve this habit. 2.      There is a correlation between children impacted by mouth breathing or sleep apnea and grinding. If your child is a mouth breather or impacted by sleep apnea, you may want to have them evaluated by a dentist in order to determine a course of action. 3.      Some medications can cause teeth grinding such as anti-depressants. If y...

Oil pulling is the latest dental information to hit the internet wave. People are claiming that they healed periodontal disease, got rid of cavities and generally improved the health of their teeth. But is oil pulling right for children? Dr. Cameron Fuller recommends not using this technique on children. If you are concerned about the health of your child’s teeth, it is important to stick to research based dental practices. Research and dental studies show that having your children visit the dentist regularly will increase the opportunity for a healthy smile. By visiting the dentist, they are able to have their teeth clean and plaque removed from the surface of their teeth. They also have the opportunity to have cavities or other problems taken care of.   Brushing and flossing can remove food on and between the teeth. Oil pulling is not necessary for children if you are already having them brush and floss because they are already completing an acti...

It may be a thought that eventually your children are supposed to lose their teeth. It may even be a belief that dentures are a rite of passage for a person, but in fact this is not the case. Dr. Cameron Fuller , Redlands pediatric dentist says, “When you start young and encourage and train your child to take care of their smile, their smile can last a lifetime.” Here are four tips to help your children keep their smile healthy.   1.      Have your children brush and floss regularly? There is no other way to help keep the bacteria down and their smile healthy. Brushing removes food from the surface of the teeth, that turns to sugar that causes dental decay. While flossing removes any food that is stuck between the teeth. 2.      Eat healthy. The more water content that food has, the better it is for your child’s smile. Water is able to remove food from the surface of the teeth in between brushing. Teach them ea...