Pediatric Dentistry of Redlands

It is that time of year again and school is starting. Before your child heads back to school remember to schedule their dental appointment. Millions of children are impacted and miss school each year because of dental problems and most can be avoided. Children with poor dental health are more likely to miss 3x more school than children who have a healthy smile. A research study conducted recently even found that children with dental pain are 4x more likely to have a lower grade point average.   In the land of distraction where there are so many things going on in your child’s life they do not need to also be focused on dental pain or dental problems. Having your child visit the dentist prior to the school year starting can help keep them focused on learning and enjoying their education instead of worrying about dental pain. Dental problems in school can also lead to shyness, sadness, and frustration. If they are not able to express why they are feeling upset or that they...

As children are getting ready to get back to school, something you may be thinking about is their lunch. While it can seem easier to have them purchase lunch at school, providing a healthy lunch everyday can not only improve their overall health but can ensure their smile stays healthy also. Children need to have access to fruits and vegetables on a regular basis. By packing fruits and vegetables that have a high concentration of water, you can help to decrease food that sticks to their teeth in between brushing. You may also want to pack food that is lower in carbohydrates to help decrease the risk of dental decay and food sticking to the surface of their teeth. Consider packing a water with fresh fruit in order to keep them hydrated and avoid high sugar drinks. Water can help keep them from becoming dehydrated as they run around a play with friends. Not having high sugar drinks can ensure they stay hydrated throughout their day. For a replacement of chip...

Summer is over and your children are heading back to school. For some this is an exciting time, for others this may be stressful. You now have to handle their school lunches, homework, busy schedules and getting them back in the routine of things. One area you should not have to stress about is their dental care. Follow these 4 simple rules when packing their lunch to help keep their teeth healthy while your children are at school. 1.      Pack water instead of juice. Water can help to remove food high in carbohydrates from sticking to their teeth if they do not brush after lunch. It also helps keep them hydrated and can prevent them from being impacted by dry mouth. 2.      Pack cut up carrots, cucumbers or other vegetables that have a high water concentration. 3.      Limit the carbohydrates. Foods that are high in carbs have a tendency to stick to the surface of the teeth. The longer that ...

School is almost back in session don’t forget to get your kids a dental check-up prior to returning. Kids miss school on average more days for dental problems than any other reason. Most of these problems could be avoided, with a regular dental check-up and cleaning. Every 6 months your child should visit the dentist. At this appointment, Dr. Cameron Fuller and his team may recommend x-rays in order to make sure there are no other problems below the gum line, and no cavities back behind the teeth. At this appointment they will also clean and polish your child’s teeth. This helps keep them healthy and white. Polishing the teeth, helps to remove plaque from the teeth, to avoid future problems. Your pediatric dental team will floss your child’s teeth, and help to educate them on the importance of taking care of their smile. It will also be a time to examine their smile and make sure their teeth are healthy and that there are no cavities or other conce...

3 Ways To Improve Your Child’s Smile While They Are In School Everyone has germs in their mouth, but large amounts of bacteria floating around your child’s mouth can wreak havoc on the overall health of their smile. Bacteria begin to turn inward and destroy the gums, teeth, and health of their little bodies when they do not brush, floss and visit the dentist regularly. Large amounts of cavities can also be a problem if they are eating high sugary foods at school, but not brushing until they get home, several hours later. Pediatric dentist Dr. Cameron Fuller says, “Just because your little one is heading back to school doesn’t mean you can’t help set up healthy habits to improve their smile.”    In order to help your child out, pack water in their lunch boxes instead of juice. Water will help remove sticky food from the enamel of teeth. Once food sticks to the enamel it turns into bacteria that can eat way at the hard, outer protective shell of ...