Pediatric Dentistry of Redlands

The heat is on the way and the sun is shining. Your children may be staying up later because the sun is out later. While all of this outside playing is awesome, be careful they are drinking enough water. Children who experience dry mouth are more likely to have dental problems. A dry mouth leads to bacteria being able to attack the enamel of their teeth causing more opportunities for cavities. Not only does saliva help keep bacteria from becoming a problem, it also helps remove the food from their teeth in between brushing. Warm weather is the perfect time for barbecues, carb’s and sweet treats. All of these foods can latch onto your child’s teeth causing cavities, especially when they do not have enough saliva to rinse the food from their teeth in between brushing. Once they feel the effects of having a dry mouth, the bacteria have already begun to do the damage. Keeping them hydrated with water, fruits and vegetables can keep their smile healthy.   Have your children...

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 ...

As the weather continues to warm up, it’s important to protect your child’s health. While they enjoy the pool, play in the park and run around the splash pad with friends, here are some tips to help keep your child hydrated and protect their smile and their body. Don’t forget the sunscreen. You want SPF 45 or higher for children and one that is sweat and waterproof. Sunscreen has to be reapplied after a few hours of being in the sun, especially if they are playing in water. Hydration is critical. Keeping your child hydrated is crucial to their health. Not only does it save their smile from bacteria, but water decreases their chance of illness due to heat stroke. Keep fruits and vegetables in a bag for them to grab. Their little bodies need fuel as they spend more energy running around. Fruits and vegetables not only help reduce plaque from adhering to their teeth, but they also give them the fuel they need. Take a break from the sun every few h...

The summer is here, and when the kids are complaining of being hot it is easy to quickly reach in the freezer and hand them a sugar pop or ice cream. More sugar increases your child’s risk of dental decay. Increase a lot and so does their opportunity for obesity and other diseases, such as diabetes. Instead grab for a healthier treat and improve your child’s dental health. Here are a few suggested treats. Yogurt Fruit Cups: ½ cup of fruit of your choice Low sugar yogurt Granola with pecans Mix the ingredients together and stick in the refrigerator for 15 minutes to cool down treat. Then enjoy. Yogurt Pops 1.      Ice cube tray 2.      Yogurt flavor of your choice 3.      Popsicle stick Take the yogurt and fill up the ice cube trays. Once the yogurt is in the trays, you can put the Popsicle sticks in and place in the freezer until frozen. Try different flavors to enjoy ...