Pediatric Dentistry of Redlands

Thumb sucking is a natural response for children who usually do it because it helps console and comfort them.   This is a natural event for children and is not usually anything you need to be concerned about until they begin to get their permanent teeth. Some factors can damage the alignment of the teeth more so than other factors. Research shows that the intensity in which your child sucks their thumb along with how often they suck their thumb are two factors that can influence the potential damage to their teeth.   Most children will naturally stop sucking their thumb between the ages of 2 and 4. If your child gets their permanent teeth and they are still sucking their thumb, you may want to begin helping support them to stop. You do not want to nag or punish your child for this behavior as it only may increase their need for comfort, thus increasing their desire to suck on their thumb. You may want to curb this habit if you begin to notice that the shape...

Keeping children in school every day can be a struggle with illnesses, dental problems and sports injuries. Being aware of these 4 common dental problems can help to keep your child in school and decrease overall dental problems. 1.      Thumb Sucking. While this habit may start at a very young age it can be a very difficult habit to break. Once your child's teeth erupt, it will be important to help them break this habit. If it goes on too long, it can impact their overall speech. Encourage positive praise for helping your child break this difficult habit. 2.      Lip Sucking. Children who lip suck, suck in their lip between their upper teeth. This can create pressure against their permanent teeth causing speech and language problems, overbite and eating problems. When you notice your children doing this, encourage them to stop by providing them with a different activity to engage in and positive reinforcement. 3...

Your child’s dental health starts long before their adult teeth erupt. Great oral habits start when your child is just a baby, and should continue through adulthood in order to make sure they have the long lasting and healthy smile they deserve. Here are 4 bad dental habits that can impact your children’s smile for a lifetime. 1.      Don’t wait until a minor problem becomes a larger problem. Decay that is left untreated can become a problem that ends up needing a pulpotomy or root canal before all is said and done. “Root canals and pulpotomies can be expensive and very painful,” says pediatric dentist, Dr.Cameron Fuller, “and generally require a crown when completed to protect the tooth.” 2.      Drinking from a bottle at night is one of the most damaging problems for your child. It can become a very difficult habit for your child to break, as they become used to the comfort they get from having that nighttime...

Thumb sucking is a natural reaction for infants and young children. They usually suck on their thumb or fingers if they are a feeling anxious or insecure. By the time their first teeth erupt you want to decrease their thumb sucking habits. Sometimes focusing on the fact that your child is sucking their thumb can increase their desire to do so, instead try focusing and relieving the reason behind them sucking on their thumb. Thumb sucking can cause front teeth to stick out further then they should. Between the ages of two and four, teeth are forming and shaping. If your child always has something in their mouth pressing up against the teeth it can cause them to shift and move. Dr. Fuller states, “Depending upon the length of time your child sucks their thumb, and how vigorously can also make a difference on the severity of other problems they may face. Improper jaw alignment can occur if thumb sucking goes beyond the age of 2.”   Consistent pres...