Pediatric Dentistry of Redlands

 A cavity on a baby tooth may seem like an insignificant item that can wait for treatment. But that’s not  true. “Did you know decay can spread from baby teeth to your child’s permanent teeth?” asks pediatric dentist Dr. Cameron Fuller .   He finds a significant number of parents that have never been educated on the importance of taking care of cavities in baby teeth. “Even though baby teeth are going to fall out, they are setting the stage for your daughter or son’s permanent teeth, and severe decay can impact their overall health,” says Dr. Fuller. For example, your child’s cavity, if not taken care of, can develop into an abscess. An abscess is a collection of pus that pools in the tooth. It can cause severe swelling and infection. An infection that is not treated can end up spreading throughout the body and can cause severe pain. The unfortunate consequences are missed work for you and missed school days for them. A child’s smile also impact...

We come home from a long day at work and go through the motions of getting the kids to bed. We run the rat race of parenthood only briefly stopping for special memories every once in awhile. However in all of the day to day activities, it is important to stop and focus on the oral health habits you are teaching your children. Afterall, they watch what you do. If you go to bed without brushing your teeth, they’ll notice. However, if you implement a shared expectation that both of you will brush at the same time, for the same length of time, children will rise to the occasion. Dr. Fuller suggests, “Make it fun while brushing your teeth in order to increase their motivation to complete the task. Play their favorite song, read a story or put on a puppet show.” If you find that you are nagging them to complete the simple tasks of taking care of their teeth, especially after a long day, try changing the strategy. For example, if they brush their teeth without asking, read ...

“Bottle rot or baby bottle tooth decay is caused when milk sits on your baby’s teeth for an extensive amount of time,” says pediatric dentist, Dr. Cameron Fuller. Milk and other sweet liquids have sugar in them.   The sugar turns to bacteria, which then convert to acid, and the acid attacks the enamel. Although, your child’s teeth may be below the gum line, they can still be impacted by early habits     Bottle tooth decay occurs more often on the top front teeth, however decay can impact any teeth if not taken care of or if good bottle habits are not developed from an early age. If your child has decay from bottle rot it is important to take care of the problem right away, as leaving the decay in their mouth can impact them in multiple ways including creating pain, a decrease in overall health and it could even result in tooth extractions. While baby teeth may not seem important, if your child does not have a healthy mouth it can cause problems for...

Studies conducted by the American Academy of Pediatric dentistry have found that tooth decay,” is the single most common chronic disease in America,” ( American Academy of Pediatric dentistry .) In fact, rates of tooth decay are higher than asthma, obesity and diabetes in children. Your child does not have to be a part of this statistic because you can prevent tooth decay by establishing healthy preventive dental measures. Tooth decay begins with high sugary or high acid substances that stay on the teeth,or gums, for a long period of time. Decay usually occurs around age six when the first permanent teeth erupt. However, habits that are put in place with your child before their first permanent teeth come in can make a difference.   For example, after breastfeeding or when your baby has had a bottle, wipe off their gums with a tooth wipe. It is highly recommended by pediatric dentist, Dr.Cameron Fuller , “Never put your baby to bed with a bottle.” The mi...