Pediatric Dentistry of Redlands

Research is out there suggesting that flossing is not necessary but Pediatric dentist, Dr. Cameron Fuller and his team recommend flossing is critical in order to keep your child’s smile as healthy as possible. There is no other way to remove food from between the teeth. Here are 3 ways to pick the right floss for your child and keep their smile healthy for a lifetime. 1.      Utilize floss that has wax. It can be difficult for your child to floss on their own, but utilizing a waxed floss can help remove food from the teeth without floss getting stuck between the teeth. Waxed floss can also help if your child has teeth that are closer together. 2.      Pick a flavored floss. While flossing may not be their favorite activity, picking a flavor that is minty can help encourage them to floss on a regular basis. 3.      Help them floss until they are 6 or 7. Your child may not have the dexterit...

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...

It is never an easy chore to floss a child’s teeth, especially one who is not used to the process from a young age. It can be even more difficult when your child has special needs. While this is no easy chore, it is certainly a critical one. Dr. Fuller recommends a few tips and tricks to help provide support to your child to learn healthy flossing habits and to attempt to make the process easier. Start early. As soon as your baby has their first tooth erupt, begin to floss. This will help them get used to flossing from a very young age. This sets the stage that this is an important habit for your child to develop and will provide consistency. Utilize a reward for your child flossing their teeth without having a difficult time. When they initiate flossing, read them an extra story that night. Or take them for a walk the next day. The reward does not have to be expensive and it does not have to require a lot of time. Providing a small reward will continu...

Taking your child to the dentist can be scary and stressful. We want to make sure every child enjoys our environment and is comfortable visiting the dentist. Here are 5 Tips to helping your toddler while they are visiting the dentist and getting a dental check-up. 1.      “Start healthy routines early on. If children already have a healthy routine of brushing and flossing, you may be able to avoid costly and painful check-ups,” suggests Dr. Cameron Fuller . 2.      Have your child take a favorite toy with them. It is easier to be calm if they are focused on their favorite toy. 3.       Dr. Fuller suggests, “Visit the dentist and set-up an appointment prior to any dental problems.” Once a tooth has erupted you can have them visit the dentist for a quick check-up. 4.      Show up early to the appointment in order to allow time for you and your child to explore the office and lo...

  There are a variety of flosses that are an option for your child. There are little floss buddies that you can purchase that have a wider grip for your kids to use in order for them to make sure that they are reaching all of their teeth. Flossers are also created by a variety of brands that allow for children to be able to better hold onto the floss. You can also have your children use regular floss when they begin to floss their teeth. It doesn’t matter so much what type of floss, but it does matter how often and the quality of job that they do. When you first floss their teeth, it is easier if you have them knee-to-knee or on your lap. You’ll want to gently glide the floss between their teeth and move in an up and down motion. Be careful not to push to hard, you can easily damage their gums. You also do not want it to be painful for them; otherwise it may become very difficult to get them in the habit. Once they begin to floss their own teeth, yo...

Flossing is the number one dental habit adults say they don’t do on a regular basis. While we understand the importance of flossing and the long-term effects of not using proper flossing habits, it doesn’t seem to impact the overall amount of adults that have established this very important routine. While we as adults are not flossing, we are inadvertently telling our children that it is also acceptable for them not to floss. "The habits we establish with them at a young age will carry over to their routines as an adult," suggests Dr. Fuller. A habit takes twenty-one days to establish. We have to start when our children our young and their first teeth are coming in. Make it fun for both of you and find floss that fits your needs and theirs, you’ll be more likely to remember to floss your own teeth and your child’s if you do. It is also important when first starting a new routine to complete it at the same time of day for twenty-one days, this will he...