Pediatric Dentistry of Redlands

The   teeth   are   carefully   designed   to   allow   your   child  to safely consume  food   without   causing   damage   to   their   teeth   and   to   avoid   problems   with   their   jaw.   By   having   teeth   or   jaw   alignment   problems   can   create   damaging   long-term effects   to   your   child’s   smile.   Bite   alignment   problems   can   be   caused   by   a   variety   of   things,   including,   cavities   that   are   incorrect,   injury,   thumb   sucking,   grinding   of   teeth   and   trauma.   If   you   notice   any   problems   with   your   child’s   bite,   or   they   have ...

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...

There is so much dental information that is floating around. It is difficult to determine what is truth and what is false. While some individuals came out and said that flossing may not be important, here are the facts that prove otherwise. 1.      Food gets stuck between the teeth. Food that is left there can mix with the bacteria that is in your children’s mouth causing cavities. 2.      Food goes below the gum line. Food that is below the gum line stays and continues to mix with bacteria. It stays below the gum line, which can then cause inflammation as their body attempts to get rid of the infection from the food that stays under the gums. 3.      Without flossing, the gums begin to recede. The gums are meant to be a pocket your teeth fit in. They must have a tight fit in order to decrease the risk of them losing their teeth. If the pocket between the tooth and gum is not a tight fit, the t...

Their bodies are drastically changing and it may be difficult to tell the difference between their everyday smells and the trouble of bad breath that is brewing beneath the surface. Halitosis or bad breath may not be caused by the food they are consuming, but it may be caused by something else going on in their bodies. Bad breath can be embarrassing and cause self-esteem issues for your teen. While mouthwash only gets rid of the problem temporarily, utilizing a mouthwash that has a plaque-reducing label can take care of the problem. Plaque is the thick, sticky buildup that can happen on your tongue. When not taken care of it can lead to bad breath even if your teen is brushing and flossing regularly. You may not always be able to tell if you have bad breath. Consuming gum once you have eaten, if you are unable to brush your teeth right away, can help to decrease your chance of bad breath as well as cut down on the bacteria in your mouth that can le...

  With all the options out there for food, it can be tricky to find the healthy foods that are great for your child’s teeth. But here are some rules to live by when picking snacks and food to help keep your child’s smile as healthy as possible.   Avoid these 4 foods and help to support healthy dental habits and their smile can last for a lifetime. 1.      Pickles. The acid in pickles can damage the enamel on their teeth. Damaged enamel leaves them susceptible to decay and other dental problems. 2.      Chips that are fried. The extra grease and fat is bad not only for your health but the carbs stay on the surface of the teeth. The longer that food is on the teeth, the more opportunity that plaque has to build and cause cavities and decay. 3.      Ice can chip or break the teeth. While water is important for your teeth and for your body, ice can cause sensitivity issues and is bes...

It may seem easy to put toothpaste on the list for the next time you go to the store but before you know it weeks have gone by and your little ones have not brushed their teeth because it’s the one item you keep forgetting. Stock up on extra when you go to the store and there is a sale. Dr. Cameron Fuller says, “Brushing their teeth is the single most important task, next to flossing, for their smile.” Because brushing with a little toothpaste helps to remove food from their mouth, teeth, and tongue. While bacteria is already present in their mouth, without toothpaste, it becomes a wide spread problem that can cause permanent damage to their smile. Toothpaste contains multiple good agents that not only remove food from the teeth but help to whiten, strengthen, and keep your child’s smile as healthy as possible. Brushing with water or without toothpaste will still remove the food from their teeth, but does not strengthen the enamel or protect against bacteria....

  While the holidays are upon us, it is critical to keep your child’s dental health in mind. While eating some of the food may not be bad, don’t wait to brush their teeth. The longer food sits on their teeth the more opportunity it has to create a problem in their mouth.    Pediatric Dentist Cameron Fuller recommends instead of having your children snack on chips, and bread dips, to allow your children to consume fruits and vegetables while they’re watching the football game or helping in the kitchen. Olives can be a great nutritious snack and contain water that helps remove food naturally from the teeth.   During the turkey time, any food that adds fruits and vegetables into the meal can help increase the benefit to their teeth and add to your child’s overall health. Snack dishes with carrots, tomatoes or celery ca...