Posts Tagged ‘pediatric dentistry’

Kid’s Teeth Care – How to Properly Care For My Kid’s Teeth

Friday, April 13th, 2012

Kids Teeth Care - Some rights reserved by sethstollWhen thinking about your kid’s teeth care, you need to ask yourself if you are doing enough. Dental care is often neglected in the United States. Close to 18 million children never receive any preventive dental care. Many of these kids come from lower income families, who don’t have insurance, and cannot afford dental care.

However, by not taking care of your kid’s teeth now, it will end up costing you more for major dental bills in the future.

There are some important steps you need to take when focusing on kid’s teeth care. Follow these steps to properly care for your kid’s teeth:

  • Brush Frequently – You should aim to make sure that your kid’s brush their teeth in the morning and at night before they go to bed, and after they finish each meal. Frequent brushing helps to remove food debris, which stops bacteria from forming on the teeth, and prevents cavities.
  • Floss – Flossing is another way of improving kid’s teeth care. Flossing removes extra food that your toothbrush didn’t reach. You should floss at least once a day to clean and massage your gums and to keep your teeth clean and stop tooth decay.
  • Proper Brushing – It’s not only important for your kids to brush their teeth, but it’s also important how they brush them. Show them how to properly move the brush, and make certain that they reach all areas, and brush long enough to remove any food particles.
  • Brush the Tongue – Your tongue holds a lot of bacteria from food residue, and it needs to be cleaned to improve your kid’s teeth care. Most toothbrushes have an extra part of the brush that contains an area that you can use to scrub your tongue. You should brush your tongue each time you brush your teeth. This removes bacteria, and keeps your breath smelling fresh.
  • Last, but not least, you should see your dentist at least every six months. Your dentist is a primary assistant when it comes to caring for your kid’s teeth. Your dentist can keep your teeth clean, and can detect cavities when they first appear, so they can quickly fill them.

Your dentist and proper daily maintenance are the keys to successful kid’s teeth care. Follow these tips, and you will help properly care for your kid’s teeth. If you’re in need of a pediatric dentist in the Scottsdale AZ area, contact the friendly practice of Marcia L Blazer DDS PC at (480) 596-8273.

What’s the best way to protect your kids’ teeth?

Friday, August 6th, 2010

Hi everyone! It’s been a long hot summer and we’re all doing everything we can to stay cool! While you’re sitting there sipping a cold iced tea and yearning for temperatures under 100, think about this cool bit of dental information!
You’ve probably heard that fluoride is good for your teeth. What you may not know is that it’s exceptionally important for young kids. Fluoride ingested by young children whose teeth are still forming can make the teeth stronger and more resistant to cavities when they erupt from under the gums.
The tap water from your sink already contains a small amount of fluoride for children whose teeth are still forming. However, many families do not like the taste of water straight from the tap and have a filtration system or buy bottled water.
Unfortunately, bottled or filtered water has most if not all of the fluoride taken out as part of the filtering process. So kids who drink bottled or filtered water are not getting the fluoride their forming teeth need to become strong and cavity resistant.
Talk to your dentist about fluoride supplements for your kids. It’s an easy, inexpensive and worthwhile investment in their future dental health!   For  more information on this topic go to:   http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/teeth/fluoride.html

Dental Emergencies

Tuesday, May 11th, 2010

Dentist Emergency, Kids, Scottsdale AZPicture this.   Child #1 holds a metal baseball bat.  Child #2 holds a basketball.  Any veteran parent knows this is a prescription for disaster…  Batting practice begins.  Within minutes, before the veteran parent can say “Stop! Someone’s going to get hurt here!” ,  the bat makes contact with the basketball, ricochets off and hits child #1 in the mouth, breaking several front teeth.  Accidents like this one happen every day, and knowing what to do can make the difference between saving and losing a tooth.

Dental emergencies occur more frequently in children and young adults, but can happen to anyone.  Here are some simple precautions you can take to avoid injury.

When participating in a sport , it is important to wear a mouthguard to protect the teeth,lips and tongue.   While simple mouthguards can be purchased in a drugstore, custom mouthguards  made by a dentist  fit much better.  This better fit makes them more comfortable to wear, as well as being better protection.  Many dental offices can make custom mouthguards on site.

If a tooth is knocked out completely, pick it up and avoid touching the root.  Rinse off any debris with warm water (again without touching the root) and then put it back gently in the socket or a cup of milk.  Contact your dentist immediately.  Some dental offices have small bottles of sterile saline available for storing teeth knocked out in an accident.  These are available for purchase, and are a must for any first-aid kit for parents or coaches.

If a tooth is broken or lips and tongue lacerated in an accident, rinse out with warm water, and apply an ice pack to control swelling.  Contact your dentist immediately or go to the emergency room if there is a lot of bleeding.

To lessen the risk of breaking a molar, avoid chewing popcorn kernels, ice or hard candy.  Do not use your teeth for anything other than chewing food.  It is not uncommon for teeth with large silver fillings, especially molars, to break when chewing even soft foods.  If you are noticing pain to chewing, it could be a sign that you have a cracked tooth or filling.  It’s time to call your dentist before it gets worse!

Remember, a few simple precautions can lessen the risk of tooth loss or injury.  But in the event of an accident, notify your dentist immediately.  It can save a tooth!  For more information about dental care, see our website, www.drblazer.com , where you can also link to the website for the American Dental Association.