Save That Knocked Out Tooth!

Save That Knocked Out Tooth!

If your child comes running to you with a bloody mouth and hole where a front tooth used to be, don’t panic. Take a deep breath. If your child lost a baby tooth, let it go. If your child lost a permanent tooth, that is a dental emergency. But teeth can often be re-implanted. You can increase your child’s chances of keeping the tooth by taking the following steps.

1. After ensuring that your child has no other serious injuries, do your best to find the tooth. If the tooth is whole, pick it up by the crown (the top part that you use to chew) instead of the root. This is very important—holding it by the root can damage the most fragile part of the tooth, which needs to be in good condition for the tooth to be implanted successfully.
2. Rinse the tooth gently in saline or milk. (Tap water can be used if these aren’t available, but the chlorine in the water can damage the tooth; use water only if you have no other option.) Rinse your child’s mouth with warm water.
3. If your child is old enough to keep the loose tooth in his mouth without swallowing it, reinsert the tooth into the socket, and have your child bite down gently on some gauze. If the tooth is broken or fragmented, or your child can’t keep it in his mouth for any reason, you can either place the tooth in a glass of milk or keep it inside your own mouth, between your lower gum and cheek. This will keep the tooth “alive” until you can come to our office.
4. Come directly to our office (or the emergency room if the accident occurs when we aren’t available). We will place the tooth back into the mouth, along with a “splint” that will hold it in place.

Sometimes, the body will reject the tooth and it can’t be able to be saved. But if you take these measures, you are giving your child the best chance to remember the accident as a funny story rather than as a permanent injury.

Give us a call at 509-891-7070 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Jared today!

Saliva: Nothing to Spit At

Saliva: Nothing to Spit At

Saliva plays an important role in maintaining oral health. The mouth has six major salivary glands, while your mouth and throat have hundreds of minor ones, all of which deliver saliva by way of salivary ducts. Every time you chew food or suck on candy, your body makes more saliva.

Composed mostly of water, saliva plays an important role in maintaining a healthy mouth and smile. It contains vital substances that help digest food and keep teeth strong. Although you probably don’t spend much time thinking about it, saliva

• helps you chew and swallow by moistening and breaking down food
• washes away particles of food from teeth and gums
• provides proteins and minerals to help prevent cavities and other infections
• delivers high levels of calcium, fluoride and phosphate to the surface of your teeth
• prevents bad breath

Because saliva does so much to keep your mouth healthy, a reduced saliva flow causes dry mouth; it can lead to cavities and other oral health problems. Diabetes, mouth-breathing, dehydration, cerebral palsy and chemotherapy, along with a wide range of medications—including medication for severe acne—can lead to dry mouth. Although dry mouth is much more common in older adults, children, too, may experience it.

Left untreated, dry mouth can lead to bad breath, tooth decay and gum disease. If your child or teenager has too little saliva in his or her mouth, we might recommend drinking more water, chewing sugar-free gum or sucking on sugar-free candy, all of which help to stimulate saliva production.

If your child complains of dry mouth, tell Dr. Jared so he can assess his or her condition. Addressing this problem early on can head off tooth decay and other oral health problems.

Click here to schedule an appointment with Dr. Jared. Or give us a call at (509)-891-7070.

Dec 2020 COVID-19 Update

Some of our patients may have seen recent news coverage indicating that non-urgent dental care in Washington will be suspended starting December 3. We want to inform you that these reports are incorrect. Non-urgent dental care in Washington is not being suspended.

Your safety is our foremost concern. We want to reassure you that we are following guidelines from the American Dental Association (ADA), CDC, and Washington State Department of Health to keep our patients and team healthy and safe, and that these guidelines are working. To date, according to the CDC, there has been no documented transmission of COVID-19 in a clinical dental setting.

Oral health is integral to your overall health. We look forward to safely welcoming you to our office.

As before, if you have been exposed to or have symptoms of COVID-19, please call or text our office at 509-891-7070 to reschedule your appointment. 

Safety First: Preventing Dental Injuries

Safety First: Preventing Dental Injuries

Dental injuries and emergencies can happen to children anytime. Research suggests that when children start to walk and run—generally between the ages of 1 and 3—they are at high risk. Toddlers are often uncoordinated, which places them at major risk for falls and bumps.

Another high-risk time is between the ages of 8 and 11 years, when children are more active and less cautious. Injuries to children’s teeth can be stressful to them and their parents. Dental injuries tend to occur from

*sports accidents

*falls inside or outside the home

*road traffic accidents

*fights

Playing It Safe

Fortunately, you and your children can use some strategies to help prevent most dental injuries. Knowing what to do is also important in the event of a dental injury, so talk to Dr. Jared about your child’s activities and what to do should an injury occur. You can help to prevent dental injuries by advising your child to

*avoid walking or running with an object in his or her mouth

*never suck or chew on hard, sharp or pointed objects

*wear a mouth guard for sports activities that could cause injury

*always wear a seat belt in the car

Buying and Wearing a Mouth Guard

Mouth guards are especially important in sports such as rugby, hockey and boxing. Usually made of rubber, they provide a protective cover that shields teeth and gums. Although you can purchase them in sports stores, it’s best if we make a custom-fit one for your child. This ensures that your child can talk and breathe normally while wearing it. As new teeth develop and their mouths change, children need to have their mouth guards replaced.

Dental injuries are common but largely preventable. Follow the tips mentioned to prevent the likelihood of trauma. Make sure you also talk to us about risk factors for injury and how you can best prevent problems with age-appropriate strategies.

Call us to schedule an appointment today!  509-891-7070. We'd love to meet you and your family!

Remove Plaque and Reduce Pneumonia Risk

Remove Plaque and Reduce Pneumonia Risk

Practicing good oral hygiene is essential to preventing tooth decay, gum disease and other dental problems. But did you know that proper oral care can also benefit your child’s overall health?

Recent research has linked dental hygiene to many respiratory conditions, particularly pneumonia, which, along with influenza, is the eighth leading cause of death in the United States.

Pneumonia is commonly triggered by a viral or bacterial infection. Viral pneumonia usually heals on its own, while the bacterial form can be treated by antibiotics. However, the disease has become more resistant to antibiotics over time, so taking steps to help your child avoid it is wise.

The connection between dental hygiene and pneumonia lies in the fight against bacteria. Oral hygiene aims to prevent and remove plaque from teeth. Plaque is a sticky substance that forms on teeth through the eating and chewing processes and encourages the growth of bacteria.

If plaque is not removed from teeth, the bacteria thrive and can lead to tooth decay, gum disease and eventual tooth loss. Decay-causing bacteria can also contribute to other illnesses, particularly respiratory diseases, such as pneumonia.

To prevent and fight plaque build-up,

• have your child brush his or her teeth at least twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, floss daily and use an antibacterial mouth rinse each day
• bring your child to our office for regular checkups and cleanings
• encourage your child to eat a healthy diet
• limit your child’s intake of sugary foods and drinks, because these encourage the growth of plaque and bacteria

These basic preventive measures can help your child maintain good oral health, while also strengthening his or her resistance to other bacteria-caused illnesses. Keep in mind that if your child already suffers from asthma or another chronic respiratory condition, he or she may be particularly vulnerable to pneumonia.

Good dental care is a simple, cost-effective and proven way to defend your child’s oral health and general well-being. Make an appointment at KiDDS Dental so we can review these measures with you and your child.

Click here to schedule an appointment with Dr. Jared. Or give us a call at (509)-891-7070.

Pacifiers, Thumbs and Your Baby’s Teeth

Pacifiers, Thumbs and Your Baby’s Teeth

Are you concerned when your child sucks his or her thumb or cries for a pacifier? Sucking on fingers and other objects is a perfectly normal habit that provides babies with a sense of security and a way to learn about the world. However, when continued for too long, thumb- or pacifier-sucking can have a negative effect on the child’s dental health, particularly the alignment of the front teeth, as well as the formation of the jaw and the bones that support teeth.

Most babies outgrow the thumb or pacifier habit on their own, usually between the ages of 2 and 4, but some do not. Experts disagree about how long is too long to continue sucking and how early is too early to discourage it, because the action is a natural source of comfort to the child. Some believe that a child can safely suck a thumb or pacifier until school-age or when the permanent teeth start to come in at around age 6. Others argue that persistent sucking after age 2 poses a greater risk for developing protruding front teeth and a misaligned bite (the point at which the top and bottom teeth meet).

Sorting out these conflicting opinions can be confusing for parents, but we can help. Dr. Jared can monitor your child’s developing teeth and jaw and help you to determine whether an intervention is necessary to curtail your child’s habit.

We can also suggest ways to wean your child from sucking. A surprisingly successful tactic is to simply tell the child that his or her new teeth may not come in straight and then show your child photos of permanent teeth that did and did not form properly.

Also effective is a gradual withdrawal technique that limits sucking to certain times of the day, increasing the restricted periods until the habit is completely eliminated. Substituting a soft toy or another comfort object often helps.

These methods are likely to be more effective with children who use pacifiers. Limiting access to a pacifier is easier than restricting the use of a readily available thumb. If these tactics prove ineffective, we may recommend a mouth appliance that discourages thumb-sucking by interfering with the action.

If you have a child who is a persistent thumb- or pacifier-sucker, knowing when to intervene can be critical. We can provide the support and expertise you need to ease the weaning process and avoid trauma for your child.

Give us a call at 509-891-7070 to schedule today!

Reduce the Risk for Enamel Fluorosis

Reduce the Risk for Enamel Fluorosis

Parents are vigilant lest their baby develop any imperfection—especially one that could be avoided. For instance, parents would not want to feed their child with formula that would cause enamel fluorosis in permanent teeth.

Although the name sounds ominous, enamel fluorosis is most often nearly invisible to the naked eye and has no systematic effects. Enamel fluorosis is the excessive whitening of spots on the enamel of permanent teeth. The condition develops only while the teeth are still maturing, invisibly, below the gums, in children 8 years and younger. It’s caused by the intake of too much of the tooth-strengthening mineral fluoride.

When it occurs, enamel fluorosis is almost always mild, with the whitened spots visible almost exclusively to peering dental professionals. Occasionally, fluorosis spots are more visible; very rarely do they cause a potential cosmetic problem.

How would an infant take in excessive fluoride? Theoretically, by consuming too much highly fluoridated water, especially water to which more than 2 mg/liter of fluoride is added. Properly fluoridated water contains about 0.7 mg/liter of fluoride. Fluoridation, usually, is a good thing—it helps prevent tooth decay.

But, often, babies drink not only tap water in their bottles or sippy cups but also powdered or concentrated liquid formula that has been prepared with fluoridated water. The formula itself does not contribute to enamel fluorosis; it is the improperly fluoridated water with which it has been mixed.

If you’re concerned about your tap water, a potential source of enamel fluorosis, consider these choices:

• Breastfeed your child for at least the first six months of life.
• If and when you feed your child formula (after consultation with your child’s physician), choose either the ready-to-feed kind or mix the formula with low-fluoride bottled water, usually marked purified, distilled, demineralized or deionized. You can also alternate between fluoridated tap water and bottled water.
• Wipe your child’s gums with a soft cloth after he or she drinks formula—a good habit to develop, in any case.

If you don’t know how much fluoride is in your tap water, consult your local water utility—or ask Dr. Jared and his clinical team. We’ll have the answer or help you find it. Taking care of your child’s primary teeth can have a big payoff on the health of his or her permanent dentition.

If you have further questions regarding fluorosis, click here to schedule an appointment with Dr. Jared. Or give us a call at (509)-891-7070.

Protecting the Oral Health of Your Child with Autism

Protecting the Oral Health of Your Child with Autism

If there’s one word to remember when you and your child with autism navigate the world of oral hygiene, it’s “gradual.” Gradually have your child adjust to the first toothbrush, or to a new toothbrush, perhaps by just having it touch the lips at first. Practice the steps of toothbrushing in a favorite room, then gradually move the activity to the bathroom. Post a follow-along series of photos showing each step involved in toothbrushing. And gradually get your child used to the idea of visiting KiDDS Dental, even if the first visit just involves stopping at our front door.

Because the needs of children with autism have become better understood in recent years, we know more about strategies to maintain and improve their dental health. For instance, some children with autism respond very well to a time-oriented cue such as an hourglass, timer or clock; you can utilize such a tool to show how long brushing, or eventually brushing and flossing, should take. That sense of predictability can make the task much more palatable and make the child feel calmer when doing it. So can rewards for completion, whether in the form of verbal praise, stickers or another desired item.

To make your child’s experiences in our office as stress-free as possible, we will work with you to determine the best environment to provide. Will he or she want to watch a specific video? Have you remain in the room? Wear headphones to reduce outside noise or to listen to music? Or even wear a lead apron as a sensory tool to create a feeling of calm?

Dr. Jared and his clinical team very much want your child’s visits to be successful, so please be upfront with us about your child’s current situation. We may ask pre-examination questions that cover a range of topics, from progress in the classroom to how your child responds to haircuts. With honesty, creativity and a respect for your child’s limits, we can help make dental care visits less worrisome for everyone involved.

Call us to schedule an appointment today!  509-891-7070. We’d love to meet you and your family!  

Putting Your Child’s Tongue Back Where It Belongs

Putting Your Child’s Tongue Back Where It Belongs

Does your child always have his or her mouth slightly open? Are your child’s lips dry or cracked from excessive licking? These are signs of tongue thrust, a common childhood condition that involves inappropriate placement of the tongue when swallowing or at rest. Tongue thrust can cause speech issues as well as dental problems.

Children with this condition tend to thrust their tongues forward against the lips when swallowing. This motion puts pressure on the front teeth—around four pounds with each swallow—which can eventually cause an overbite, or protruding or misaligned teeth.

Experts believe that between 67% and 95% of children ages 5 through 8 years have tongue thrust, yet the condition usually goes unnoticed until a dental or speech problem arises. While some blame heredity, a larger-than-average tongue or such habits as thumb-sucking might contribute to tongue thrusting, no one knows what causes tongue thrust. We may notice signs of the condition and bring it to your attention, but you can also ask Dr. Jared to check for tongue thrust if you suspect it may be present in your child.

Depending on your child’s age and whether other structural issues are at play, treatment for tongue thrust typically involves oral habit training. A speech therapist works with your child to correct the swallowing pattern and retrain the muscles in the jaw and mouth to work properly. We may also recommend that a special appliance be put in your child’s mouth to help correct the tongue’s position.

While it isn’t a serious health problem, tongue thrust can wreak havoc on your child’s bite and jaw alignment. Unfortunately, the most difficult problem is the diagnosis; usually, your child’s pediatric dentist or pediatrician can detect the problem. Tongue thrust is a major contributor to the need for further dental work. If left untreated, tongue thrusters can essentially “undo” the process of wearing braces by pushing newly straightened teeth out of alignment.

The sooner tongue thrust is diagnosed, the easier it will be to fix, avoiding future dental problems. If you suspect your child might have tongue thrust, bring it up at his or her next dental checkup at KiDDS Dental along with any questions you might have.

Give us a call at 509-891-7070 to schedule today!

Preventing Preschool Caries

Preventing Preschool Caries

It’s an unfortunate combination in young children: trends toward too much sugar (even from “healthy” carbs like whole-wheat crackers) and too little toothbrushing (allowed by parents who don’t want to force their toddlers to do something they don’t enjoy), along with some nasty bacteria called mutans streptococcus. The result is a significant rise in dental caries—the infection commonly known as “cavities”—in American preschoolers. Four million preschoolers, in fact—40% of children age 2 to 5—have at least one cavity, up from about 3.4 million a decade ago.

Genetics plays a role in caries susceptibility; a child of parents who had multiple cavities in youth will be more likely to suffer as well. Still, severe caries is not inevitable even then. Because the bacteria thrive where sugar is present, creating acid that leaches calcium from teeth and weakens their structure, dental-health vigilance to eliminate sugar on tooth surfaces becomes even more important.

Of course, parents should try to keep the teeth of any preschooler as strong and sugar-free as possible. Here’s how:

• Keep the consumption of sugar—and foods that turn to sugar, like breads—to a minimum. Gobbling a big candy bar in 10 minutes, then brushing—while not a good daily habit for a small tummy—is better for a preschooler’s teeth than nibbling on tiny crackers or sipping fruit juice off and (mostly) on all day long. Sugar stays on the teeth, and the bacteria feast.
• Have your child brush at least twice daily to physically remove sugars from tooth surfaces.
• Supply fluoride, as prescribed by us or your child’s doctor, especially if your preschooler drinks mostly unfluoridated water. Fluoride strengthens tooth structure.
• Ask us about giving your child lollipops flavored with xylitol, which can kill cavity-causing bacteria.

Multiple cavities in a frightened preschooler are challenging to treat. Some dentists turn to general anesthesia—which has its own risks—to more easily treat all the teeth at once. It’s far preferable to try to prevent caries in the first place, even if a nightly tiff with Tiffany at teeth-brushing time is the result.

And don’t forget to bring your child to KiDDS Dental for a dental check-up several times a year. That way, we can assess your child’s oral health and suggest ways to prevent preschool cavities.

If you have questions about cavity prevention, click here to schedule an appointment with Dr. Jared. Or give us a call at (509)-891-7070.

Pacifier or Finger or Thumb: Does It Matter?

Pacifier or Finger or Thumb: Does It Matter?

Whether it’s a finger, thumb or pacifier, the comfort object your baby sucks allows him or her to self-soothe and even learn about the world in some basic ways. In fact, babies even suck their thumbs or fingers before birth. After birth, most babies who enjoy sucking between feedings demonstrate a preference for pacifier or thumb or finger. In terms of dental development, all three affect (or don’t affect) oral structures equally.

If you’re worried about your child’s sucking habit, remember―your child won’t leave for college with a pacifier in his or her mouth. Ideally, children stop their sucking habit—on their own or with help—by the time the permanent teeth begin emerging, usually around age 6. Some experts believe that the practice should be addressed when a child is 3 years old; others suggest age 4 or even 5.

Knowing that the habit will have to stop—or be stopped—someday, some parents think (logically): It’s easier to rid a home of pacifiers than it is to rid a child of his or her fingers and thumbs, so they try to steer their sucking infant toward pacifiers from the beginning. They figure that will leave their children without options when it’s time to quit, having long ago dismissed the possibility of their fingers or thumbs as an attractive replacement.

Other pros and cons? Both pacifiers and hands can be full of germs, and those organisms can end up in your child’s mouth. But both pacifiers and hands can be washed as often as necessary. Pacifier use may lower the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS); it may, however, increase the risk of ear infections.

Again, as long as the practice stops before the permanent teeth start coming in, sucking habits will most likely have no effect on your child’s teeth, mouth or jaw. If your preschooler is old enough to begin to comprehend consequences, though, all of us can talk together at your next visit to KiDDS Dental about why giving up the pacifier, thumb or finger as soon as possible would be a good idea.

Call us to schedule an appointment today!  509-891-7070.

Ouch! That Hurts! Caring for Sensitive Teeth

Ouch! That Hurts! Caring for Sensitive Teeth

Does drinking a cold soft drink or eating hot soup make your child wince? If so, he or she may be one of the more than 40 million Americans with sensitive teeth.

Tooth sensitivity develops when a tooth loses its protective layers. The part of the tooth above the gum line is protected by a layer of enamel, the hardest substance in the body. A softer layer of a material extends below the gum line and protects the tooth roots. Under this lies a layer of dentin. All these protective layers shield the tooth pulp, which contains nerves and blood vessels. When the enamel and dentin are worn away or a tooth root is exposed, hot, cold or acidic foods—even breathing in cold air—can stimulate nerve cells in the pulp and cause a short, sharp pain.

What can you do to stop this pain? First, take your child to see Dr. Jared if the sensitivity lasts more than a few days. Worn fillings or crowns, cracked teeth, a developing abscess, tooth grinding at night, receding gums or gingivitis—sore, swollen, or inflamed gums—can cause tooth sensitivity. These problems need to be treated.

If your child’s mouth gets a clean bill of health, we may recommend some or all of the following:

• Choose the right toothpaste. Some people develop sensitivity to tartar-control or whitening toothpastes. Ask your dentist whether an American Dental Association–approved fluoridated desensitizing toothpaste might be right for your child.
• Brush correctly. Have your child brush gently with a soft-bristled toothbrush. If the bristles on the brush are bent, your child is brushing too hard.
• Choose the correct mouthwash. Acidic mouthwashes can worsen tooth sensitivity. Ask your dentist to recommend a neutral fluoridated mouthwash for your child.
• Become more aware of what your child eats. Acidic drinks such as juice and colas can wear away protective enamel.
• We can apply a fluoride gel, fluoride varnish or dentin sealer to protect the tooth’s roots.

Do not let tooth sensitivity ruin your child’s enjoyment of food. Talk to us about ways to protect your child’s teeth.

Schedule an appointment today at KiDDS Dental! Give us a call at (509)-891-7070 or click here.

Orofacial Crohn Disease in Children

Orofacial Crohn Disease in Children

Say Crohn disease and most people think of gastrointestinal issues, not oral problems. But orofacial Crohn disease is a specific disorder, associated with Crohn disease of the bowel, frequently found in children. It may occur simultaneously with bowel symptoms, or it may precede them, usually by a few months.

The connection between the two is unclear. Experts think the inflammation from “traditional” Crohn disease may be a possible factor. Other possible causes include immunity problems, infections and nutritional deficiencies.

Signs of orofacial Crohn disease include swollen or bleeding gums, mouth sores, lip swelling, and ulcers in the fold between the cheek and gum. Facial skin may be affected by ulcers, nodules or persistent swelling. Topical anti-inflammatory agents and an antibacterial mouth rinse can often ease the discomfort of mouth and gum soreness.

Sometimes the signs of orofacial Crohn disease are not troublesome, so children and parents may be unaware of them. However, in many cases, symptoms can cause pain when affected areas are touched, discomfort when eating spicy or acidic food, and difficulty eating, speaking or swallowing. Children may also become self-conscious if their facial appearance has been affected.

If your child exhibits any of these symptoms, schedule an appointment with KiDDS Dental for an evaluation. Ultimately, we may take a biopsy to determine whether bowel disease is present, and we may prescribe steroids for the inflammation. Fortunately, the symptoms of orofacial Crohn disease generally resolve once the bowel disease has been treated.

Always make sure your child’s diet is rich in nutrients. Crohn disease can prevent the digestive tract from absorbing enough vitamins from food to maintain nutritional balance. Dr. Jared may suggest consulting a dietician to help plan your child’s meals for maximum nutrition. Limit greasy or fried foods, and be sure your child drinks enough water to stay hydrated.

If your child complains of soreness in the mouth, bring him or her in to see us. We can discuss options to relieve your child’s symptoms and minimize flare-ups of orofacial Crohn disease.

If you have further questions regarding the affects of Crohns Disease on oral health, click here to schedule an appointment with Dr. Jared. Or give us a call at (509)-891-7070.

Oral Piercing and Your Teen’s Dental Health

Oral Piercing and Your Teen’s Dental Health

Speaking with a forked tongue was once just an expression, implying that the speaker was not truthful. Today, forked tongues—tongues surgically split in two—are a reality, just one of the numerous forms of oral “body art” currently popular among teens and young adults. Your teen may want a mouth piercing, but be aware that inserting rings and other jewelry into the tongue, lip or cheek can pose serious health risks and cause permanent dental damage.

In fact, one seven-year study reported in Pediatric Dentistry in 2012 found that 25,000 people—nearly three-quarters of them 14 to 22 years of age—visited American emergency rooms for injuries involving oral piercings. The most common complaint was infection, usually the result of touching the jewelry with unsanitary hands or contact with food and drink. In 1997 the British Dental Journal reported on a severe case of infection for which antibiotic therapy failed; the 25-year-old patient required surgery to remove the barbell-shaped jewelry and decompress the swelling in the floor of her mouth. And in 2008 a healthy 19-year-old woman who had had a recent tongue piercing contracted herpes simplex virus that progressed to hepatitis and subsequent death.

Because the location of a piercing is usually selected for its visual effect, rather than oral safety, the piercing process itself can be hazardous, posing the risk of permanent nerve damage that can affect the sense of taste or a swelling of the tongue that blocks the airway and inhibits breathing. Other complaints—particularly in the post-piercing healing period—include pain, swelling, excessive bleeding and an allergic reaction to the jewelry.

Oral piercings have been linked to gum recession, bone loss and drooling due to increased salivary flow. If jewelry becomes embedded in oral tissue, surgery may be required to 

remove it. And piercings can interfere with dental care by obscuring x-rays.

The healing period after piercing requires meticulous attention to hygiene. Your teen should floss daily and brush the teeth, tongue and jewelry after every meal, using a new, soft toothbrush stored away from other toothbrushes to prevent contamination. And your teen must learn to eat carefully in order to avoid biting down on jewelry and damaging teeth, restorations and fillings. Opening the mouth too wide can cause some piercings to catch on the teeth.

If your teen wants an oral piercing, Dr. Jared and his clinical team can provide an individualized assessment of the risks and devise a care plan to maintain oral health. Regular visits to KiDDS Dental will ensure supervision of the piercing and timely repair of any damage before it worsens. If your teen experiences an adverse reaction that does not respond to treatment, we may suggest permanent removal of the piercing and a rehabilitation plan to restore oral health.

Call us to schedule an appointment today!  509-891-7070.

Oral Clues to Eating Disorders

Oral Clues to Eating Disorders

Of the more than 10 million Americans currently affected by serious eating disorders, most are teenagers and young adult women. In addition to having a negative effect on self-image, relationships with family and friends, and performance in school or at work, eating disorders also affect a person’s oral health. In fact, oral clues—among them, thinner teeth, enlarged salivary glands and soft tissue ulcerations—are signs familiar to a dental professional of an eating problem such as bulimia or anorexia.

The nutritional deficiencies that accompany eating disorders can raise certain red flags. Two, for instance, are chronically irritated and sore corners of the mouth (angular cheilitis) and a swollen, painful tongue (glossitis).

Anorexia, bulimia and compulsive overeating are among the most serious eating disorders. A person with anorexia sees himself or herself as fat no matter how thin the body in the mirror appears. In bulimia, the patient fears becoming overweight, yet eats large amounts of food and gets rid of it immediately by vomiting or using laxatives. Compulsive overeaters “binge” on food but don’t necessarily “purge” the way bulimics do.

If you suspect your child has an eating disorder, do not ignore it. Engage in nonjudgmental discussions with your child about the behavior. Consult his or her pediatrician and, most likely, a mental health specialist.

While you seek help for the problem, we can suggest strategies to help prevent oral health complications. One of the most important is also counterintuitive. Although someone who has just vomited may want to brush his or her teeth immediately, the acid on the teeth makes them vulnerable to enamel loss. A rinse of either plain water or a solution of water and baking soda will help neutralize the harmful effects of stomach acids on the teeth. Brushing can come an hour later and should be done with a fluoride toothpaste. In fact, additional fluoride treatments, at home or in our office, may be recommended to help preserve tooth enamel.

Malnutrition from anorexia will often leave salivary glands swollen and less productive, leading to a tendency toward dry mouth, which in turn hastens tooth decay. In addition to fastidious dental hygiene, chewing sugarless gum with xylitol can help maintain oral moistness and preserve mouth health.

If you think your child might have an eating disorder, we can discuss the matter with you in more detail and refer you to other helpful community resources.

Give us a call at 509-891-7070 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Jared today!

Mouthguards: Necessary Athletic Equipment

Mouthguards: Necessary Athletic Equipment

Do your children play basketball, football, soccer or softball? Do they wrestle or box, play rugby or lacrosse, skateboard, or participate in martial arts? According to the Academy of General Dentistry, all children should wear a properly fitted mouthguard when participating in these or any other contact sport. A mouthguard will help protect their teeth and reduce the likelihood of lip, cheek, tongue and jaw injuries.

Mouthguards are flexible appliances that protect teeth from both direct and indirect trauma. Most mouthguards cover only the upper teeth. However, Dr. Jared may recommend a mouthguard for the lower teeth if your child wears braces on these teeth.

Mouthguards come in three styles and price ranges:

• Stock mouthguards are off-the-shelf devices. They are inexpensive but offer the least protection because they require the lower jaw to remain closed to keep them in place. Dental professionals consider the protection offered by stock mouthguards to be inadequate.
• “Boil and bite” mouthguards are made of a thermoplastic material that, when heated and inserted into the mouth, conforms to the shape of the teeth. They provide better protection than do stock mouthguards
• Custom-made mouthguards are the most expensive but provide the best level of protection and comfort. These are made from a mold of the teeth taken in our office.

The National Youth Sports Safety Foundation projects that more than 3 million teeth will be knocked out each year in youth sports events. Children who do not wear mouthguards are 60 times more likely to experience tooth damage. Despite this, a survey commissioned by the American Academy of Orthodontists found that 84% of children playing organized sports do not wear mouthguards.

So, buy helmets, pads and other protective equipment to keep your children safe, but also put a high-quality mouthguard on your shopping list. And if your child is using a mouthguard, bring it along to his or her next dental appointment at KiDDS Dental and let us check the fit.

If you have questions about mouthguards, click here to schedule an appointment with Dr. Jared. Or give us a call at (509)-891-7070.

One Brushstroke = Ten Years of Cavity Protection

One Brushstroke = Ten Years of Cavity Protection

The cavity-prevention method called “sealing” is a very effective and easy way for dentists and parents to help greatly reduce the chance that children will develop tooth decay.

How it works: The sealant, brushed onto the surfaces of your child’s teeth, is actually a liquid form of plastic. The back teeth—premolars and molars, with their particularly deep crevices—benefit most from sealants. Without sealants, food particles and decay-causing bacteria can remain in those tough-to-reach spaces, away from the efforts of even the most conscientious tooth-brushers.

After we apply the sealant, it hardens rapidly and becomes a colorless physical barrier―it literally “seals up” those tooth crevices so food and bacteria cannot settle there. The best strategy appears to be applying sealant to the chewing surface of each back tooth as soon as possible after the tooth emerges in your child’s mouth. We often recommend sealing primary teeth as well.

Generally long lasting, one application of sealant can last for up to a decade. During each of your child’s checkups, we’ll inspect the sealant and apply more if necessary, because on occasion the sealant may wear away earlier than expected.

If there is a downside to applying dental sealant, it’s that parents and children can be lulled into a false sense of security. While sealants do effectively deter cavities from forming in children’s nook-and-cranny-filled back teeth, they provide no guarantee that all of your child’s teeth will remain cavity-free. To best protect the smooth surfaces of all teeth, expose them to fluoride—with fluoride toothpaste, fluoridated water and, in some cases for extra protection, a fluoride rinse.

Remember that, even with sealed teeth, your child needs to follow the rules of good dental hygiene. Your child still should brush twice a day, floss once a day, and avoid sticky candy and cookies unless he or she can brush right after eating them.

More questions about sealants? Talk to Dr. Jared and his clinical team at your child’s next visit to KiDDS Dental.

Call us to schedule an appointment today!  509-891-7070.

Mother's DAY? No way!

We'll be celebrating mothers ALL WEEK on Facebook
and one lucky winner will get a Kindle Fire just for playing along.

Look for a new way to enter to win each day

May 3rd through May 9th.

Contest Rules:

By entering this promotion, participant agrees to a complete release of Facebook from any or all liability in connection with this contest. It is also acknowledgment that the contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. No purchase is necessary to enter or win.

How to enter: Entries consist of following the directions (comment, "like," etc.) given in the official promotion posts on the KiDDS Dental Facebook page between May 3, 2020 at 9:00 AM and May 9, 2020 at 5:00 PM. One entry per promotion post per Facebook user is allowed. Multiple entries per promotion post will be disqualified.

Drawing: One random prize drawing will be held on or about May 11, 2020.  The winner will receive a Kindle Fire. This prize is valued at $59. Cash cannot be awarded in lieu of prize. Prize is not transferable. The winner is solely responsible for reporting and paying applicable state and federal taxes. If a winner is disqualified or if a prize is unclaimed, KiDDS Dental reserves the right to conduct another drawing to determine an alternate winner or to not award that winner's prize, at its sole discretion.

Odds: Actual odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries.

Eligibility: Legal residents of the United States are eligible to participate and win. Any person under the age of 18 must have a parent's or legal guardian's permission to participate and/or win.  Must be 13 years or older to enter. Employees of KiDDS Dental and their immediate families (spouse, parents, siblings, children, in-laws) are not eligible to enter. Winner must be available to pick up prize at KiDDS Dental in Liberty Lake, WA by May 21, 2020.

Decisions: By entering into the promotion, entrants and their parents or guardians (if the entrant is under the age of 18) agree to abide by and be bound by these official rules, and to accept the decision of KiDDS Dental as final.  Entrants and their parents or guardians (if entrant is under the age of 18) also agree to hold KiDDS Dental harmless from any liability arising from participation in this promotion. KiDDS Dental is not responsible for entries not received because of technical difficulties. KiDDS Dental reserves the right to disqualify any participant to a person who fails to follow these official rules or uses fraudulent means in participating. If for any reason this promotion is not able to be conducted as planned, KiDDS Dental reserves the right to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend this promotion and randomly draw from the entries received up to the cancellation/suspension date.

Liability Release: By participating, each participant and winner waives any and all claims against KiDDS Dental their employees and agents for any personal loss of any kind which may occur from the participation in the promotion.

Publicity: Each winner (and such winner's parent or guardian if any winner is under the age of 18) agrees to permit KiDDS Dental to use his/her name and likeness in promotional and other KiDDS Dental materials, without additional compensation or permission, except where prohibited by law.

This promotion is void where prohibited.

By entering the contest, entrants grant KiDDS Dental license to display, distribute, reproduce contest entries. Winners must sign a media release and will be responsible for paying any taxes they may owe on a prize.