Crooked Teeth: No Laughing Matter

Crooked Teeth: No Laughing Matter

Uh-oh … one of your child’s permanent teeth is coming in funny. Is this a cause for panic, or at least immediate treatment? An abnormally positioned tooth has definite drawbacks:

• It might have an impact on appearance, especially if it’s a front tooth.
• It may cause discomfort.
• It could prevent easy flossing.

But how do you treat abnormal tooth positioning? That question is a bit trickier, because every child’s situation—and every tooth—is a little bit different.

In many cases, orthodontic treatment is the recognized solution. Orthodontists specialize in straightening teeth—with braces, wires, bands and other implements—to give your child a spectacular smile … eventually. It’s never too early to discuss whether your child needs corrective treatment. Our clinical team at KiDDS Dental will keep tabs on his or her developing mouth and teeth in order to help the orthodontist formulate a customized future treatment strategy.

First, Dr. Jared will determine the underlying reason for an emerging tooth’s crookedness. Was the baby tooth in its spot (or next to it) lost too early? Is your child’s mouth “crowded,” with seemingly insufficient room for all 32 adult teeth? If so, why? Will the crooked tooth straighten out on its own over time (as is often the case with permanent front teeth)?

Once the reason for the problem is ascertained, we can provide treatment or refer your child to an orthodontist. Space maintainers may be useful if a primary tooth falls out too soon. By placing one in your child’s mouth, we may be able to ensure that an adjacent permanent tooth doesn’t cause problems by invading that space and taking up two spots. The goal is to prevent the tooth from having a permanently abnormal position.

An orthodontist may recommend extracting one or more healthy permanent teeth if they are causing harmful crowding in your child’s mouth. This gives the other teeth room to spread out attractively and makes for more ideal positioning.

Dr. Jared can help your child achieve a healthy, attractive smile for life. Let us know at your next appointment if you have concerns about any teeth that are coming in funny.

Do you have any questions about early orthodontic treatment for your child? Call us to schedule an appointment today! (509)-891-7070.

Kentucky Derby Hat Contest

The KiDDS Dental 2017 Kentucky Derby Hat Contest Rules

 

Facebook in no way endorses or promotes this contest. It is solely promoted by KiDDS Dental. 

Win a lunch for your team!  Participate in the KiDDS Dental Kentucky Derby Hat Contest!

How to participate
1. Contact Alyssa@GrowUpSmiling.com to reserve your official KiDDS Dental Kentucky Derby Hat.
2. Decorate your hat.
3. Take a digital picture of your hat and email it to Brandie@GrowUpSmiling.com, making sure to note the name of your organization. 
4. Get votes! Each "like" or "love" your hat gets in our "Kentucky Derby Hat" album will earn your organization one vote.


Some ideas to get votes:

• Make a small sign to display with your hat explaining the contest and directing your patrons to "like" the picture on the KiDDS Dental Facebook page.
• Post a link to the contest picture, from the KiDDS Dental Facebook page, to your organization's Facebook page and ask your fans to vote.
• Include a link to the picture of your Kentucky Derby Hat in your company's e-newsletter.
• Ask your team to share the picture on their personal Facebook pages.

Voting for the KiDDS Dental's "Kentucky Derby Hat" photo contest begins April 28, 2017 and ends at 5:00 pm, May 4, 2017.  By submitting a photo, each entrant agrees to the rules and states that they are 18 years or older. 

Who may enter: A member of the staff for invited businesses may enter on behalf of their business.  KiDDS Dental will determine the eligibility of each photo submitted at its sole discretion.

What to enter: A picture of the provided hat that is decorated. 
Photos that violate or infringe upon another person's rights, including to but not limited to copyright, are not eligible. 

By entering the contest, entrants grant KiDDS Dental license to display, distribute, reproduce photographs. 

Judging:  Winner will be chosen by a popular vote.
Prize:  The picture of the hat with the most reactions on Facebook will be the winner. The office that submits the winning photo will earn a catered lunch for the entire team. 

Mother's DAY? No way!

We'll be celebrating mothers ALL WEEK on Facebook
and one lucky winner will get a Kindle Fire HD 8 just for playing along.

Look for a new way to enter to win each day

May 7th through May 13th.

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 7, 2017 at 9:00 AM and May 13, 2017 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 14, 2017.  The winner will receive a Kindle Fire HD 8. This prize is valued at $89. 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 19, 2017.

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.

Could Your Child’s Teeth Cause Ear Infections?

Could Your Child’s Teeth Cause Ear Infections?

Researchers have debated whether malocclusion—a less-than-ideal bite pattern, such as crossbite—plays a role in the development of middle ear infections (otitis media). Now, a recently published study says that the two conditions may be linked after all.

Middle ear infections occur when fluid builds up behind the eardrum. Symptoms of acute otitis media include redness, pain, fever and often pus. A second type, called otitis media with effusion, is more common and can be caused by an infection, allergies and exposure to irritants such as cigarette smoke. Both types can cause hearing problems, and repeat infections can cause scarring.

The study examined 50 children between 6 and 8 years of age, including 25 children with ear infections and 25 healthy children who formed a control group. Children in both groups were given an ear, nose and throat examination, and dental casts were made of the children’s mouths so measurements could be taken.

The researchers then looked at the relationships between these measurements and the children’s tonsils and adenoids to determine whether the examination findings and bite patterns were associated. They found that 76% of the children in the ear infection group, a significant number, had posterior crossbite malocclusion (a malocclusion involving the back teeth).

Despite the results of this study, earlier research examining the relationship between ear infection and malocclusion patterns has been less conclusive. In fact, both a 1998 study of 112 children under 6 years of age and a 2010 study of 100 children from 4 to 10 years of age found no relationship between bite patterns and ear infections.

So what does this mean for you as a parent? If your child has ear infections, let Dr. Jared at KiDDS Dental know. We can evaluate your child to see if he/she may benefit from having his or her bite analyzed. If a malocclusion does exist, you can consider options for having it corrected.

The effect of poor bite patterns can extend far beyond ear infections. Malocclusion can cause many oral health problems, including abnormal tooth wear, tooth decay and eventual tooth loss. A bite analysis performed early may prevent these more serious conditions from developing later in life.

Dr. Jared would love to discuss further information on the correlation between ear infections and malocclusion patterns. Call us to schedule an appointment today! (509)-891-7070.

Could Tooth Grinding Cause Your Child’s Headaches?

Could Tooth Grinding Cause Your Child’s Headaches?

Childhood headaches are always concerning to parents, especially when they occur on a regular basis. Headaches can occur for a variety of reasons, including anxiety over schoolwork or peer issues and even uncorrected vision problems. But one of the most common sources of childhood headaches is also one of the most commonly overlooked, and it starts right in your child’s mouth.

Chronic bruxism—tooth grinding and clenching—is a common habit that affects about a third of children, often persisting into adulthood. What’s worse, tooth grinding or jaw clenching often occurs at night, making it difficult to self-diagnose. While no one is entirely sure why children tend to grind their teeth, many researchers believe it may occur as a response to anxiety, stress or pain such as an earache. Bruxism also appears to be strongly associated with misaligned teeth that do not fit together properly. Headaches result from jaw muscles that clench tightly while grinding, resulting in muscle tension and soreness.

Dr. Jared and his clinical team have experience in treating bruxism successfully. If your child’s teeth do not line up properly, we may be able to gently grind the surfaces of the teeth to eliminate any raised spots that may keep teeth from meeting as they should. We may also prescribe a mouthguard for your child to wear at night that can protect teeth and keep jaw muscles from becoming sore.

There are five steps you can take as well:

Step 1: Listen closely. You may actually be able to hear grating sounds coming from your child’s mouth during sleep.

Step 2: Gently massage your child’s jaw to help loosen stiff muscles.

Step 3: Reduce stress before bed by reading a funny story or engaging in another relaxing ritual.

Step 4: Make sure your child drinks lots of water during the day; some experts believe that dehydration can cause tooth grinding or exacerbate headaches.

Step 5: Have your child visit us regularly. Even when you cannot hear or see evidence of grinding and clenching, we can recognize subtle signs, like tooth wear, left behind by bruxism.

Everyone gets headaches, and an occasional bout is probably nothing to worry about. But if your child suffers from headaches regularly, talk to both your pediatrician and Dr. Jared to rule out more serious underlying conditions and to help your child be as healthy and pain-free as possible.

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

Choosing the Right Mouthwash for Your Child

Choosing the Right Mouthwash for Your Child

It can be hard enough getting children to brush and floss their teeth; is it really necessary to add mouthwash to the mix? According to the American Dental Association, mouthwash can help prevent gingivitis, combat bacteria in the mouth and, if the mouthwash contains fluoride, reduce cavities. And for children who are not always the most diligent brushers, this extra step can actually do a lot of good. Remember that mouthwash is not a substitute for routine brushing and flossing.

After the age of six, most children can begin to incorporate mouthwash into their oral health routine. Younger children are not adept at the swish-and-spit process and may swallow too much of the fluid. Always instruct children younger than 12 years of age in good rinsing habits. Supervise as necessary to minimize swallowing. You can show your child how to use the mouthwash by using it yourself. When your child uses mouthwash, start by diluting it with water to make it less potent until he or she gets the hang of spitting it all out.

It is important to choose a mouthwash that your child will actually want to use as well as one that is safe for children. Most children’s mouthwashes contain fluoride to give young teeth an extra boost. Some brands have special dyes that show your child the location of bacteria and food in the mouth; they may find this feature intriguing. Child-friendly mouthwashes also contain less alcohol and come in fun flavors like bubble gum or grape. For those who prefer natural options, there are products on the market that use naturally derived ingredients, such as xylitol, baking soda and essential oils.

Mouthwashes marketed to adults can be used, as well, but these are best used by teens. Young children often end up swallowing more mouthwash than they should, and adult mouthwashes may contain higher levels of ingredients that are harmful if ingested in large amounts.

Before using a new mouthwash, always check with Dr. Jared at KiDDS Dental to make sure that it is safe for children—and happy swishing!

Give us a call at (509)-891-7070 to schedule today. We'd love to meet you and your family.

Choose the Right Toothbrush for Your Child

Choose the Right Toothbrush for Your Child

Teaching children to brush regularly is essential to keeping their teeth and gums healthy. But with so many toothbrush types on the market—disposable, battery-powered, electronic—how do you choose the one that is best for your child while meeting your budget considerations?

While it is important to select a toothbrush appropriate to your child’s age, size and special needs, your child should also like using the toothbrush. Children who like their toothbrush will be more likely to brush regularly and properly. If your child is old enough, let him or her help pick out a new toothbrush.

Dr. Jared and his clinical team can advise you in this important choice. Here are some additional suggestions:

• Select a toothbrush that has an American Dental Association Seal of Approval. This will ensure that the construction and materials of the toothbrush are appropriate for children.
• Pick an age-appropriate toothbrush. Most children’s toothbrushes have the recommended age range printed on the box. If the brush head is too small or too large, it will not reach all areas of your child’s mouth. The handle should feel comfortable so that your child will be able to use it properly.
• Choose soft bristles. A child’s teeth and gums are more sensitive than an adult’s, especially when the child is teething. A soft-bristled brush cleans teeth well without wearing away tooth enamel or gum tissue. The bristled end of the toothbrush should be small and round, so that the child will not be hurt if his or her hand slips while brushing.
• Choose a special brush for braces. Children who wear braces may do better with special orthodontic toothbrushes that have bristles altered to reach hard-to-clean areas.
• Disposable or battery powered? Both types can effectively keep teeth and gums healthy. The choice may depend on your child’s preferences and age, as well as the evaluation of your pediatric dentist.
• Options and attractions. Child-friendly toothbrush designs make the brushing experience fun and may be more effective. Some brushes feature cartoon characters or a variety of colors. Several models play music or flash timed colored lights to let your child know how long to brush. 

Whichever choice you make, be sure to replace your child’s toothbrush as recommended, usually every three months for the average disposable brush. KiDDS Dental is your best resource in the choice and maintenance of the right toothbrush for your child’s oral health.

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