How to Sweeten Your Child’s Bad Breath

How to Sweeten Your Child’s Bad Breath

An often embarrassing problem, bad breath may be caused by unhealthy teeth. If you believe your child has persistent bad breath, you need to do more than cover it up with gum or mints. The underlying cause needs to be treated.

While bad breath is frequently caused by poor oral hygiene, it can also be caused by eating pungent foods or sucking on a thumb or other object. If your child’s bad breath is caused by thumbsucking, the bad breath should go away when he or she breaks the habit.

If your child’s bad breath is persistent, consider the following tips:

• Have your child brush after each meal and floss once a day. This not only removes stray food particles that can cause bad breath but eliminates the buildup of bacteria, which can lead to tooth decay, gum disease and, yes, bad breath. Help with brushing and flossing if needed, and make sure your child gently brushes the top of his or her tongue as well.
• Make sure your child eats a good breakfast to stimulate the flow of saliva. Drinking plenty of water and chewing sugar-free gum (with xylitol) can also reduce dry mouth and the buildup of bacteria.
• Don’t give your child mouthwash that contains alcohol, which dries the mouth.

There is also a chance that your child’s bad breath could be caused by a sinus or respiratory infection, or by tonsil stones. Occasionally, a child may stick an object into his or her nose that then attracts bacteria and causes an odor.

Remember, we need to treat the underlying causes of bad breath because those causes can also lead to tooth decay and gum disease. Make sure your child sees Dr. Jared regularly so that we can assess his or her overall dental health. If your child has persistent bad breath or has not been to our office in a while, make an appointment to see us. We can make sure that your child has a healthy mouth, free from embarrassing bad breath.

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

How Heartache Leads to Toothache

How Heartache Leads to Toothache

Children are sensitive beings. Stress in their environment may trigger behavioral changes such as “acting out.” But stress can also lead to physical responses, including changes in their oral health.

In addition, an emotionally stressed child may not feel like keeping to his or her normal oral hygiene routine; he or she may even go back, consciously or unconsciously, to thumb-sucking or tooth grinding, which can have negative effects on the developing mouth and teeth. If such problems last more than a couple of days, it’s best to gently address them in an age-appropriate way.

Financial troubles can lead to lapses in dental care—with serious negative effects. Do your best to keep up with regular dental checkups, professional cleanings and fluoride treatments. If your financial situation has changed, or you find yourself without dental insurance, please discuss your concerns with us. We will do our best to work with you, perhaps coming up with a payment plan that will work with your budget.

Finally, in times of stress, all of us—adults and children—often turn to less-healthy food choices—because they are quick (fast food) or comforting (sweet and salty snacks, such as doughnuts and chips). Try to shop for fresh fruits and vegetables, and have them on hand at home, so they can become “fast food” choices, too.

Even when everyone is stressed and cranky, make sure your child brushes after every meal or snack, especially after sugary and starchy ones. This will help prevent decay and problems that can occur long after the current problems have resolved.

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

How Eating Disorders Affect Oral Health

How Eating Disorders Affect Oral Health

Eating disorders—including anorexia, bulimia and binge eating—affect as many as 30 million Americans of all ages and genders. A full 95% of individuals with eating disorders are between the ages of 12 and 25. Contrary to popular misconception, young men are not immune; in fact, an estimated 10% of individuals with anorexia or bulimia are male.

While these disorders have a significant impact on a person’s overall mental and physical health, they can be detrimental to a person’s oral health, as well. All eating disorders can lead to malnourishment, which can result in anemia, vitamin deficiencies and periodontal disease.

Bulimia is the eating disorder that most affects oral health. If your child suffers from bulimia, the effects on his or her dental health will likely be noticeable early on. Frequent vomiting brings stomach acids into the mouth and leads to erosion of the tooth enamel, especially on the back of the front teeth. Severe erosion can also affect a person’s bite. In addition, frequent vomiting can cause a person’s salivary glands to swell and the inside of the mouth to become red and sore.

If your child suffers from an eating disorder, you need to seek professional help. Even with treatment, it may take time to control episodes of induced vomiting. If your child continues to induce vomiting, we recommend that he or she rinse with a solution of baking soda and water afterward. We may also recommend a mouthwash containing fluoride. However, your child should not brush immediately after vomiting; stomach acids can weaken tooth enamel, which means that brushing too soon afterward can lead to further erosion.

Because changes in your child’s mouth are often the first signs of an eating disorder, we may notice its effects when your child comes in for his or her regular examination. As your child undergoes treatment, we can work with you to minimize the effects of the eating disorder on your child’s oral health.

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

How Cough Syrup Can Cause Cavities

How Cough Syrup Can Cause Cavities

As parents, there are few things that cause us more worry than when our children are ill. We want to treat them in the most effective way possible. But while illness can be an emergency, you need to remain on guard to protect your children’s teeth. For instance, cough syrup can do a wonderful job of treating a child’s cold. Unfortunately, cough syrups filled with acids and sugars pose as much danger to teeth as any other acidic and sugary substance. By all means, give your children cough syrup to help them feel better. But follow this advice to make sure you don’t cause harm while you’re trying to help.

Because cough syrup is not tooth-friendly, it’s important to know more about our mouth’s best built-in tool for countering its harmful properties: saliva. Saliva protects teeth and gums by washing away harmful chemicals, food debris and germs. Whatever doesn’t go down your child’s throat to help with his or her symptoms will be washed away with saliva eventually once the mouth is properly lubricated. So, how do you ensure that your child’s saliva levels will be sufficient when you give him or her the medicine?

The best method: Give the cough syrup during a meal. People’s mouths naturally fill with saliva when they know a meal is imminent. By having your child take the cough syrup during the meal, you can ensure that its harmful impact is minimized.

What if your child is unable to eat or has just finished a meal? If that’s the case, your best bet is to get your child to brush his or her teeth and rinse his or her mouth immediately after taking the cough syrup.

Finally, if you have the option and your child is able, use a pill form of the cough medicine instead of the syrup version. If your child has problems swallowing pills or you have other concerns about how caring for an illness can interfere with dental care, don’t hesitate to ask us during your next visit at KiDDS Dental. We can give you some tips that will help your child shake the illness without damaging his or her growing teeth.

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

Help Your Child’s Tooth Enamel Last a Lifetime

Help Your Child’s Tooth Enamel Last a Lifetime

Tooth enamel, the hardest tissue in the human body, protects teeth from daily wear and tear. If properly cared for, the enamel that covers your child’s teeth is designed to last a lifetime. Although enamel will become worn with normal use, establishing good habits in childhood can go a long way toward keeping the hard covering stable and healthy. Here are a few tips for protecting enamel:

• Limit sugar-laden foods and drinks. Sugar triggers the production of acid in your child’s mouth. Foods that are both sweet and sticky are especially bad for enamel. Beverages like soda pop frequently contain other ingredients such as citric or phosphoric acid that can be harmful to enamel.
• Focus on foods that protect enamel. Dairy products help strengthen and protect dental enamel while neutralizing acids in the mouth that can erode enamel over time. If your child likes orange juice, choose a juice with calcium added to help neutralize the juice’s natural acid.
• Brush thoroughly but gently. Make sure your child uses a soft brush and does not scrub teeth too vigorously. It’s also a good idea to wait about an hour after eating before brushing because some foods can soften enamel, making it more prone to brush-related damage.
• Look out for chlorine. If your child swims, make sure the gym or pool he or she uses checks and maintains the proper water pH level. Improperly chlorinated pools can become acidic. Tell your child to keep his or her mouth closed when swimming to avoid having his or her teeth come into contact with the water.
• Drink lots of water. Especially after periods of strenuous play or exercise, drinking water helps keep teeth and gums clean and moist, and reduces levels of harmful bacteria.
• Avoid the daily grind. Many children grind their teeth at night, a habit that can erode enamel significantly over time. If your child is a grinder, ask us about tooth guards to prevent damage.
• Visit the dentist regularly. The best way to monitor your child’s tooth enamel for signs of damage is to make sure he or she sees the dentist every six months. Other ways to protect enamel include the use of oral care products containing fluoride.

Start early and monitor your child’s oral health to ensure that the tooth’s enamel will remain intact throughout his or her entire lifetime.

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

Help! My Teen Wants an Oral Piercing

As your children grow up, they start to look for ways to express themselves as individuals. Some methods of expression can be healthy, some can be neutral and some can be harmful. You can help your child make smart and safe choices while allowing him or her the opportunity for individuality.

One of the most common issues of self-expression we hear from parents concerns oral piercings. That includes the tongue, lips, cheeks and even uvula. We generally recommend against these procedures, for several reasons:

• Harm to basic oral functions. Studs, rings and barbells make it harder to chew, swallow and even speak.
• Damage to teeth, gums and dental work. Biting or orally manipulating oral piercings can cause scratches, cuts and chipped teeth; it can also puncture and dislodge fillings.
• Drooling. The presence of foreign bodies in the mouth stimulates excess saliva production.
• Allergic reactions. Many people are allergic to the metals used in piercing jewelry, which can lead to harmful swelling.
• Infection. Punctures in the mouth can allow harmful bacteria into the bloodstream, causing pain and swelling that can even lead to suffocation if the tongue swells enough to block the airways.
• Nerve damage. Tongue piercings can cause temporary or even permanent damage to the sense of taste.

We understand that you can’t talk your children out of everything they want to do, and they may insist on doing some things with or without your approval. If your child does get an oral piercing, proper dental care becomes that much more important. Use a mouth rinse after every meal to remove any harmful particles. Keep all mouth jewelry tight in order to prevent loose components from causing choking or infection.

Finally, schedule a visit at KiDDS Dental. We will make sure there are no harmful side effects from the piercing and teach your child the proper oral care.

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

Healthy Teeth: Always on Duty for Your Child

Healthy Teeth: Always on Duty for Your Child

Most parents know that teeth help a child bite, tear and chew food. But they do much, much more. Indeed, because they do so much, it is absolutely vital to keep your child’s teeth in good shape. While your child’s primary teeth fall out at around age 6, maintaining the health of these baby teeth is vital because they serve as placeholders for the permanent teeth that follow. Here are three of the less-well-known benefits of healthy teeth:

• Articulation and speech—Adults may take them for granted, but healthy teeth are especially important as children learn to speak. In fact, having teeth is essential for your child to pronounce many different sounds and speak the English language correctly. For instance, try saying the words “tooth” and “floss” without touching your tongue to your teeth. You can’t do either, can you? Well, neither can your child, and while it may sound cute when a toddler mispronounces words, it can be a hindrance in school or social situations.
• Facial expressions—Teeth provide structural support for your child’s face muscles and help them to form facial expressions that communicate to others what they are thinking. Without a mouth and its supporting teeth, a child would not be able to display emotions through facial expressions. The teeth also play an important role in facial fullness and esthetically pleasant facial shapes. Thus, absence of teeth, for any reason, not only hampers your child’s ability to chew but also impacts the facial features to great extent, affecting your child physiologically, emotionally and socially.
• Attractiveness—A six- or seven-year-old child with missing teeth might look adorable for a while, but their permanent teeth will soon fill the gaps. It is very important to protect the health of these permanent teeth, for your child will have them for a long time to come. A healthy smile full of bright, shining teeth is not only attractive but can engage other children and draw them toward your child. And the healthier those teeth, the happier your child looks.

So, teeth are a lot more versatile than you thought, aren’t they? That’s why it is so incredibly important to teach your children to take good care of them.

You can do this by instructing, helping and reminding your child to brush with a fluoride toothpaste twice a day and floss at least once a day to keep their teeth healthy. Your child can also brush his or her tongue to help keep breath fresh. Furthermore, making sure that your child eats lots of fresh vegetables, fruits instead of sugary snacks and drinks water instead of soda or sugar-laden juices will prevent the creation of plaque, a substance on the tooth surface just waiting for sugar to arrive so decay can begin. Finally, scheduling regular visits with Dr. Jared to both examine and clean your child’s teeth is equally essential. When properly cared for, a set of healthy teeth will be your childen’s useful friends for the rest of their lives.

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