KiDDS Team: Two Truths and a Lie Facebook Contest

This summer you'll have 16 chances to win as each member of our team introduces three statements about themselves . . . except one is a lie!

It's your job to guess which of the statements is a lie.

Your guess is your entry to win two Regal Cinemas tickets.

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 by the deadline posted on each contest post. 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 the deadline posted on each contest post. The winner will receive two Regal Cinemas movie tickets. This prize is valued at $20. 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 September 12, 2016.

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 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.

Asthma Medications and Cavities

Asthma Medications and Cavities

Could your child’s asthma medication cause cavities? The answer is somewhat unclear. Some scientific studies have suggested that anti-asthmatic medications may increase the risk of tooth decay and erosion, while others claim that there’s no link at all. Unfortunately, these conflicting studies don’t offer much reassurance when your child’s teeth and lungs are in question.

What we do know is that inhaled asthma medications can create conditions in the mouth that may increase the risk of dental problems. When your child inhales the medication, a powdery substance washes over the teeth, reducing the level of saliva and increasing the amount of acid in the mouth. These two factors can contribute to tooth erosion and decay.

In addition, many asthmatic children breathe through their mouths, which also reduces the level of saliva, resulting in dry mouth (xerostomia). Saliva is the body’s natural defense against decay, diluting the acids in the mouth that break down the tooth enamel; anything that reduces saliva encourages cavities.

Nebulizers utilize a type of sugar called fructose; other oral anti-asthma medications use sugars to make them more palatable to children. Frequent use of these types of medications creates more exposure to sugar, which we all know can lead to decay. However, there is no conclusive proof that taking these medications puts your child at increased risk.

The best solution is to pay special attention to the dental health of a child who takes asthma medications. Be extra vigilant with brushing and flossing, and have your child chew sugarless gum, rinse with water, or brush after taking his or her medication. See Dr. Jared regularly, and discuss your child’s asthma medications at each appointment. This way, we can watch for signs of acid erosion or decay, catching any problems before they become more serious. Together, we at KiDDS Dental can ensure that your child’s teeth stay healthy―that will allow everyone to breathe a little easier!

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

Father's DAY? No way!

We'll be celebrating fathers ALL WEEK on Facebook
and one lucky winner will get a $100 Cabela's gift card just for playing along.

Look for a new way to enter to win each day 

June 11th through June 18th.

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 June 11, 2016 at 9:00 AM and June 18, 2016 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 June 19, 2016.  The winner will receive a Cabela's gift card for $100. This prize is valued at $100. 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 June 27, 2016.

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 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.

Anticipation, Not Apprehension for Happy Dental Visits

Anticipation, Not Apprehension for Happy Dental Visits

We are so appreciative when a child visits KiDDS Dental with no preconceived negative ideas about dental care. How can your child fit this model by starting his or her experiences with us off on the right foot (or tooth)? Here are our best tips:

Language: Avoid the words “pain,” “hurt” or “drill” when discussing dental visits with your child. Instead, choose positive vocabulary and phrases, such as “let me see your smile,” “let me count your teeth” and “keep your teeth and mouth healthy.”

Timing: It’s almost never too early to accustom your child to dental visits. A trip to Dr. Jared as soon as the first tooth emerges, or at age 1, is ideal. The resulting familiarity will be helpful to your child and us going forward—especially if a dental emergency ever arises.

Details: Answer any of your child’s questions honestly, but provide as few specific details as possible. We are trained to explain our procedures in child-friendly, nonthreatening language, and we have had many years of experience. Trust us to provide your child with answers that he or she can understand and that will inspire no fear.

Books and play: Picture books about dental visits featuring television characters like SpongeBob Square Pants and Dora the Explorer may be fun to read with your child before the appointment. And you can also “play dentist” in a very simple way prior to a visit: Count your child’s teeth with a toothbrush, for instance, and then let your child pretend to count the teeth of his or her favorite doll or stuffed animal (or you) in the same way.

Here are some things to avoid: Leave your child home when you have a dental appointment. If you have any apprehension, he or she may sense it and associate fear with upcoming dental appointments. And avoid offering a bribe or reward in advance, saying your child will receive it if he or she is “good” or doesn’t cry at the dentist. Your child will likely wonder what awful thing might happen that would induce crying, and fear will be created.

If you are stumped or fearful yourself about your child’s upcoming visit to KiDDS Dental, ask us about strategies we use to make our young patients comfortable. We’re proud of our track record on this and are more than willing to share it with parents to make the dental experience as smooth and anxiety-free as possible.

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

Antibiotics and Cavities

Antibiotics and Cavities

A large-scale 2009 study investigated whether a child’s taking of antibiotics before the age of 2 had anything to do with the development of tooth decay (dental caries) later on. The researchers found a definite association between taking antibiotics at age 0 to 12 months or 

13 to 18 months and the later development of early childhood caries.

From such results, one could surmise that the antibiotics themselves are a direct cause of caries that appears months or years after they have been taken.

However, other, possibly more logical, possibilities may exist. Perhaps, if a child is often sick (he is, after all, taking antibiotics), parents may provide extra “treats”—quite possibly sugary treats—to make the child feel “better.” And we are all aware that sugar has been proven to cause tooth decay.

Importantly, children taking antibiotics during the first year of life often take antibiotics in subsequent years. Since such children were presumably deemed ill more often than children who didn’t take antibiotics, they would be more likely to have taken more over-the-counter medications, like cough syrups and acetaminophen. These preparations often contain sugar, contributing to caries just as a sugary snack might.

The infections themselves that the antibiotics were prescribed to treat could also eventually contribute to early childhood caries. In fact, some infections have been linked to developmental enamel defects, a possible springboard to tooth decay.

While more research about the antibiotics–early childhood tooth decay link is needed, we at KiDDS Dental recommend that if your child has taken antibiotics before the age of 18 months, be extra-vigilant about dental visits and oral hygiene in the next few years to help prevent problems and to treat those that do develop as early as possible.

If you have any further questions regarding antibiotics or your child's health click here to schedule an appointment with Dr. Jared. Or give us a call at (509)-891-7070.

ABCs of Oral Health: Z Is for Zinc

ABCs of Oral Health: Z Is for Zinc

Zinc formulations have become popular nutritional supplements. Adult bodies have only two grams of zinc—a tiny fraction of an ounce. Yet that small amount of zinc is crucial for certain functions, including the senses of taste and smell. Would a zinc supplement be right for your child? 

How does zinc affect oral health? At least one study focusing on children showed that compared with those taking a placebo syrup, children taking zinc developed less gingivitis (gum swelling), presumably from reduced plaque formation. Indeed, some toothpastes contain a zinc compound because of some credible evidence that zinc can keep plaque formation down. Another study showed that mouthwash or chewing gum containing zinc chloride significantly reduced formation of sulfur-rich compounds that contribute to bad breath. Evidence is inconclusive about zinc’s ability to help canker sores heal.

In medical use, zinc helps heal adult stomach ulcers. Some evidence exists for its beneficial role in treating acne and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and in boosting immune function. There are those who swear by zinc at the first sign of a common cold to decrease the cold’s length and minimize its symptoms.

Zinc deficiency is uncommon, but the condition is marked by frequent infections, hair loss, nerve and olfactory dysfunction, skin sores, slow-healing wounds and trouble seeing in the dark. If your child seems to suffer from any combination of these symptoms, Dr. Jared would love to discuss ways zinc supplements could help improve your child's health.

On the other hand, if after taking zinc supplements your child has diarrhea and stomach cramps and/or is vomiting, he or she is showing signs of a zinc overdose. Again, take your child to KiDDS Dental.

We’ll be happy to speak with you in more detail about the pros and cons of zinc supplements for oral health at your child’s next appointment.

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

KiDDS Dental Mother's Day Facebook Contest

Mother's DAY? No way!

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

Look for a new way to enter to win each day

May 1st through May 7th.

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 1, 2016 at 9:00 AM and May 7, 2016 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 8, 2016.  The winner will receive a FitBit Flex. This prize is valued at $99. 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 16, 2016.

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.