Guard Your Child’s Teeth Against Injuries and Grinding

Guard Your Child’s Teeth Against Injuries and Grinding

If your child plays sports or grinds his or her teeth, Dr. Jared may recommend a mouth guard, a covering worn over the teeth to protect them from injury. Sports injuries can cause chipped, broken or lost teeth, or other damage to the mouth area. Bruxism, or teeth grinding, may result in fractures, cracks or worn-down teeth. A mouth guard can protect the teeth from injury and offer relief from the painful results of bruxism.

To be effective, a mouth guard should fit well, feel comfortable and stay in place. It should also allow your child to breathe freely and talk without sputtering or spitting. Comfort and ease are essential, since children often do not want to wear a guard and may even remove an uncomfortable one when no one is looking.

Over-the-counter (OTC) mouth guards are inexpensive, but they have several disadvantages. The one-size-fits-all OTC guard does not provide an exact fit, so it may not be comfortable or effective. Teeth grinding could also cause it to loosen or fall out. Most OTC mouth guards require the child to clench his or her teeth to keep it in place—an inconvenience most children cannot manage.

The boil-and-bite mouth guard, another OTC style, is made from thermoplastic material that is placed in hot water to soften. Once it cools, the child bites down on it so that the mouth guard hardens to form around his or her teeth. This may give a better fit than the one-size model but is not recommended for children with braces.

The custom-fit guard is the option recommended by the American Dental Association. Molded according to exact measurements of the child’s mouth, the custom guard provides the best fit and function. Although they are more expensive, custom mouth guards may actually save money in the long run, because they prevent dental injuries and costly repairs more effectively.

If your child plays sports or grinds his or her teeth, make an appointment at KiDDS Dental. We can help you choose the best mouth guard for your child.

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

Good Sleep and Good Dental Health Go Together

Good Sleep and Good Dental Health Go Together

Every night, your child brushes and flosses, gives you a kiss and climbs into bed. This is an excellent routine to promote dental health—and not just because of the brushing and flossing. While we sleep, our bodies heal. Our blood sugar levels stabilize, our immune system reboots, and our blood vessels and heart can do their important maintenance work. For children, whose bodies are constantly growing and changing, sleep is critically important.

Considering the connection between general health and dental wellness, it makes sense that adequate sleep is essential to keeping your child’s smile healthy and bright. Given evidence in a Japanese study that suggested a correlation between inadequate sleep and periodontal disease, there may be more to the sleep–dental connection than previously thought.

Not only is poor sleep associated with dental problems, dental problems can cause poor sleep—especially in children, who can’t always express what’s causing them to toss and turn. Two common sleep disorders, sleep-related bruxism and sleep-related gastroesophageal reflux, can wreak havoc on the quality of your child’s sleep.

• Children with sleep-related bruxism grind their teeth at night, which can wear down teeth, alter the child’s bite, and cause pain in the face and jaw.
• Children with sleep-related gastroesophageal reflux regurgitate stomach acid while sleeping, which can chemically erode tooth enamel.

To be sure your child’s sleep isn’t being disturbed by these problems, Dr. Jared can check his or her mouth for signs of both disorders, especially if the child is complaining of a sour taste in the mouth, jaw pain or interrupted sleep. He may also recommend a thorough examination by a pediatrician or specialist to rule out other issues, such as thyroid disorders and ear/nose/throat problems, that can affect sleep.

To help children get a good night’s sleep that boosts dental health, have them wind down an hour or two before bed with a quiet activity, such as reading or relaxing with family; skip caffeine-containing drinks; and make sure they have a comfortable, quiet, cool sleep environment. And, of course, make sure they brush and floss before bed!

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

Good Oral Care Habits Last for Life

Good Oral Care Habits Last for Life

Many recent studies have focused on the important role played by healthy teeth and gums to maintain the body’s overall health. Gum disease is, after all, a form of inflammation, and the body’s so-called inflammatory cascade—the series of bodily processes caused or spurred on by inflammation—has been associated with many illnesses and health conditions.

One of the best ways to prevent gum disease as an adult is to establish healthy habits of good oral care during childhood. The earlier good habits are established—and the more frequently they are enforced—the harder they are to break.

As a parent, one of the best things you can do to promote your child’s dental health is to take the time to help them establish good oral care habits now that will help them stay healthy later. So, what does that entail?

1. Keep your baby’s gums clean using a soft cloth.
2. Once baby teeth emerge, use a soft-bristled brush designed for baby’s mouths to keep teeth clean.
3. Bring your child in to see us early—as early as six months of age. By introducing your child to us and familiarizing your child with the procedures involved in a dental appointment, you can significantly reduce the anxiety many people fear when visiting the dentist. Make dental visits a routine part of your child’s life.
4. Ask us for guidance on healthy snacks, the best way to brush and for guidance on when—and how—to begin flossing teeth. Also ask about the use of supplemental oral health products, such as plaque rinse or mouthwash.
5. Perhaps most importantly, practice what you preach: Demonstrate good oral care habits, including brushing and flossing and regular dental visits, in front of your children.
6. Finally, keep your own anxiety about the dentist to yourself—do not voice your fears in front of your children.

By instilling good oral care habits in your children early in life, you encourage your child to maintain them as he or she grows into an adult. And children trained to keep themselves healthy pass on these good habits to their own children. Make regular visits to KiDDS Dental a part of your child’s routine now.

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

Give Your Child’s Teeth a Sporting Chance

Give Your Child’s Teeth a Sporting Chance

As much as we don’t like to think about them, injuries can happen to children and teens when they play a sport. The typical protective precautions are well known: helmets for football players, chest protectors for softball and baseball catchers, face masks for hockey goaltenders.

But you must think ahead about protecting your child’s teeth. Consider the mouth guard. Without one, your child can be up to 60 times more likely to suffer a dental injury. And mouth protection matters as much at practice sessions as it does in actual games.

The mouth and teeth are most at risk in football, ice and field hockey, lacrosse, basketball, baseball, volleyball and gymnastics. But any activity that requires your child to make quick moves or has an object flying about can result in oral injuries. Some leagues and schools may mandate mouth guards for players.

Mouth guards protect not only the teeth but also the tongue, lips and cheeks, too. You and your young athlete can choose from three basic kinds of mouth guards:

• Stock: This type of mouth guard (also called “universal” or “off-the-shelf”) often includes gel in the surface closest to the teeth, to accomplish something like a custom fit. These provide the least protection.
• “Boil and bite”: The thermoplastic material of this guard softens in hot water. In that state, as your child bites down, the guard gets shaped to his individual “toothprint.”
• Custom-fitted: We offer completely customized mouth guards that will give your child exceptional protection. While a mouth guard made specifically for your child will cost more than will the other options, the individualized fit is more comfortable, offers better protection and is less likely to fall out.

Be vigilant in helping your child keep the mouth guard intact and clean, since, of course, it goes into the mouth. Store and carry it in a durable container that allows for air circulation. Before and after each use, rinse it well or, better yet, brush it, using a toothbrush and toothpaste. Keep it out of the sun and hot water—either can distort the guard’s shape—and when it inevitably does become distorted or overly worn, replace it.

If you and your child are unsure about which type of mouth guard is most suitable, consult Dr. Jared at KiDDS Dental. He’ll be happy to evaluate your options and guide you to the one that fits best—in every sense.

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

Give Your Child a New Toothbrush

Give Your Child a New Toothbrush

Did you ever wonder why we give your child a new toothbrush at every visit? We want to make sure that your child regularly gets a new toothbrush.

While we generally recommend that you schedule your child for two checkups a year, you should actually replace his or her toothbrush, or toothbrush head if you use an electric toothbrush, at least every three months. Here’s why:

• Wear and tear. The more you use your toothbrush, the more the bristles wear down and soften, losing their cleaning power. You may have noticed that some toothbrushes have little peaks and valleys in their shape when viewed from the side. That’s to help get the brush into the curved edges of your teeth and the gaps between them. As the bristles flatten out, they lose that ability.
• Harmful particles. Your toothbrush is designed to get rid of tiny particles of bacteria, plaque and fungi on your teeth. Even if you conscientiously and thoroughly clean your brush, you simply can’t remove all those microorganisms. Over time those particles build up on the bristles, and you end up putting them right back onto your teeth.

Since germs can also breed on toothbrushes, you might want to replace everyone’s toothbrush sooner rather than later if you or your child gets sick.

Some toothbrushes have indicators that let you know when it’s time to get a new one. Pay attention to those indicators (usually specially marked or colored bristles)―some people wear out their toothbrushes faster than others. Bring your child’s three-month-old toothbrush in with you at your next visit to KiDDS Dental, and we’ll be happy to replace it with a brand-new one.

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

Getting the Most Out of Dental Checkups

Getting the Most Out of Dental Checkups

Dental checkups are essential to keep your child’s mouth healthy and free from disease. To best prepare your child for each trip to KiDDS Dental, you need to be aware of what happens during an oral examination.

Your child’s first dental checkup should come after his or her first tooth comes in or by the child’s first birthday, whichever comes first. Following that first visit, most children will need to visit us twice a year—more if they’re high risk.

Dental examinations for children typically last about 30 minutes and are pain-free. We will clean your child’s teeth, and then assess his or her risk of tooth decay. Dental x-rays might be taken to reveal any existing decay, and we will check to see how your child’s teeth fit together.

During the examination, we will discuss your child’s oral hygiene habits and diet—for instance, we may suggest alternatives to sugary drinks. We can demonstrate proper brushing and flossing techniques for you and your child. For adolescents, we may discuss health risks associated with oral piercings and tobacco use.

If any problems become apparent, Dr. Jared will let you know whether special care is needed. We may suggest protective sealants to protect and fluoride treatments to help strengthen your child’s teeth.

Schedule an office visit during a time of day when your child is well rested and more likely to be cooperative. It’s important to explain the dental visit to your child in positive terms. Talk about the benefits of a dental visit, and remind your child that you get dental checkups too. Let us know about any fears your child may have about coming in to see us.

Regular dental checkups are important for good oral health and prevention of decay. Make sure you don’t neglect your child’s teeth—call our office to set up an appointment. And should any aspect of your child’s health change, let us know so we can make any necessary dental treatment changes.

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

Getting That Thumb Out of Your Child’s Mouth

Getting That Thumb Out of Your Child’s Mouth

When should you attempt to break your child’s thumb-sucking habit? How should you do it? Should you even worry about it? Most children who suck their thumbs (or fingers) as infants stop on their own by the time they turn 5 years old. Generally, thumb-sucking’s impact on mouth growth and tooth alignment—a child’s bite—arises only if the habit continues after permanent teeth have begun to come in.

If your child’s fifth birthday is approaching—or has passed—and he or she continues thumb-sucking, consider these strategies:

• Ask your child for ideas about how he or she can learn to stop thumb-sucking. If your child is not ready, explain that you’ll be there to help when the time is right.
• “Catch” your child when not sucking, and offer praise. Conversely, if your child seems at times to be unaware of sucking, gently point it out to promote self-awareness of the habit.
• If your child’s anxiety in particular situations fosters sucking, offer alternatives, such as a stuffed animal or blanket to snuggle with (not, of course, to suck).
• Compromise with your child by giving full permission to thumb-suck at bedtime or naptime, but asking him or her to try very hard to stop doing it during the course of the day.

Two products are marketed for breaking the thumb-sucking habit, but some doctors and psychologists have suggested that they may cause more harm than good:

• Nasty-tasting liquids. Sold over-the-counter just for this purpose, these bitter or sour preparations are applied to the favored thumb or finger. This method works in some children, but not in others.
• Plastic thumb guard. Used mostly at night and held in place with a wristband your child can’t remove, the thumb guard can be quite effective, although can create anxiety in the child.

As a last resort, we can fit your child with an intraoral appliance. This device physically prevents the sucking motion. It usually remains in place for three to six months, after which the habit should be broken.

Before you decide on a course of action, come see Dr. Jared and our clinical team. We can explain to your child—as we have to countless other children—why thumb-sucking can cause trouble for his or her future teeth. Then we can work together to develop an individualized plan to break the habit.

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