Teething and Fever—What’s the Connection?

Teething and Fever—What’s the Connection?

While babies usually cut their first teeth at between four and seven months of ages, some children do not get their first teeth until their first birthday or later. Crankiness, drooling and fever have long been considered traditional signs that a child is teething. But is fever connected to teething?

Recently, researchers observed a group of infants aged five to fifteen months, recording the babies’ body temperature and symptoms during the period when children typically get their baby teeth. They tracked such classic signs of teething as fever, sleep disturbance, rash, irritability, drooling, diarrhea, runny nose and loss of appetite during four time periods: the day a tooth erupted, the day before a tooth erupted, the day after a tooth erupted and all other days.

Surprisingly, on the day a tooth erupted, the children’s temperatures rose by only a few tenths of a degree. Other symptoms, including irritability, drooling, diarrhea and runny nose, appeared the day the tooth erupted but not before, meaning that it was impossible to predict when a new tooth would emerge just by reading the so-called signs.

“I've seen a lot of parents that will come in with children with fevers of 101 degrees or higher, and first thing they say is, ‘It might just be teething,’” noted Dr. Roya Samuels, a pediatrician at Cohen Children’s Medical Center in New Hyde Park, New York. “Teething has never been proven to be related to high-grade temperatures.”

Some babies feel the pain of teething intensely while others seem to shrug it off. To alleviate crankiness, you can give your baby a chilled (not frozen) rubber teething ring or let her chew on a clean, wet washcloth that has been cooled in the freezer for thirty minutes. If your child is having great difficulty sleeping, your pediatrician may recommend giving her acetaminophen.

An infant’s fever should not be shrugged off as “just teething.” Any fever over 100.4 degrees should be checked out by the baby’s pediatrician. It may be related to another condition and should be treated accordingly.

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

Teeth Touching? Start Flossing

Teeth Touching? Start Flossing

Flossing is an important tool for children as it is with adults for preventing cavity formation between teeth, removing plaque between teeth and below the gumline before it hardens into tartar. Your child’s need to floss can start as early as age 2½.

Primary teeth often have space between them, reflecting the slow development of your child’s mouth. Eventually, as that spacing decreases, you will notice two or more of your child’s teeth touching―or at least close enough that simply brushing teeth is not enough. That’s when you need to start flossing your child’s teeth. Remember the goal is complete dental hygiene; it is vital to get all sides of the tooth―including those you can’t reach with a brush.

Your child does not and will not have the fine motor skills necessary for flossing for quite some time (usually not until age 10 or 11), so the job is up to you. Make flossing a pleasant experience and emphasize that it is part of a healthy dental routine. Use the simplest motions possible to dislodge whatever food might be stuck between the teeth.

Sometimes it is easiest to have your child lie flat with his or her head on a pillow or in your lap and say, “Open wide!” Take a piece of floss and wrap it between your middle fingers until you have about two inches of floss to work with. Place the floss around the base of the tooth near the gum in a “C” shape. Move from bottom to top two to three times, using a fresh part of the floss as you go from tooth to tooth.

As a parent, you need to set the groundwork for a healthy dental routine. Remember, including flossing in this routine is vital to your child’s oral health―you don’t want to risk any long-term dental issues. Call KiDDS Dental with any questions you may have about flossing, or bring them up at your child’s next appointment with Dr. Jared.

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

Teach Your Child Effective Toothbrushing Technique

Teach Your Child Effective Toothbrushing Technique

According to research, over 40% of children have cavities by the time they enter kindergarten. Poorly-cared-for baby teeth may cause infection, pain, and problems eating and speaking. They can also affect the permanent teeth when they erupt. You can help your child avoid these dental problems by teaching good tooth-brushing habits and technique.

By ages 2 to 3, children should be introduced to the MOI brushing technique: Clean the 

masticatory (chewing) surfaces with simple horizontal (scrubbing) movements; the outer surfaces with more difficult circular movements; and the inside surfaces with small up-and-down movements.

Let your child watch you brush your teeth. Then help him to try it. At first, you can hold the child on your lap and brush his or her teeth with the MOI technique, explaining what you are doing each step of the way.

Use a soft-bristled, child’s toothbrush with a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. Show your child how to hold the toothbrush at a 45º angle to the gum line and brush gently.

When your child is ready to brush without your assistance, he or she may not have the manual dexterity to clean all teeth thoroughly, so up to around age 6, give your child’s teeth a final brush after he or she has finished.

Show your child how to rinse and spit, reminding him or her not to swallow toothpaste. Ingesting too much fluoride can result in spots on even the permanent teeth.

Teach your child to brush at least twice daily. Each brushing should last at least two minutes and cover every region of the mouth. Children tend to focus on the more visible front teeth only, so be sure to remind him or her to brush in back.

A best practice is to brush along with your child until he or she is about 8 years old and shows proficiency. You can use a timer or a two-minute song and make a game of exploring every part of your mouth.

Establishing regular brushing habits at an early age can help your child maintain good oral health for years to come. For tips about how to accomplish this important oral health care task, talk to Dr. Jared and his clinical team when you bring your child in for an office visit at KiDDS Dental.

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

Straightening Out Your Child’s Smile

Straightening Out Your Child’s Smile

Very few people have perfectly straight teeth. Dentists use the term “malocclusion” to describe the failure of the top and bottom teeth to bite together as they should. If your child has malocclusion, he or she could have an overbite, underbite or crossbite. In addition, your child might have problems with gum tissue, speech development, appearance or the jaw joints.

Even though your child’s teeth may have some degree of malocclusion, that doesn’t necessarily mean his or her bite needs correction. Dr. Jared may refer your child to an orthodontist, a specialist who can help accurately determine what kind of correction is needed, if any.

How can you tell if your child has malocclusion? Symptoms of the condition may include

• abnormal alignment of the teeth
• breathing through the mouth
• problems with speech
• difficulty biting or chewing
• abnormal facial appearance

Rarely is malocclusion caused by just one factor. Genetics can play a large role, while children’s habits can influence their bite, as well. Children who suck their thumbs until the age of five or beyond have a higher risk of developing malocclusion. Some children have limited space between their baby teeth. This means that when their larger permanent teeth grow in, there may not be enough room for them.

Treatment for straighter teeth is personalized for each individual child. X-rays and impressions of teeth can evaluate the problem so that your child receives the best recommendations for treatment. Your child’s age and the extent of the condition will be considered to determine treatment. Treatment might include

• fixed mouth appliances, such as braces
• removable mouth appliances, such as retainers
• jaw surgery to correct bite problems where bone is involved

When the top and bottom teeth bite together evenly, your child has a properly aligned bite. Remember: Few children have a perfectly aligned bite, but not all require treatment. For those who do, early intervention is critical to prevent further problems in the face and jaw from a badly positioned bite. The result is your child’s renewed confidence and a beautiful smile to show for it.

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

Contest! Let the KiDDS Team Stuff Your Stocking!

 

Contest Rules:

By entering this promotion, the participant agrees to a complete release of Facebook from any or all liability in connection with this contest. It is also acknowledged 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 December 6, 2021, at 9:00 AM and December 17, 2021, at 5:00 PM. One entry per promotion post per Facebook user is allowed. Multiple entries per promotion post will be disqualified.

Drawings: 

For first choice of prize: One random prize drawing will be held on or about December 20, 2021.  The winner will receive their choice of the two prize stockings. 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. 

For remaining prize: One random prize drawing will be held on or about December 20, 2021.  The winner will receive the remaining stockings. 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. Winners must be available to pick up prize at KiDDS Dental in Liberty Lake, WA by December 23, 2019 at 2:00 PM.

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.

Tackling Teething Terror: Relieving Your Baby’s Pain

Tackling Teething Terror: Relieving Your Baby’s Pain

Crankiness. Crying. Refusing to eat. These are just a few of the symptoms that your baby is teething, a process that typically begins around 6 months of age. Although teeth buds have been lying in wait in your child’s mouth since before birth, the teeth don’t actually start poking through the gums until the middle of the first year. When they start to come through, the pressure of the tooth breaking through the gum line can cause your child pain and discomfort, unleashing a whole host of ailments including

• uncontrollable drooling (often causing red cheeks or chin)
• an unwillingness to nurse or drink from a bottle (the sucking motion increases blood flow to the mouth, which can make the pain worse)
• pulling on the ears (due to “referred” pain)
• a desperate need to gnaw on anything and everything in sight

Some babies—and their parents—are lucky; teething can sometimes be a relatively painless process, and you may not even know teeth are on their way until you spot the telltale white nub in the front of your child’s mouth. But for many others, teething is a long and frustrating process.

The following tips can help ease this discomfort, though, and as soon as you learn what works for your individual child, the arrival of the next few teeth will be a much smoother process.

1. Chew the pain away. Allow your child to gnaw on teething toys, rings or a washcloth soaked in cold water. (Cold is good, but freezing can actually make things worse.) If your child is eating solids, a refrigerated cucumber or frozen bagel can also feel comforting (just watch carefully to avoid the risk of choking).
2. Massage your baby’s sore gums with a clean finger or soft cloth; the pressure will relieve some discomfort.
3. If all else fails, ask us about giving your child an over-the-counter pain reliever or an oral analgesic.

The duration of the teething period is actually quite short, although it can feel interminable. By following these suggestions, you can make this phase less painful for you and your child.

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

Stuck Between Two Teeth

Stuck Between Two Teeth

Many adults have experienced the irritation of an object trapped between their teeth. Children can suffer the same discomfort too, especially because of the large gaps between their developing teeth.

Young children like using their mouth to explore the world around them; often, the problem starts when a child uses his or her teeth to break apart an object or remove part of a toy. Most frequently, however, it is food that gets stuck between teeth. For some children, the object will be too large, and your efforts to dislodge it will fail. Then, an emergency trip to KiDDS Dental will be necessary.

In most cases, you can remove an object from between your child’s teeth with dental floss or a dental pick.

• Gently floss your child’s teeth as you normally would.
• Slide the floss up and down a few times until the object is removed.
• Rinse your child’s mouth with warm water.
• Never use a sharp instrument to remove objects.
• If you child has braces, apply the same techniques.

While you can’t always prevent objects from getting stuck between children’s teeth, you can start by limiting certain foods, such as popcorn, corn on the cob and hard candies. Having your child brush or floss after eating these foods can help. Some parents carry portable, individually wrapped flossing sticks for a quick fix when children get food lodged in their teeth.

If several attempts to remove the object fail, bring your child in to see Dr. Jared. Excessive or repeated force to remove an object could damage teeth and gums. Your child may be complaining of pain, which can be a sign the tooth is damaged. When your child has braces, a dental visit can reassure you that the braces are still fitted properly and the mouth isn’t injured.

If you find that your child frequently gets objects stuck between his or her teeth, the problem may be that the teeth have shifted or cavities are present. Usually, objects stuck between teeth will come out with floss, but when they don’t, we can come to the rescue.

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