Category Archives: pediatric dentistry

5 Ways To Get Your Kids To Brush Their Teeth

14 Monday Nov 2016

Posted by in dentistUSA, DentistUSA.com, kids, pediatric dentistry

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Getting your kids to brush can be like pulling teeth (see what I did there?). A friend of mine with 3 kids, all under the age of 8 told me she has to use “white lies” to encourage them to brush. These white lies range from telling one child that moss will grow on their teeth, to telling another that, “teeth trolls with hammers will break up your teeth if you don’t brush them out of there.”

So, besides telling white lies to get kids to brush, here are 5 other ways to help get those kids brushing and help you avoid pulling teeth… figuratively and literally.dad-and-son-brushing

1. Brush your teeth at the same time   

You are your child’s greatest teacher. Watching you brush your teeth with them will help set them up for a lifetime of good oral habits.

  1. Make brushing a game

There are tons of games online as well as apps for your mobile devices that make brushing fun for kids. You can find a bunch of games by clicking here.

3. Let your kids watch a video

Use two-minute videos to help encourage you kids to brush for the proper amount of time. You want them to brush twice a day for two minutes each time. You can find two-minute videos for kids here.

4. Let your kids choose their toothpaste

There are many different kids of toothpaste made for little ones. They range in flavor from bubble gum to strawberry smash and feature characters like Disney Princesses, Transformers and Dora the Explorer. Getting kid excited about what toothpaste they use will make the nighttime chore all the more easier.

5. Let your kids choose their toothbrush

Now you still want to have them use an ADA approved toothbrush but still, there are tons of color and characters to choose from that will make brushing fun for youngsters.

Whichever way you use to get your kids to brush remember to encourage them to use the correct technique, which is a circular motion (not up and down) for two minutes each time. Do that twice a day and visit your dentist twice a year and your kids smile will be beaming bright.

Portrait of family enjoying piggyback ride

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Toothless babies can have cavities!?

24 Thursday May 2012

Posted by in oral hygeine, pediatric dentistry, Uncategorized

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Did you know babies could have tooth decay even before they have teeth? How is that possible you ask? Well, I’m glad you did!

Research done at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and two research institutes in Lubbock in Texas found evidence of bacteria associated with early childhood caries (AKA tooth decay or a cavities) in the saliva of infants with no teeth. Their findings suggest that infection with bacteria like Streptococcus mutans in the oral cavity occurs earlier in the development of children than previously thought.

Babies are not born with the bacteria but are infected by parents and caregivers who are infected with the bacteria. “Tooth decay is a bacterial infection and you can spread it from one person to another during the window of infectivity, which is during infancy and especially during the time of tooth eruption. That’s when the teeth are most vulnerable. It’s as if you had a bad cold and were kissing your child, you would spread the cold virus.” Said Dr. Jane Soxman in the Diane Mapes article “Mom’s kiss can spread cavities to baby”

It is important to note, the transmission of bacteria through saliva is just one piece of the puzzle. Tooth decay is also caused by a number of different factors, including genetics, oral hygiene, feeding practices, such as letting your baby constantly suck on a sippy cup full of juice or other sugar-laden liquids.

Currently, pediatric dentistry experts recommend stopping bottle-feeding infants at 14 months and regularly cleaning gums with a cloth or special toothbrush. Though, The results from the study could mean new strategies for preventing caries in children, the researchers said.

“We want to characterize the microbiological evolution that occurs in the oral cavity between birth and tooth eruption, as teeth erupt, and as dietary changes occur such as breastfeeding vs. formula feeding, liquid to solid food, and changes in nutrient profile,” said Kelly Swanson, lead researcher and Associate Professor of Animal and Nutritional Sciences.

So if you have a newborn and have any questions about how you should be caring for your child’s teeth and gums contact your dentist. If you need to find a good pediatric dentist, you can easily find one using DentistUSA!

5 Tips to Prepare Your Child For Their First Dental Visit

15 Wednesday Feb 2012

Posted by in General Dentistry, oral hygeine, pediatric dentistry

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Would you rather your child’s first dentist visit be to repair tooth decay, or would you rather they visit the dentist on a positive note for a simple, preventative checkup?

More often than not, if a child associates the dentist’s office with scary drills and painful shots, they will be reluctant to visit again.  We spoke with Dr. Scott Goldman who has three practices in Chicago’s Northwest suburbs to understand why it is essential that parents start their child’s dental visits at an early age.  “You don’t want the first time you’re coming in to the dentist to be for that emergency,” explains Dr. Goldman.  “You want to be able to come in when you’re calm and have your questions ready.”

Here are some tips from Dr. Goldman on preparing your child for their first visit so they are calm and relaxed.

  1. Take your child early

The American Association of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends children visit the dentist at age 1 or 6 months after the eruption of their first tooth.  “If a child gets a tooth at 11 months, then I probably recommend [they visit] 6 months after that,” explains Dr. Goldman.  The dentist will show your child proper brushing techniques and educate parents on proper oral care at home.  While most insurance plans cover the cost of dental visits, many pediatric dentists offer free visits for children under the age of two.

  1. Explain what will happen

Be sure to explain what will happen at the first visit, but be careful not to make the dentist office seem like a big ordeal.  Dr. Goldman advises to “let [your child] know that mom and dad [also visit] the dentist and it is part of growing up and being a ‘big girl’ or a ‘big boy.’”  Let your child know that on their first visit the dentist is simply going to count and brush their teeth and that if they do a great job there will be a prize at the end of the visit.

  1. Get them a book

Dr. Goldman recommends buying your child a book to prepare for their dentist visit, like Dora the Explorer’s Show Me Your Smile!: A Visit to the Dentist.  The book chronicles Dora’s dentist visit in a child-friendly way and is available on Amazon for just $3.99.

  1. Avoid mentioning shots

Most children do not know about shots until the parents mention it, so Dr. Goldman advises that the word “shots” is never mentioned or “the only thing the kid is going to hear is ‘shot’ or it ‘hurts.’”

  1. Let them cry, it’s normal (A little tear is OK!)

“I always let the parents know:  a few tears is ok and  normal, don’t [be afraid] to bring your child to the dentist because you’re afraid they are going to cry.  The children who start young learn to enjoy seeing the dentist and by the second or third visit they are running through the door and excited to see the dentist.”  He points out that the child who has their first visit at an older age of 5 or 6 is usually the one with the most cavities, so bring them early!

Aside from the tips Dr. Goldman provided, your child’s dentist is also trained to ensure comfort at the office.  While Pedodontists have gone through a 2-3 year long residency program in pediatric dentistry, many general dentists are qualified to see children and comfortable treating children as well.

If you are looking for a dentist in your area, search for one using DentistUSA.com and select “Childrens Dentist” on the drop-down menu to filter for general dentists and pedodontists who see children.  Many dentists offer printable coupons for free dental visits for children under a certain age to encourage they see a dentist at the age recommended by the AAPD.

Dr. Scott Goldman attended the University of Illinois Urbana/Champaign for his undergraduate studies and the Univesity of Illinois at Chicago for dental school.  Following dental school, he completed a two year post-graduate specialty training program at the University of Illinois at Chicago pediatric dental program.  His practice is limited to the treatment of infants, children, teens and those with special needs.  In his spare time, Dr. Goldman is an avid hockey player and enjoys spending time with his wife and son.