One of your best weapons against tooth decay and other dental problems is your toothbrush. Moreover, brushing your teeth at least twice a day is recommended to keep your teeth healthy and strong. Because your toothbrush helps in protecting your teeth against plaque buildup and tooth decay causing bacteria, it is important to properly maintain its condition. In doing so, you can continue using your toothbrush while ensuring that it functions properly the way it is designed to. (more…)

As adults, we know the importance of good oral hygiene in keeping your teeth and gums healthy. One of the easiest and obvious ways to protect your teeth is to brush them at least twice a day. When brushing, you should be careful when choosing the right toothpaste to use. While toothpaste may appear to have the same content and ingredients, you have to look thoroughly because toothpaste differs from each other – especially children’s toothpaste and regular toothpaste (for adults).  (more…)

Have you heard of the simile that goes, “sleep like a baby?” It means that you are sleeping very well — quiet, peaceful, and calm. While many children sleep soundly just like that, some grind their teeth and clench their jaws firmly so that you can hear the noise that their teeth are making. If your child does this during his or her sleep at night, then your child may have Bruxism.  (more…)

As a  parent, it is crucial to teach your kids how to take care of their oral health. You may be successful in instilling in them the importance of good oral care. But did you know that there is another thing that is as important as good oral habits that your kids ought to learn? That is eating foods that are good for their teeth and gums.  (more…)

One thing that most children share in common is there little to no interest in brushing their teeth. As parents, we know that healthy oral habits should start early, which is why we try our best to encourage them to brush their teeth even if, often, it involves tear-filled tantrums and promises of reward before we could get them to cooperate. 

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One of the main concerns of responsible parents is to employ ways to keep the overall health, including dental health, of their child at its best. If you start to notice that your child’s first tooth is already poking through the gums, then it is time to start thinking about how to keep their dental health in good condition. 

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that in every 5 children, 1 has at least one untreated form of tooth decay. That is 20% of the children’s population; making tooth decay the number one chronic disease affecting children in the US. As parents, we always consider our children’s health and wellness as our number one priority. As much as possible, we would like to save them from all the negative experiences that we’ve had before such as waking up in the middle of the night with a toothache and the fear of visiting a dental clinic. 

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A child’s baby teeth are temporary but it doesn’t mean that you should not take care of them. Your child requires strong and healthy teeth to chew their food properly, speak coherently and give off a bright smile. Their baby teeth also ensure that their adult teeth will come in correctly. Tooth decay in infants and toddlers, also known as baby bottle tooth decay, is very common. 

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As parents, we want to protect our child from any kind of pain including toothache. Unfortunately, a toothache is one of the most common types of pain a child will experience growing up. Toothache in children is normal and is caused by different things including tooth decay, plaque buildup, incoming teeth, cavities, and broken teeth. While a toothache may seem normal, it can be a tricky situation that can cause stress to a child and to the parents. 

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Healthy Snacks That Are Ruining Your Child’s Teeth
Choosing nutritious snacks for your kids is important to help them grow up strong and healthy. But did you know that some popular snacks are actually harming your little one’s teeth? Read on for a list of good-for-you snacks that are ruining your child’s smile.
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As parents, we are certainly prepared for the shedding of our children’s baby teeth. After all, we have all been through it ourselves. Starting around age 6 with the front teeth, or incisors, and continuing through about age 12 when the molars are finally replaced, we know our kids are going to be losing their first set of teeth. There is still, though, a sense of trepidation: To pull or not to pull; that is the question.
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Every parent remembers the first time a tooth peeked through their baby’s little grin as they were teething. As children grow, their teeth grow along with them until that other milestone fixed in the memory of all parents: The loss of the first tooth and the tooth fair’s first visit.

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As teenagers grow into adulthood, they face many physical and emotional changes. These changes bring unique challenges and risks to teen health, and oral health is no exception. Any strategy for managing these risks includes knowing what they are, how to avoid them, and what to do when problems arise.
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Many people love to chew gum. Some people like chewing gum for the taste. Others like to have something in their mouth. Many smokers like to chew gum because the gum keeps them from smoking at times that they cannot. If you are a gum chewer, you likely have a favorite brand and a favorite flavor. Regardless of your favorites, you should consider trying Xylitol gum. There are several benefits of making this your go-to gum.
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From the time our kids are born, they put anything and everything into their mouths. We expect this as parents. The thing we don’t always expect is the tantrums and outright refusal that comes with parents needing to look inside their child’s mouth. Our fingers get bitten and we become conditioned to just leave their faces and mouths alone. You may feel frustration with all-out war at bedtime just trying to get your kids to brush their teeth.  (more…)

Thumb sucking is a very common habit among babies and toddlers. Babies have rooting reflexes that they are born with that can cause them to put their fingers, and everything else, in their mouths. This is a survival instinct that every child is born with. Because sucking is associated with the full, satisfied feeling they get from drinking a bottle, thumb sucking can quickly turn into a comforting tool or coping mechanism. (more…)

Many kids fear the dentist due to the unknown, which can make it challenging to come in for routine cleanings or exams. Although children are known to dislike visits to a dental office, there are ways to ensure that they look forward to their time with the professional staff. To understand what kids appreciate the most at a kid dentist near Springfield VA, there are a few important facts to learn.

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Our pediatric dentist in Rockville MD is your chosen pediatric dentist because we have great dentistry skills and dental kid-friendly, superhero attributes. The pediatric dentist discreetly wins children’s trust while accurately examining your teeth with minimal discomfort. We amaze parents with a quick, quiet and successful visit to our office, time after time. Below are several of the many superhero dental qualities that make our child dentistry in Rockville MD your chosen kid dentistry!

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As much as we try to make sure that our kids are brushing their teeth after every meal, once they are old enough to brush all by themselves, it is difficult to monitor if they are brushing their teeth correctly and reaching all the teeth in their mouth. Cavities can occur in any child’s teeth, even if you limit sugar, make sure they are brushing and flossing, and keeping up on healthy oral habits. (more…)

Gum disease is a very common illness affecting over three million people in The United States every year. This disease can start out as gingivitis and progress into advanced Periodontitis disease which can be harmful to your jaw bone and teeth. (more…)

Teeth grinding at night, also known as bruxism, is common in children. As many as 2 to 3 out of every 10 children will grind or clench their teeth in their sleep, though most outgrow it. In childhood, teeth grinding often occurs during deep sleep phases or when children are under stress. (more…)

If you’re a parent, you may be wondering what toothpaste you should be using for your child through the various stages of their growth and life.
A lot of the advice you receive doesn’t necessarily specify age groups or milestones that must be met before toothpaste is switched. Fluoride, though necessary for a child’s teeth, isn’t safe to swallow, and some toothpastes seem like they don’t clean much. (more…)

Experts recommend that you start taking your child to the dentist when their teeth start coming in. At the latest, they recommend that their first dental visit take place by their first birthday. (more…)

It is recommended that children begin seeing a dentist by their first birthday. Much attention has been paid to when and why a child should see the dentist, and the special risks that children often deal with in caring for their teeth, but what about the relationship between a dentist and child? (more…)

Tooth decay isn’t only a problem for adults. An estimated 42% of children aged 2 to 11 develop a cavity in their primary teeth, according to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. Nearly 28% of children from 2-5 years old develop at least one cavity. (more…)

Many of us know the common causes of discolored teeth in adults, but children can also end up with yellow teeth. There are many potential causes of yellow teeth in children, and they can be either intrinsic (internal) or extrinsic (external). If your child has yellow teeth, you might be interested in figuring out why and what can be done about it. (more…)

Periodontal disease contributes to cavities and tooth decay, and eventually the loss of teeth and bone. Though the earlier stages of this disease, are easily reversible if caught in time and treated appropriately, the later stages are treatable but not always curable because it can cause significant damage to teeth and surrounding tissues that the body can’t necessarily heal. (more…)

Most of us have seen kids wearing or removing retainers, or even remember having them ourselves, but retainers have come a long way and each type works a bit differently and needs different care. You may have questions about the type of retainer your child is receiving, or how your child should care for it. (more…)

Chewing gum in one form or another is a very old pastime. Mastiche, or the sap from a mastic tree, was chewed by ancient Greeks. Across the globe, the Mayans were enjoying the sap from the sapodilla tree. In New England, Native Americans chose to chew the sap of a spruce tree. This practice was adopted by the European settlers in the area. Modern people have moved away from chewing sap with the help of advanced technology. (more…)

Summer is water fun time and nothing is more refreshing than splashing in a swimming pool on a hot day. Some people visit their local community pool for regular dips. Children are out of school and may be involved in camp programs that include daily swimming lessons and open swim. If you are lucky enough to have your own pool, you may plunge in daily when temperatures are at their highest. (more…)

Sports are a big part of many kids’ lives. Playing on a team helps them stay active, it encourages a healthy lifestyle and social skills. But along with all of these perks, it can also put them in harm’s way. Even activities, like bike riding or roller blading, are not without significant risk. Serious eye injuries, tooth loss and other painful head and facial injuries in athletic kids are quite common. Millions of children get injured every year participating in sports and other recreational activities. Luckily, there are way to prevent injury so that kids can play safely. (more…)

Parents are protective of all parts of their children, teeth included. Some may cringe at the thought of their perfect little bundle being tainted by tooth decay. This can break a parent’s heart and make them feel as if they’ve failed their child. At the same time, these protectors are also likely to allow sugary indulgences. It is no fun to deprive kids of such pleasures all of the time, so take steps to help your child stay cavity-free. (more…)

Bringing your child to the dentist for the first time can be a stressful, or even scary, experience. The new surroundings are enough to make any child want to cling to their mother or father. You may have a family dentist you’ve been using for years, but a pediatric dentist can cater to the care of your child’s teeth in a different way. (more…)

No parent wants their child to be in pain, even for a mild toothache. Pain is different for every person, but a child cannot always express the extent of their discomfort. Whether your child is teething or experiencing soreness after their first lost tooth, there are a few remedies you can do at home to help with their toothache. (more…)

Practicing proper dental hygiene is important in both childhood and adulthood. However, since children are still practicing their brushing and are dependent upon their parents for dental care, they are more prone to developing severe dental problems. One of the most severe dental conditions that your child can develop is gum disease. As a condition that millions of children develop every year, it is important to be wary of this condition and to help your child practice proper dental health.
Here are some of the best strategies that you can practice with your child to prevent the onset of gum disease: (more…)

Normally, parents start worrying about their child’s teeth when the baby teeth have fallen out and the adult teeth have grown in. There is a lot of discussion recently whether this strategy is the best way to care for a child’s dental health. Now, a number of dental health professional are supporting the idea that taking action sooner, when the teeth are still baby teeth, is the best course of action.
Here are a few justifications for why baby teeth are worth fixing: (more…)

Dental health should be taken care of well before adulthood. By taking care of your child’s dental health early, you can teach your child healthy habits and also ensure that they grow up with a beautiful and healthy set of teeth.
When it comes to childhood dental health, most parents are concerned about the effects of certain dental activities. For instance, one of the most worrisome activities is allowing your child to use mouthwash. If you are at a point where you are thinking of allowing your child to use mouthwash, below is everything you need to know to ensure that you are making the right decision. (more…)

Even for adults, flossing on a daily basis can be difficult. When it comes down to it, most floss irregularly, leading to numerous dental health issues. Proper dental hygiene begins at an early age and as a parent, you should do everything necessary to teach your child of the importance of brushing and flossing.
If you are currently struggling to get your child to floss, below are five reasons as to why you should maintain a proper flossing regimen. By reflecting upon the advantages and implementing a routine, your child will be much better off. (more…)

Some people think their child is too young to go to the dentist. Or, they think that the baby teeth won’t need a filling because they are just going to fall out. Both thought patterns are wrong. A cavity that is let go can go further down and damage the bone. The jawline is important for holding the permanent tooth when it comes in. First, it’s not your fault, and you were not a bad parent because your child got a cavity. Second, it’s probably not even your child’s fault. Sometimes cavities just happen even though you brush and floss your child’s teeth regularly.  (more…)

There is a lot of information available through various news sources when it comes to eating healthy. Unfortunately, sometimes that information is not presented in the correct fashion. As a direct result, many people got the idea in their heads that it is perfectly acceptable to consume sugary beverages, such as diet soda and juice, without it causing any detrimental effects to their overall health. This cannot be further from the truth. In more recent years, it has become obvious what these types of drinks can actually do to a person’s body. (more…)

Just like adults, children can also suffer from gastroesophageal reflux disease. However, different from the type of acid reflux that happens in adults, a child’s condition is more likely to be misdiagnosed as colic. With 20 percent of children suffering from GERD, it is important to understand the disease, its symptoms, and how you can help your child overcome the problem. Failure to treat GERD early on can lead to respiratory and other complications later in life. (more…)

Both adults and children love sweets, but it is well recognized that a diet heavy in sugar is bad for both general health and dental health. When it comes to children, most parents worry that they are feeding their kids too much sugar. While your child should have some sugar intake, overloading can lead to health problems, cavities, and hyperactivity. Instead of providing your child with an unhealthy diet, the best thing to do is to make sure you are giving your child the right serving of sugar. (more…)

Even for adults, visiting the dentist can be a scary and uneasy experience. If you’ve got little ones in tow though, you can certainly expect that their impression of the dentist is much worse than yours or any other adults. Instead of making dental visits difficult for everyone, there are a few easy methods that you can implement to ensure that your child becomes much more comfortable with getting dental care. By preparing your child for the dentist, you’ll never need to worry about a stressful and difficult dental visit with your child again. (more…)

Among children and adults, one of the most problematic and wide-ranging dental problem is cavities. Cavities occur because there is a build-up of plaque, tartar, and bacteria in the mouth that has settled into the tooth and worked its way in through the tooth’s surface. Treatment for cavities is not only time consuming, but it can be expensive and unpleasant for most people – especially children. Rather than get to the situation where your child needs treatment for cavities and other dental problems, you should encourage positive dental habits. While it may seem impossible, there are certainly a few steps that you can take to reach this goal. (more…)

Understanding the Causes of Cavities

First, in order to understand how to prevent cavities you should understand what causes cavities. Cavities are caused by a byproduct of bacteria, acid. Your mouth and toothbrush are full of bacteria. Once the bacteria produces acid it begins to erode tooth enamel, thus creating a cavity. By having a better understanding of what causes cavities you will be able to better safeguard your teeth from the destruction that cavities can cause. Your teeth need to have routine maintenance done in order to prevent cavities. (more…)

The image of a baby or toddler contentedly sucking on a thumb is a common one. You might think it’s cute, a sweet picture of childhood innocence. You might think it’s a strange behavior and wonder why they do it. You might wonder if it’s beneficial to the children or damaging. You might wonder at what age digit sucking is no longer within the realm of normal, appropriate behavior. All of these questions about digit sucking are answered below. (more…)