We love pearly whites here at Innovative Pediatric Dentistry. Though, who doesn’t? Teeth are fascinating! After all, they help us chew, speak and, of course, smile. Being a Naperville dentist for kids, we’re experts on all things dental, which is why we thought we’d share some fun and interesting facts about kids’ teeth that you may not have known before.
Flossing once daily and brushing twice a day are super important habits for warding off childhood tooth decay and gum disease. Most parents have a pretty good idea about general oral hygiene. Yet, where we get a lot of questions at our Naperville kids’ dentistry practice is surrounding toothpaste. Is fluoride safe for babies? When is it okay to start using toothpaste for kids? Well, we’ve got all of your answers in our guide to choosing the best toothpaste for kids from infancy through the school-aged years. Read More
As a Naperville dentist for kids, a lot of parents seek us out because they’re worried about their child using a pacifier or sucking their thumb. These habits are completely normal in infants and sucking is a natural instinct. In fact, some babies even suck their fingers and thumbs in the womb! However, when oral habits, including thumb sucking and tongue thrusting, continue past the first few years of life, severe malocclusion (an improper bite) can occur. For kiddos who have a really difficult time kicking the habit, when all else fails, habit-breaking appliances may be indicated.
Preventative dentistry really is the best dentistry. By intercepting problems before they even start, you can avoid extensive, costly dental treatment for kids. One of the easiest and most effective ways to do that is with protective dental sealants. As a Naperville pediatric dentist, we recommend dental sealants for most of our patients once their first permanent molars come in because they keep their teeth strong and healthy.
If you have children, you know how difficult it can be to get them excited about taking care of their teeth. If you have kids with special needs, getting them to brush and floss every day, or visit the dentist, can feel nearly impossible. Children with cognitive, developmental, emotional, physical or medical conditions may experience heightened anxiety or discomfort when it comes to dental care (both at home and at the dentist). Handling their unique needs requires patience, understanding and compassion.
Can you believe there’s only one month left of summer? Neither can we! That’s why the team at Innovative Pediatric Dentistry is soaking up everything summer has to offer before the colder weather begins to set in, including our favorite summer foods and drinks. We’re sure your kids are enjoying all the popsicles and ice cream too.
But while we love the warmer months as much as the patients at our Naperville pediatric dentistry office, the summer season also typically means a break from routine. Maybe you let your kids stay up a little later than usual or maybe you give them the OK to have that second scoop of ice cream. While this is no big deal in moderation, many summer treats contain a lot more sugar than you might think and can be harmful for your kids’ teeth.
Can you feel it? The temperature is rising and we’re finally approaching summer. As the weather gets warmer, it also means your kids will soon be out of school. Without lessons to keep them busy, it’s important to find fun things to keep your little ones’ minds and bodies active throughout the summer.
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Often times, especially since our Naperville dentists for kids focus on prevention, we can avoid more extensive treatments like root canals on baby teeth. However, there are occasions when a primary tooth is damaged to the point that a root canal is recommended. This can be pretty surprising for parents. After all, the baby teeth are going to fall out anyway, so what’s the point in saving them? Well, those adorable little pearly whites serve a number of important purposes, including helping with chewing and speaking and saving room for the permanent teeth to erupt properly. That’s why if it isn’t close to the time when the tooth would fall out naturally, it can be beneficial to try and save it and opt for a baby root canal over an extraction.
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