When Should I Change My Child's Toothbrush?

Sterilizing your toothbrush routinely and changing it when it is necessary is crucial to practicing a good oral hygiene. Our children may not realize the harmful effects of poorly kept toothbrushes, so it is necessary for us parents to manage their hygiene equipment ourselves.

Know When to Change Toothbrushes

As parents, we must educate ourselves regarding professional dental recommendations for oral care and toothbrush replacement. According to the American Dental Association, a toothbrush’s maximum use should not extend beyond three months, i.e., it should be replaced every 3 months. However, this recommendation is mostly concerned with the toothbrush’s brushing quality reducing with time than the building up of bacteria in the toothbrush. Toothbrush bristles wear out over a period of 3 months, which reduces its strength to properly remove plaque from our teeth. With children, our concern shouldn’t only be about a toothbrush’s wear and tear but also about its proper cleaning over shorter periods of time. One of the reasons why children’s toothbrushes require replacement more often is because their brushing practice may be more rough and improper than ours, which can cause the toothbrush bristles to spout out. The quality of our brushing is, therefore, one of the main factors that determines the right time to replace our toothbrushes.

With children, bacteria and germs can collect on the head of their toothbrush, accumulating to harmful levels, due to an improper or a lack of cleaning. This can be prevented in the following ways:

- Rinse the toothbrush vehemently under the hot water after brushing.

- Store it in a position that is upright so that it easily dries out before being used again.

- Store toothbrushes at a distance from one another, so that they don’t come into contact.

- For meticulous germ protection soak toothbrushes in mouthwash or in a diluted solution of hydrogen peroxide (using a 50:50 ratio of water and antiseptic).

- Sterilize the toothbrushes in boiling water.

- Ditch the toothbrush after the child has been sick with flu or any illnesses.

Essentially, bacteria can remain thriving in the bristles and can potentially re-infect children. If replacement isn’t possible at the time, we should make sure the toothbrush is thoroughly cleaned and sterilized before being used again. We should get into the habit of changing toothbrushes for everyone in the family several times. The frequency of changing depends on the factors discussed above, but a general recommendation for adults doesn’t extend beyond 3 months.

You can schedule routine dental checkups to ensure there isn’t any decay occurring in your children’s oral health. Adelberg Montalvan Pediatric Dental is a pediatric care provider for children. We take pride in our highly trained and experienced services. Contact us today!

What's The Best Child Toothpaste?

In order for children to have good oral health, they must regularly visit the dentist. Choosing the right toothpaste is also important. Many companies try to reach parents by promoting their different features. With so many companies on the market, choosing the right toothpaste for their children can be a stressful experience for parents at times. Here is a look at the top children's toothpaste options available on the market.

Weleda Mint Children's Toothpaste

Founded in Switzerland during the 1920s, Weleda uses only natural and organic ingredients. The ingredients are often grown in different gardens, or they are purchased from biodynamic and organic farms. The ingredients help provide a soothing touch to the teeth and gums.

Colgate Children's 2 In 1 Toothpaste

Colgate provides popular flavors that children enjoy, such as strawberry and watermelon. Colgate uses a liquid gel formula, and provides multiple benefits as a toothpaste as well as a mouthwash that helps prevent children from getting cavities. In addition to the toothpaste, Colgate normally provides a toothbrush, which creates an appealing package for families.

Tom's Of Maine

Tom's of Maine is an anticavity toothpaste that helps defend against acids and bacteria. Children are enamored with the taste, as Tom's of Maine contains real fruit juice. Tom's of Maine does not use any dyes or preservatives.

Crest Pro Health

Crest Pro Health provides cavity protection as children start to develop their permanent teeth. Crest Pro Health also uses a mild gel formula to defend against cavities. Crest Pro Health also strengthens enamel, and comes with a timer app so that children are brushing for the appropriate amount of minutes.

AloeDent

AloeDent uses aloe vera to help soothe the gums and tea tree oil to help fight bacteria. The silica helps children develop naturally strong, white teeth.

Green People

Green People uses organic products to make their toothpaste. The ingredients help create a nice taste that will appeal to children. Green People regularly test their toothpaste to make sure that it's safe.

Aquafresh

Aquafresh has a mild flavor that helps children strengthen their teeth. Any damaged teeth are cleaned, and Aquafresh has fluoride to ensure that children will not develop cavities.

For more information about the top toothpaste options currently available for children, contact Adelberg Montalvan Pediatric Dental.

Why Primary Teeth Are Important

Primary teeth play a number of roles, thus they affect many major developments in a child’s life. Primary teeth, also known as baby teeth, are necessary for the purpose of proper chewing, and eating. They help in the proper development of jawbones and muscles. In addition, they serve as space holders for permanent teeth – this is crucial for the proper alignment of permanent teeth. Crooked or crowded teeth can make it difficult for some children to smile properly, therefore, maintaining proper oral hygiene in toddlers is very important.

Anatomy of Baby Teeth

Not many parents are aware of the fact that a good dental hygiene is necessary for children because a baby’s 20 primary teeth are present within the gums at birth. It is normal for tooth eruption (teething process) to begin as early as 3 months of age. However, there’s a misconception held by many people that primary teeth aren’t as important as permanent teeth since they’re bound to fall out soon. This is an erroneous belief because primary teeth act as guides for the adult teeth to erupt into right places. Not only do they ensure proper alignment by holding space for the mature teeth but they also allow children to smile comfortably.

When baby teeth are lost through tooth decay or any other health issue due to a poor hygiene, there are chances that adult teeth will come in crooked or appear very misaligned. When a baby tooth is lost prematurely, the permanent teeth can move or drift into the empty space, affecting the teeth arrangement of the incoming teeth. This is why we must make sure we work on our children’s oral health from infancy.

It’s crucial for us to monitor the health of our children. You can learn more about how to adequately provide a proper dental hygiene to your children by contacting the professionals at Adelberg Montalvan Pediatric Dental. Schedule an appointment with our highly-trained, board-certified care providers today!

How Does A Pacifier Affect My Child's Incoming Teeth?

Pacifiers and bottles are an important and necessary part of most children’s infancy in many countries around the world, but there are certain dangers that stem from overuse. The older the child gets, the greater the risk of them harming their incoming teeth becomes from pacifier habits. Their dental development is likely to suffer in cases where the use of pacifier is prolonged, negatively impacting the child’s incoming teeth.

Effects Of A Pacifier

There is a right time to withdraw the pacifier for good to save our children’s oral health from suffering. Even if we’re a little late in breaking this habit, we shouldn’t fret because we still have time to help them quit before the age of 2. According to the Academy of General Dentistry, it is crucial for our children to quit pacifiers and thumb sucking before, at least, the age of 4. We must allow the body to fix any damages incurred from persistent sucking before their growing teeth appear. The long term use of pacifiers affects the alignment of the teeth in the following ways:

The front teeth’s movement is affected and caused to become crooked resulting in protrusive upper front teeth.

The back and front teeth appear tipped.

The front teeth may not meet the bottom teeth when the mouth is closed, causing bite problems.

Crossbite is also likely to occur, which is a misalignment of the teeth in which a tooth’s position is more buccal or lingual, meaning the tooth or teeth are closer to the tongue or cheek.

Breaking the Habit

Most children may stop thumb sucking or taking pacifiers on their own, but this may not be the case with everyone. To effectively bring an end to this habit, you can try some of these tips:

Dip the pacifier in vinegar before giving it to the child. This way, the child will eventually cease wanting pacifiers.

Minimize the duration of pacifier sucking by distracting the child to other things. When a child is in his toddler years, he spends more time exploring things and his habit of pacifier sucking can gradually subside.

Discourage the habit by praising and rewarding the child whenever he abstains from taking a pacifier.

If you haven’t been able to curb these habits in time and our children’s teeth have been affected, you can consult the experts at Adelberg Montalvan Pediatric Dental to offer superior children dental services and support for a future of great oral health!

Teething Stages

Your child is teething and you're looking for answers on what to expect. You've come to the right place, At Adelberg Montalvan Pediatric Dental, we want to ease the pain that comes along with teething and help give you the right information.

5 Stages Of Teething

Stage 1 (0-6 months): All 20 primary teeth are there beneath your little ones' gums.

- These are sometimes called "milk teeth" due to the diet.

Stage 2 (6-8 months): The first four teeth emerge. These will be the upper and lower incisors.

- Give your baby something appropriate to chew on to ease the pain. Be aware of extra drool.

Stage 3 (10-14 months): The other incisors and first molars erupt.

- Your little one will be uncomfortable and cranky. Be prepared for changes in sleep patterns. Consult with a pediatrician if you're considering over-the-counter pain medications.

Stage 4 (16-22 months): This is when the canines (between the incisors and molars) erupt.

- Use the comfort ideas from the previous two stages.

Stage 5 (25-33 months): This is the big one, literally. This is when the second molars, the biggest teeth, erupt.

- This will not be pleasant for your little one, and the things that worked previously may not help anymore.

Tips For Soothing Teething Pains

- Hard rubber teething ring - may be chilled

- Clean, damp washcloth to suck on - may be chilled

- Keep a clean, dry bib to deal with drool and prevent rashes or irritation

- If on solid foods, let your little one chew on safe, hard vegetables like a peeled cucumber bit. Be watchful for choking hazards and allergies though.

- Over-the-counter pain remedies may be appropriate, but always consult with your child's pediatrician for what is safe and what the proper dosage is.

If you feel you're out of soothing ideas or have more questions about teething, contact us. We'll be glad to make recommendations and answer all questions! As you and your child grow through this teething process, it is important to remember that there are trained, friendly professionals who are here to guide you.

When Should I Have Checkups For My Child?

Good dental health for children is something parents must begin to work on while they are infants. As soon as a child begins to get teeth, they should begin getting regular check-ups. A pediatric dentist will examine the mouth of your child, looking for new teeth and signs of infection. At age 12 months, some children have 8 teeth and others have none, but this is still a good time to schedule your child's first dental check-up.

At Adelberg Montalvan Pediatric Dental we understand the importance of identifying and addressing dental problems as early as possible. At your baby's first check-up, we will perform a thorough examination to see if the gums are red, swollen, or tender because of new teeth erupting or signs of any dental issues. We can suggest ways to soothe your child's aching gums and teach parents safe, painless techniques for cleaning children's first teeth as they begin to appear. We recommend children have at least one dental check-up every 6 months to a year beginning at age one.

We specialize in providing children with excellent dental care. We will work with parents to ensure their children learn good dental habits that will benefit them for a lifetime. We teach simple techniques to ensure children have clean, healthy teeth and gums. We are board certified pediatric dentistry and orthodontics specialists. We provide our young patients with the superior care they need to build a solid dental health foundation. We help them to understand taking care of their teeth now will prevent pain and pay dividends for years to come.

Our staff is warm, friendly, and welcoming. We know exactly what to do to make children feel comfortable. Once we get them to relax, we ensure their teeth and gums are healthy and teach them some simple things they can do to keep their teeth looking, functioning, and feeling great. If we see a problem with your children's teeth or gums, we identify the cause and create a comprehensive treatment plan to address it. This helps to eliminate problems before they negatively impact the child's smile, ability to eat comfortably, and their confidence.

If you have further questions pediatric dentistry, contact us!

How Do Fillings Work?

Dental decay can be unsightly and painful in most instances. It is the sugar in foods that you eat collaborating with the bacteria in plaque in order to produce an acid that can begin to erode and destroy the enamel. The body can give its best attempt to neutralize such activity, but this usually takes about an hour during which the harm might be done. Thankfully, the dental fillings are able to help restore much of this if delivered in time, but how do these fillings work?

Dental decay can be unsightly and painful in most instances. It is the sugar in foods that you eat collaborating with the bacteria in plaque in order to produce an acid that can begin to erode and destroy the enamel. The body can give its best attempt to neutralize such activity, but this usually takes about an hour during which the harm might be done. Thankfully, dental fillings are able to help restore much of this if delivered in time, but how do these fillings work?

Preparing for A Dental Filling

The precursor to the actual placement of the dental filling is the preparation process that the dentist starts by cutting the tooth using a rotary handpiece and dental burrs.This a great tool for working on tooth enamel because the cutting edges are so small that if the tool accidentally touches the soft tissue of the mouth, it will not cause harm. Those tissues will flex out of the way while the harder enamel cannot do so and gets cut to the desired level.

The Filling Material

This preparation will continue until the unsound parts of the tooth are removed as well as all lingering dental decay. At the same time, the dental worker will make space for the filling material to be laid.There is a myriad of filling materials that might be used in order to reconstruct and reinforce the tooth after this space has been made.These include things such as amalgam because of its low cost, durability, and strength that makes it one of the more common types of fillings. But, there are alternatives like gold, porcelain, composites, and more that might be used depending on the type and extent of the preparation.

Overall, the mouth is a resilient place, and the teeth can be kept in good functional and aesthetic condition if treated in time. We are professionals at preparing for and placing fillings so that they will work effectively. Contact us today!

Common Child Dental Problems

When it comes to children, most teeth problems are common and not very serious. This is the good news, but if there is a problem, that most likely means you need to upgrade your child’s oral health. Children are more likely to suffer from poor dental development mainly because of their diet. Consuming a lot of sugary stuff without properly brushing teeth leads to a number of problems discussed below:

Tooth Decay

In order to understand tooth decay, we need to understand the importance of baby teeth. Baby teeth are space holders that guide the eruption of permanent teeth. They have multiple purposes and ensure jaw development. When tooth decay occurs, baby teeth can no longer perform their functions and can cause discomfort. The plaque can damage the teeth forming underneath if not properly cleaned. A badly decayed tooth can also lead to an abscess forming that can spread and infect the mouth altogether.

Sensitive Teeth

Dental issues can also cause teeth sensitivity. Brushing aggressively or using a hard brush can erode tooth enamel. Tooth erosion can also result from highly acidic foods and beverages. When the dentin is exposed, hot and cold beverages can irritate sensitive teeth by causing discomfort near the nerve endings. Special toothpastes formulated to desensitize teeth can help overcome or alleviate tooth sensitivity.

Gum Disease

There are gum conditions in which a poor oral hygiene plays a role in inflaming the gum tissue. The accumulation of plague damages the bone tissue overtime. During the early stages of gingivitis, the gums tend to bleed easily. They remain red and swollen, and release an odor in the mouth. This disease can eventually culminate in tooth loss. However, this disease is highly preventable by maintaining a good oral hygiene.

Luckily, many orthodontic problems are not beyond treatment. Aside from being preventable they’re also curable when the right steps are taken. Consult one of our professionals at Adelberg Montalvan Pediatric Dental. Contact us to make an appointment today!