Pediatric Dental Center Blog

Moms, dads or caregivers bringing your children to our office for dental appointments: Due to HIPAA regulations, and for the most up-to-date information about your children, it s required that the patient forms be filled out prior to the appointment time. To fill out the form when it is most convenient time for you, please download the form from Pediatric Dental Center s website at http://www.pediatricdentalcenter.com/pdfFiles/NewPatientPaperwork.pdf . This way you can fill out the form...

When will my Baby s Teeth Erupt, and how should I take care of these primary teeth? Parents wondering how many teeth their children should have is a common question received at Pediatric Dental Center. We are going to fill-in those missing gaps, and answer your “toothy” questions. Newborns are not born with pearly white smiles. When they start to smile, they have a very gummy grin. The crowns of the 20 primary teeth are...

What are dental sealants? A sealant is a clear or shaded plastic material that is applied to the chewing surfaces (grooves) of the back teeth also called molars. Sealants are important and recommended to avoid tooth decay because the sealant forms a protective shield over the enamel of the tooth. Why are sealants recommended? Because the chewing surfaces of molars include grooves and pits, they can be hard to clean. That s because the bristles...

Important Tuesday Tip: Diet is one of the main risk factors for cavities, so we recommend the following nutritional advice: Help your child develop good eating habits. Limit snacking between meals and have a 5-10 minute time limit. Save sugary sweet treats for mealtime when the mouth creates more saliva to help rinse away food particles. To learn more about how diet is a risk factor for cavities, visit our blog post about how nutrition...

Moms may want to be warned that kissing their baby on the lips may increase their baby s chances of developing cavities. Moms who share food, drinks, cups and utensils with her baby, may also increase the baby s chances of developing cavities. That s because bacteria from the mother s mouth called mutans streptococci (MS), is considered to be the principal indicator of bacterial organisms responsible for dental caries. This is according to clinical...

August is "Kids Eat Right Month," sponsored by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. This is an important topic since back-to-school lunches will be packed and easy after school snacks will be purchased. While it's important to reach for healthy snacks like fruits and vegetables for the body's health, it is just as important for dental health. Children should eat a lunch that includes fruits, vegetables, low-fat protein and whole grains. Encourage your children to...

Parents are often surprised when their babies are diagnosed with dental decay. They are surprised because their babies haven t eaten candy or other sugary treats yet. So why do their infants or young children already have dental decay? Tooth decay can begin as soon as teeth start coming in. This is because their teeth have been in continual contact with sugary liquids for extended periods of time. These liquids include fruit juices, milk, soda...