Newport Beach Dental Blog

The American Association of Orthodontics recommends that parents have their children see an orthodontist for the first time at around age 7. Although this age is too soon to begin many treatments, this first visit occurs at a good point in your child’s development, and allows your family several benefits.

1. Discuss Concerns

As a parent, you know your child better than anyone else. Over the years, you may have noticed things about your child’s teeth or mouth that you can ...

What counts as a dental emergency and how should you handle it as a parent? It’s stressful to have to make such a call for your child in the moment. This guide can help you make an informed decision and give you an idea of what to expect before it happens.

Always keep your dentist’s emergency information easily accessible, so you can contact him or her quickly in case of emergency.

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Sometimes, even if your whole family is diligent about good oral hygiene, children do get cavities. Once a cavity has formed, it is important to treat it as soon as possible.

Cavity Treatments

Treating a cavity early on can halt further tooth decay and prevent additional cavities. There are several different options for treating cavities in children, and parents should be actively involved in helping to making those decisions with the dentist’s recommendations.

Fillings

Fillings are most ...

Cavities develop when sugars and starches feed bacteria in the mouth and produce acid to erode important tooth enamel. Once a cavity forms, it is permanent damage that must be repaired with a filling from a dentist.

By strengthening and cleaning teeth before decay can occur, you can often avoid cavities altogether. Cleaning and strengthening teeth are some of the best practices to follow for preventing cavities in children.

1. Use Fluoride

Fluoride is a mineral that stalls tooth ...

Teeth can only be as clean as the tool that is used to brush them. Make sure to share with your children the importance of cleaning, storing, and keeping your toothbrush in good repair.

Every time a toothbrush is placed inside a mouth it becomes contaminated with oral microbial organisms. Use these tips to show your children how to keep their toothbrushes as clean as possible.

1. No Sharing.

Not even family members should share a toothbrush, ...

Ever wonder which foods have the biggest impact on you and your child’s teeth each day? Here are some of the foods that if allowed to sit on teeth for hours at a time can contribute to tooth decay.

Of course, your kiddos can and will still enjoy many of these foods! Just take care to limit the amount of time the food is left on their teeth, and make sure they brush or, at least, rinse ...

While parents should always be taking care of their child’s baby teeth, sometimes small steps are the best way to ramp up to full care. As your little one sprouts more and more tiny teeth, here are some ways to begin investing more time and care into your child’s teeth.

Starting to Use Toothpaste

Experts now recommend that parents use a small amount of children’s toothpaste with fluoride on the child’s teeth as soon as they start ...

Even though they won’t be around forever, little teeth are important too. Start taking care of your baby’s teeth early on and set him or her up for a healthy mouth.

Here are the top baby teeth care tips you should remember as a new parent:

1. Wipe Toothless Gums

Even before your baby gets his or her first tooth, use a soft cloth or rubber finger cover to wipe their gums. This wipes away excess food and gets ...