Posted on January 1, 2024

The teenage years bring with them greater independence and with that independence comes more choices to be made. Friends begin to exert a greater influence over diet and lifestyle habits than parents at this age. 

Because teens still need to follow good oral health habits, follow these tips to help preserve healthy smiles during this transformative time. 

Encourage Healthy Eating 

Teens are always on the go, and may rely on energy drinks, fast food, and nutrition bars to get through the day. Most of these are loaded with sugar, carbs and acids, which can wreak havoc on their dental health. 

● Keep cheese sticks, fruit, and raw veggies on hand for healthy snacks

● Stock the fridge with water, coconut water, and no-sugar teas 

● Trade traditional gum and candy for those made with tooth-friendly xylitol or other sugar-free sweeteners 

You can’t always make your teen follow a perfect diet, but having healthy choices at the ready can help make it easy. 

Encourage Mouthguard Use 

If your teenager plays football, soccer, lacrosse or another contact sport, insist that they wear a mouthguard to protect their teeth. Mouthguards can be custom fitted by a dentist or store-bought. Some fit over orthodontic braces. 

A mouth protector should be rinsed after each use, disinfected regularly, and stored in a ventilated container. 

Use Caution with Braces 

If your teen has braces, they must exercise great oral care. Make sure to keep new toothbrushes or brush heads, plus floss, and a floss threader, handy. 

Also, be mindful of what they eat: no sticky or crunchy foods and no chewing gum. For healthy prepared snacks any time, cut fruit into bite-sized pieces, add a little lemon juice or pectin to keep them longer, and store portions in sandwich bags. 

Avoid Oral Piercings 

The popularity of tongue and lip piercings comes and goes, but your teen should know that the metal in piercings can cause tooth damage and mouth infections. Tongue piercings, in particular, can easily chip teeth. 

Tooth fractures may need filings, or, if they are deeper, require a tooth extraction or root canal. Make Good Oral Health Easy 

Reward regular brushing and proper flossing, and keep extra kits in your kid’s gym bag, the car, and in their school locker for on-the-go care. Encourage good teeth-cleaning habits after meals, or suggest swishing and rinsing until there is an opportunity to brush. 

Like adults, teens need to visit their dentist at least twice a year. Adolescents and teens tend to be self-conscious; having an attractive smile and sweet breath are good motivators for proper oral hygiene.

We can work with your busy teen’s schedule, contact us today to schedule their next appointment.

Posted on December 15, 2023

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say that about one in five children are currently taking prescription medications and more than half of them take vitamins or other dietary supplements. 

Even though they are used as prescribed, your child may experience side effects from the medication that can impact their oral health. Always let us know what medicines or supplements your child is taking and if there have been any changes since your last visit. 

There are some really common side effects from medications that can impact your child’s oral health, read below as we detail some of them and what you can do to help mitigate their impact:

Dry Mouth

Many medications, especially decongestants and some antibiotics, can temporarily reduce saliva production. A dry mouth is more likely to develop inflammation and infection, tooth decay, and other oral health problems. Drinking more water, chewing sugar-free gum, and eating crunchy foods like produce can help stimulate saliva production and keep the mouth moisturized.

Fungal Infection

Oral Candidiasis, a fungal infection that can affect children who use inhalers for breathing conditions like asthma (these include clotrimazole – Mycelex and fluconazole Diflucan). If your child uses an inhaler regularly, encourage them to rinse their mouth thoroughly with water after each use.

Abnormal Bleeding

Thinning of the blood and a reduction in clotting might accompany the use of some medications. As you can imagine, this might cause problems with excessive bleeding during any oral surgery or treatments for periodontal disease. Be sure to keep your dentist informed if your child is taking any medications or supplements before scheduling any treatment.

Gum Overgrowth

Drug-induced gingival hyperplasia, or gum overgrowth caused by mediation, is rare in children. It is associated with taking the anticonvulsant phenytoin, the antibiotic cyclosporine, and nifedipine, which is used to control blood pressure in kids who have undergone liver transplants. 

Soft Tissue Reactions

Inflammation, oral sores, or discoloration of the soft tissues can occur as a side effect of some medications. We may be able to prescribe a special oral hygiene regimen that can alleviate their discomfort if your child experiences any of these reactions.

Tooth Decay

While tooth decay is not necessarily a direct side effect of medication, several types of medicine use sugar to improve their flavor, especially those in liquid, chewable, or lozenge form. When taken over a period of time, the sugars left on the teeth can make the development of tooth decay more likely. Choose sugar-free medications; take the medication with meals, if possible; or have your child rinse with water after medicating and wait 30 minutes before brushing.

If your child is experiencing any of these side effects, or if you have questions about any medications your child is taking, contact our office today and schedule a consultation.

Posted on October 1, 2023

Whether you breastfeed or bottle feed, at some point you will want your baby to start drinking from a cup. It is not only healthy for your child’s overall development; it is better for their teeth.  

While weaning can be a gradual process, the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests putting the bottle away for good by age 18 months. 

The Danger of Baby Bottles

Prolonged bottle-drinking can be harmful to your child’s oral health in two ways: First, long-term sucking can cause your child’s palate to narrow, increasing the likelihood they will require orthodontic treatment later on; second, bottles expose a baby’s teeth to sweet liquids over an extended period. Formula, cow’s milk, and juice contain sugars that increase the risk of tooth decay. 

To help protect your child’s teeth, encourage them to start drinking from a cup by their first birthday. Additionally, you should begin wiping your baby’s first teeth with a damp gauze or washcloth, graduating to a finger brush or baby toothbrush and a rice-sized smear of toothpaste. 

The Best Types of Sippy Cups

Look for a cup with a simple spout rather than a “no spill” spout. Those advertised as “no spill” contain a special valve beneath the spout. While it protects against spilling, it also prevents easy sipping. Instead, these cups require your child to suck hard on the spout, essentially replacing one type of nipple with another. This can slow your child’s sippy cup training. 

If spills are a concern, look for a cup with a weighted base that helps keep it upright. 

Keep the Bottle to Cup Transition Gradual

Be patient as you phase out the bottle in favor of the cup. Once your child can use the cup, limit the bottle to plain water; this makes the bottle less desirable. Provide the bottle less often over time to allow your child time to adjust. Once your child has mastered training cups, start offering a small plastic cup without a lid and phase out the training cup.

Breastfeeding moms can skip the bottle phase altogether and decide how often they want to nurse in tandem with the sippy cup.

Decisions about weaning can be challenging, as every baby is different. Keep in mind, however, that everyone learns to drink from a cup eventually. For more information about bottle to cup transitions or to schedule a pediatric dental appointment for your toddler, contact Lewiston Kids Dentistry.

Posted on September 15, 2023

For some parents, it can be challenging to get kids to practice at-home oral care unsupervised. However, the long-term benefits of an early start are worth the effort. Here are some tips to help you make oral health a fun part of your kid’s daily routine.

1. Let Them Choose Their Own Supplies

Let your child pick out their own toothbrush. This will help them take ownership in their oral care routine. There are many toothpaste options for children, too. Let them choose their own with guidance from you and our pediatric dentist. 

2. Go High-Tech

Use technology to your advantage: Have them choose an app that prompts them to brush for two minutes to music or a video. 

3. Brush and Floss Together

Your child will be much more excited about routine care if it’s framed as a group activity. Brush your teeth next to your child. If you have more than one child, have them brush together, ideally with you. A family routine makes the time more enjoyable and helps your child accept oral hygiene as a normal part of life.

4. Educate and Empower

It’s important that your child understands why practicing good oral hygiene is so important. Without using undue scare tactics, teach them about the consequences of neglecting oral health. We, as your pediatric dentist, can also show them the best ways to brush and floss and we strive to make every dental visit enjoyable. 

5. Reward Good Behavior

A little incentive can go a long way. When trying to coax a child to floss and brush on their own, it might be helpful to implement a simple reward system. For example, your child could track their own brushing on a calendar or reward app and trade in a good week for a prize or privilege.

There are a number of strategies you can use to make brushing a fun part of your child’s day, rather than a chore to be endured. You know your child better than anyone, so feel free to experiment and share them with us so we can pass them along to other parents.

Regular professional cleanings and examinations are essential to an effective oral hygiene routine. Contact our pediatric dental team to schedule your child’s next appointment.