Work With Your Pediatric Dentist To Monitor Wisdom Teeth

Even if your son or daughter practices proper dental hygiene and has no known problems, it’s important to schedule regular exams at Bay Area Kids Dentist. One reason for this is so we can keep an eye on wisdom teeth.

Wisdom teeth usually come in during the late teens or early twenties. If one but is blocked by the adjacent tooth, it becomes impacted.

This can cause a variety of issues:

• It may become inflamed
• It may become painful
• It may trap particles of food that lead to tooth decay or gum disease

It’s difficult to clean partially-erupted wisdom teeth. Since they have a high risk of tooth decay, we pay special attention to them.

At Bay Area Kids Dentist, wisdom teeth are one of our specialties. Parents throughout Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, and Morgan Hill trust our pediatric dentistry. Call for an appointment today!

Help For Kids With Bite Problems

When the upper and lower jaw are not the same size, it often creates bite problems. At Bay Area Kids Dentist, we can help.

The common issues include:

Overbites and Underbites

When the lower jaw is smaller than the upper jaw, it is called an overbite. When the reverse is true, it is called an underbite.

Crossbites

Another related abnormality is called a crossbite. Crossbites occur when lower teeth are in the wrong position. They may be incorrectly positioned sideways, forward or backward.

Malocclusion (literally ‘bad bite’) is the term used for all kinds of bite problems including overbites, underbites and crossbites.

Jaw Alignment Problems

Jaw alignment issues can cause a range of issues for children. They can get in the way of proper chewing and swallowing. Teeth can shift around in the mouth, causing pain and affecting speech.

Gum disease and tooth decay are more difficult to prevent because oral hygiene is a challenge. TMJ disorder over time. Distorted facial shape and unattractive teeth are often the most noticeable and troubling concerns for little ones affected.

At Bay Area Kids Dentist, we offer complete orthodontic care that improves bites. Parents all over Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, and Morgan Hill trust their children to our early dental care. Call for an appointment today!

Protect Young Smiles For Active Kids

Do you have a son or daughter who plays youth sports? Soccer, baseball, football, and basketball can be very perilous for your child’s teeth. Here’s a reminder about protective mouth guards from Bay Area Kids Dentist.

Football is a rugged contact sport, yet there is a relatively low rate of tooth injuries that occur in football as compared to other contact sports. Why? Football players are obligated to wear a mouthguard and a helmet.

If your child participates in a contact sport, we recommend that you purchase an appropriately-sized mouth guard and make sure they wear it. They are available at most athletic supply stores.

Even those sports considered non-contact, like basketball, carry the risk of a mouth injury. A mouthguard should be considered basic gear for anyone playing sports, from kids to grownups.

At Bay Area Kids Dentist, we emphasize preventive dentistry to identify problems before they get serious. Parents from all over Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, and Morgan Hill bring their kids to us for early dental care. Call for an appointment today!

Super Smiles For Life

Teeth are meant to last a lifetime, and good dental health begins with pediatric dentistry from Bay Area Kids Dentist.

We recommend a child’s first dental visit be early in life: as soon as the first tooth comes in, or by the first birthday. An early check is the first step in preventing troubles and setting the stage for lifelong dental health.

As children begin this lifelong journey, we start keeping meticulous records of their dental health, including the development of their jaws. This usually includes dental x-rays. We also share information with parents.

The condition of a child’s teeth can change fairly quickly. A slight change in diet or behavior, like thumb sucking, may be noticeable after just six months. Such issues can make the child vulnerable to tooth decay or jaw development problems. The sooner we can identify them, the better.

Lots of parents wait too long to start bringing their children in for a checkup. This can have serious consequences. Kids should see the dentist twice a year, just like their parents should.

At Bay Area Kids Dentist, our pediatric dentistry can identify problems before they get serious. Parents from all over Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, and Morgan Hill bring their kids to us for early dental care. Call for an appointment today!

How Long Can You Use a Toothbrush?

Have you replaced your child’s toothbrush lately? At Bay Area Kids Dentist we recommend a new toothbrush every three months (that goes for kids and grownups, alike).

Too many people wait too long to get a new toothbrush, and that can be bad for dental health. It’s one of the reasons why most dentists hand out free ones at every checkup.

Of course, you don’t need to mark your calendar or set up a reminder on your smartphone. How often you replace your child’s toothbrush (or yours) depends on how often it gets used. We recommend, strongly, that children brush their teeth at least twice a day. (When they’re still little, of course, it’s up to you to do it for them.)

Why So Often?

A toothbrush can become familiar, like a comfy pair of shoes. Sometimes the idea of tossing out the old one and replacing it isn’t very appealing. A youngster may get attached to a toothbrush if it has a favorite cartoon character on the handle. Fortunately, it’s easy to find an identical, but new, replacement.

After about three months of use, toothbrush bristles are getting bent and frayed. There is probably some gunk – dried toothpaste foam – starting to build up, too. Yuk. So toss that old brush, and get a fresh one!

What kind of brush should you be using? There are so many choices. The most important thing is to choose a brush with soft bristles. They are gentle on the gums, but still effective in brushing away plaque.

At Bay Area Kids Dentist we want all our young patients to enjoy good dental health: now, and for a lifetime!  Our early dental care maintains healthy teeth and identifies any problems before they get serious. We specialize in pediatric dentistry and orthodontics, and have offices in Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, and Morgan Hill. Schedule your child’s next checkup with us today!

Protect Young Smiles From Childhood Tooth Decay

We get it. Parents have a lot to worry about when it comes to their child’s health and safety. Committing to daily oral hygiene will prevent the pain, inconvenience, and expense of dealing with tooth decay in children. At Bay Area Kids Dentist, we can help.

Even though most moms and dads know the basics of children’s dental care, Santa Clara pediatric dentists continue to see cavities in young children.

Set An Example

It’s critical to make a commitment to proper oral hygiene for yourself. If you have poor oral hygiene, now is the time to change your ways so you can set an example for your child. You will both be better off.

Start (Very) Early

Caring for your infant’s teeth should start even before they erupt. To prevent bacteria growth, parents should wipe their baby’s gums with a wet washcloth after feedings.

Make The Crib A Bottle-Free Zone

Children should never be put to bed with a bottle. The sugars in milk or juice that stay on teeth for hours can damage the enamel. When your little one gets his first tooth, it is time to brush.

Fluoride Warning

Most pre-teens ingest toothpaste, so use only a tiny dab of non-fluoride paste until the child turns two. If a child swallows too much fluoride, it can stain teeth.

Go Over Teeth Again After Child Brushes

When a child is old enough to brush his own teeth, instruct them to brush gently but thoroughly for at least two minutes (or longer until they get the hang of it). You can set a timer so your child understands how long they should keep at it.

For young children, it is important that an adult goes over them after the child finishes. Many little ones thoroughly clean the chewing surfaces but fail to clean the backsides and gumline.

Schedule Snacks

Monitor your child’s meals and snacks. Scheduling snacks and beverages (not including water) to set times during the day can also protect against cavities.

At Bay Area Kids Dentist we emphasize preventive dentistry, to help keep young teeth cavity-free. We have offices in Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, and Morgan Hill, where parents bring their kids for our pediatric dentistry. Please call us to schedule an appointment today!