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The Tooth Fairy Tradition

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The Tooth Fairy Tradition

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You might be surprised to learn that every known culture has a tradition for disposing of children’s teeth, and the tooth fairy as we know her in America is only one of many. In many countries, baby teeth are actually given to a mouse or rat as a sacrifice with the hope that the child’s permanent teeth will grow to be as strong as a rodent’s. The fairies of European folklore and the fairies featured in many Disney films aided in the creation of today’s gift-bearing tooth fairy, who is only a very recent American tradition.

So what about the practice of placing teeth under the pillow? It is widely believed that this tradition comes from the European custom of burying baby teeth in the ground when they fall out to ensure the adult tooth grows in.

So what can you do as a parent to make this tradition special and unique to your family? We have a few ideas!

  1. Have the Tooth Fairy leave your child a special note or a certificate documenting the occasion.
  2. Make or purchase a special “tooth themed” pillow for your child to sleep on the nights they are awaiting a visit from the Tooth Fairy.
  3. If you’re worried the Tooth Fairy will be discovered when retrieving a tooth from under your child’s pillow, consider putting the tooth in a specially decorated jar next to their bed instead.
  4. Sprinkle some glitter around the room as proof of the visit.

When children lose their baby teeth, it can be a very exciting time for both children and parents. Make the most of it by incorporating your own fun traditions! Adding special touches to the experience will also help to dissipate any anxiety or fear your child might be feeling about losing their teeth.

If you have any questions or concerns on when children should lose their teeth and what is normal as they develop and grow, make sure to check out our blog post on baby teeth or contact one of our doctors.

 

What You Can Do When Your Child Has a Toothache

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As a parent, you may feel helpless and unsure of what to do when your child has a toothache. Tooth pain is the result of inflammation of the area inside the tooth that has tissues and nerves, called the pulp, and is usually caused by dental injury or dental caries. It can be challenging to pinpoint its exact location, but be gentle and remain calm when examining your child’s mouth to reduce any anxiety they may be experiencing.

If you are having difficulty finding the problem area, here are some steps you can take to determine the cause and alleviate the pain:

Identify the cause

Depending on your child’s level of communication, complaints of tooth pain may actually just be a bitten tongue or sore gums caused by emerging teeth. Another common cause of toothaches is food lodged between two teeth. We recommend flossing first to remove any food particles that may be causing the discomfort. If you rule out lodged food as the cause of the pain, it’s likely that your child has a cavity or another, more serious dental problem.

Alleviate the pain

Try giving your child a glass of warm water, plain or mixed with a teaspoon of salt, to help soothe swollen or irritated gums. Not all toothaches will be soothed with warmth, however, so if this does not ease the pain, try cold water or an icepack outside of the cheek. If pain persists, you can administer a dose of over-the-counter pain reliever, but check instructions for the appropriate dosage based on age, height and weight. Never give your child aspirin or put it directly on their tooth or gums under any circumstance, as it puts them at risk for soft tissue damage, and in some cases may result in a fatal disease known as Reye’s syndrome.

Contact your pediatric dentist

These are only temporary solutions; so if your child’s toothache persists for more than 12 hours, contact your pediatric dentist and schedule an appointment.

To help prevent the occurrence of a toothache, monitor your child’s brushing routine and continue to schedule regular dental appointments to reduce the risk of additional cavities.

What’s the best Toothpaste for Kids?

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What’s the best Toothpaste for Kids?

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Above all else, visiting the dentist regularly is one of the most significant steps you can take to ensuring your child achieves optimum oral health, which aides in their overall wellbeing. Picking a toothpaste is an important factor, when it comes to getting children to brush and take care of their teeth daily. Toothpaste companies actively market packaging, flavors and features to encourage parents and children in making their selection. As a result, assessing the many brands of toothpaste claiming to be the “best” can be an overwhelming task for parents. Although, all brands are not the same, many carry the same ingredients to remove stains, eliminate plaque and strengthen tooth enamel. The key differences between brands is the consistency of the paste, taste and the level of fluoride content.

The most important thing to consider when choosing your child’s toothpaste is the child’s age. Before the age of two, select fluoride-free baby toothpaste and use a soft brush to clean the teeth twice daily. Between the ages of two and four, select an ADA approved brand containing fluoride. Dental fluorosis is not a risk for kids over eight years of age, but an ADA recommended brand is always the best choice.

Here’s a list of kid-friendly toothpastes that the American Dental Association approve:

  • Crest® Pro-Health Stages® Disney Princess Toothpaste – This toothpaste provides effective cavity protection, and the mild gel formula has been kid tested and approved. The packaging features Disney characters, which appeal to younger children.
  • Aquafresh® Fresh ‘N Fruity – The mild flavor of this toothpaste makes it a great transition toothpaste for toddlers. It gently cleans vulnerable new teeth and includes fluoride for cavity protection. This toothpaste is suitable for children two years and older; supervised use is recommended.
  • Colgate Children’s 2-in-1 toothpaste – This toothpaste is approved by the ADA and best suited for children over the age of five. It is a liquid gel formula that is popular with kids and comes in a variety of flavors to suit their tastes. It provides dual benefits as both a toothpaste and a mouthwash that protects your kids’ teeth against cavities.
  • Tom’s of Maine, Natural Anti-Cavity Toothpaste for Children – This toothpaste provides an active defense system against bacteria and acids. There are no artificial preservative, dyes or saccharine in this toothpaste and it contains real fruit juice for taste.

When teaching your children to brush, parents of children under the age of seven need to ensure they use only a pea-sized amount of toothpaste and caution them to minimize toothpaste swallowing.

If you are uncertain about the suitability of any dental care products on the market for your children contact your pediatric dentist today. Dr. Niang and Dr. Balsmeier of Children’s Dental Specialty Group are happy to help and answer any questions you may have.

How to Get Your Child to Quit Thumb Sucking

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How to Get Your Child to Quit Thumb Sucking

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Sucking is a common and healthy impulse among infants, and children often start to suck on fingers or thumbs even before birth. Though it is a natural reflex, it can become a problem when children turn to thumb sucking to soothe themselves any time they are bored, tired or upset. Toddlers will typically stop thumb sucking between the ages of two and four. If persists after a child is four-years-old, you may need to assist them in breaking the habit, as it can lead to permanent dental problems if continued after the age of six.

Below is a list of dental problems often associated with thumb sucking:

  • Buck teeth – Thumb sucking can push new and developing permanent teeth out of normal position, when they begin to grow in. This can alter the shape of the face and lead to an open bite. It can also require expensive orthodontics to correct.
  • Development of a Lisp
  • The misalignment of front teeth can create the inability to form certain speech sounds, which can cause children to speak with a lisp.
  • Improper growth of child’s palate
  • Sucking on the fingers or thumbs can affect the growth of the roof of the mouth, leading to poor tongue placement and problems chewing and swallowing.

Tips to help your child break the habit before dental problems occur:

  • Provide gentle reminders
  • Sometimes your child may be thumb sucking without realizing it. Quietly remind them to stop or do so with a visual cue, as it is important to avoid embarrassing or criticizing. Decide on a cue with them to get them involved in the process..
  • Ignore it
  • If your child is using thumb sucking to get attention, try paying no mind to them and it may be enough to stop the problem.
  • Identify the triggers
  • Thumb sucking is often used as a soothing mechanism when a child is feeling anxious or insecure. Focus on what is causing the anxiety and provide your child with other means of comfort, such as reassuring words or a stuffed animal to squeeze.
  • Encourage and reward your child
  • Praise your child for not thumb sucking, and recognize that they have made the choice to end this habit. Show them their progress by keeping track of the days that they have successfully avoided sucking.

Thumb sucking is a natural coping mechanism for babies, but as children grow older, this reflex can cause dental and speech problems that may need to be corrected with expensive braces or speech therapy. The trick is to work with your child to decrease their dependency on thumb sucking before this coping skill becomes a habit. For further questions or advice on helping your child stop thumb sucking, consult your pediatric dentist.

 

 

Bye, Bye Baby Teeth

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Bye, Bye Baby Teeth

When will my child lose their first tooth?

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 We all know that baby teeth have to go sometime in order for new, permanent teeth to grow in, but you might be wondering when exactly it’s normal for a child to lose their first tooth. If your child’s baby teeth came in early, you can usually expect them to lose them early too.

The front two bottom teeth typically fall out first, followed by the two top front teeth. Children usually start losing their teeth between ages five and seven, but wiggly teeth at 4-years-old isn’t uncommon. Keep in mind, children develop at different rates but there are some patterns. For example, girls tend to lose their teeth earlier than boys. If your child does start losing their teeth early (4-years-old or younger), check to make sure there are no signs of trauma or tooth decay. Otherwise, early emerging permanent teeth are likely to be pushing them out. If your child still hasn’t started to lose their baby teeth by age seven, you might want to consider consulting your dentist.

If your child’s tooth is loose, don’t feel like you have to yank it out. If a tooth is forcefully pulled out before it’s ready, your child might develop an infection. Let the tooth fall out on its own if possible. If the tooth is ready and your child wants it removed, use a piece of gauze to gently twist the tooth out. It’s likely that children will continue to loosen the tooth on their own by wiggling it, which is perfectly healthy. Just make sure their hands are clean and they’re brushing twice a day!

Once your child begins to lose their teeth it will take about six years for all their baby teeth to fall out and be replaced with permanent adult teeth. Make sure to take extra care once your child’s permanent teeth grow in as permanent teeth problems typically mean permanent and costly dental work!

 

 

Teething and Dental Care

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Teething can be a painful experience for babies (and parents), but fear not, there are remedies to help get through it. Before suffering sets-in, there are a variety of options for treating the symptoms without medications.

Teething typically starts between four and seven months. The central incisors, either the two front or bottom teeth usually come in first followed by the first molars, then the canines.

Pain relievers that you rub on the gums may offer temporary relief, but they tend to wash out of the baby’s mouth within minutes of applying. A better alternative is to occupy your little gnawer with teething “toys.” A teething toy distracts baby from the discomfort of the pain, and can be something as simple as a wet washcloth that has been left in the freezer for a few minutes. The cloth is safe and soft for them to chew on and the cold helps to numb and soothe the gums. If you don’t have a teething toy handy, your finger can be a good substitute, temporarily (as long as it is clean).

For babies 6-9 months old, introduce a slow-flow sippy cup and fill it with cold water; the coolness of the water and sucking on the top can offer some relief. Remember to clean teething toys after each use and know that it is absolutely fine to allow your baby to chew all day, especially if it is providing them relief from the pain!

First dental visit

As soon as your infant’s first tooth appears you should begin cleaning their teeth and gums on a daily basis. Simply brush them with a child’s soft toothbrush. When a baby is going through the teething process their gums tend to swell and are tender. Take care when brushing and try massaging the gums beforehand to ease your baby’s discomfort.

Just like older children and adults, babies are susceptible to tooth decay. Until they are old enough to learn, parents should take certain measures for prevention:

  • Never put a child to bed with a bottle or food
  • As soon children begin eating solids, gently wipe the mouth clean after each feed
  • Teach children to drink from a regular cup around the 12 -15 month mark
  • If a child insists on a bottle or sippy cup for a long period of the day, fill it with water only
  • Avoid feeding a child foods high in starch or sugar

Remember teething is part of the growing process. Providing simple relief during teething will give babies (and parents) the comfort needed to get through. When teeth begin coming in, implementing the best oral care early on enforces routine, and teaches children good habits for maintaining a healthy smile.

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