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George Washington, the first President of the United States and revolutionary general, had dental problems his entire life. When he was inaugurated President in 1789, he only had one real tooth remaining in his mouth. A man known for his strength and resolve, Washington’s great oral pain sometimes made it quite difficult for the renowned orator to deliver speeches, and govern the infant United States.

Early Dentistry Was Not Great

Dentistry in the 18^th and 19^th Centuries was nowhere near as studied or effective as the modern dental practices used today. Toothbrushes were typically made of animal bone or silver, and the bristles were often made out of hog bristles, or horse and badger hair. Toothpaste was made of crushed seashells or charcoal, and usually was unscented, which lead to awful breath and terrible gum health. When someone had a tooth infection, they would just call the local blacksmith to pull it out for them – without anesthesia – because he had access to a wide variety of metal tools. When Washington was in office, he didn’t have access to laser dentistry, fluoride rinses, real toothpaste, or even floss! No wonder his teeth were in such bad shape.

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His Teeth Were Not Wooden

One common myth about Washington was that his dentures were made of wood, this is in fact not true! The first U.S. President had a variety of dentures made of ivory, gold, and even lead. The wooden-toothed myth was most likely born by misconception. Washington often enjoyed port wine after meals, which would stain and crack his ivory teeth, leaving them looking like wood. In fact, John Greenwood, who served as one of his dentists, examined a set of his ivory teeth and wrote back, “the set you sent me from Philadelphia…was very black…Port wine being sour takes off all the polish.” Modern historians and forensic dentists have speculated – and widely agreed – that this was the cause of the wooden teeth myth!

Washington Kept His Lost Teeth

Instead of sharing his lost teeth with the tooth fairy, President Washington collected the teeth that he lost. He intended on saving them to be used as implants in new dentures, and even wrote a letter to his cousin requesting that he ship his lost teeth to him while he was away in New York. However, one of his first set of dentures, made by artist Charles Wilson Peale, used both elephant and human teeth on the lower row, while experts think that the upper row was constructed of cow’s teeth! There is no known record of Washington successfully using his own teeth as implants in a set of dentures, but there are extensive written letters documenting him saving his own teeth.

Washington’s struggle with good dental hygiene reminds us that we are lucky to have modern technology aid us in getting – and keeping – a healthy smile. He called health “among (if not the most) precious gift.” So make America’s founding father proud by brushing and flossing twice per day, for two minutes at a time. We only have one set of teeth, so take care of them!

Choosing a primary doctor or dentist for your child can be a hard and confusing process. So, how can you choose the right dentist for your children? We’ve outlined a few reasons why pediatric dentists are the absolute best choice to be your kids’ dental home.

Pediatric Dentists Make Office Visits Fun

Pediatric dental offices seek to foster a fun and inviting environment that is specifically designed for children. The comfort of your child is one of the most important factors in creating a positive association with visiting the dentist, so we recommend reviewing our practice’s photos to see if they will enjoy their visit. You can also check out our social media channels to get a feel for how fun we are! Facebook is a great place to look for news about our practice, and it’s also a good spot to read some of our patient reviews.

Trained to Care for Children

Pediatric dentists have had 2-3 years of special training to care for young children and adolescents. Check out the “about us” section of our website to learn more about our dentist’s degrees, professional associations and affiliations, as well as distinguishes and honors. You can rest easy knowing that we have had extensive training which has equipped us to care for your child.

Sensitive to Special Healthcare Needs

Does your child need any special attention or procedures? Before coming in for a visit, scan our website to see if we offer any specific procedures your child requires. We are specifically trained to treat children with specific healthcare needs. Call us to speak with an office administrator about the different care options that we provide.

Stress-Free First Visit

Introducing children to a dentist can be a difficult task for any parent. Kids are usually very nervous to visit the doctor or dentist for the first time for a variety of reasons. Pediatric dentists know this, which is why we offer relaxed “meet and greets” for their first office visit. The first visit is a great way for you to speak with us about our practice, and it gives you a chance to gauge how your child responds to the new surroundings. Before you arrive, be sure to tell them that their first visit won’t involve any procedures or “chair time.” Remind them that you are there to meet some new people who want to help them get a healthy smile!

From Toddler to Teen

Pediatric dentists care for children of all ages. From first tooth to adolescence, we help your child develop a healthy smile until they’re ready to move on to a general dentist. We work with you to teach your kids healthy brushing habits, inform them about the importance of flossing, and give them dietary tips that will keep their mouth clean for years to come.

Give Us a Call

We would love to speak with you about your child and their dental needs. Establishing a dental home early is very important, so we suggest that you bring your toddler in right after their first tooth emerges. We see children of all ages, so call us and schedule an office tour! We want to make visiting the dentist fun, so stop by and see why pediatric dentistry is the way to go for your children!

Oftentimes, we are so focused on having healthy teeth that we lose sight of our gum health. However, your gums are imperative to your oral health, and also play a larger role in the overall health of your body. In toddlers, healthy gums can help prevent the pain caused by teething and bacteria buildup. Great gum care can also give your child a head start on having healthy baby teeth. So, how can we ensure that our children’s gums stay clean?

1 - Keep their mouth debris-free

Toddler food is designed so that it can be eaten without teeth, making it mushy and sometimes sticky. It’s important to keep your toddler’s mouth free of any leftover food, which helps to prevent bacteria build-up and mouth soreness. To do this, simply wrap a sanitary gauze around your forefinger and dip it in clean water. Gently wipe your child’s gums clean of any leftover food. It’s good to this after each meal so that no food stays in their mouth past meal time. You can also do this around bath time with a clean wash cloth.

2 - Avoid the bedtime baby bottle

Parents often send their children to bed with a bottle. While this may be a great comfort for your toddler, it can be very destructive for their gums and developing teeth. When left in your children’s mouth, sugar from breast milk, formula and milk can lead to infection and pain. Try to establish a bedtime routine that doesn’t involve a baby bottle. If your child is insistent upon a bedtime bottle, fill it up with water, which improves their overall health and has no negative oral side effects.

3 - Keep a Clean Pacifier

Toddlers love the comfort of a pacifier, but parents should make sure that it stays clean. The proper way to sanitize a pacifier is by boiling it for a couple of minutes, or by running it through the dishwasher. For minor cleanups, simply rinse it with warm water for a few seconds. Avoid using your own mouth to clean your child’s pacifier, since you can transmit your own oral germs into your child’s mouth. Also, try to resist dipping their pacifier in anything sweet such as sugar, juice or formula to prevent unhealthy sugar buildup.

4 - Ease into brushing

Begin brushing your children’s teeth as soon as they emerge. Since they don’t understand the importance of spitting out toothpaste, make sure that you use unfluoridated toothpaste. With toddlers, only use a smear of toothpaste - about the size of a grain of rice – to brush their teeth.

5 - Begin flossing

You may think that flossing is only for those with a mouth full of teeth, but we recommend that you begin flossing your children’s teeth as soon as they have more than one tooth in a row. We suggest using flat, wide dental tape, which is ideal for the large spaces in children’s teeth.

6 - Establish a Dental Home Early

Get a head start on healthy gums by introducing your child to our practice as soon as their first tooth emerges, which is sometime before their first birthday. We like to make the first meeting an informal tour to ensure that both you and your child are comfortable with our office and our team. We think it’s important that children have a good association with their dentist, which is why our first meeting will be lighthearted and fun, and without any dental procedure.

Maintaining healthy gums can prevent heart disease and cavities, and also lowers the likelihood of contracting an infection. It’s never too late to begin taking care of your child’s gums, and with these guidelines, your child will have a great head start on having a healthy smile!

Caring for your child is a round’ the clock type of job that requires a lot of legwork and travel. Whether it’s ballet or baseball, it seems as if there’s always somewhere to be, and something to do. Often times, what’s lost in all of the after-school commotion is the quality of your child’s snack time. To encourage healthy snacking, we've made a list of the top five portable snacks that promote oral health!

1. Cheese and Dairy

Cheese and other dairy products such as milk and low-fat yogurts are low in sugar and high in calcium and protein, which are primary minerals that build stronger teeth and bones. Cheese can be cut into small cubes and easily packed in a backpack or purse for a quick snack on the go.

2. Nuts

Nuts are another car friendly snack that promote a healthy mouth. Nuts are rich in protein, which helps to build stronger teeth. Chewing nuts promotes saliva production that naturally protects and cleans your teeth by clearing the mouth of debris and acid buildup that can lead to cavities.  Nuts are a great healthy alternative to potato chips, or other salty snacks that your kids may crave

3. Fruits and Vegetables

Fruits and vegetables are rich in vitamins and nutrients vital to your child’s overall health. They also promote saliva production, which can help prevent cavities. Healthy snacks such as celery, apples, kiwi, and cucumber slices are great substitutes for pre-bagged snacks that are high in added sugar and lack nutritional value. Try to limit the amount of acidic citrus fruits your child may eat, as acid eats away the enamel that protects your child’s teeth.

4. Lean proteins

Lean proteins like fish, chicken, and eggs have high amounts of phosphorous, another mineral key to the protection of teeth by promoting enamel growth. Snacks like chicken salad with nuts and celery, or a tuna sandwich will give your child a healthy boost before any after-school event.

5. Water

Water is one of the best tools we have in keeping our mouths clean, especially fluoridated water, which helps make teeth more resistant to acidic foods. When preparing a snack for your child on the go, grab a water bottle instead of a juice box or sugary soda. Also, encourage your kids to swish water around in their mouth after they’re done snacking. Swishing water can help remove debris caught in their teeth that can lead to enamel loss, and acid buildup.

Sometimes, a parent’s busy schedule requires their families to spend a long time on the road. Eating on the road can be a tough terrain to conquer while maintaining your child’s health. Our team hopes that the snacks listed above will help you plan healthy snacking for your family.

If you have any questions about snacking for oral health, please give us a call!