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According to the American Dental Association and your dentist, taking your son or daughter to the dentist doesn’t have to be a nightmare, in fact, when you visit a dentist who specializes in pediatric dentistry it can actually be a fun experience.

The most important thing to remember is to prepare your child before each dental appointment. Give your son or daughter a general overview so that they know what to expect. Say things like, “The dentist is going to look at your gums and your teeth, take a few pictures, and use a special toothbrush to clean your teeth.”

Make sure that you do not pass your own dental visit fears on to your kids. Even if you have a real dental phobia, it is imperative that you make sure that you tell your children that the dentist is there to help keep their teeth healthy so that they can have a pretty smile.

Your dentist recommends that you follow the procedures below in order to keep fillings and other dental procedures to a minimum.

Teach your kids to brush with fluoride toothpaste at least twice each day, especially after dinner. Fluoride toothpaste should be kept to the size of a pea for children under three.

Make sure that your kids are brushing correctly. If you are unsure that your son or daughter has the brushing down pat, you may want to do it yourself until your child is about seven or eight years old, and make sure that you watch as they brush.

As soon as your kids have teeth that touch together start flossing. Bacteria and food can be lodged between the teeth and as your dentist will tell you, flossing is the best way to keep teeth and gums healthy.

Keep candy and sticky foods to a minimum. Because dried fruit and chewy treats can stick to the grooves and fissure, rinsing and even brushing may not get rid of the sugar.

Those sippy cups could be causing problems for your kid’s teeth. If your son or daughter must sip on something, go with water. Fruit juices and other sugary drinks when sipped are like bathing teeth in sugar.

Never send your child to bed with juice or milk unless brushing is planned before they go to sleep. If they are thirsty, water is your best bet.

Teach your kids to eat plenty of fruits, veggies, and whole grains. Your dentist will tell you that diet plays a huge roll in dental health.

If you would like more information regarding dental health for kids, schedule an appointment with your pediatric dentist today.

These days teens are fascinated with tattoos and body piercings, and while these 21st century fads seem to be all the rage, but your dentist will tell you that there are some things that both you and your teen should be aware of, especially if your son or daughter has been considering oral piercing.

According to the American Dental Association, tongue splitting and oral piercing can cause serious health issues, and although it is a popular way of expressing oneself, it can be dangerous.

Your mouth is full of bacteria, and when you or your teens pierce your tongue, or cheek, swelling can occur. Reported cases even include an emergency tracheotomy because the person’s tongue swelled so much that it cut of the airway.

Your dentist has seen other problems with oral piercings and tongue splitting including choking, endocarditis and even hepatitis. Bite down too hard on the jewelry and you risk a cracked tooth not to mention the jewelry constantly clicking up against your teeth.

Pierced lips, cheeks, tongues, and uvulas, which are the tissue that hangs at the back of your throat, will interfere with swallowing, eating, and talking. Oral piercing can also cause swelling, pain and infection, as your mouth is moist and a breeding ground for bacteria. Infections can be life threatening, and if not treated immediately could cause serious problems.

Because people with mouth jewelry constantly play or bite on the ring or post, it can cause damage to gums eventually leading to sensitive and cracked teeth. Oral piercings can also cause damage to existing dental fillings.

Teens and adults who have oral piercings may not realize that they could be hypersensitive to metals causing allergic reactions. Nerve damage can also occur, and that numb tongue that you had right after the piercing occurred, could become permanent. If this happens it will affect how your mouth moves and your sense of taste. If the blood vessels in your tongue have been damaged you could be susceptible to excessive blood loss. Because tongue piercing increases your saliva flow, you could be subjected to excessive drooling.

Oral piercings and tongue splitting may be cool, but getting sick isn’t. Before you or your teens take the leap, talk to your dentist who can share some of the risks and dangers of oral piercing and tongue splitting.

It won’t be long before the kids are back in school, but if you neglected to schedule an appointment with your kid’s dentist in Chicago, do it today.

Not all tooth decay causes pain. In fact, if your son or daughter has older fillings, dental caries could be hiding underneath.

Children of all ages can get cavities and it’s not always because of poor oral hygiene. According to recent studies, about four million preschoolers are dealing with tooth decay with that number rising by over 600,000 kids in the past decade. Sugar could be to blame as packaged foods, fruit juice and other snacks contain far more sugar than they did when you were a child. Bottled water could be another reason for the rise in tooth decay, as bottle water does not contain fluoride.

Tooth decay can also be hereditary, and if you had cavities when you were a kid, your children will most likely suffer as well. Soft teeth do not run in the family, but decay-causing bacteria do.

If your teeth have caused you problems over the years, it is imperative that you take action where your kid’s dental health is concerned. The American Academy of Pediatrics and your Chicago Kids Dentist recommends that you speak with your pediatric dentist making him or her aware of your own dental history. This will enable your dentist to take extra precautions such as dental sealants if your kids are in the high-risk category.

If your kids grind or clench their teeth while sleeping, dental fillings could be at risk. Constant pressure on tooth colored and amalgam fillings will cause them to crack, chip, or wear down. The only way to determine if the seals on your children’s fillings have broken down is to schedule an appointment with your kids dentist to avoid additional decay to a tooth that has been damaged in the past. If the decay is left untreated, it could damage the pulp leading to a dangerous abscess and an eventual root canal.

Get your kids ready for school this year and schedule a dental check up with your pediatric dentist in Chicago. After all, new clothes and school supplies shouldn’t be the only items on your to do list.

As hard as it may seem to believe, kids are still taking up smoking. In fact, your Pediatric Dentist will tell you that tweens and teens are puffing cigarettes and chewing smokeless tobacco products more than ever. Hookah pipes are becoming increasingly popular with teenagers and are just as dangerous as other tobacco products.

Although smoking is glamorized thanks to the tobacco industry, you still have more influence on your kids than the celebrities that smoke in the movies or on television.

If you suspect that your kids have started to smoke, sit down and have a heart to heart talk. Tell them how smoking can affect their bodies, including their teeth and gums. Explain to your sons and daughters that you do not want them to smoke. Consistent messages will get your point across making smoking less likely.

It’s never too early to talk to your kids about the dangers of smoking and smokeless tobacco products. Not only does smoking affect your children’s health, but it can also cause serious issues to their teeth and gums. Gum disease, horrible staining, and receding gums are just a few of the problems that can occur with smoking. Start giving your children powerful messages about the dangers of smoking as early as five years old. Those early warnings may prevent them from taking up the habit, which can begin as early as 10 or 11 years old. Kids that have started before the teen years will become addicted to smoking or smokeless tobacco products by the time they reach the tender age of 14.

If you smoke, kick the habit. According to NBC News, parents who smoke or use smokeless tobacco or more likely to produce children who develop the habit at an early age. Let your kids know how difficult it is to stop smoking and how much you wish you had never started.

Keep a smoke free policy in your home and if you have friends or family members who indulge, make sure that it is never allowed inside or near your children.

Know your kids friends and find out if they smoke. Peer pressure can result in your son or daughter taking their first puff leading to a dangerous addiction.

If you catch your kids smoking, avoid ultimatums, threats, and punishment. Your Pediatric Dentist advises that you ask your son or daughter what the attraction to smoking is and what can be done to help kick the habit.

Point out to your kids that the tobacco industry spends billions of dollars in order to make their products appealing. Kids, especially teens that smoke may become angry helping to motivate them into quitting all together.

If you would like more information regarding smoking and oral health, schedule an appointment with your Dentist who may be able to help you and your kids stop smoking.