Our Blog - The Greensboro Center for Pediatric Dentistry

No Crying Necessary: Simple Ways to Stop Thumb Sucking

November 16th, 2021

At first it was adorable, but now it has become worrisome. Starting to fear your child is addicted to thumb sucking? Push those worst-case scenarios and harsh weaning tactics from your mind. Here is the truth about the dental risks, when it is necessary to intervene, and effective ways to break the habit for good.

Long-Term Effects of Non-Nutritive Sucking

Prolonged sucking can ultimately lead to a number of oral issues: jaw misalignment, protrusion of the upper teeth, crookedness and/or bite problems.

Left unchecked, sucking can also alter the natural position of the jawbone and change the shape and sensitivity of the roof of the mouth, which can lead to a lisp over time.

While corrective action and regular dentist visits can save your little one from such dental trauma, timing can make a big difference in the experience for parent and child.

When Should Parent Intervene?

According to the American Dental Association, dental problems associated with thumb sucking typically occur with the arrival of permanent teeth. This means that if your child only has primary teeth, you can table extreme measures to curb the habit for now.

In fact, thumb sucking is a natural, self-soothing reflex for many babies and toddlers, and a wise (and non-traumatic) course of action may simply be to wait and see if your child outgrows the behavior over time.

If your child starts to lose baby teeth, however, and still sucks his or her thumb aggressively, you'll need to step in to prevent dental problems from emerging.

How to Put an End to the Thumb Sucking for Good

Just as there are different reasons that drive children to suck their thumbs, there are also a number of options to help stop it. Here are a few tried-and-true methods worth considering:

Provide alternate means of comfort: if the habit seems born out of anxiety or stress, see if a well-timed hug or kiss, or offering a favorite toy does the trick
Reward his or her efforts: enthusiastic praise, a sticker, or other special treat can be very motivating and make the process fun
Use creative reminders: agree on a special signal to help discretely halt the behavior if you catch your child doing it in public, and try a bandage over the finger or a sock over the hand to deter thumb sucking at night
Seek help from the dentist: a mouth guard or special coating for the thumb may ultimately be recommended depending on your child's dental situation

No matter which route you choose, keeping a positive approach and demeanor will go a long way in making the experience less stressful for both you and your child.

It could also be helpful to team up with your dentist to tackle the issue. A dental examination and professional guidance can help point you in the right direction depending on the severity of thumb sucking and your child's age. Schedule a consultation to share your concerns, and/or provide an update on the situation during your next appointment.

Sources:

Feature, H. (n.d.). Help Children Stop Thumbsucking: 9 Tips. Retrieved June 2, 2015, from http://www.webmd.com/parenting/features/9-ways-to-wean-a-child-off-thumb-sucking

Thumbsucking. (2014). Retrieved June 2, 2015, from http://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/t/thumbsucking

Tags: Teeth, Thumb, Thumb Sucking, Comfort, Jawbone

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5 Good Dental Habits to Teach Your Children

November 11th, 2021

Caring for your overall physical health is very important and requires a lot of good choices and habits, habits we need to help our children learn, as well. One important aspect of health is ensuring that you are properly caring for your teeth and oral health. Here are five easy tips to teach your children that can help them develop healthy habits for their teeth.

See the Dentist Regularly

Both the AAPD and the American Academy of Pediatrics say you should take your child to the dentist by his first birthday. In addition to conducting a thorough oral exam, the dentist will obtain a dental history, guide parents on proper brushing habits and cavity prevention, and establish how often a child should visit, among other things. Seeing a dentist is a great way to ensure that your children are properly cleaned and that all plaque is removed. It can also help you to identify and care for dental challenges and issues before they turn into larger problems. You should try and have your kids see a dentist at least twice per year. Doing this will help your kids start to build habits of seeing healthcare providers, which can offer a range of benefits for years to come.

Brush and Floss Each Night

One of the most important factors that can influence the health of anyone’s teeth is whether or not they brush and floss their teeth each day. Kids and grownups, alike, should aim to brush and floss their teeth at least twice per day. Ideally, this should be done after eating breakfast and before bed. To ensure that your kids build good habits, you should start helping them with this as soon as they start to grow teeth. This is then a habit that they will carry with themselves for the rest of their lives, which can ensure they keep their teeth clean between dental visits. Technique is also important! Tilt the bristles a bit toward the gums and gently brush in tiny little circles, touching every surface of each tooth. As for flossing, no matter how well you brush your child's teeth, if they are touching you're not going to be able to get all the food or plaque out. Those little-kid disposable flossers are fine, as long as you still pull the floss firmly against the sides of each tooth.

Make it Fun

While dental care is important for all kids, they may find that it is not very fun and inconvenient when they’d rather be doing other things. Fortunately, there are tips that you can follow that can help to make it more fun for your kids. Some of the ways that you can do this are by using kid-friendly toothbrushes and toothpaste or even playing some of their favorite songs while they are brushing and flossing at night. This could help them create a positive association with keeping their teeth clean and healthy.

Don’t be afraid to get your children’s teeth straightened

Eventually, your child may need to have their teeth straightened. It’s very common for teeth to grow in without being completely straight. To ensure that they are able to enjoy a healthy smile while also avoiding more serious dental challenges in the future, having their teeth straightened may be a good idea. Make sure you look for a reputable and reliable practice and don’t be shy to ask lots of questions before making a decision.

Focus on Diet

One of the most important factors that will influence the health and appearance of your teeth is your diet. Those that eat a healthy diet that is full of fiber, calcium, vitamins, and lean protein will develop stronger bones and teeth. Those that eat too much sugar and do not clean their teeth properly afterward could see their teeth start to rot and decay. Eventually, this could result in cavities and other challenges. By encouraging your kids to think about their health when eating food and avoid too many unhealthy snacks, you could help them form habits that will keep their teeth strong and healthy for years to come.

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Eating Right for Dental Health: What to Consume and Avoid

November 9th, 2021

Image below: Greensboro Children's Museum staff member helping with our joint Tooth Time & cooking demo in 2019. We will be hosting another Tooth Time Program at GCM on Wednesday, November 17, 2021. Click Here to sign up to participate this year!

Dental health starts in the...kitchen? You read that correctly! Of course, brushing, flossing, and regular dental visits are important, but they aren't the only things to consider when it comes to keeping your pearly whites in tiptop shape.

Most people understand that they should limit the sweets and candy they take in, but beyond sugary foods, what should and shouldn't you be consuming? Here are some do's and don'ts to help you eat right for your oral health.

The Do's of Eating for Dental Health

To promote good oral health, the majority of your diet should consist of the following foods:

- Fiber Rich Fruits and Vegetables – These scrub bacteria off teeth while stimulating saliva flow to neutralize acids that can damage teeth. Examples of fruits and vegetables you should eat are apples, carrots, celery, and other water-based options.

- Water – Water protects teeth and gums by stimulating the production of saliva, thereby reducing sugars and bacteria left on the teeth. Of course, water is a great alternative for soft drinks or other sugary beverages too.

- Dairy Products – Dairy products are absolutely a "do"! Calcium, phosphates, and vitamin D in dairy products help strengthen teeth and prevent tooth decay.

- Nuts – Different nuts offer different oral health benefits. For example, peanuts provide calcium and vitamin D, whereas cashews stimulate saliva and help clean the teeth.

Keep in mind that even healthy foods may contain sugar, so it's always important to brush your teeth twice a day.

The Don'ts of Eating for Dental Health

Knowing what you shouldn't eat often is as important as knowing what you should. While some healthy eating don'ts are obvious, some aren't as well known:

- Candy and Sweets – Sticky sweets adhere to your teeth and can't be easily washed away by saliva. This can cause tooth decay, especially if you regularly snack on sweets between meals.

- Starchy Carbohydrates – Bacteria feed on the simple sugars that are left by starchy carbohydrates like chips, pasta, bread, or crackers. These bacteria produce acid, which can cause plaque buildup and tooth decay over time.

- Soft Drinks – Like sweets, most regular soft drinks are packed with sugar and even diet soft drinks contain harmful levels of phosphorous. This can wear down the enamel on your teeth and leave them susceptible to decay.

- Acidic Foods – Acids in citrus foods and even pickles can also wear down enamel.

- Dried Fruits and Juices – Both juices and dried fruits have highly concentrated levels of sugar that can cause problems similar to candy and sweets.

Eating Healthy for Your Teeth Means Eating in Moderation

You don't have to go to extremes. You can still enjoy many of the don'ts in moderation and if you brush directly after consuming them. Limiting the don'ts and focusing on the do's will not only give you a brighter smile, but also help to improve your overall health.

Sources:

Diet and Oral Health. (2014, March 31). Retrieved June 2, 2015 from (http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/diet-oral-health

Patel, A. (2014, April 3). 14 Best and Worst Foods for Your Teeth. Retrieved June 2, 2014 from http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/04/03/foods-for-teeth-_n_5085621.html

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How to Care for Your Infant's Oral Health

October 27th, 2021

Teeth or no teeth, your infant's oral health should always be a top priority. But, how are you supposed to care for your baby's teeth? There are numerous steps to take and each serves an important purpose in preparing your baby for a future smile he or she will be glad to show off.

First: Caring for Your Baby's Gums

Although your baby is born without visible teeth, it's still important to care for his or her gums. If you don't, you'll leave harmful bacteria behind that can damage teeth as they begin to emerge.

You won't need a toothbrush or toothpaste for gum care. Instead, you can use a soft, slightly moistened cloth or gauze to wipe down your baby's gums, especially after feedings and prior to bedtime.

Second: Caring for Your Baby's Teeth

Your baby's teeth will begin to emerge from the gums at around 6 months of age, at which point you'll need to begin using a toothbrush for cleaning. It's best to purchase a toothbrush with soft bristles, a small head, and a large handle to make it easier for you to clean and more comfortable for your baby.

You should start with very limited amounts of toothpaste (fluoride-free) and, as more teeth emerge, you can increase the amount. This will gradually familiarize your child with the taste and texture of toothpaste.

Third: Visiting the Dentist

It's vital that you schedule your baby's first dental appointment before his or her first birthday or within 6 months of his or her teeth appearing.

This will allow the dentist to identify potential problems caused by injuries, illnesses, or development complications. If issues are identified, the dentist can treat them or refer you to a pediatrician should something go beyond the teeth's surfaces.

General Preventative Dental Care for Your Infant

Visiting the dentist early is one type of preventative care for your infant. There are additional things that you can do to reduce the likelihood of cavities as teeth continue to emerge:

Only put formula, breast milk, and water in baby bottles to avoid "baby bottle tooth decay," and be sure to clean gum/teeth after the consumption of formula or breast milk as both contain sugar.
Decrease your child's sugar consumption, particularly between meals, because sugar feeds bacteria that can attack your baby's teeth.
Never put anything sweet on your baby's pacifier to encourage him or her to use it.

Early Oral Health Sets Your Baby Up for a Beautiful Smile

Baby teeth are functionally important during childhood and also serve a critical role as place holders for adult teeth. By caring for them properly from the very beginning, you can promote oral health and create a great foundation for a bright, beautiful future smile.

Sources:

Basic Dental Care - Infants and Children. (2014, November 14). Retrieved June 2, 2015, from http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/tc/basic-dental-care-infants-and-children

Caring for Your Baby's Teeth. (2014, November 6). Retrieved June 2, 2015, from http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/dental-health-dentures

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