How
Can I Get My Child Excited About the Dentist?

Are you finding it challenging to get your child excited about going to the dentist? It’s a common concern for many parents, but rest assured, there are things you can do to make the experience more exciting and enjoyable for you and your little one. Let’s look at some ways to get your child to want to visit the dentist. 

Start Dental Care Early

According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), you should first see your little one’s pediatric dentist within six months of the arrival of the first baby tooth and no later than the first birthday. Starting dental care early on will keep your child’s smile healthy and bright and ensure your child is familiar with the dentist’s office from a young age. 

Visit a Kid-Friendly Practice

Make sure to choose a pediatric dentistry office with friendly staff and a happy, comfortable environment like the one we have at Jet Set Smiles Pediatric Dentistry. If you don’t feel at ease, the chances are that your child won’t feel at ease either, so trust your gut and find a dental practice where you and your little one can feel right at home. 

Introduce the Dentist at Home

There are numerous toys, books, videos, and even games about teeth and visiting the dentist. Warm your child up to the idea of visiting the dentist by using these resources. Here are some examples of books that help get kids excited about the dentist:

• Just Going to the Dentist by Mercer Mayer
• Daniel Goes to the Dentist (Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood), Adapted by Alexandra Cassel Schwartz, illustrated by Jason Fruchter.
• The Berenstain Bears Visit the Dentist by Jan Berenstain

Role Play

Kids love role play, so it’s always helpful to act out dental visits, especially before a dental appointment. Take turns being the “dentist” and examining and cleaning a doll or stuffed animal’s teeth. When it’s your turn, model a gentle, kind dentist and make sure you and your little one share a giggle or two. 

Stay Positive

Kids feed off their parent’s emotions, so if you’re nervous about the dentist, your child will likely be anxious as well. It’s easier said than done, but even if the thought of a dentist appointment stresses you out, show your kids that there’s nothing to fear. If you’re relaxed, your child will feel safe and know there is no reason to worry. 

End the Dentist’s Visit on a Happy Note

Reward your child and do something exciting after your trip to the dentist to build positive associations. Head to the park or enjoy your favorite game. Wrapping up the day on a happy note will ensure your child is excited the next time you mention visiting the dentist. 

Trusted Pediatric Dentistry Services Near Me in Phoenix, AZ

At Jet Set Smiles Pediatric Dentistry, we strive to ensure our young patients are happy and comfortable while receiving top-notch care. If your little one is anxious about the dentist, let us know, and we will do everything we can to ensure your visit is a positive one. We look forward to establishing healthy habits for long-term oral health. Call us and schedule your appointment today!

What
Kinds of Candy Are the Most Damaging to Teeth?

Most children find candy irresistible, which unfortunately increases the risk of damage to their teeth. However, sweets are not equal in terms of the harm they inflict on your child’s oral health. Some pose less of a threat than others, so it’s important to know the types of candy that are most detrimental to your child’s smile and health.

How Do Cavities Develop?

The human mouth is filled with bacteria, most of which are harmless. However, sugary treats provide an abundant food supply for cavity-causing bacteria, which, after feasting, produce acids that erode the tooth enamel, forming holes known as cavities that worsen over time if left untreated.

What Types of Candy Are the Most Damaging to Teeth?

The worst types of candy are the chewy, gummy, or sticky ones, which get stuck between your child’s teeth and in the grooves and crevices of the chewing surfaces of the premolars and molars. However hard your child brushes, the sticky material is almost impossible to remove, leaving the teeth susceptible to bacteria and acid attacks.

Sour candy is not much better for your child’s oral health. It is highly acidic, leaving your tooth enamel weaker and more vulnerable to cavities. Hard candies are also harmful. They contain high levels of sugar that promote bacteria activity in the mouth. Moreover, biting down on a jawbreaker or a lollipop can break or fracture a tooth, allowing bacteria to enter the inner parts, wreaking havoc on your child’s oral health.

What Are Better Candy Choices?

While it’s best to limit any candy, some types pose less of a threat to your child’s oral health. These include chocolate, especially dark chocolate, which melts away quickly and is easy to rinse or brush off. Dark chocolate is rich in calcium and is relatively low in sugar levels. Furthermore, it is made from cocoa beans, which contain compounds that fight bacteria and plaque. So dark chocolate is a go-to choice if your child has the urge to enjoy a sweet treat.

Sugar-free chewing gum sweetened with xylitol is also a good choice for your child’s smile. In fact, the chewing action increases saliva production, which helps rinse bacteria and food debris away. Moreover, xylitol is a natural sweetener that neutralizes acid-producing bacteria.

Tips on Maintaining Your child’s Healthy Smile

If you have to give your child a sweet treat, do so right after a meal instead of snacking throughout the day. That reduces the amount of time the sugar stays in contact with your little one’s teeth, limiting the harm. Moreover, the saliva produced during a meal helps counter the effects of consuming candy.

Make sure your child brushes at least twice a day and flosses daily. However, avoid doing so right after eating candy, which increases the harmful effects of the acid. Instead, have your child rinse thoroughly and wait at least an hour before brushing. Better yet, consider trading candy for healthy treats, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, cheese, or nuts, and make sure to encourage your child to drink plenty of water.

It’s important to schedule your child’s twice-a-year dental visits at Jet Set Smiles Pediatric Dentistry. We will clean your child’s teeth and conduct a thorough examination to evaluate your child’s oral health. We may recommend preventive procedures such as fluoride treatment or dental sealants, or restorative procedures such as dental fillings if needed.

Quality Pediatric Dentistry in Phoenix, AZ

Visit Jet Set Smiles Pediatric Dentistry to learn more about keeping your child’s smile healthy and free of disease. Our kid-friendly team is proud to offer outstanding preventive and restorative services for long-term healthy smiles. Call us and schedule your appointment today!

How
to Treat the Symptoms of Teething

Seeing those tiny bumps forming on a baby’s gums is an exciting moment for every parent, but unfortunately, teething can cause pain and discomfort. You and your little one don’t have to deal with sleepless nights. Understanding the symptoms of teething and ways you can help will allow you to enjoy this magical milestone.

When Does Teething Begin?

While the teething timeline isn’t the same for every child, most babies start teething between 4 and 7 months of age. The two bottom front teeth are usually the first to come in, followed by the two upper front teeth. Most toddlers have their full set of 20 baby teeth by age 3. A tell-tale bump on the gums is usually the first sign a tiny tooth is ready to make an appearance.

What Are the Symptoms of Teething?

Symptoms of teething may vary from child to child. These include red, swollen and tender gums, excessive drooling, a rash around the mouth, ear pulling, fussiness, irritability, a slight increase in temperature (not a fever), an increased desire to gnaw, loss of appetite, and difficulty sleeping.

Teething may be uncomfortable, but it shouldn’t cause signs of illness. If your baby has a high fever, cough, runny nose, diarrhea, or vomiting, something more than teething is likely going on. We recommend contacting your child’s pediatrician for evaluation and treatment.

How Can You Treat the Symptoms of Teething?

Here are some dos and don’ts to help soothe and comfort your teething baby:

Dos: Allow your baby to chew on a clean, cold cloth or rag to help decrease inflammation. You can also massage those sore gums with a clean finger or gauze. You may want to offer your baby chilled foods such as yogurt or applesauce, or frozen fruit (if your baby is on solids). Another option is providing a refrigerated (not frozen) pacifier or teething ring.

Teething babies love to chew, so an unsweetened teething biscuit can provide comfort, but make sure you don’t offer these before your child is eight months old. If your little one is inconsolable, talk to your pediatrician or pediatric dentist about pain medication.

Don’ts: It’s important to keep your baby safe while dealing with the teething blues. Avoid using topical medications containing lidocaine or benzocaine and stay away from herbal products, which often do more harm than good. Never give your child acetaminophen or ibuprofen without checking with your child’s healthcare provider first. Moreover, beware of teething necklaces, bracelets, or anklets due to the risk of choking, strangulation, or injury.

Quality Pediatric Dentistry in Phoenix, AZ

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends scheduling your child’s first dental visit after the first tooth arrives and no later than the first birthday. Your trusted team at Jet Set Smiles Pediatric Dentistry will help you establish proper oral practices to lay the groundwork for a lifetime of healthy smiles. Are you ready to get your little one’s smile off to a great start? Call us and schedule your appointment today!

What
Causes Spots on Baby Teeth?

Parents eagerly await that special moment when the first tiny pearly white comes in. Even though baby teeth are temporary, they play a significant role in a child’s development, so it’s essential to keep them healthy and sound. So what happens if you notice spots on your little one’s teeth? While you don’t want to panic, a visit to Jet Set Smiles Pediatric Dentistry will allow for prompt treatment to safeguard your child’s oral health. We are all about healthy, happy smiles!

Tooth Decay and Cavities

The first warning signs of tooth decay in children are often white spots that appear along the gumline that usually have a dry, chalky appearance. These early decay spots result from mineral loss from the enamel, a process known as demineralization. The good news is that this point the decay is still reversible. If the condition continues to progress, the white spots will eventually turn yellow or brown and may require more extensive treatments.

Once you notice white spots on your child’s teeth, schedule an appointment with Jet Set Smiles Pediatric Dentistry. We will clean off any plaque or tartar and may recommend a gentle fluoride treatment, which will help reverse the decay by strengthening the tooth enamel and making it resistant to the acid attacks that wear the teeth over time. Moreover, fluoride replaces the missing minerals restoring your child’s oral health.

Dental Fluorosis

Sometimes white spots on baby teeth can be a sign of too much fluoride, a condition known as fluorosis. Fluoride offers multiple benefits to your child’s teeth, strengthening and protecting the tooth enamel. But, just like most good things, it’s possible to get too much of it. The good news is that your child can only develop the condition while the teeth are still forming below the gum surface, and once the permanent teeth come in, the risk for fluorosis drops. Moreover, the fluorosis spots are not weak spots on your child’s teeth. In fact, they tend to be stronger than the surrounding enamel. So while they pose a cosmetic concern, they are not a problem from an oral health standpoint. A visit to your child’s pediatric dentist will help determine if your child’s fluoride intake is adequate.

Calcium Deposits

White spots on baby teeth could also result from calcification and adhesion of dental plaque to your little one’s teeth. If this is the case, we may recommend a professional cleaning to treat the affected area.

How to Prevent Future Spots on Your Child’s Teeth

Promoting healthy habits early on is the best way to avoid spots forming on your child’s baby teeth. Encourage proper brushing habits, pay attention to fluoride intake, limit the consumption of sugary treats or drinks, and make sure your child consumes a balanced diet. And don’t forget to schedule your child’s routine dental exams and cleanings to allow us to monitor your child’s oral health and treat any issues as they surface. These preventative practices will help safeguard your child’s oral health and keep dental disease at bay.

Quality Pediatric Dentistry in Phoenix, AZ

Visit Jet Set Smiles Pediatric Dentistry to learn more about keeping your child’s oral health in tip-top shape. Our highly trained and experienced team is proud to offer quality preventative and restorative services to maintain your child’s healthy smile. We are committed to providing our valued young patients with outstanding, gentle care. Call us and schedule your child’s appointment today!