Dental Info

Most homes have a standard first-aid kit—and with the demanding schedules of the average American family today, it’s smart to keep one in your vehicle, too. Whether at home or away from home, active kids like to run, play, climb, and jump off things—and sometimes emergency dental injuries follow. Coastal Pediatric Dentistry thinks it’s a great idea to prepare a dental first aid kit for kids to accompany the standard version and keep them in roughly the same location for easy accessibility. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) , a dental first aid kid for kids should include: Gauze Small cup Mouthwash Cold compress Tooth storage device and fluid Any time your child sustains an oral injury, it’s important to have Coastal Pediatric Dentistry check that no teeth have been damaged or loosened. Quick dental attention can mean the difference between keeping and losing a tooth, as well as preventing infections and controlling bleeding. Even if a dental visit isn’t...

Your child’s smile has the ability to make your day, and at Coastal Pediatric Dentistry, we know you want them to love their smile as much as you do—that’s why we’re always happy to inform you of the best prevention and treatment methods !  Our prevention lessons and practices are usually focused on gum disease and cavities, but there’s another condition that can affect your child’s teeth: fluorosis. Fluorosis can occur in children ages eight and younger as a result of too much fluoride consumption while their teeth are still forming. Is fluorosis harmful? First, we’d like you to know fluorosis isn’t very common, and when we do spot it, it’s usually very mild and unnoticed by people that aren’t dental professionals. If the fluorosis is moderate to severe, you may see streaks or flecks of white, or what looks like rough, pitted spots in your child’s enamel.  Fluorosis is typically unaccompanied by other symptoms, but because we want your child to be confident in their smi...

Very few opinions are universally shared, but we’re willing to bet on one: the best dental checkups are the ones where Coastal Pediatric Dentistry says the beautiful words: “No cavities!” At-home oral hygiene routines are the most effective tool people of any age have to keep their teeth healthy, but when it comes to pediatric dentistry , it also helps for caregivers to remember what stages children are in to encourage age-appropriate oral hygiene routines at home . Kids under 6 years old have mouths that are still growing and changing, and they probably want to brush themselves (“I do it!”) whether they have the fine motor skills to reach all their teeth or not. Let them brush on their own and encourage their efforts but lend a hand when needed. When kids reach the “tween” years of 7 through 12, they know how to take care of their teeth—they just may not want to be bothered. Keep emphasizing the health benefits of diligent dental self-care, and as their sense of personal responsi...

If you’re the parent of a young child, you know their brains are similar to sponges that soak up everything around them—especially in their first five years, which neuroscientists say is when they’ll do the most learning and developing in their entire life. At this formative time, your child may amaze you with what they notice: your facial expressions, the different tones of your voice, and your habits. If your habits include regular dental visits and an excellent oral hygiene routine, they’ll notice and want to emulate you. If you happen to feel anxious about your dental visits, or you groan when you’ve got to floss and brush, they may synchronize and feel your dread. This could lead to dental fears that stick with them for years—potentially a lifetime! Kids Can Be Courageous If you’re feeling guilty right now, go ahead and put that away as it won’t serve you or your little one. Everyone has some room for improvement, and Coastal Pediatric Dentistry® is here to help show you an...

Today, the Bolivia dentists of Coastal Pediatric Dentistry ® would like to discuss the unique dental characteristics of those with Down Syndrome . First teeth may arrive later . Children who have Down syndrome can get their first teeth anywhere from 12 to 24 months of age; they may not have a complete set of baby teeth until age 4 or 5. The eruption of front permanent teeth and 6-year-old permanent molars may also be delayed until 8-9 years of age—and it’s not unusual for any or all of these teeth to show up in a different order than anticipated. Teeth and tongue attributes are different. People with Down syndrome have teeth that are smaller than usual—their tooth roots may even be shorter than those of the average population. Another marker of Down syndrome is a small upper jaw, which can cause a misaligned bite and mouths that do not comfortably accommodate their tongues. Gum disease   tends to be more prevalent in people that have Down syndrome. An impaired immune system...

Coastal Pediatric Dentistry ® wants to make sure our patients know all about healthy hydration. Most people already know that soda and juice aren’t great for teeth, but now the American Academy of Pediatrics is cautioning parents and caregivers that sports and energy drinks have similar negative effects . Sports drinks are intended to replace water and electrolytes lost while sweating from exercise. If a child is participating in vigorous, prolonged physical activity, their ingredients may be helpful—but during routine physical activity, plain water is best. Sports drinks can contribute to tooth decay and are high in calories. They are not intended for consumption any time other than strenuous workouts. Energy drinks are a different—and more harmful—type of beverage, since they contain stimulants such as caffeine and taurine. Energy drinks are not appropriate for children or teens, as they can affect developing brains and cardiovascular systems. Water should be the primary source ...

Today, Coastal Pediatric Dentistry® wants to give teens the bottom line about tobacco use: there is no such thing as a “safe” or “safer” tobacco product . Every tobacco product contains nicotine in varying amounts—and not only is nicotine addictive, but it can also harm the brain. (Many people don’t realize the brain continues developing until the mid-20s or even early-30s.) Cigarettes are usually made of tobacco and chemical additives in a paper casing. Inhaled smoke from a lit cigarette contains more than 7,000 harmful chemicals; at least 70 of them are linked to cancer. Smoking cigarettes damages almost every organ of the body and leads to diseases like oral cancer and lung cancer, heart disease and stroke. “Vaping” e-cigarettes has become increasingly popular in recent years. These devices heat liquid into an aerosol that is then inhaled by the user. Many believe this aerosol is innocuous, but it actually contains many chemicals that are unsafe to breathe. Most e-cigarettes...

Did you know that sports-related injuries are the leading cause of emergency room visits for children and teenagers between the ages of 12-17? For children between the ages of 5-14, recreational activities (e.g., riding a bike) account for an estimated 3.2 million emergency room visits. With statistics like these, it’s no wonder parents want to find ways to keep their children safe while they play, and when you learn that the most commonly injured areas are to the face, head, eyes, and mouth, preventive wear like helmets and mouthguards become even more important! Don’t Leave Home Without It The American Dental Association recommends mouthguards for many sports and recreational activities that you might not think would require a mouthguard, so it’s important to do your research and give your child the best protection available! If you’re wondering whether your child should be wearing one, don’t hesitate to contact Coastal Pediatric Dentistry® today. Bolivia pediatric dentists ...

Diastema is the medical name for a space or gap between two teeth. While the most commonly gapped teeth are the two at upper front and center, a gap can occur between any two teeth. There are many potential causes for gapped teeth, including: Teeth that are too small for the jawbone Teeth that are missing or undersized An oversized labial frenum (the piece of tissue that connects the inside of the upper lip to the gum just above the two front teeth) Thumb sucking Bone loss from gum disease When children still have baby teeth, Coastal Pediatric Dentistry® recommends waiting it out until their permanent teeth come in. But what if the gap is in their permanent teeth? Will the space ever close? In the case of a size mismatch between permanent teeth and jaw size, the bad news is that the gap is likely there to stay without orthodontics. Gaps caused by gum disease will expand over time, so consistent oral hygiene is the best method to prevent those spaces from widening. Other sit...

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) , at least 40 Americans die from prescription opioid overdoses every day. As the opioid crisis grows, so does expanded knowledge—such as the realization that addiction to this family of drugs often begins with an innocent prescription . Many teens first experience opioids when a dentist prescribes them, usually to control the pain of wisdom tooth extraction or root canal treatment . While legitimate, this initial exposure increases the likelihood of future opioid addiction by 33%. Teens are also prone to opioid abuse due to the prefrontal cortex region of the brain—the portion that manages reason and impulse control—is not fully developed until reaching the early- to mid-20s. Dr. Liu and Dr. Ramsbottom want your child’s dental care to be effective, comfortable, and above all—safe. If you have any concerns about dental surgery and your teen or you’re just looking for a kind, knowledgeable dentist, contact Coastal Pedi...

When you’ve got your child’s first dental visit noted on the calendar, you might feel more anxious than they do as you approach the big day. At Coastal Pediatric Dentistry®, we want to help both of you relax and see there’s nothing to fear about having your smile cared for. Our team is kind and gentle, and though our technology might seem intimidating, it’s all geared toward increasing comfort while we get a clear picture of the condition of your little one’s oral health. Knowledge is Power We think one of the main reasons visiting the dentist can seem scary is because of the unknown. If you know more about what to expect, it’s easier to get comfortable in the chair! We want you and your young one to be informed and as prepared as possible, so we’re sharing this list of children’s books you can read together before we have the pleasure of sharing smiles with you. Do you and your child have a favorite children’s book about going to the dentist? We’d love to hear about it! Contact u...

Examining your child’s mouth isn’t easy! Their bone structure is still developing, and they might have difficulty opening wide—if they don’t, you’ll probably need a flashlight and a dental mirror for examination. Your Bolivia dentists, Dr. Liu and Dr. Ramsbottom are equipped with a comfortable dental chair for them to lean back in, an illuminating overhead light, intraoral cameras, and x-ray imaging that helps us get an accurate picture of the condition of their teeth, gums, jawbone, and tongue. However, if your child is experiencing any dental issue, such as gum disease, a tongue tie, or tooth decay, there are telltale signs you’ll notice, such as your little one avoiding eating or drinking because of sensitive teeth. Physical Cues Young children may not be able to verbally express that they’re experiencing pain, but if they’re drooling, rubbing their face, having trouble sleeping, or even acting out angrily, bringing them to Coastal Pediatric Dentistry® is a good idea. We can t...