Tooth Loss

Rinse the knocked out tooth in cool water. Do not scrub the tooth. If possible, replace the tooth in the socket and hold it there with clean gauze. If you can’t put the tooth back into the socket, place the tooth in a container of milk (water if milk is not available.) Come to our office immediately. Feel free to call our emergency number if it is after hours. The tooth has a better chance of being saved if you act immediately.

If your child’s tooth is fractured or chipped, please contact our office as soon as possible. Our primary goal is to keep your child’s teeth healthy. We’ll work to prevent infection and restore the affected tooth the best we can.

Do the Following, Immediately

Remember that the faster you get your child to a dentist, the bigger the chance you have to fully restore the affected tooth. There are still a couple of measures that should be taken as quickly as possible after the injury occurs.

• Rinse the mouth out with water.
• Apply a cold compress to reduce swelling
• If you have the broken tooth fragment, keep it as clean as possible

Again, if you have the broken tooth fragment, it can be bonded back to the tooth, but in order to do so, the child needs to get to a dentist as soon as possible.

Unfortunately, most children deal with a toothache at some point in their lives. Toothaches may be caused by cavities, a break in the tooth, or even a piece of food wedged too tightly between the teeth. What do you do when your child begins complaining of a toothache? Here are some helpful tips and suggestions to keep in mind.

Symptoms of a Toothache

What are the symptoms of a toothache? In children, the symptoms may include throbbing pain in a tooth, pain in the jaw around the tooth’s location, fever, shooting pain when drinking or eating something cold or hot, and a tooth that is very painful to touch.

Temporary Solutions to Ease Your Child’s Pain

Several temporary solutions can ease your child’s pain when he has a toothache. One great idea is to floss your child’s teeth to ensure there’s not a piece of food wedged in the area causing the pain. Next, it’s a good idea to warm the area with some salt water.

If the toothache comes with significant swelling, having your child place a cold compress on the area can help to reduce the swelling and inflammation. For pain, you can give your child some ibuprofen or some acetaminophen for the pain, being careful that you only administer the recommended dose for your child’s age. These medications should not be given to children under the age of two.

Never Apply Aspirin to the Gums or Tooth

You should never apply aspirin to your child’s gums or the tooth to help relieve the pain. Doing so may result in soft tissue damage inside your child’s mouth. Applying aspirin in this way also may result in Reye’s syndrome, a fatal disease.

The Importance of Seeing the Dentist

Keep in mind, it’s essential to get your child to the dentist as quickly as possible if he has a toothache. If your child has a severe toothache, you may want to have your child seen by an emergency dentist to have the problem taken care of quickly. Treatment for the toothache will depend on the root cause of the problem.

Dental injuries for your child can be easily prevented in the following ways:

• Mouth guards
• Childproofing your home
• Regular dental checkups

Sport-Related Injuries

The most common dental injuries for children are sport-related, and can be easily prevented with a mouth guard. Wearing mouth guards prevent most sport-related injuries.

Home Dental Safety

Teething babies and toddlers need their home to be childproofed to prevent dental injuries. To childproof a home, just keep items out of reach that are not safe for your child to put in their mouth.

Pediatric Preventative Dental Care

Dental checkups are necessary to fully prevent dental injuries for your child. Bringing your child to pediatric dental checkups ensure that your child’s teeth are as healthy as they can be, and thus are stronger and less easily injured.

Contact Jamboree Dentistry for Your Child’s Dental Health

If you’re in Houston, contact us to schedule an appointment to make sure your child’s teeth are as healthy as they can be. We provide pediatric dentistry in Houston. Contact us for more information, today.

Taking care of your child’s oral health is very important, and good oral health starts when your baby is very young. The first dental visit is very important, but many parents wonder when they should take their baby to the dentist for that first checkup. Here’s a closer look at when your child should have that first appointment, as well as a look at what you can expect at that first checkup.

When Should the First Dental Visit Take Place?

Preventing is an important part of dental care, so it’s best to make sure your child sees a pediatric dentist around six months of age. Definitely make sure your child has had that first checkup before the first birthday rolls around Even if your baby hasn’t developed any teeth yet, it’s still important to see a dentist to get your baby’s oral health off to a good start.

What to Expect at the First Visit

The first dental checkup is generally short, and it doesn’t usually involve much treatment. At the first appointment, your child will have the chance to meet the pediatric dentist in a friendly, non-threatening way. You may be asked to hold your child throughout the exam. If your child has teeth, the dentist will check those teeth, looking for any potential oral problems. The first checkup will also include education for you on your child’s oral health care needs, and your dentist will be able to answer any questions you may have.

Topics to Discuss at the First Appointment

During the checkup, many topics may be discussed. Some of the common topics the dentist may discuss with you include:

• Your child’s fluoride needs
• Basic oral hygiene practices for your baby’s gums and teeth to prevent cavities
• Teething
• Future schedule of dental visits
• Oral habits of your child
• Proper nutrition

The Benefits of a Pediatric Dentist

When your child has that first appointment, make sure you take him to a pediatric dentist. Pediatric dentists have additional training specific to the treatment and management of child behavior, a child’s teeth, special needs of children, and a child’s physical development and growth. Quality pediatric dentistry in Houston or anywhere else will ensure that the office décor, your child’s care, and even the staff members are geared to caring specifically for children. 

As soon as teeth begin to grow, children should have their teeth brushed at least twice a day until they are old enough to hold the brush, usually by age 2 or 3. As toddlers, children may begin brushing their own teeth with supervision and help to reach all of their teeth, rinse, and spit. Usually, by age 6, children are ready to begin brushing their teeth on their own.

Baby Teeth Need Thorough Care

Even before teeth begin sprouting, an infant’s gums should be wiped gently with a moist and soft cloth or a gauze square in order to help clean bacteria in the mouth. Infant gums, like teeth, should be wiped at least twice a day.

At the first sign of teeth erupting, a child’s toothbrush should be used with a small dab of toothpaste. Children’s hands and mouths are different than adults. They need to use toothbrushes designed for children in order to effectively clean their teeth.

Maintain a Lifetime of Healthy Teeth

Children who maintain good oral health habits throughout their childhood are more likely to continue brushing and flossing than children who were not taught proper oral care. Lifelong cavity prevention consists of consistent brushing, flossing, and rinsing.

Encouraging proper brushing and flossing at home, along with regular dental visits and a balanced diet, will help give your child a lifetime of good dental health. Contact us today for a knowledgeable and friendly pediatric dentist accepting Medicaid. Jamboree Dentistry has the tools you need to keep your child’s teeth clean and healthy.

Every child begins to grow their teeth at a unique time, and once those first teeth begin arriving, it’s important to start brushing them with an appropriately sized, soft brush. However, as more teeth arrive and begin growing closing together, it’s time to think about flossing.

Once a child has baby teeth that are touching, it’s time to begin flossing between them to prevent food from getting stuck between those teeth.

Teach Children With Their Primary Teeth

Teaching children to floss as soon as they have primary teeth that touch together will start a good habit while they are young. However, since young children may not have very advanced motor skills, parents will need to help their children with flossing. Taking the time to help them floss their teeth each day until they are able to do it alone will help them develop a healthy habit that will last a lifetime, preventing many dental problems.

Sometimes it’s difficult to teach a small child how to floss, since it’s a foreign concept to them. You’ll need to be patient with your child. Follow these important steps to ensure your child learns to floss his teeth properly:

• Begin with a strand of floss that is 12-18 inches long
• Tie the ends in a knot with a loop that their little fingers are able to fit in, wrapping the floss around the fingers gently until just an inch of the floss is left between the fingers
• Have your child begin to slowly, gently slide floss between the teeth, moving slowly back and forth while keeping a good grip on the floss

If the floss touches your child’s gums, the gums may begin bleeding, which is normal. While it may startle your child, you can let them know that this will go away as they keep flossing. Children have tender gums, but after several days of flossing, the gums will toughen enough to be able to handling flossing without a problem.

Of course, if you have any questions about when it’s time to floss or how to help your child floss properly, you can always talk to your child’s dentist for more information.

Contact Jamboree Dentistry at our north Houston or our south Houston office for more questions. We’re a pediatric dentist accepting Medicaid, and we serve the Greater Houston area.

There are many things parents need to understand about their child’s overall health, including oral health. One of the questions many parents wonder is why baby teeth, also referred to as primary teeth, are important to their child. The truth is there are many reasons these teeth are needed for a child’s development and future oral health.

Help Learn to Speak

One of the biggest milestones of early childhood is learning to speak and teeth help fill in this capacity. Teeth help keep the tongue in place and make it easier to enunciate words. The importance of teeth in proper speech is evident in people who take out their dentures and have a conversation. So if it can interrupt the proper speech of a person who has been speaking for decades, it can have an even greater impact on a child who is learning the art of speaking.

Aids in Chewing

Another thing young children must learn to do is to eat on their own. When there are no teeth children are very limited in the things they can eat. Or they are at least limited in the preparation method. Having primary teeth allows children the ability to chew their food naturally so it does not have be mashed, ground or treated in other ways to make it easier to eat. This helps children adjust to eating regular food and can also help to foster a sense of independence.

Helps with Adult Teeth

The other important reason for baby teeth is that they help form the pathways for adult teeth to make their way to your child’s mouth, also known as erupting. This means without baby teeth the chance of a child’s teeth coming in correctly would be low. There is no denying that teeth are an important part of life, especially the adult teeth and without having the proper pathways they may never make it through.

If nothing else, baby teeth are important for cosmetic reasons. Baby teeth are appropriately sized for their mouth which is what helps make toddlers look adorable. To provide a child with the best oral care one of the things parents need to do is see the best pediatric dentists in their area. At Jamboree Dentistry, parents find that their children’s teeth are not only well cared for but that children love going there because of the caring staff and gentle care they receive.

Many children develop routine nighttime nursing or bottle-feeding habits. While a child may fall asleep more easily with the comfort of a bottle, this type of behavior could be damaging to his or her oral health. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), nursing or giving a bottle to a child on-demand and without restriction can lead to a higher risk of childhood tooth decay once a baby’s first tooth appears.

Here at Jamboree Dentistry, we have seen first-hand the effects of baby bottle decay on young children. That is why we recommend that parents be proactive in the steps they take to prevent early childhood cavities.

Nighttime Nursing and Bottle Habits

To start, avoid letting your child drink any liquid other than water from a bottle or sippy cup at night while falling asleep. Prolonged exposure to the sugary compounds in milk can cause tooth decay over time. Instead, nurse or provide your child with a bottle of milk prior to bedtime. Keep sugary liquids like juice to a minimum, and only give them in small, restricted quantities.

If necessary, a pacifier should be used in place of a bottle for nighttime or naptime comfort. Ensure that the pacifier is clean and germ-free. Do not ‘rinse’ the pacifier with saliva from your own mouth, as this introduces harmful bacteria to your child’s teeth and gums. Also, never dip your child’s pacifier in sugar-based products like juice or honey.

Proper Care of Teeth and Gums

Keep in mind that it is never too early to begin a preventative oral hygiene routine with your child. Even though a child’s first teeth are only temporary, they play a very important role in long-term oral health. If possible, wipe your child’s gums with a soft gauze pad and gently clean any visible teeth with a child-size toothbrush between feedings. This is especially important before bedtime.

Regular Dental Visits

Regular dental visits are essential for establishing a foundation for healthy oral habits. It is important that you take your child to a pediatric dentist for periodic exams and preventive treatments. Early childhood visits are highly informational and typically include oral health education that is personalized to your child’s development. If you have questions about proper brushing technique or whether your child can benefit from a fluoride-based toothpaste, your child’s pediatric dentist can help with that too.

The ADA recommends scheduling your child’s first dental appointment within six months of the first tooth eruption, but no later than your child’s first birthday. To schedule your child’s pediatric dental visit, contact our office to speak with one of our helpful appointment coordinators.

There are many things parents need to keep in mind concerning their child’s oral health. One of the biggest questions about this is when is the right time to start brushing their child’s teeth. There are a few things parents should know about this.

Starting at Birth

Before a child even gets teeth, parents can start teaching them about oral hygiene. At this point parents can use a baby toothbrush which goes on the tip of the finger and a little water. If this is not available or the baby seems to not like it, then parents can always use a washcloth and water instead. This will help control bacteria in the mouth.

Once Teeth are Present

For babies and toddlers with teeth, parents need to brush the teeth and gums twice a day using an age-appropriate toothbrush and a small smear of age-appropriate toothpaste. While brushing the child’s teeth, it is helpful to explain to them what you are doing and why it is important. Being diligent about this in early childhood can help improve their oral hygiene later in life.

For Children Ages 3 to 6

At this point, children can use about a pea-sized amount of toothpaste as they have more teeth to clean. While they should still be using an age-appropriate toothbrush, parents should remember that children do not have the dexterity or comprehension to clean their teeth fully on their own. This is why it is good to watch your children and guide them as well as help them with the process. Some parents will do a follow-up brushing to ensure they got everything, while others may opt to brush the teeth first and then let the child do it themselves.

Ages 6 and Up

At this point children should be able to brush their teeth on their own. Parents may want to watch to make sure it is being done properly. It can also be helpful to talk with the dentist about brushing habits and the best type of toothbrush for the child. The dentist can give your child pointers and help ensure you are doing all you can to keep their teeth healthy.

Baby bottle caries are cavities caused by long-term exposure to liquids that contain sugar. Sending your child to bed with a bottle of formula, milk, or juice is a primary cause of tooth decay in infants and young children. Using a bottle as a pacifier to soothe a child can also lead to caries.

What causes tooth decay in infants?

Bacteria cause tooth decay, but babies are not born with bacteria in their mouths. Bacteria are introduced by a primary caregiver who passes on his or her saliva to the child. For example, if a mother shares a spoon with her baby, she can unknowingly pass cavity-causing bacteria on to her child.

The bacteria in baby’s mouth need food to live. If there is a constant source of sugary liquids in his or her mouth, bacteria will thrive in the child’s mouth. Acid is a byproduct of bacteria breaking down sugars. The acid attacks the child’s teeth, eating into the enamel and causing decay.

Where do baby bottle caries occur?

While they can happen anywhere, baby bottle caries most often occur in the front upper teeth.

How can you prevent baby bottle caries?

Here’s ways you can prevent baby bottle caries.

• Don’t share eating utensils with your baby, and certainly don’t clean a pacifier with your mouth. Wipe your child’s gums with a clean damp cloth after each feeding.
• After you child get his or her baby teeth, brush them with a child-size toothbrush and a rice-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste until the age of 3.
• Between the ages of 3 and 6, use a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste to clean your child’s teeth.
• Be certain to monitor your child’s brushing until you’re certain he or she won’t swallow toothpaste. This is usually around age 7.
• Only use formula, milk, or breast milk in bottles. Don’t give your child a bottle filled with sugar water, juice, sports drinks, or soft drinks.
• Don’t send infants to bed with a bottle. Let them finish the bottle before putting them down for a nap.
• Don’t dip your child’s pacifier in sugar or honey.
• Let your child practice drinking from a cup so he or she will be done with bottles by the age of 1.
• Make sure your child’s teeth are as healthy as they can be by scheduling regular checkups. 

Preventing children from developing tooth decay is vital to lifelong dental health. While tooth decay can be treated if caught in time, it’s preferable to prevent tooth decay from taking hold within a child’s mouth in the first place. There are some simple things parents can do to prevent children from getting tooth decay and the ensuing dental problems that can arise.

Brushing before bedtime is vital.

Tooth decay develops as a result of sugars and other food products in the mouth combining with the naturally occurring bacteria. This causes acid to form, which can attack the surface of the teeth and damage the enamel. If tooth decay is allowed to sit in the mouth without being treated, it can cause more serious problems like cavities and gum disease.

Often, a lack of brushing and proper oral hygiene is the main reason for tooth decay forming. Proper brushing and flossing are usually enough to remove the acids from the mouth before they can do prolonged damage and stop the formation of tooth decay. Brushing before going to sleep is especially vital, as the acids in the mouth will attack the surface of the teeth and gums all night if they aren’t removed at bedtime.

Visit the dentist as early as possible.

One of the most important things parents can do is teach children good dental habits and the importance of visiting the dentist from a young age. Parents should take their children to the dentist for regular visits, beginning when the first tooth erupts from the gum line.

Starting these visits early will help children understand the importance of regular dental checkups and can also prevent fear of the dentist when the child becomes an adult. Starting visits to the dentist early will enable the dentist to check on the tooth’s position and development, and ensure there are no signs of early tooth decay.

Once the exam is complete, the dentist can recommend a specific program of brushing, flossing, and other treatments for parents to teach to their children at home. Encouraging proper brushing and flossing at home, along with regular dental visits and a balanced diet, will help give your child a lifetime of good dental health.