Sprout Dentistry For Kids Blog

As a parent, you’ve got plenty of concerns on your plate, and looking for a trustworthy, exceptional children’s dentist can be a big feat to take on. When you Google “dentist near me,” you’ll likely get dozens of results that will be overwhelming to narrow down. Fortunately, there are some key factors that you can take into account to narrow down your list of pediatric dentists so you choose the best option for your kiddo. Read on to learn four qualities that can distinguish the best from the rest.

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Trying to keep your children from getting sick becomes more difficult than usual during cold-and-flu season when winter rolls around. Understandably, when they are sick it can distract you from things you might normally be on top of, such as making sure they brush their teeth. The average child will get 6-8 colds per year with most of them coming during the winter. After all, children are more prone to disease, as they constantly touch everything and chew on more than they should. Imagine needing to take them to the dentist for a cavity while they were sick. No adult wants to endure that, either. Keep reading for some tips on kids’ oral care during cold-and-flu season from a pediatric dentist in McKinney.

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After a day or two of complaining about a toothache, you finally take your child to their dentist. Upon examination, the pediatric dentist says they have a deep cavity and recommends a procedure that’s like a root canal for kids. But your child only has baby teeth—should the tooth just be removed entirely? In this post, you’ll learn about the treatments that can rescue your little one’s baby teeth and why early extraction isn’t the answer.

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Your child has been looking forward to trick-or-treating for months. They’ve carefully picked out their costume and dreamed about all the candy they’ll receive. But, as a concerned parent, you worry about cavities after Halloween. Is there candy that’s more smile friendly than others? How can you make sure your child makes it through without damage to their teeth? Read on to find out!

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When your little one is gleeful about the new gap in their grin and excitedly awaiting a visit from the Tooth Fairy, it doesn’t get much cuter than that. But what if your child knocked out a tooth unexpectedly? While this can be scary for your youngster in the moment, it can be stressful for you too. Like anything that happens without being anticipated, it’s always better to have a plan. Keep reading to find out from a pediatric emergency dentist in McKinney what you should do immediately after the tooth loss as well as learn how a dentist can restore their smile to a pain-free state.

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You knew having a brand-new baby would be a challenge, but your little one keeps crying no matter what you do – feeding, changing their diaper, rocking – and nothing seems to help for long. Their colic is making you miserable, and you know in your gut that something must be wrong, but what? Have you considered the possibility that your baby with colic could have a tongue tie? This post explains how colic can be caused by a tongue tie in McKinney and how the problem is treated to keep everyone happier.

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Before the baby arrived, you planned on breastfeeding, but now that they’re here, you’re finding it more difficult than you thought it would be. Don’t give up on this bonding experience! Through your other mommy friends, you hear about their babies’ problems, including a lip or tongue tie. But how do you know that your baby has one? Here are three ways to tell!

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Losing baby teeth can be a fun rite of passage for kids. Having teeth extracted . . . is much less enjoyable, although sometimes necessary. For whatever reason, if your child needs to have teeth extracted, the healing process can require time and patience. What will your kid need throughout this recovery time after children’s tooth extraction? Read on to find out!

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Bringing a baby home is one of the most exciting and magical experiences for many – and it can also be a difficult, trying time, especially if breastfeeding doesn’t come easily. Nursing is not a given for a number of reasons, and one significant factor is the baby’s ability to latch on. If your little one is popping on and off the breast or otherwise having issues transferring milk, keep reading to learn the four reasons for latching problems from a McKinney dentist. 

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There’s nothing better than taking a dip in the pool when it’s hotter than blazes – and it’s almost never been steamier than it is this month! Swimming is great fun for kids and good for their overall health, too, but did you know that the chlorine in the pool’s water can actually affect their little smiles in a not-so-positive way? If you’ve been wondering if swimming is bad for your teeth, a McKinney dentist has the answer below. 

Effects of Chlorine on Teeth

Even if you keep your mouth closed when you swim, some chlorinated water may still seep in. When it’s your child that’s swimming, there’s no way to prevent them from opening their mouth. In fact, they may make a game out of collecting water in their cheeks and spitting it back out – which really exposes their tooth enamel to the chlorine in the water. 

Unfortunately, the pH levels in chlorinated water can cause enamel erosion, which can lead to the following symptoms:

• Discoloration of the teeth
• Tooth sensitivity, especially to heat or cold
• Edges of teeth beginning to look transparent

How to Protect Your Child’s Smile

Because most kiddos swim for short periods of time only in the summer, you should know that, in all likelihood, your child will not experience damage to their teeth as a result of the pool. However, this can be more of a concern in pools that have been overly chlorinated. If you own your own pool, the CDC recommends pH levels to be between 7.2 and 7.8, and the free chlorine concentration should be at least 1 part per million. 

It is still important to take steps to protect your child’s smile from enamel erosion. Even if it is unlikely to occur from swimming, other things pose a threat – like drinking carbonated beverages, eating lots of candy, and chewing gum with sugar. 

Some ways to prevent enamel erosion include:

• Encouraging your child to brush their teeth for two minutes, twice a day
• Using toothpaste with fluoride, which strengthens tooth enamel
• Helping your little one floss between their teeth
• Scheduling two checkups and cleanings with your pediatric dentist

Now that you know a little more about how to protect your child’s teeth this summer, go have fun! The water is calling you and your little one. 

Meet the Pediatric Dentists

Dr. Justin and Dr. Sage lead the team at Sprout Dentistry for Kids. They pair up to provide excellent dental services for little ones with a variety of needs – from basic checkups and cleanings to tooth extractions and more, including holistic dentistry! To learn more about protecting your smile from the summer elements or to book a dentist with your pediatric dentist in McKinney, contact their office via their website or by phone at (469) 813-7127.