Tongue Cleaning For Children

A parent’s goal in life is to raise their children happy and healthy. An important aspect of your child’s health involves oral hygiene. But there is one part of the mouth that is regularly ignored, and that is the tongue. Drs. Joseph and Julie Boulos recommend tongue cleaning for children. This cleans off any unhealthy bacterial coatings. To learn more, contact All Coast Dental in Pacific Beach, CA.

 

Just because your child’s baby teeth aren’t permanent doesn’t mean they aren’t important. Teaching your child good dental hygiene now will follow them into adulthood. This prevents the development of childhood cavities. Tongue brushing is a beneficial way to accomplish this. The tongue is naturally sticky, holding onto bacteria and debris. A tongue scraper removes these substances from the surface of the tongue. There is even research that tongue scraping increases your sense of taste.

 

Your child’s toothbrush works as a tongue scraper in a tight pinch. The best option is buying an actual child-sized tongue scraper from your local grocery store or supermarket. These are sorted by age to guarantee a correct fit. The width of the scraper should match the width of the tongue. Your Pacific Beach, CA, dentists only recommend tongue scraping for children over the age of five.

 

First, show your child how the tongue cleaner works. Bring them with you to the bathroom and place them in front of the mirror. Ask them to stick out their tongue. While watching in the mirror, guide their hand which is holding the tongue cleaner. Move it gently from the back of the tongue down to the tip. Remind them to wash off the apparatus every time.

 

Proper dental health is a guarantee for a brighter future. Help keep your child’s teeth healthy and happy. All Coast Dental is located in Pacific Beach, CA. To schedule an appointment with Drs. Joseph and Julie Boulos, call 858-270-4904 or visit https://www.allcoastdental.net/.

Fluorosis

All Coast Dental believes in giving patients family-friendly service. It’s why Drs. Joseph and Julie Boulos treat patients of all ages. A common pediatric dental condition we see is called Fluorosis. It’s when a child is exposed to larger amounts of fluoride, creating thin white streaks on the teeth. This condition isn’t dangerous but offers parents a good moment to evaluate their child’s nutritional habits. To learn more, contact our office in Pacific Beach, CA.

 

Children are the only demographic at risk for fluorosis. That’s because it affects teeth that haven’t emerged from the gum line. It’s important to note that this isn’t a harmful condition. Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral found in our drinking water. It’s also in most dental products. Your child should have their teeth examined to rule out other problems.

 

Breastfeeding is a healthy way to minimize your child’s exposure to fluoride. It provides your child with healthy and organic nutrients. When you use formula, your baby is at risk of fluorosis. That’s because most formulas require water. You can avoid this by breastfeeding as long as you’re able or comfortable. Parents of older children need to closely monitor their child’s toothpaste habits. A child below the age of three shouldn’t use more toothpaste than a grain of rice.

 

Have your child start brushing their teeth twice a day after they turn three. They need a pea-sized amount of toothpaste. Watch them closely to make sure they don’t swallow it. The same goes for other products like mouthwash. These contain fluoride, and swallowing them increases their risk for fluorosis.

 

All Coast Dental is located in Pacific Beach, CA. To schedule an appointment with Drs. Joseph or Julie Boulos, call 858-270-4904 or visit https://www.allcoastdental.net/.

Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

Children of any age can develop tooth decay, especially babies and toddlers. This is because bacteria in the mouth change the sugar in foods and drinks into acid that attacks the teeth. The most common way this happens is when parents put their children to bed with a bottle of formula, milk, juice, soft drinks, or sugared beverages. Our doctors at All Coast Dental are here to teach your child the importance of oral care at a young age, and to give parents tips as well.

Tooth decay may first appear as white spots at the gum line on the upper front teeth. These spots may be hard to detect at first but our doctors will perform a thorough oral exam once you bring your child in to see us. To avoid baby bottle tooth decay parents should never put their child to bed with a bottle, teach him or her to drink from a sippy cup as soon as possible, and limit the amount of sweet or sticky foods the child eats.

If you have questions or concerns regarding baby bottle tooth decay or pediatric dentistry, please give us a call. To learn about services provided at our practice, visit www.allcoastdental.net for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at All Coast Dental in Pacific Beach, CA, call 858-270-4904.  

Pacifiers and Teeth

Parents often struggle with weaning their child off a pacifier.  Infants are soothed to a sense of security by pacifiers, and when the time comes it is one of the hardest habits to break.  It can require a great deal of persuasion, but because of the effect they can have on the growth and development of the teeth and mouth children should stop using pacifiers by the age of two.  At All Coast Dental, we always welcome new pediatric patients, especially those who have yet to wean off of the pacifier.

Prolonged pacifier use can cause changes in the shape of the roof of the mouth, prevent proper growth of the mouth, and create problems with tooth alignment.  Narrowing of the roof of the mouth and misalignment of the jaws can also occur.  Using a pacifier too long can also lead to a variety of complications including tilting in of the bottom teeth, and slanting in of the top and front teeth. Until the age of two, any alignment problem with the teeth or developing bone is usually corrected within six months after pacifier use has stopped.  We can help and support parents having any trouble weaning their child off a pacifier before that age.

If you have questions about pacifiers and teeth development, visit www.allcoastdental.net for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at All Coast Dental in Pacific Beach, CA, call 858-270-4904.  

Pediatric Patients

All Coast Dental is proud to serve the families from our community, and we want them to know it’s just as important for children to have regular dental visits.  A child’s first dental visit should be scheduled when the first baby tooth appears, or around the child’s first birthday.  Baby teeth eventually come out, but their growth and development is important for overall oral health for the child and the development of their adult teeth.

Baby teeth should be brushed and cared for like adult teeth, and it’s important to monitor their growth and development.  Missing any tooth for too long can change the development of surrounding teeth and compromise the structure of the jaw bone, but regular checkups can keep a child’s tooth development right on track.  Our dentists are skilled and experienced in administering dental care to children.  If your child has seems nervous about seeing a dentist for the first time, we recommend going through a brushing routine with them at home, and talking about the dental visit before you arrive.  Once we get your child’s oral health off to a great start, we offer a full range of services for child patients including dental cleanings, fluoride treatments and sealants.

We love to see good oral hygiene habits formed early and make lifetime patients out of kids from our community!  To learn more about pediatric dental care and all the services provided at our practice, visit www.allcoastdental.net for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at All Coast Dental in Pacific Beach, CA, call 858-270-4904.  

Celebrate Children’s Dental Health Month

February is the observance of the American Dental Association’s National Children’s Dental Health Month. Here at All Coast Dental, we celebrate our pediatric patients year-round and encourage parents to be well-informed about how to take care of their child’s teeth. Healthy teeth allow children to speak and eat normally and we can help make their oral care routine fun and not a chore.

Though baby teeth eventually fall out, it’s important to keep them as clean as possible. Preventive services include X-rays, dental sealants, orthodontic treatment and much more. Our doctors at All Coast Dental help parents review certain areas of prevention so that their child can have a healthy mouth throughout their lifetime. National Children’s Dental Health Month helps raise awareness about the importance of good oral health habits. How are you going to celebrate?

If you have questions or concerns regarding pediatric dentistry or pediatric oral care, please give us a call. To learn about services provided at our practice, visit www.allcoastdental.net for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at All Coast Dental in Pacific Beach, CA, call 858-270-4904.  

Losing the First Tooth

If you have a little kid that’s turning into a big kid, losing the first baby tooth is on the horizon.  This an exciting sign of growing up, but many kids still feel anxious or uncomfortable dealing with the unfamiliar sensation of a loose tooth.  The doctors and staff of All Coast Dental want kids and parents to be prepared and understand why this pain occurs so your child can still have a positive tooth loss experience.

Before a baby tooth is lost, it begins to break free of its nerve endings.  This is the natural process that makes the tooth feel loose and wobbly at the gums, and the area will become swollen and red.  It can be painful, and for kids a great way to soothe tooth pain is applying a cold compress to the outside of the mouth in the affected area.  Children may complain that they find it hard to bite or chew with loose or missing teeth.  It’s still important to keep eating healthy while they grow new teeth so encourage soup, pureed fruits, and cooked vegetables.  A few tales of the tooth fairy can usually ease a little pain, too!

To learn more about teeth cleanings and all the services provided at the practice, visit www.allcoastdental.net for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at All Coast Dental in Pacific Beach, CA, call 858-270-4904.  

Your Child’s First Visit to All Coast Dental

If you are a new parent, you may find yourself asking, “When should my child first see a dentist?” The answer is that a child should have their first dental visit by their first birthday. The first dental visit is usually short and involves very little treatment. It is our goal here at All Coast Dental to make your child’s first consultation with us goes as smooth and comfortable as possible.

The purpose of the child’s first dental visit is to learn about your child’s oral health and how to best care for your child’s unique needs before any problems occur. Many dental problems can be prevented or more easily treated in the early stages. At the visit, you should expect one of our dentists or hygienists to review your child’s history, respond to your questions and concerns and talk with you about your child’s overall oral health, including development, teething, and oral habits such as sucking.

If you are searching for a pediatric dentist, look no further and give us a call. To learn about services provided at our practice, visit www.allcoastdental.net for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at All Coast Dental in Pacific Beach, CA, call 858-270-4904.  

Pediatric Dentistry at All Coast Dental

Our general dentists at All Coast Dental have the experience and qualifications to care for a child’s teeth, gums, and mouth throughout the various stages of childhood. In addition, they each take pride in educating your child about the importance of oral hygiene and do their best to make dental hygiene fun yet effective.

Children are prone to tooth decay, partly because young children’s teeth are difficult to clean. Because our dentists work with patients with new teeth, they place an early emphasis on oral health education. These duties include educating not only the patients themselves but their parents on the best ways to keep those pearly whites clean. While providing basic dental services to pediatric patients, the goal is to help them establish healthy habits that will follow them through youth and beyond.

If your child is due for a dental checkup, please give us a call. To learn more about the pediatric services as well as other services we provide at our practice, visit www.allcoastdental.net for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at All Coast Dental in Pacific Beach, CA, call 858-270-4909.