As a parent, you want your child to have a healthy smile. Strong pearly whites are crucial to their overall health. Still, you might be worried about exposing them to fluoride. Various rumors say it harms childhood brain development. Given that fact, you might wonder if fluoride is safe for kids. Well, your pediatric dentist is here to settle the matter. To find out why fluoride is fine for your little one, just keep reading!

As parents, we encourage our children to stay active and participate in sports. It comes with numerous benefits, including physical fitness, teamwork, and confidence-building. However, it’s essential to be aware that sports involvement also puts our little athletes at risk of dental emergencies. Read on to learn which are the most common oral injuries among child athletes and how you can prevent them.

Perhaps you think adults are the only ones who’d need a tooth pulled. After all, don’t kids lose their “baby teeth” with time anyway? What would be the point of removing them? In truth, though, there are good reasons a child may need a tooth extraction. Left unaddressed, the pearly white could cause long-term problems. To learn more, let your pediatric dentist explain. Here is a summary of why kids might need a tooth extraction, how to prepare them for one, and tips on post-extraction care.

Parenthood is filled with all sorts of challenges; and though it’s always worth it in the end, some things can feel quite burdensome—including waiting for your child to finish teething. Fortunately, there are several ways you can make this process easier for your little one, including using teething rings! But what are these devices and are they truly safe? Here’s what your pediatric dentist wants you to know.

Toothbrushes are pretty important; these nifty little devices are our primary means of cleaning our teeth and preventing nasty oral health issues from affecting our well-being. And these days, there are all sorts of types and designs, each suited for specific needs—including child-specific brushes to help your little one maintain their smile! But how often should you replace your child’s toothbrush? Here’s what your child’s dentist wants you to know.

Any parent will tell you that taking care of a child can be hard, but that the toughest thing is to try and get them to take care of themselves. That’s certainly the case when it comes to oral health; trying to help your child to brush their own teeth properly can take a lot of doing on the part of the parent.

Thankfully, there are some things you can try to make oral hygiene a little bit more exciting for your kids. Here are some things that you can try.

As a parent, it can be a bit of a challenge getting your child to start brushing their teeth on their own, and even more so for them to do it correctly. It may seem like, no matter how hard you try, you just can’t get them to be invested in their smiles. That can lead to incomplete hygiene at home, and anxiety at the dentist’s office.

By incorporating dentistry into their playtime, you can help your child to get excited about the prospect of taking care of their teeth! Here are a few examples of dental toys that can help you do that for them.

Feeding is one of the most important parts of early childhood development, and when it doesn’t go smoothly, that can be incredibly frustrating for parents. Fussy children and sore spots can derail the process of breastfeeding, which can make the already-stressful period of early childhood even more so.

If your baby is struggling with feeding, it could be that they have a lip tie. If you want to know more about this condition, here’s some information that could be helpful to you.

Babies love having pacifiers, but unfortunately, it doesn’t mean pacifiers are always good, especially as the child and their teeth grow. Excessive use can cause abnormal tooth development as well as other health problems. But the good news is this is avoidable! Find out from a pediatric dentist in Chesterfield how to ensure pacifiers are a comfort and not a problem for you and your little one.

Experienced parents understand teething is often an unpleasant experience for babies, as well as parents when they feel helpless to relieve the discomfort. The last of your child’s “baby teeth,” two-year molars are the final teeth to erupt until they get their permanent set. Most kids get their second molars between 25-33 months on the top row and 23-31 months on the bottom. Read on to learn from a pediatric dentist in Chesterfield about signs these molars are erupting, tips to manage pain, and when to visit their dentist for help.