Flossing

Flossing is an important part of your dental hygiene routine, regardless of age. Children should start flossing their teeth or have their teeth flossed for them, as soon as they start getting baby teeth. Once they start fitting closely together, it’s time to start. At Kidz Connextion Dental & Braces, we encourage parents to floss their children's teeth. Here are a few tips and tricks for pediatric flossing.

Between the ages of 2-6 years old, your child's baby teeth will come in. If any two teeth are touching than flossing is needed. The best advice that we offer at Kidz Connextion Dental & Braces is to get your child in to the routine of flossing early. That way they understand from an early age that it should be done daily. Stress the importance of flossing, flossing for them daily until they can do it themselves. Make sure to invest in floss that is soft and flexible. This will avoid injuring their teeth and gums.

Teach your child the three basic steps for flossing. First, take about eighteen inches of floss and tie it around the middle finger on each hand. Next, hold the floss tight with your thumb and index fingers, and carefully slide it between the teeth. Finally, curve the floss around the tooth in a “C” shape. Move it up an down along the sides of the tooth.

For more tips and tricks, or to schedule your child’s dental appointment, visit one of our Kidz Connextion Dental & Braces offices in Phoenix, AZ. or visit our website.

Children & Dental Anxiety

There are many adults that are afraid of the dentist, so it shouldn't be a surprise that children experience dental anxiety too. Children get this fear of the dentist from many sources. If you get nervous before the dentist, your child might pick up on that. At Kidz Connextion Dental & Braces, we specialize in pediatric dentistry. Here are a few causes of children’s dental phobia and what to do about it.

Though the most common cause of pediatric dental fear is caused by the parents, there are other factors as well. Children who have experienced painful dental visits will have a harder time going back. The sight or feel of dental instruments can be obtrusive and alarming too. An unappealing dental setting might also make a child uneasy. This is why at Kidz Connextion Dental & Braces, we offer a child-friendly office. Pediatric dentists are experienced and specialized in making your children feel comfortable.

The best solution to pediatric dental anxiety is to create a friendly image of the dentist. Try to avoid telling your children any of your negative past experiences with the dentist. This will only make them apprehensive. Give your children positive information instead. Let your child know that there is nothing to be afraid of and that dental visits are important.

Try to get your children used to the dentist as early as possible. A child should have their first dental appointment by their first birthday at the latest.

Kidz Connextion Dental & Braces are located throughout the Phoenix, AZ., area. To schedule an appointment, visit our website or call our offices.

Choosing a Toothbrush

There are a lot of options to choose when deciding what toothbrush you want to use. At Kidz Connextion Dental and Braces, We advise our patients to buy a new toothbrush every 3-4 months and after the bristles are worn down. If the bristles on your toothbrush begin to get splayed and distorted, it means you are no longer effectively brushing your teeth.

We encourage our patients who have trouble brushing for a full two minutes to get an electric toothbrush. Electric bristles rotate to help you remove plaque from your teeth and gums more effectively. Patients who have healthy teeth and follow good dental cleaning habits, a traditional toothbrush is effective in cleaning your teeth. The most important thing is that your teeth and gums are clean from plaque and debris.

We advise our patients who haven’t had a cleaning in the last 6 months make an appointment with us to ensure your teeth are healthy. Choosing a toothbrush can be difficult, if you have any questions on what toothbrush works best for your teeth please contact us.

Kidz Connextion Dental Care maintains office around Phoenix. To find out more, please visit our website at Kidzconnextion.com.

Secondhand Smoke & Childhood Cavities

There are many reasons to stop smoking and your children's health is one of them. A research study published in May 2001 by the University of Rochester linked second-hand smoke to development of cavities in children. Smoking stains and cracks your teeth while raising your likelihood of oral cancer.

Since researcher Dr. C. Andrew Aligne’s research was published more studies have been done on the topic. In the U.S., four thousand federal health records of children aged four to eleven were examined. Smoking exposure was measured by the presence of cotinine, a nicotine by-product, in the blood. After analyzing numerous variables, the rate of cavities in children was still found to be twice as high in smoking households. Cavities were found in both baby and permanent teeth, but more prominently in baby teeth.

How smoking is exactly causing these cavities to occur is still unknown. Speculation centers around nicotine leading to infections, possibly by weakening the child's immune system. Further research needs to be done to truly understand the connection between smoking and cavities.

If you are concerned that your child might be second-hand smoke decay, or have any questions about any of our other services, feel free to visit one of Kidz Connextion Dental & Braces offices located around the Phoenix, AZ. area. For more information, or to schedule an appointment, visit our website at https://www.kidzconnextion.com/.

Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

Although your child's baby teeth are temporary, don’t make the mistake of not taking care of them. Baby teeth are even more susceptible to cavities than adult teeth. Adult teeth are tougher, which helps prevent cavities. Tooth decay in toddlers and infants is commonly referred to as Baby Bottle Tooth Decay. At Kidz Connextion Dental & Braces, our dentists can prevent and treat baby bottle tooth decay.

There are many factors that can cause bottle tooth decay. Prolonged and recurrent exposure to sugary drinks is the most common factor. The American Dental Association recommends only placing formula, milk, or breast milk in bottles. Avoid sugary drinks like juice, soft drinks, or sugar water. Try to have your child finish their bottle or drink before going to bed. Having a bottle with them in bed allows for moisture to accumulate in their mouth. If they use a pacifier, provide them with a clean one. Do not dip the pacifier in sugar or honey. By their first birthday, encourage them to try drinking from a sippy or age-appropriate cups.

Be wary of germs and bacteria as well. Bottle tooth decay often begins when a mothers saliva is transferred to her child. When the mother transfers a spoon from her mouth to her infants or cleans their pacifier with her mouth, bacteria can be passed to the child. Making sure your child has enough access to fluoride also helps prevent decay. Fluoride can be found naturally in the U.S. water supply in forty-two out of the fifty states.

If you are concerned that your child might be experiencing baby bottle tooth decay, or have any questions about any of our other services, feel free to visit one of Kidz Connextion Dental & Braces offices located around the Phoenix, AZ. area. For more information, or to schedule an appointment, visit our website at https://www.kidzconnextion.com/.

Sealants

At Kidz Connextion Dental & Braces, we advise our patients to get sealants for their molars. Sealants are a thin plastic coating that is painted on the surface of molars to prevent tooth decay. Molars can be hard to clean because they are in the back of the mouth and have deep crevices. Since they’re used for chewing, food debris often gets stuck on their surfaces. Children with sealants are less likely to develop cavities because the plastic coating that acts as a shield to protect enamel and somewhat flattens out tooth indentations.

We encourage our patients to get sealants after the first set of molars erupt to protect them from plaque. The first set of molars usually develops between the ages of 5 and 7; while the permanent sets of molars develop between ages 11 and 14. Sealants last for about 10 years and can be replaced.
Don’t forget, even with sealants we still want our patients to practice good oral hygiene by brushing and flossing twice a day. We want our patients to have the healthiest teeth and the brightest smile!

If you have any questions or concerns about sealants or our services, please visit our website at www.kidzconnextion.com for more information. Kidz Connextion Dental & Braces maintains offices around Phoenix.

Pacifiers and Tooth Development

Kidz Connextion dentists are often asked by parents about weaning their small child off a pacifier.  Infants are soothed to a sense of security by pacifiers, but 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. 

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.

Kidz Connextion Dental & Braces maintains offices around Phoenix.  To find out more, visit our website at Kidzconnextion.com.