Does Your Mouth Have the Winter Blues?

Does Your Mouth Have the Winter Blues?

Posted on by kidsparklenj
You probably know that dropping temperatures, biting wind and a drier climate can wreak havoc on your skin. But did you know that exposure to colder weather can put you at increased risk for developing common dental problems, too? Being aware of the winter dental woes below – along with practicing good oral hygiene – can help keep your mouth clean and healthy throughout the season.

 

Cold Sores
These small blisters around your lips can be triggered by stress, fatigue — and cold weather. Keep your lips moisturized to help minimize cold sore breakouts, wash your hands often and try to avoid touching your mouth.

 

Canker Sores
Canker sores tend to peak during dry winter months and can be aggravated even more by exposure to spicy and acidic foods. Rinsing your mouth with a mixture of warm water and salt may help ease symptoms.

 

Chapped Lips
It’s hard to avoid exposing your mouth to wind, cold and sun while enjoying your favorite outdoor activities, but cooler weather can quickly dry the thin skin on your lips. Soothe dry, cracked lips by applying a bit of petroleum jelly, and protect lips from damaging UV rays by applying a lip balm containing SPF several times a day. In severe cases, the area around the mouth gets red and raw this is called lip lickers dermatitis.

 

The most important treatment of lip licker’s dermatitis is to stop licking the lips. Regular use of a bland emollient (like Vaseline or Acquaphor) is helpful. Hourly application during the day may be necessary. Parents might need to apply a liberal amount at bedtime. A short course of a topical immunomodulator (tacrolimus ointment or pimecrolimuscream) can hasten resolution of the lesion if treatment with Vaseline is not successful.

 

Dry Mouth
Less moisture in the air can lead to less saliva production and a feeling of dry mouth. Drink plenty of water to keep your mouth hydrated and consider placing a humidifier in your home to increase moisture in the air.

 

Tooth Sensitivity
Breathing in cold winter air, and consuming hot or cold drinks can lead to tooth pain. To help relieve discomfort, try brushing your teeth with a toothpaste especially for sensitive teeth.

 

Gum Infection
Winter colds and weaker immune systems can leave your gums more vulnerable to inflammation and infection. To help keep germs away, try to avoid touching your mouth, and continue to keep up good oral hygiene habits.
How to Choose the Best Toothpaste for Your Kids

How to Choose the Best Toothpaste for Your Kids

Posted on by kidsparklenj

Finding the right toothpaste for your kids can go a long way towards instilling healthy dental habits. If your kids hate their toothpaste flavor, they will be much less likely to keep up with brushing. That’s why you should take the time to find the right toothpaste that your kids approve of. We’ve put together a few tips below that should help you out with choosing the best toothpaste for your kids. This article is brought to you by Sparkles Dentistry for Children, the best kids’ dentist in West Orange, NJ.

  1. Includes Fluoride

One of the most important ingredients to look for when you are choosing a toothpaste type for your child is fluoride. Fluoride helps to prevent cavities and does a great job of cleaning your children’s teeth with each brushing. You should be able to find out if a certain toothpaste brand includes fluoride simply by checking the label. Any pediatric dentist in West Orange, NJ, will agree that fluoride is an important ingredient for kids’ toothpaste.

  1. ADA Approved

Another key for choosing the best toothpaste for your kids is purchasing toothpaste with the ADA seal of approval. Their strict testing procedures signify that the toothpaste meets high dental health standards. You can typically find the American Dental Association seal of approval directly on the box. You have high standards as a parent, so it only makes sense that you would want your toothpaste to have high standards as well.

  1. Good Flavor

If your kids hate the way that their toothpaste tastes, they will be much less likely to commit to regular brushing habits. Some children complain that mint toothpaste is too spicy or gross. That’s why you should try to find toothpaste with a flavor that is kid-friendly. You can choose flavors like berry and bubblegum that aren’t as minty. That way, your children will look forward to brushing their teeth twice daily thanks to the great tasting toothpaste they get to use.

We hope this article helps you find the perfect type of toothpaste for your kids. Make sure they are brushing twice daily and heading to the kids’ dentist in West Orange, NJ, for regular checkups. By keeping the tips above in mind, you will be helping your children stay on top of proper dental health habits at all times.

4 Benefits of Dental Fillings for Kids

4 Benefits of Dental Fillings for Kids

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There are plenty of kids these days that really love drinking and eating things with high sugar content. This can lead to dental health issues like tooth decay and cavities, which no parent wants for their children. However, dealing with cavities is a necessity for many parents, which is why learning a little bit about dental fillings can help you out. Dental fillings are commonly used to remove the decayed and damaged part of your kids’ teeth and replace them with special materials that prevent additional damage. Taking your kids to the pediatric dentist in West Orange, NJ, for dental fillings is a great way to help them avoid more serious dental issues later in life. Below, we are going to walk you through 4 benefits of dental fillings for kids to help you understand why it’s a good procedure to pursue.

  1. Prevents More Serious Dental Conditions

If your child has a cavity or tooth decay, you should try to get it fixed as soon as you can. That way, you can avoid more serious dental conditions like infections and periodontal disease. Make sure you take your kids to the kids’ dentist in West Orange, NJ, to get their dental fillings put in before their dental health issues get worse.

  1. Fillings Can Last 15 Years or More

Another big benefit associated with getting a filling is that they can last 15 years or more. These days, the materials that are used for dental fillings are built to last. They will be effective for a long time after they are put in your child’s mouth. It protects their teeth for quite a long time and provides parents with peace of mind knowing that their child’s dental health is good.

  1. Tooth-Colored Fillings Provide a Natural Look

Some dental fillings can be the same exact color as your child’s natural teeth. That means after the dental filling has been put into your child’s mouth, it will look completely natural. They will blend in with the rest of your child’s teeth, so no one will be able to tell your child has fillings. Make sure you head to a reputable pediatric dentist in West Orange, NJ, for your child’s dental fillings.

  1. Reduce Pain

If your children are dealing with dental health problems like tooth decay and cavities, they are probably going to experience pain when eating and drinking. With dental fillings, eating is much less painful for them.

Why Get Your Child’s Wisdom Teeth Removed?

Why Get Your Child’s Wisdom Teeth Removed?

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If you are a parent, the idea of having your child partake in dental surgery isn’t something that sounds too appealing. However, when it comes to wisdom teeth, it’s a procedure that can benefit your children greatly. Getting your child’s wisdom teeth removed really makes a lot of sense. Wisdom teeth are the last permanent molars to emerge from the gums and can cause several issues if you don’t get them removed. You can always take your children to Sparkles Dentistry for Children, the best pediatric dentist in West Orange, NJ, if you have any questions about wisdom teeth. Below, we are going to walk you through a few of the reasons why you should get your child’s wisdom teeth removed.

  1. Prevents Impacted Wisdom Teeth

Perhaps the best reason to have your child’s wisdom teeth removed is when they are impacted. Impacted teeth means that the tooth has not erupted from the gums. This can cause pain and lead to infection if not properly treated, so make sure you are taking your kids in for regular checkups at the kids’ dentist in West Orange, NJ. This preventative procedure will help your children out in the long run with avoiding periodontal disease, infections, and damage to other teeth. Don’t let your child suffer from impacted wisdom teeth; make sure you get them removed before any of these serious conditions starts to affect their dental health.

  1. Tooth and Jaw Alignment Problems

If your child has all of their wisdom teeth and they are fully erupted, it’s pretty common for them to cause tooth and jaw alignment problems. Your child might be dealing with headaches or have trouble brushing their wisdom teeth since they are so far back in their mouth. They also might be dealing with crooked teeth when their wisdom teeth are fully grown in. This presents another great reason to have wisdom teeth removed. By taking your child to the pediatric dentist in West Orange, NJ, you can help them avoid serious tooth and jaw alignment problems.

  1. Avoid Infection

As we mentioned earlier, impacted wisdom teeth can lead to serious infections. Even if the wisdom teeth are partially erupted, it can be very difficult to keep that part of the mouth clean. By getting your child’s wisdom teeth removed, you can avoid infection and keep their mouths healthy.

3 Common Pediatric Dental Health Issues to Look Out For

3 Common Pediatric Dental Health Issues to Look Out For

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As a parent, it’s your responsibility to make sure your kids are practicing proper dental health care. That means knowing what types of issues to look out for and regularly taking them to the kids’ dentist in West Orange, NJ. The more you know about dental health issues that affect kids, the better suited you will be to help your kids avoid them. That’s why we’ve created a list of 3 common pediatric dental health issues to look out for below. Keep reading on to learn more.

  1. Losing Baby Teeth

Your children will go through the gradual process of losing their baby teeth and growing in their adult teeth. It might be concerning when your kids start losing teeth but the truth is that this is a natural process. Kids usually lose their first baby tooth right around the age of six. If you are concerned about your kids losing their baby teeth or have questions about the process, reach out to the kids’ dentist in West Orange, NJ, for advice.

  1. Thumb Sucking

Thumb sucking is a natural behavior for many kids. However, you need to understand that if your kids are still sucking their thumbs when their adult teeth start to come in, it can lead to tooth alignment issues. Make sure you monitor your child’s thumb-sucking habits and make sure they kick the habit after their adult teeth start coming in.

  1. Tooth Decay

Another common pediatric dental health issue to look out for is tooth decay. This can occur from sugary drinks and too much drinking from the baby bottle. Cavities are the result of tooth decay, so make sure you are extra careful about what kinds of drinks and snacks you are letting your kids get a hold of. Help your kids learn the habits of brushing twice daily and flossing to avoid problems related to tooth decay. If you think your children are dealing with tooth decay, head over to the pediatric dentist in West Orange, NJ, sooner rather than later. This is the type of dental health issue that can get a lot worse over time if it goes untreated.

Taking care of your children’s teeth while they are young is extremely important. We hope this article helps you understand what kind of issues to look out for.

Common Reasons for Toothaches

Common Reasons for Toothaches

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Whenever your child is complaining of a toothache, you need to help them get relief fast. Toothaches are painful and can also be a signal of serious dental health issues. That’s why it’s always a good idea to read up on the common reasons for toothaches so that you know what you are dealing with. If you think your child’s toothache is serious, head over to the pediatric dentist in West Orange, NJ, as soon as you can. Below, we are going to walk you through some of the most common reasons for toothaches.

  1. Abscessed Tooth

An abscessed tooth normally occurs when bacteria gets into the soft tissue inside of the tooth. This soft tissue is where the nerve and blood vessels are, which means it is particularly delicate and sensitive. If your child has symptoms like facial swelling, fever, and heavy pain when chewing or eating, the chances are good they are dealing with an abscessed tooth. Head over to the pediatric dentist in West Caldwell, NJ, if you think your child has an abscessed tooth.

  1. Cracked Tooth

Kids that play sports or participate in physical activity regularly are particularly susceptible to this cause of toothaches. A cracked tooth occurs when your kids bite something hard, experience a sports injury, or have weak tooth structures. If they are experiencing high sensitivity to hot or cold foods or have pain on one side of their mouth, they could be dealing with a cracked tooth. Cracked teeth need to be taken care of by a dentist, so contact the pediatric dentist in West Orange, NJ, if you think your children have one.

  1. Impacted Wisdom Teeth

As your kids get a little older, they might deal with toothaches related to impacted wisdom teeth. This occurs when there isn’t enough room in their mouth for the wisdom teeth to come in. This is a very common cause of toothaches that can only be revealed by x-ray. Make sure you are taking your kids into the kids’ dentist in West Orange, NJ, to stay on top of wisdom tooth-related issues.

  1. Cavities

Another common cause for toothaches is cavities. If your kids have a deep cavity, they will likely experience symptoms like sharp tooth pains, sensitive teeth, and pain when eating. It’s always a good idea to help your kids learn proper dental health practices so that they can avoid cavities at all costs.

Finding the Best Toothpaste

Finding the Best Toothpaste

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Whenever you head into the store to purchase dental health care products, it’s easy to get overwhelmed at the sheer amount of different options. There are tons of brands, types, and flavors to choose from, which means it can be tough to find the right products for you and your kids. Toothpaste is absolutely essential for keeping teeth healthy and daily dental health care. That means you want to find the best toothpaste on the market. We’ve put together the following article to help you find the best toothpaste. If you have any questions about toothpaste or dental health, reach out to your pediatric dentist in West Orange, NJ.

  1. Always Look for the ADA Seal

The ADA, or American Dental Association, puts their seal of approval on certain toothpaste that meets their safety and quality standards. You can normally find their seal right on the box of the toothpaste you are considering buying. If a certain toothpaste brand doesn’t have the ADA seal, you should probably stay away from that specific type of toothpaste. The ADA seal means that the type of toothpaste has been through tests that make sure it has certain ingredients and doesn’t have additives. Make sure you look for the ADA seal on any type of toothpaste you are considering to purchase.

  1. Choose The Flavor for You

It’s important to choose a type of toothpaste with a flavor that you actually like. This is particularly true for kids because you want them to commit to brushing their teeth regularly. It’s a lot harder to convince your kids to brush their teeth if they hate the way their toothpaste tastes. It’s always important to choose a flavor that you enjoy using. This is oftentimes based on personal preference, so try a few different types overtime to find the right choice. If you need some recommendations on kid-friendly toothpaste flavors, reach out to the kids’ dentist in West Orange, NJ.

  1. Don’t Put Too Much Emphasis on Tooth-Whitening Toothpaste

There are plenty of toothpaste brands out there that promise tooth-whitening power. It’s important to avoid putting too much emphasis on these promises because the results aren’t usually the same as getting your teeth professionally whitened.

We hope this article has helped you learn a little bit more about choosing the best toothpaste. Remember to reach out to the pediatric dentist in West Orange, NJ, if you have questions about the best toothpaste for children.

Fall Season Update: Oral Allergy Syndrome

Fall Season Update: Oral Allergy Syndrome

Posted on by kidsparklenj
Oral allergy syndrome (OAS) is also called pollen-food syndrome. It occurs when folks who are allergic to pollen eat raw fruits or veggies that have proteins similar to pollen.

 

This triggers a response when the food is ingested. The response tends to be limited to the mouth and can include itching, tingling, and a small amount of swelling. The symptoms usually go away a few minutes after the food is swallowed or removed from the mouth.

 

Some of the most common oral allergies are associated with an allergy to birch, grass and ragweed.

 

If you have an allergy to birch, you may find that you also have an oral allergy to apple, carrots, peaches, plums, cherries, pears, almonds and hazelnut. If you have an allergy to grasses, you may find that your mouth is itchy after eating tomatoes. And an allergy to ragweed is associated with an oral allergy to melons, zucchini, kiwi and bananas.
The Importance of Family Routines

The Importance of Family Routines

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Every family needs routines. They help to organize life and keep it from becoming too chaotic. Children do best when routines are regular, predictable, and consistent.

 

One of a family’s greatest challenges is to establish comfortable, effective routines, which should achieve a happy compromise between the disorder and confusion that can occur without them and the rigidity and boredom that can come with too much structure and regimentation, where children are given no choice and little flexibility.

 

As a parent, review the routines in your household to ensure that they accomplish what you want.

 

Click here for tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
What Is the Right Age for Kids to Start Flossing?

What Is the Right Age for Kids to Start Flossing?

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Every parent knows how important proper dental health habits are for their children. That includes brushing twice daily and regular flossing. However, you might be wondering what the best age to start your kids out with a flossing routine is. Helping your kids learn to floss the right way is absolutely crucial to helping them achieve great dental health. Below, we will be discussing the best age for your kids to start flossing and provide you with a few practical tips for helping them to learn. Remember that taking your kids to the pediatric dentist in West Orange, NJ, is a great way to help your children learn about dental health too.

Whenever your child has their baby teeth, you should start helping them with brushing. However, flossing really isn’t necessary until their teeth have grown in close together. The most common ages for children to start flossing are between 2 and 6 years old. However, you can always talk to your pediatric dentist in Clifton, NJ, if you’d like some advice for your child. Everyone’s situation is different, which means if your child is on the younger side, you will have to floss for them. If your child is old enough to floss by themselves, you should still monitor and keep an eye on how they are handling the task. You want them to learn the proper way to floss from a very young age.

If you notice that your child’s gums are bleeding after they start flossing, don’t worry. It’s natural for gums to bleed when they are starting the habit. After a few days of the new habit, the bleeding gums should subside. If you notice that your child’s gums are still bleeding after a week of flossing, contact your kid’s dentist in West Orange, NJ, as soon as you can. This could be a sign of gum disease or gingivitis.

Flossing lessons should be an important dental health task for every parent. Once you think your child is of the right age to start flossing, help them learn the right way to do it. The goal is to help your kids form a life-long habit that will always keep their mouths healthy. If you need help teaching your children how to floss or would like some professional advice, reach out to your pediatric dentist in West Orange, NJ, for assistance.