4 Ways Your Child Should Care for Their Braces

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Your child’s braces can straighten their teeth and give them a beautiful smile. Braces need special care to last for the duration of their time on your child’s teeth. Knowing how to care for your child’s braces can prevent them from becoming damaged and needing repair.

The pediatric dentist in South Plainfield, NJ, can help you by providing you and your child with advice. Here’s what you need to know.

1. Brush After Every Meal

Braces create spaces where food can become trapped in your child’s teeth. Brushing after every meal helps keep bacteria and food debris off your child’s braces and tooth enamel. Have your child carry a toothbrush in their backpack and on trips, so they can brush their teeth after every meal.

2. Floss

Flossing helps keep food debris out of the spaces between your child’s teeth. Flossing is more difficult with braces. Have your child use a floss threader to floss their teeth. The dentist can show your child how to use the floss threader.

3. Avoid Crunchy, Hard Foods

Crunchy, hard food can damage your child’s braces. Make your child aware of the foods that can cause damage to their braces, and ask them to avoid eating those foods for the duration of the time they are wearing braces. Some examples of the types of foods your child should avoid include hard bread, nuts, and hard candy.

4. Contact the Dentist if Something Breaks

If your child’s braces break, contact the dentist as soon as possible. Wires that are out of place can cause injuries to your child.

Do you have more questions about how to take care of braces in South Plainfield, NJ? Call today to speak with one of our dental professionals.

5 Tips for Brushing Your Baby’sTeeth

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Brushing your baby’s teeth is one of the most important things you can do to care for their dental health. Your child’s pediatric dentist in South Plainfield, NJ, can show you how to brush their teeth. In this article, we’ll go over some of the advice we give to parents to help them brush their child’s teeth.

1. Use the Right Size Toothbrush

Use a toothbrush that’s sized for your child. The right-sized toothbrush will have a head that fits in your child’s mouth and can be manipulated around their small teeth. Many toothbrushes for children have age ranges. Choose a toothbrush that’s in the appropriate age range for your child.

2. Time Yourself

Kids should have their teeth brushed for two minutes at a time, just like adults. If your child doesn’t have the patience to tolerate brushing their teeth for two minutes, time yourself with each brushing. Increase the time you spend brushing teeth gradually until your child tolerates two-minute toothbrushing sessions.

3. Make It Fun

Toothbrushing can be fun. Make toothbrushing a positive experience for your child by singing to them, talking to them, or telling them stories while you brush their teeth.

4. Use Baby Toothpaste

Baby toothpaste is formulated for babies. If you’re not sure which type of baby toothpaste to use for your child, talk to your child’s dentist for recommendations.

5. Get a Tutorial from the Dentist

Ask your child’s dentist to show you how to brush their teeth. The professionals at pediatric teeth cleaning in South Plainfield, NJ, can help. Call today to make an appointment for your child.

How Can I Tell If My Child Needs Braces? 

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Kids who need braces usually show signs of dental trouble. Knowing the signs and watching for them can help you decide when to get your child evaluated. Your child’s dentist in Plainfield NJ can help you determine when your child needs braces. Below, we’ll discuss the signs that your child needs braces and what to do if your child needs braces.

Signs Your Child Needs Braces

Some of the signs that your child needs braces might be kind of subtle. Here’s what to watch for:

  • Your child has difficulty pronouncing certain sounds
  • Your child frequently bites the inside of their mouth (without meaning to)
  • Your child’s teeth are crooked or crowded
  • Your child’s bite is not aligned
  • You can hear a clicking noise when your child chews their food or when they talk

Why Get Braces?

Braces can straighten your child’s teeth and improve their confidence in their smile. Braces can also improve your child’s oral health. Crooked teeth are harder to maintain, and can develop cavities more easily than straight teeth.

What to Do If You Think Your Child Needs Braces

If you think your child needs braces, the best thing you can do is have them evaluated by a dental professional. Only a dentist can say for sure whether your child needs braces.

If you think your child might need braces in Plainfield, NJ, make an appointment with the experts at Pediatrics on Park. At Pediatrics on Park, our experts can recognize the signs that your child needs braces. Call today to get started.

5 Small Things You Can Do to Help Your Child Avoid Cavities

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Kids are especially vulnerable to cavities because of their sugary diets. As a parent, you can help your child avoid cavities. It helps to work with your child’s pediatric dentist in South Plainfield, NJ.

By stocking the right foods at home, taking advice from your child’s dentist, and by helping your child maintain clean teeth, you can help your child avoid cavities.

1. Eat Right At Home and School

Stock sugarless snacks in your house whenever possible. Sugarless snacks include food options like nuts, crackers with cheese, pita with hummus, and boiled eggs. Serve these snacks at home and in your child’s lunch box to help them eat well everywhere they go.

2. Consider Dental Sealants

Dental sealants are a protective coating that your child’s dentist can put on your child’s teeth. Dental sealants can keep your child’s teeth away from the bacteria that causes tooth decay. Dentists paint dental sealants on molars. Sealants are long-lasting and effective. Ask the dentist if your child could benefit from dental sealants.

3. Take Your Child to the Dentist

Take your child to the dentist twice per year, or as often as the dentist recommends. Try to make your child’s dental visits at the same time each year. Consistency will help your child maintain healthy teeth and gums.

4. Brush Teeth Right

Brush your child’s teeth every night for two minutes each night. Brush their teeth in the morning, too. If your child is old enough to brush their own teeth (around 7 or 8 years old), supervise their toothbrushing to be sure they’re doing it.

5. Get Your Child An Electric Toothbrush

Electric toothbrushes make toothbrushing fun. Electric toothbrushes also help your child maintain cleaner teeth. If you want a recommendation for an electric toothbrush, talk to your child’s pediatric teeth cleaning in South Plainfield, NJ.

 My Child Chipped a Tooth – What Should I Know?

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Kids can be hard on their own bodies! They run fast, fall down, get back up, and do it again. This kind of behavior can cause a range of dental injuries, including chipped teeth. In some cases, a chipped tooth is no big deal. Other times, a chipped tooth can be a problem. Your child’s dentist in South Plainfield, NJ, can help you determine whether your child needs intervention with their chipped tooth. Here’s what you should know.

How Can I Tell If My Child Has Chipped a Tooth?

If your child chips a tooth, you may be able to see the injury. Even if you can’t see the chip, your child may experience bleeding, pain, difficulty eating, or swelling at the site of the injury. If your child has any of these symptoms (including an injury you can see), talk to the dentist.

What’s Wrong With a Chipped Tooth?

Although some dental injuries cause no pain or discomfort, if the chip in your child’s tooth is severe enough, your child may experience pain. In addition, a chip that goes deep can weaken your child’s tooth (leading to more breakage later), or may lead to dental infection.

What Should I Do If My Child Has Chipped a Tooth?

If your child has a chipped tooth, they may need emergency dental services in South Plainfield, NJ. If you can find the chip, put it in milk, then contact the dentist. Your child’s dentist can help you decide whether your child needs dental intervention. Even if your child’s chipped tooth is minor and needs no dental care, the dentist can still tell you what symptoms to watch for. Call today.

Pediatric Cosmetic Dentistry

Your Child Has Bad Breath? What to Know

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Just like adults, kids can get bad breath. If your child has bad breath, this could be a sign that they’re not taking very good care of their teeth. It could also be a sign of a dental problem. Your child’s dentist in South Plainfield, NJ, can help. Taking your child to the dentist can help you determine what needs to be done to help your child get rid of their bad breath.

What Causes Bad Breath In Kids?

Many kids struggle to take good care of their teeth. It’s common for kids to lack the dexterity and coordination in their hands to brush their teeth properly. Kids younger than about 7 years old who brush their teeth without help from an adult often do a poor job. This can cause bad breath and poor oral hygiene, leading to cavities. Dental cavities can also cause bad breath.

If your child has bad breath, it could be an indication of a cavity, or it could be a sign that your child is not brushing their teeth well.

How Can I Help My Child Fight Bad Breath?

One way that you can help their child fight bad breath is to show them how to brush their teeth. If they’re six years old or younger, they may benefit from you brushing their teeth for them.

Should My Child See the Dentist?

If you’re brushing your child’s teeth well and they still have bad breath, they may need a pediatric teeth cleaning and examination in South Plainfield NJ. Call today to make an appointment.

Special Needs Pediatric Dentistry Explained

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When looking for a pediatric dentist for a special needs child, you should look for one with specialized training and experience. Special needs pediatric dentistry in South Plainfield, NJ, involves different methods and techniques that will help the dentist deal with your child in a way they understand.

Special Needs Pediatric Dentistry Explained

Here are a few things you need to know about special needs pediatric dentistry.

  • The Types of Special Needs Cases a Dentist Treats

A special needs pediatric dentist in South Plainfield, NJ, can treat all types of special needs patients, including those with autism, down syndrome, speech or cognitive development issues, and other conditions.

  • What a Special Needs Pediatric Exam Includes

A special needs pediatric exam is similar to any other pediatric dental exam. The main difference is how the dentist performs the exam. Many special needs pediatric dentists use the “tell, show, do” method to help your child feel comfortable about the exam.

  • Communicating with a Special Needs Child

Having a dentist who knows how to communicate with your special needs child is extremely important. A dentist with special needs training knows effective communication techniques and how to develop a rapport that will help build a relationship and enable the dentist to do what they need to while helping your child remain calm, comfortable, and cooperative.

  • Dealing with Behavioral Issues and Physical Barriers

Dentists with special needs patients are uniquely trained to deal with various behavior issues. They will use positive reinforcement, distraction techniques, and medication and sedation when and if required. Additionally, a special needs pediatric dentist will also have an office that is designed to accommodate patients with disabilities. They will have support chairs, specialized lighting, mouth props, etc.

Contact a Reputable Special Needs Pediatric Dentist in South Plainfield, NJ

If you are looking for a special needs pediatric dentist, please Contact Pediatrics on Park today. Dr. Gonzales has specialized training and experience treating patients with special needs. Don’t trust your child with just anyone!

Should Your Child Wet Their Toothbrush Before Brushing?

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It’s a fairly standard habit for many people: wetting a toothbrush before brushing teeth. Some may wet their toothbrush before and after putting the toothpaste on, while others only do the latter. Because these habits often form in childhood, we’ll look at what pediatric dentists have to say about the matter.

Do Toothpaste and Water Mix?

Believe it or not, there’s a lot of discussion about whether or not to wet your toothpaste. Some pediatric dentists in South Plainfield, NJ may say that it ultimately doesn’t matter. Others may caution against falling into this standard habit because it dilutes the toothpaste, which will ultimately dilute its capabilities. Plus, the wetter the toothpaste is, the foamier it will get, and the more likely you’ll end up spitting out the toothpaste before it can do its job.

Tips for Better Brushing

The bottom line is that your child is better off focusing on their everyday brushing habits than about a small amount of water on their toothbrush. If you’re going to instill better habits in them, arguably the very best time to introduce best practices, you should be focusing on brushing for around two minutes and hitting every quadrant with relatively equal pressure and coverage.

Find a Pediatric Dentist in South Plainfield, NJ

Pediatric dentists don’t just understand how kids’ gums and teeth develop, they understand that each child has a different perspective on their dental habits. When you work with a staff who understands children, it’s easier to anticipate the stumbling blocks ahead. If you want to work with a team that can help your child maintain their long-term oral health with routine dental cleanings in South Plainfield (and more!), contact Pediatrics on Park today!

Why It’s so Important to Use a Pediatric Dentist For Your Youngster

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The same dentist you use for the adults in your household may not be ideal for your youngster. There are special tools, techniques, and other things that a pediatric dentist in South Plainfield, NH brings to the table that a regular dentist may not. That’s not to say that a regular dentist can’t treat your child; it’s just that it’s best to have your child visit a pediatric dentist if you have one available where you live.

Special Tools

The difference is in the details! Pediatric dentists use special tools designed to make dental visits easier and more comfortable for kids. These tools are often smaller than standard dental instruments, allowing them to fit comfortably in tiny mouths and reach smaller spaces. For example, pediatric dentists may use kid-sized mirrors, which help children feel more at ease and make procedures smoother and less intimidating. Many of these tools are designed with bright colors or friendly shapes to make the experience more inviting and less clinical. Pediatric dental offices also use gentle polishing tools and fluoride applicators that are safe for young teeth and gums.

Treating For the Long Term

Keeping in mind that dental anxiety can start from a young age and impact dental health for a lifetime, pediatric dental offices are often designed for an environment that reduces anxiety and encourages good dental habits. Kids learn about oral health in a way that is engaging and accessible, making it more likely they will take these practices home.

Parental Support

A pediatric dentist offers parental guidance on helping children form strong oral hygiene routines at home. From the best brushing techniques to advice on a diet that supports dental health, pediatric dentists offer valuable resources that contribute to a child’s lifelong healthy smile.

For quality pediatric dentistry in South Plainfield, NJ, visit Pediatrics on Park. Contact us today to book an appointment.

Gentle Ways to Explain the Need for Orthodontics to Your Child

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When your child needs orthodontic treatment in South Plainfield, NJ, they may not understand, or be fearful about the process. Here are some gentle ways to help your child to understand more easily.

Read a Book About It

It’s helpful to let a book do the talking. “Smile” is written for middle school ages 8-11, which is a common age where braces are needed. This fiction book is a funny and informative story about a young girl as she experiences life with orthodontics. Try out this Will Eisner award-winning, Scholastic book with your youngster.

Get Questions Answered

Have your child write down all the questions they have about orthodontics on a sheet of paper. Together, research answers online. Or, if possible, bring the list of questions to your child’s pediatric dentist in South Plainfield, NJ to have them answered by your child’s orthodontist.

Affirm Their Attractiveness

Unfortunately, children can get the wrong idea about braces, thinking they are imperfect and need to be fixed. Make sure your child knows they are perfect just as they are. Reinforce that the orthodontics are a health treatment, not a beauty treatment. You don’t want them to think they are “less than” until they get their teeth fixed.

Use a Visual Model

Children learn more easily when they can see examples. Use this dental teeth model that has bendable teeth you can temporarily push out of alignment, show how the jaw works and how teeth can be lost without proper alignment. Your child will quickly see for themselves how teeth can be “awry,” and how it can be fixed with orthodontics.

Contact Pediatrics on Park today to book an appointment to discuss your child’s alignment issues. We’ll do all we can to ensure that their orthodontic experience is a positive one!