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Tooth whitening for kids

[caption id="attachment_67" align="alignnone" width="300"] Treatment and whitening of teeth, dental crowns. Before and after. Dentistry. Close-up.[/caption]

Watching your children's faces light up with happiness is one of the greatest joys in the world. Meanwhile, have you observed a change in your child's teeth color? Don't panic- there could be several reasons this can happen.

The first and most anticipated reason behind your child's yellow, stained or discolored teeth could be the result of poor hygiene, a side effect of medication, tooth decay, tooth trauma, decalcification, or even genetics. 

Having discolored teeth can embarrass your child, specifically when growing up and hitting adolescence. So the best approach to manage tooth discoloration is by opting for a professional cleaning and following daily dental hygiene. 

However, depending on the cause, you can also consult with your pediatric dentist twice a year.

The Academy of Pediatric Dentistry report states that your child shouldn't opt for professional teeth whitening procedures until they have reached 14 years of age when the four front adult teeth pulp starts maturing, which effectively reduces the post-procedural sensitivity levels.

You may also use over-the-counter teeth whitening treatments such as whitening toothpaste or whitening strips. Custom dental trays, professional bleaching, and laser whitening are additional options for your child. However, if you want a more permanent solution for teeth whitening, in adulthood consider enamel dental veneers or porcelain crowns.

If your kid has turned 14 and is looking for the best teeth whitening services, book your appointment with our Pediatric dentist today! Call 212 362-7770 to book!

www.citykidsdentist.com

Many people assume there is no real difference between a regular dentist, and a pediatric practitioner. While it is safe to bring your child to a non-specialized dentist, your young family will be better suited visiting a professional with specific training in childcare. Pediatric dentists have undergone additional education than regular dentists, and have chosen to focus their knowledge and passion on children.

Here are 3 main differences between regular dentists and pediatric specialists:

1. Additional and Specialized Education.

Every oral health practitioner undergoes the same, basic education and on-the-job training. Many dental health practitioners will immediately go on to work in a practice, while pediatric dentists complete an additional two years of education, focusing specifically on treating the oral health of children and adolescents. Not only does this education include the differences in growth and health of a child’s mouth versus an adult’s, but also includes an understanding of the differences in behavior, psychology, and emotional reactions.

2. Education in Special Needs Children.

Even though your regular dentist may have completed the basics of pediatric dentistry, they have not had the education in working with children of special needs and disabilities. This can be an incredibly difficult task, and is well-worth choosing a practitioner with specialized knowledge of dealing with these kind of situations. A regular dentist may not have the experience or mental capacity to handle a special needs child or adolescent, and may result in a negative experience for everyone involved.

Going beyond the mental health differences, a pediatric dentist with knowledge in special needs children will also understand the different types of natural defects and deformities that can come with under-developed growth and maturity.

3. Specialized Treatment Options.

Since children are still growing and developing, they require specialized treatment options that only pediatric dentists can perform. Certain precautions need to take place in the dental health regimen of a child in order to avoid more serious treatments creeping up in the future. A pediatric dentist has been trained to identify any potential risks in a child’s oral health, taking a deeper look into the child’s diet, and the mother’s health history. Pediatric dentists can evaluate a child’s mouth by taking into account certain lifestyle habits, such as sucking their thumb or pacifier, as well as a sugar-filled diet. Preventative care may be the most important aspect of pediatric dentistry, since many children start seeing the dentist as an infant. It is crucial to begin teaching your child of the importance of their oral health when they’re still very young.

Every parents wants the best treatment for their family, and your child or adolescent will benefit greatly from a pediatric dentist’s specialized knowledge, experience, and passion for children. A pediatric dentist has the insight and training to determine what may be causing certain issues, appropriate treatments to recommend, as well as how to properly handle the varying emotional levels of young patients.

March is National Nutrition Month, when the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics reminds everyone to return to the basics of healthy eating. It is also the time of year when the Academy celebrates expertise of registered dietitian nutritionists as the food and nutrition experts.

Eating right doesn’t have to be complicated — simply begin to shift to healthier food and beverage choices. These recommendations from the Dietary Guidelines for Americans can help get you started.

Emphasize fruit, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat or fat-free milk and milk products.
Include lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs and nuts.
Make sure your diet is low in saturated fats, trans fats, salt (sodium) and added sugars.
Make Your Calories Count

Think nutrient-rich rather than “good” or “bad” foods. Tweet this The majority of your food choices should be packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber and other nutrients, and lower in calories. Making smart food choices can help you stay healthy, manage your weight and be physically active.

Focus on Variety

Eat a variety of foods from all the food groups to get the nutrients your body needs. Fruits and vegetables can be fresh, frozen or canned. Eat more dark green vegetables such as leafy greens and broccoli and orange vegetables including carrots and sweet potatoes. Vary your protein choices with more fish, beans and peas. Eat at least 3 ounces of whole-grain cereals, breads, crackers, rice or pasta every day.

Know Your Fats

Look for foods low in saturated fats and trans fats to help reduce your risk of heart disease. Most of the fats you eat should be monounsaturated and polyunsaturated oils. Check the Nutrition Facts panel on food labels for total fat and saturated fat.

For more information, view the Academy infographic on the Total Diet Approach to Healthy Eating.

The first line of protection for your child’s teeth is the enamel, which is the white, visible part of the tooth.  It’s also hardest substance in the human body, and yet it takes a lot of abuse.  Enamel can crack, chip and wear away.  What steps can you take to protect your child’s enamel?

Use a soft toothbrush.  While we may be tempted to use a toothbrush with hard bristles, thinking that a stiff bristle will be better and cleaning teeth, the best choice is one that provides more gentle care.  Additionally, children often use more force than needed when brushing their teeth.  This can be damaging to sensitive gum tissue and only serves to wear down precious enamel.

Limit starchy foods.  While we all understand that certain starchy foods like potato chips and french fries aren’t always the healthiest choices, we don’t often associate these foods as being bad for teeth.  Interestingly, starch turns to sugar so quickly that it raises blood glucose levels even faster than table sugar.  The sugar produced by starchy foods feeds bacteria that act as microscopic jack-hammers on your child’s enamel.

Don’t forget the cheese.  Cheese truly is a dental powerhouse.  Dairy neutralizes acid, contains calcium and a protein called casein which acts as an enamel protector.  Cheese is a great choice for an afterschool snack.

Drink water after meals.  Drinking water shortly after eating is an excellent way to quickly wash away some of the food that lingers on and between the teeth.  Even having children simply rinse their mouths with water after meals has been shown to be an effective way to protect enamel.

Avoid “whitening” toothpastes.  Toothpaste made specifically for children if often the best choice when deciding what they should brush with.  Not only are flavors often more kid friendly, but they generally don’t carry the harsh abrasives that many whitening toothpastes have.  These abrasives can act line sandpaper by wearing down the enamel on young teeth.  Remember, any toothpaste you choose should always carry the ADA’s seal of approval.