Blog Summary:

If you’re looking for a truly family-friendly dental experience, seeing a local family dentist is a smart idea. But not all family dentists are created equal.

Many general dentists and even family dentists can treat all ages, but that doesn’t mean they offer the specialized pediatric expertise, orthodontic care, or advanced technology that makes dental visits more convenient and comfortable.

At The Super Dentists, San Diego’s top-rated family dental provider, we do. Benefits of choosing our family dentists office or potentially, others like us, include:

• Convenience: One Dentist for Your Entire Family – One provider for all ages, fewer appointments, less hassle.
• Expert & Compassionate Pediatric Care: Specialized care for kids in a fun, stress-free environment.
• Advanced Technology for Increased Comfort: Including painless anesthesia, digital scanners, and low-radiation X-rays.
• Orthodontics for the Whole Family: Braces, Invisalign®, and other orthodontics in the same place you have dentistry done!
• Family-Friendly Hours & Emergency Care: Extended weekday hours and weekend hours for busy families.

Are family dentists the same as dentists for all ages? Not necessarily. The best family dentists in San Diego, and anywhere for that matter, are more than just generalists.

All too often, the phrase “family dentist” is used to describe any old dentist. When you think about it, this isn’t completely misleading, because generalist dentists with no specialized training apart from dental school (which is, of course, intense) can treat patients across the age spectrum, from kids to adults to teens.

But the fact that a dentist can treat you doesn’t necessarily mean you should make them your first choice. We’ll cover this more later in the section “Benefits of a Family Dentist with Pediatric Specialization”.

1. Convenience: One Dentist for Your Entire Family

Family life gets busy. Between sports games, carpools, weeknight meal prep, and catching up on extra office work during after-hours, the last thing you need is to be carting one kid off to one dentist and yourself off to another one at different times, adding complexity to your schedule and extra things to do.

Seeing a family dentist takes all this hassle away, allowing you and your entire brood to be seen at the same convenient location, and very possibly during the same general time window.

2. Expert & Compassionate Pediatric Care

Let’s say you drive a fancy imported luxury car that requires repairs. You could bring it to any mechanic, and they might be able to fix the issue. But were you to bring it to a mechanic that specializes in your brand of vehicle, the mechanics will most likely immediately know what’s wrong.

The point? Expertise matters. All dentists are usually trained well in treating adults. But kids and teens? Not so much.

The benefits of choosing a family dentist in San Diego, like The Super Dentists, that not only can treat adults, but also has 20+ years of knowledge & expertise with pediatric dentistry, is that you and your whole family can all get the same high level of specialized care you deserve.

Younger kids and infants, children with special needs, and kids and teens with fear of the dentist may especially benefit from seeing a family dentist with pediatric specialization. If you have kids in sports, they can get mouthguards at a family dentist. Meanwhile, your teens can get their wisdom teeth removed or have braces put on.

Bonus: At The Super Dentists, our offices are laid out like a theme park, with interactive games, augmented reality, and a Superhero mascot team that makes visits exciting – especially for the littlest members of your family.

3. Advanced Technology for Increased Comfort

The days of painful injections, goopy impressions, and unnecessarily long treatments are over. Some family dentists still use traditional techniques, but many, including The Super Dentists, embrace cutting-edge technology for an efficient and comfortable experience.

We also offer same-day crowns, inlays, and retainers at our on-site lab, which we know makes parents happy!

4. Orthodontics for the Whole Family

Not all family dentists are also orthodontists. But some, including The Super Dentists, are.

For practices that offer both general dentistry and orthodontics, families can save even more time and hassle, requiring no referrals, no trips to extra offices, and tons of time saved!

5. Family-Friendly Hours & Emergency Dental Care

Family dentists usually offer hours that are designed to work with families’ hectic schedules and conflicting calendars – not to mention emergency situations.

At The Super Dentists, for example, we offer extended hours from 7am-7pm plus Saturdays at most locations, and we have 6 locations across San Diego County so you never have to drive too far for an appointment:

• Carmel Valley
• Chula Vista
• Eastlake
• Escondido
• Kearny Mesa
• Oceanside

Save Time & Get Top-Tier Care at a Super Dentists Location Near You

Ready to experience the difference a local family dentist can make? Choose the Super Dentists. When you do, you can:

• Skip the hassle of multiple providers for dentistry and orthodonture.
• Give your kids (and yourself) a dental experience you’ll all love rather than fear.
• Take advantage of family-friendly hours & locations.

Make dental care easy for the whole family—schedule your appointment at The Super Dentists location closest to you now!

Blog Summary:

How often should you see the dentist? It depends on your oral health. While the standard recommendation is every six months, some people may need more frequent visits, while low-risk individuals might wait longer. Here’s a quick breakdown:

• General Recommendation: Most people should visit the dentist every 6 months for a checkup and cleaning.
• High-Risk Patients (Every 3 Months or Sooner): Those with gum disease, diabetes, weakened immune systems, or tobacco/alcohol use.
• Low-Risk Patients (Up to 2 Years): Some may wait longer, but skipping visits isn’t advised & more frequent checkups with health screenings may help catch dental diseases early, contributing to more favorable health outcomes.
• Preventative Care: Regular checkups help prevent decay, gum disease, and serious conditions like oral cancer.
• At-Home Care: Brush, floss, avoid excess sugar, and use safe oral care products.
• Braces & Orthodontics: Visits every 6-10 weeks + 2-3 cleanings per year recommended.
• Signs You Need a Dentist ASAP: Pain, bleeding gums, dry mouth, trouble eating, jaw issues, or 6+ months since your last visit.

Is there a difference between how often you should get your teeth cleaned versus how often you should go to the dentist for a routine checkup appointment? Not necessarily. In most cases, routine checkups will also include professional teeth cleaning services.

So just how often should you book a routine checkup, then? You may have heard that you should go to the dentist every 3 months, 6 months, or every 12 months. The truth is that all of these recommendations are true depending on the context.

Dentists agree that routine appointments are important, especially for little ones who are still developing. While every dentist offers different advice, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends that children 6 months old and up see a dentist every six months.

How Often to Visit the Dentist: 3 vs. 6 vs. 12 Months Guidelines Explained

If the AAPD recommends children see the dentist every six months, is the same true for adults? Not necessarily. The AAPD simply says “At an age determined by patient, parent, and pediatric dentist, refer the patient to a general dentist for continuing oral care.”.

The American Dental Association (ADA), meanwhile, no longer recommends set intervals for dental care, instead stating “There is no one-size-fits-all dental treatment. Some people need to visit the dentist once or twice a year; others may need more visits. You are a unique individual, with a unique smile and unique needs when it comes to keeping your smile healthy.”

So you might be able to skip routine visits, right? Not so fast! While that might seem true on paper, in reality, you’re far better off seeing the dentist at regular intervals than not at all.

Here’s what experts say about how often teeth cleaning and routine oral care appointments should be made:

CDC

“Visit your dentist at least once a year, even if you wear dentures and have lost some or all of your teeth. Your dentist will check your mouth for cancers, oral health problems, and cavities.”

Penn Health

“The short answer to the question “How often should you go to the dentist?” is, for most people, at least once a year, per CDC recommendations. However, many dentists encourage their patients to visit at least every six months. Why? Because twice-yearly appointments give you and your dentist the best advantage in keeping your teeth clean and healthy.”

Also according to Penn Health, many individuals should see a dentist every three months or more. These include people who:

• Have tooth decay and gum disease, or a history of these conditions.
• Use alcohol and tobacco products on a regular basis.
• Have weakened immune systems.
• Have diabetes or other chronic health conditions.
• Are pregnant.

Can I Wait Two Years Between Dentist Visits?

According to one study conducted by the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), some low-risk individuals might be able to safely wait two years between dental checkups.

The study found that “no dental health benefits to 6-monthly check-ups compared to risk-based intervals or 2-yearly check-ups (for people at low-risk)”.

That being said, the study also noted that only about 30% of individuals qualified as “low risk”, meaning chances are you’ll need to see your dentist sooner.

What’s more, the study neither specifically addressed checkups as inclusive of cleanings or exclusive of cleanings, meaning that it’s unclear whether the NIHR recommends different guidelines for how often dental cleanings should be completed.

The takeaway? If in doubt about whether it’s time to see the dentist for a cleaning or checkup, you should always defer to your dentist’s individualized advice and err on the side of caution. Going to the dentist more often is almost never bad. But going to the dentist less often certainly can be.

Why is Routine Dental Care Important?

According to one study on the Effect of Different Frequencies of Dental Visits on Dental Caries and Periodontal Disease, “people who make routine dental visits (routine attenders) have a better self-reported oral health with lower levels of dental caries and fewer teeth missing due to caries than problem-oriented visitors who attend sporadically for dental problems only”.

In other words, while guidelines for just how often to see the dentist may vary based on the individual and their specific health conditions, the evidence is clear: going to the dentist regularly – at the very least once a year – is crucially important.

This is because routine dental appointments are more than just prescriptive, solving existing issues (such as removing plaque via routine dental cleaning). They’re also preventative, helping stop dental diseases from developing further, if at all, catching serious issues like cancer early, and more.

When you add in the link between oral health and overall health, understanding just how impactful stopping the development or progression of dental disease can be toward stopping the development of other health issues, the relative importance of regular preventative dental care only increases.

Don’t Forget to Take Care of Your Teeth & Mouth Daily at Home

Regular visits to the dentist for health evaluations and professional cleanings are important, but regular at-home dental self-care is also crucial. In other words, seeing a dentist is just half the battle. You also need to be doing all that you can to take care of your teeth at home, which means:

• Establishing a daily brushing and flossing routine
• Avoiding excess sugar and eating healthily
• Avoiding tobacco, alcohol, and substances harmful to oral health as much as possible
• Using safe and effective oral care products that are formulated for a healthy mouth pH

How Often Should You Go to the Orthodontist?

For people with braces, seeing an orthodontist – a specialized type of dentist – routinely is also extremely important. As the American Association of Orthodontists notes, most people with braces should see their orthodontist every 6-10 weeks.

This is both so that the orthodontist can evaluate how effective your treatment is progressing and so that they can assess the general health of the teeth and gums. Because braces present added challenges to effectively cleaning the teeth and in between the gums, these regular visits are essential.

How often should you get your teeth cleaned with braces? We recommend teeth cleaning for braces patients at least 2-3 times a year.

12 Signs It’s Time to Make a Dental Appointment

Routine checkups are important, but if any of these 12 things are true, you should make a dental appointment as soon as possible according to the ADA:

• Pain – Tooth, jaw, or facial pain can indicate an issue that needs attention.
• Bleeding or Swollen Gums – Puffy, bleeding gums could signal gum disease.
• Hiding Your Smile Away – Whether due to discoloration, missing teeth, or other concerns, your dentist can help.
• Recent Dental Work – Fillings, crowns, implants, or dentures need regular checkups to stay in top shape.
• Medical Conditions – Diabetes, heart disease, and other conditions can impact your oral health.
• Pregnancy – Hormonal changes during pregnancy can increase the risk of gum disease.
• Trouble Eating – Difficulty chewing or swallowing isn’t normal—see your dentist.
• Dry Mouth – Constant dryness can be a sign of medication side effects or a health issue.
• Tobacco Use – Smoking and chewing tobacco increase the risk of gum disease and oral cancer.
• Jaw Pain or Popping – Clicking, pain, or an uneven bite could indicate TMJ issues.
• Mouth Sores or Spots – Persistent sores or unusual patches need a professional evaluation.
• 6+ Months Since Your Last Checkup – Preventive care is key to avoiding bigger dental problems.

Schedule a Dental Checkup or Teeth Cleaning Today

Make dental care easy for the whole family at The Super Dentists! Schedule your next teeth cleaning at one of our six locations throughout San Diego. Find a location near you now.

TL;DR:

Early tooth decay in children can begin sooner than most parents realize—but when caught early, it’s often manageable and sometimes even reversible. Knowing what early tooth decay looks like can help stop tooth decay progression before cavities form.

In this guide, you’ll discover:

• The first signs of a cavity (including tooth decay white spots on teeth)
• The most common causes of tooth decay in children
• Whether early tooth decay is reversible
• How to fix early tooth decay and prevent further damage

Tooth decay, especially in children, can turn into long-term oral health issues. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regards tooth decay in children as a widespread (though often ignored) epidemic. Consider the CDC’s sobering statistics regarding oral health problems and tooth decay in children:

• About 1 in 7 U.S. adolescents have at least one decayed tooth.
• Approximately 1 in 5 U.S. children (aged 5-11) show signs of early tooth decay.
• For families without a non-fluoridated water supply, tooth decay in children is twice as likely as families with fluoridated water.
• 52 percent of children (aged 6-8) have had tooth decay in their baby teeth.

There is plenty of bad news regarding tooth decay in children. The good news? If you know how to detect signs of tooth decay early on, your entire family will enjoy better oral (and superior) overall health! You may even be able to prevent further tooth decay progression.

The Super Dentists offers superior pediatric, orthodontics and parent dentistry services for your entire family. Regular visits will help prevent tooth decay in children.

What Is Tooth Decay in Children?

Tooth decay is the breaking down and destruction of tooth enamel, which is the hard outer surface of the tooth. If a child has tooth decay, it can lead to the early signs of cavities and cause holes to form in their teeth.

What Causes Tooth Decay in Children?

The presence of harmful bacteria is the most direct cause of tooth decay in children, but other things can contribute to its development. A child may develop tooth decay if their teeth are not properly cleaned after eating foods, carbohydrates, or foods that mostly contain starches or sugars. (Decay-causing bacteria feed on these substances).

Some examples of foods that contain an abundance of sugars or starches include soda, milk, raisins, fruit juices, cake, bread, and cereals. Bacteria that typically live in the mouth change these foods on the teeth, making them acidic. The combination of food, acid, bacteria, and saliva in the mouth creates plaque, which sticks to the teeth.

Over a period of time, the acid that formed within the child’s mouth eats away at their tooth enamel, causing cavities to form.

There are also other risk factors for tooth decay in children. These include but are not limited to conditions that cause dry mouth (mouth breathing, medical issues or meds, etc.), imbalance of the oral microbiome, and lack of certain nutrients such as vitamin D and vitamin K2 that are required for absorption of calcium.

What Does Early Tooth Decay Look Like?

What are the early signs of tooth decay? Tooth decay can begin in children as young as six months to one year of age, so it is important to know how to help identify tooth decay as soon as possible. If you’re interested in knowing how to prevent tooth decay, you have to know what to look for. These signs and symptoms of early tooth decay often include:

• Gums and teeth sensitive to hot or cold foods. Sensitivity can be an early sign of decaying teeth When cavities start to form, they’re undetectable to the naked eye – but not for the teeth and gum nerve endings. Cavities start as small pits in the teeth, and as the enamel wears down, the interior nerves are subject to and react to certain foods and beverages.
• Bleeding gums. Gum disease often accompanies tooth decay and is a sign of rotting teeth. Bleeding gums are common with tooth decay in children. See your pediatric dentist if your child’s gums bleed for any reason.
• Discolored teeth. Small brown or black spots are often the sign of cavities and an early sign of tooth rot. You may also notice a dull white band on the surface of the tooth, close to the gum line, which is usually an early sign of rotting teeth.
• Foul breath. Foul breath is one of the early signs of teeth rotting. When too much bacteria builds up in the mouth, bad breath soon follows. And not long after that, tooth decay as well. Think of bad breath as an early warning sign of tooth decay.
• Toothache. A toothache is one of the most classic signs of early tooth decay in children. If a child complains of a toothache for several days, it can likely be due to tooth decay. Toothaches can come on without a warning, or they can occur after eating or drinking.

Tooth Decay Progression: From Healthy Tooth to Cavity

Understanding tooth decay progression helps parents act fast. Here’s an overview of the steps that dentists usually observe along the course of tooth decay, from healthy teeth to advanced decay:

1. Healthy enamel
2. White spot lesions (early tooth decay)
3. Enamel breakdown
4. Dentin involvement
5. Advanced cavity with pain or infection

Catching decay at the white spot stage can make all the difference.

How to Prevent Tooth Decay

Want to prevent tooth decay in children? Follow these four simple guidelines:

• Brush at least twice per day. SuperMouth has the right toothbrush for every age with cool features such as augmented reality and music to make brushing enjoyable.
• Mind the diet. Excessive sugar consumption is the main culprit for tooth decay in children. Incorporate more veggies into your child’s diet. Sure, that’s easier said than done, but with creative & healthy recipes and snack ideas, anything is possible.
• Rinse after meals. This simple suggestion eliminates bacteria and plaque buildup.
• Floss on a regular basis. Have your child floss at least once every day. This habit is critical for lifelong dental health.
• Get enough hydroxyapatite and/or fluoride in your oral care products. Using a toothpaste and mouthwash with hydroxyapatite and/or fluoride regularly helps to toughen the enamel, making it difficult for acid to penetrate. Many toothpastes contain fluoride, and it is common for tap water to be fluoridated. Just make sure your child is able to spit the toothpaste out.
• Go for regular dental check-ups. Children should see their dentist every six months for a regular exam, as well as teeth cleanings. Regular dental check-ups not only help prevent tooth decay, but they can also help prevent gum disease.

How Is Tooth Decay Treated in a Child?

Tooth decay (particularly early tooth decay) can be treated in children, but treatment depends on your child’s tooth decay symptoms, general health, age, and severity of the tooth decay. Most of the time, treatment involves removing the decayed part of the child’s tooth and replacing it with a filling.

Fillings, also known as restorations, are materials that are placed into the child’s teeth to help repair any damage from tooth decay. There are different types of fillings that can be suitable for children:

• Direct Restorations. This type of filling requires one visit to the dentist to place a filling directly into the prepared dhole. Direct restorations can be made out of resin, silver, acrylic acids, or fine glass powders. Most of the time, they match the color of the child’s teeth.
• Indirect Restorations. This type of filling requires at least two visits to the dentist. These fillings include onlays, inlays, crowns, veneers, and bridges. Indirect restorations can be made of gold, ceramics, base metal alloys, or composites and often look like natural tooth enamel.

Visit The Super Dentists – We’ll Help Prevent Tooth Decay in Children

If you detect early signs of tooth decay, schedule an appointment today at any of The Super Dentists six locations in San Diego. You can also call (855) GO SUPER or text us at (844) 765-1234. Thanks for visiting The Super Dentists, San Diego’s premier pediatric dentists!

FAQs

What does early tooth decay look like?

Early tooth decay often looks like dull white or chalky spots on the enamel. These spots signal mineral loss and are the earliest visible stage of tooth decay progression. Catching them early makes treatment much simpler.

Is early tooth decay reversible?

Yes, early tooth decay is often reversible if it’s caught at the white spot stage. At this point, the enamel is weakened but hasn’t formed a cavity. With improved brushing, fluoride or hydroxyapatite toothpaste, diet changes, and professional dental care, the tooth can remineralize and strengthen.

How do I know if tooth decay is early?

Early tooth decay usually appears as chalky white spots on teeth, mild sensitivity, or slight discoloration near the gumline. These are often the first signs of a cavity forming. A dental exam can confirm whether the decay is still in its early stage.

How do I fix early tooth decay?

You can fix early tooth decay by brushing twice daily, flossing every day, limiting sugary snacks, and visiting your pediatric dentist regularly. Professional fluoride treatments or sealants may help stop tooth decay progression before a cavity develops. Using products that help with enamel remineralization such as fluoride or hydroxyapatite may also help.

TL;DR:

• Chewing gum with braces isn’t recommended. It can stick to brackets and wires, causing damage and delaying treatment.
• Risks include broken brackets, loose wires, pain, and tooth decay.
• If you choose to chew gum, stick to soft, sugar-free options and chew gently for short periods only.
• Avoid sugary, fruity, or bubble gums, which are more likely to cause damage.
• Prioritize oral hygiene and regular orthodontic visits and consider safer breath-freshening alternatives instead of gum.

Can you chew gum with braces? Well, it is physically possible, so technically, yes. The more important question, and probably the one you’re really looking for an answer to, is “Should you chew gum with braces?” Truthfully? No. You should not chew gum with braces.

It’s important that if your kids or teens have braces, they understand why they’re being told “no”, and what their alternatives are.

Can I Chew Gum With Braces?

Chewing gum with braces is physically possible, but it’s not recommended. At The Super Dentists, we typically don’t recommend chewing gum with braces, in accordance with ADA guidance. Why exactly shouldn’t you chew gum with braces? Aside from the fact that gum is often on “foods to avoid with braces” lists, chewing gum and braces do not play well together. This often leads to a sticky situation. In other words, as orthodontists, it’s common for us to see patients with chewing gum stuck in braces. Not only that, gum often leads to popped or broken wires and other issues that can cause pain or delay treatment.

For those that eschew the typical advice regarding foods to avoid with braces (including gum), ensure that at the very least, these guidelines are followed:

• Make sure you only chew sugar-free gum that doesn’t contain any orthodontically damaging ingredients. Some examples are Orbit sugar-free and Trident sugar-free. These two brands have a soft texture, and the sugar-free nature makes them the safest choice for kids with braces.
• To reduce the risk of damaging your braces and wires, break the gum into small pieces and chew gently and mindfully.
• Avoid excessive force and be conscious of the pressure you apply when chewing.

Can You Chew Sugar-Free Gum With Braces?

For those who choose to chew gum with braces, as mentioned above, sugar-free is best.

It’s essential to avoid sugary gum, sticky or hard gums, and remember to remove gum before eating. If you experience any pain or discomfort while chewing gum with braces, consult your orthodontist for guidance.

What Types of Sugar Free Gum Are Best?

These are common options:

Orbit Sugar-Free Gum: Orbit is known for its soft texture and sugar-free options, making it a popular choice among people with braces.

Trident Sugar-Free Gum: Trident offers a variety of sugar-free gum flavors and is generally considered safe for those with braces.

Dentyne Ice Sugar-Free Gum: Dentyne Ice is another brand that offers sugar-free options and is often recommended for its soft texture.

Eclipse Sugar-Free Gum: Eclipse is known for its breath-freshening properties and is available in sugar-free varieties that are suitable for braces wearers.

We strongly recommend against chewing any fruity or child-minded gums like Bubble Yum or anything like that. Those are incredibly sugary and designed to be more tacky to aid in bubble blowing.

How Does Chewing Gum Affect Braces?

Is gum bad for braces? Generally speaking, the consensus is yes. Here’s why:

Broken Brackets or Loose Wires: Gum can get stuck in places it shouldn’t. Not only is this a problem in and of itself, but it can also lead to broken brackets or loose wires. This can create dental emergencies.

Pain and Discomfort: In the event that your child gets gum stuck in their braces or the brackets get bent, this will almost always lead to discomfort. These issues can cause soreness, which only creates more severe long-term issues.

Tooth Decay: Chewing gum that contains sugar when wearing braces increases the risk of tooth decay because the sugar can get stuck around your braces and cause cavities. This can lead to future pain and discomfort as well.

Important Tips for Gum and Braces Care

Here are some important tips to keep in mind if you or your child is chewing gum while wearing braces:

Have The Right Tools

Taking care of your braces is just as important as having them. That said, it requires a bit more effort to care for your teeth when you have braces.

We recommend using an orthodontic toothbrush and a water pick to help with cleaning around your braces and wires.

Flossing can be challenging with braces, so a floss threader or superfloss (a special type of dental floss with a stiff end) helps you navigate around wires and brackets.

Get Regular Checkups

Continue with your scheduled orthodontic appointments for adjustments and check-ups. Your orthodontist can also provide guidance on effective cleaning techniques and make any necessary adjustments to your braces.

It’s important that you stay on a consistent schedule to prevent long-term issues from arising with your braces.

Educate Yourself About the Risks of Chewing Gum

Most importantly, educate yourself and your children about the risks of chewing gum with braces. There are many other options on the market, like breath spray and mouthwash, to help get rid of bacteria and freshen breath. While gum may not always hurt you, it’s never necessary, and it could lead to more issues than it’s worth.

Final Thoughts

So, can you chew gum with braces? It is possible – but you probably shouldn’t.

Remember that maintaining excellent oral hygiene is crucial during orthodontic treatment to prevent issues like cavities and gum disease. Caring for your braces is just one step towards optimal oral health.

Are you or your child inquiring about braces or orthodontic treatment? We’re here to help in any way possible!

Contact The Super Dentists today to learn more about our pediatric dentistry services!

FAQs

What Will Happen If I Chew Gum with Braces?

Chewing gum with braces is not recommended. The American Dental Association (ADA) advises avoiding sticky foods like gum because they can cling to brackets and wires, making them harder to clean and more likely to break. This can lead to loose brackets, bent wires, and longer treatment time.

What Kind of Gum Can You Chew With Braces?

Orthodontists and the ADA recommend avoiding all gum while wearing braces. Even sugar-free gum can stick to appliances and cause damage. The safest choice is to wait until your braces come off.

Will Chewing Gum Loosen My Braces?

Yes, it can. Gum’s sticky texture can pull on brackets and wires, causing them to loosen or detach. When that happens, you’ll need a repair visit—and it may extend your overall treatment timeline.

How Do I Clean Gum Off My Braces?

If gum gets stuck, stop chewing immediately and rinse thoroughly with warm water. Gently brush with a soft toothbrush and use a water flosser to remove small pieces. If anything feels loose or damaged, contact your orthodontic office as soon as possible.

TL;DR:

This blog will guide you through:

• Foods to avoid with braces
• Braces-friendly junk food, snacks, and fast food
• What to eat after adjustments
• Common questions like: Can I bite into pizza with braces?, Do braces cause indigestion?, and What is the best food to eat with braces?

Let’s dig into the best foods to enjoy (and what to avoid) during your smile journey.

Braces help us achieve healthy, straight smiles. But they do come with some lifestyle modifications, including dietary dos and don’ts. So what are the foods you can and can’t eat with braces, exactly? Here’s what you need to know so you can protect your investment, decrease your chances of feeling pain or discomfort, and avoid prolonging your treatment longer than necessary.

What Can You Not Eat with Braces?

Hard, sticky, and chewy foods can all too easily damage the delicate wires of braces or even worse, dislodge brackets, increasing treatment time and discomfort.

While some of these foods can still be enjoyed if you make sure to cut them into small, manageable bites (noted below), others are simply best avoided altogether to be safe.

As MouthHealthy.org, an ADA site, notes, here’s what you should avoid:

• Ice
• Popcorn
• Hard pretzels
• Nuts
• Chewy candies like caramel or gummi bears
• Gum
• Whole apples and pears (unless sliced)
• Raw carrots (unless chopped or steamed)
• Corn on the cob
• Pizza crust
• Bagels and hard rolls
• Ribs (unless meat is cut off the bone)
• Peanut brittle and sticky snack bars

Why should you avoid these trigger foods, exactly? Because they can break or loosen your brackets or wires, leading to dental emergencies and setting the course of treatment back, meaning it takes longer (and costs more)

What’s more, these foods tend to get stuck between brackets, increasing the risk of plaque buildup and decay, while also potentially causing pressure or pain.

Speaking of pain, eating especially crunchy foods like raw carrots or peanut brittle—especially right after adjustments—can aggravate soreness. What’s more, chewy foods like pizza crust or gummi bears carry the same risk.

After all, avoiding the foods listed above is about more than just reducing the chance of causing damage. It’s also about keeping you as comfortable as possible and reducing braces-related pain/discomfort!

The Best Braces-Friendly Snacks and Fast Food

Don’t be dismayed too much! There are plenty of tasty treats you can enjoy that are soft (and safe!) for your braces.

For instance, Penn Dental Medicine outlines a wide range of safe foods in their article, What You Can Eat With Braces. Here are some highlights:

Soft Fruits

Bananas, melons, grapes, blueberries, ripe pears, mangoes, and peaches are all braces-safe and loaded with nutrients. Choose fresh fruit over dried varieties, which tend to be sticky and sugary.

Cooked Vegetables

Steamed or roasted carrots, green beans, squash, and broccoli are easier to chew and won’t damage your brackets. If you’re craving crunch, try baking thin veggie slices into soft chips.

Grains and Breads

Soft tortillas, white or whole wheat sandwich bread, pancakes, rice, pasta, and couscous are all safe choices. Avoid crusty bread or bagels unless they’re steamed or very soft.

Proteins

Soft-cooked meats like shredded chicken, meatloaf, scrambled eggs, tofu, and tuna or chicken salad are easy to chew and offer valuable protein.

Braces-Friendly Fast-Food Options

Here are some real-world fast food picks that are typically safe for braces.

Note: these are not recommended choices, as they’re not necessarily the healthiest options from both a nutrition and whole health perspective. The point is that while there’s plenty you can’t eat with braces because of the consistency of the food, there are still plenty of soft/safe “braces friendly junk food options” that you can enjoy occasionally in limited quantities, including:

• McDonald’s: Filet-O-Fish (soft bun), soft cheeseburgers (no pickles or crunchy lettuce), plain pancakes, applesauce
• Chick-fil-A: Grilled nuggets, mac and cheese, chicken noodle soup, soft biscuits
• Subway: Meatball marinara or tuna sub on soft bread (cut into small bites, skip the toasted option)
• Taco Bell: Soft tacos, bean burritos, cheesy roll-ups, cheesy rice and beans
• Starbucks: Egg bites, yogurt parfaits, soft banana bread
• Panera Bread: Creamy mac & cheese, soups, soft sandwiches (no crusty ciabatta), fruit cups

Snacks for People with Braces

Looking for something quick to gnosh on between meals? Try some of these healthier alternatives:

• Yogurt
• Applesauce
• Mashed avocado
• Cottage cheese
• Pudding
• Refried beans
• Soft cheeses.

These foods are nutrient-dense and gentle on sore teeth.

Pro Tip: When snacking, aim to eat at regular mealtimes or rinse and brush afterward to avoid constant sugar exposure, which can harm both your teeth and your braces.

Conclusion

Figuring out what you can and can’t eat with braces doesn’t have to feel daunting. As you probably are beginning to realize, although braces do necessitate some lifestyle adjustments, they hardly require a total dietary overhaul.

That’s especially true if you choose clear aligners, which are removable!

Curious to learn more about the dos and don’ts of life with braces? Read our blog post “How to Take Care of Braces: Most Important Tips” now for additional tips related to diet and oral care.

TL;DR:

Is mouth breathing in kids bad? While not always catastrophic, the simple answer is yes.

Open mouth breathing in children isn’t just a habit. It can affect sleep, facial development, behavior, and dental health. Chronic mouth breathing may signal airway obstruction, enlarged adenoids, or structural concerns that deserve evaluation.

In this guide, you’ll discover:

• The most common causes of mouth breathing
• Whether mouth breathing can cause nasal congestion
• How enlarged adenoids affect breathing
• The connection between chronic mouth breathing and behavior
• Treatment options to help your child breathe better and grow healthier

Open-mouth breathing is breathing through the mouth instead of the nose. In babies, toddlers, and children, open-mouth breathing is most common at night, but it can also occur during the day.

While most of the time, mouth breathing occurs on occasion because your child is sick or has allergies, it can occur regularly due to more severe issues. If regular mouth breathing doesn’t resolve during childhood, your child could be at risk of developing several serious medical conditions.

Why Is My Child Breathing Through Their Mouth?

There are a number of reasons mouth breathing could be occurring, but child mouth breathing typically occurs at night when the child is sleeping, often indicating a problem in the nasal passages. If left unchecked, open-mouth breathing over many years could lead to the development of orofacial myofunctional disorders.

This is why it is extremely important that if your child is not sick, they see a pediatric dentist ASAP to help resolve why they experience regular mouth breathing at night.

Whether your newborn sleeps with their mouth open or your older toddler does, it’s most likely happening because there is an obstruction in their nasal passage. Some common underlying issues your child may have that cause them to breathe through their mouth include:

• Deviated septum
• Enlarged vessels, bones, or tissue in their nasal passage
• Tongue tie

If your child is mouth breathing and does not have a blocked nasal passage, it could be due to problems with their bite and mouth structure. The shape of your child’s jaw may prevent them from correctly closing their mouths.

Therefore, they breathe out of the mouth because it cannot shut properly.

If your toddler sleeps with their mouth open but breathes through the nose, they do not have an issue with their mouth or bite structure. Instead, they have a blockage in the upper airway, such as their throat or nose.

What to Do

If you notice your child mouth breathing, it could be because of various things. The best thing to do is to make an appointment with a pediatric dentist for an evaluation.

My Baby Sleeps with Their Mouth Open/Is This Bad?

Occasional mouth breathing due to congestion or allergies usually resolves on its own.

When children continuously breathe through their mouths, however, you may begin to notice symptoms such as irritability, cracked lips, and excessive crying in younger children or newborns.

When children display frequent open-mouth breathing, which most commonly happens during mouth breathing at night, it can cause numerous dental health concerns. These dental health concerns include:

• Enlarged tonsils
• Enlarged adenoids
• Temporomandibular disorder of the jaw
• Erosion of the teeth
• Teeth grinding
• Myofascial pain
• Periodontal disease
• Impacted teeth
• Malocclusion
• Tooth decay
• Chronic bad breath

In addition to dental health concerns, open-mouth breathing can cause a wide range of other overall health issues

Can Mouth Breathing Cause Behavior Problems?

Open-mouth breathing can cause behavioral problems in children, contributing to their inability to focus, irritability, and lack of sleep. Open-mouth breathing can cause problems in your child’s mental development because if they cannot properly breathe, their brain cannot function correctly.

Some common behavioral health concerns your children might experience due to mouth breathing include:

• Slower cognitive development
• Difficulty concentrating and solving problems
• Disturbed social and emotional development
• Possibility of being diagnosed incorrectly with ADHD or ADD
• Poor school performance

A Note on Mouth Breathing in Babies

Open-mouth breathing can occur in babies as young as three to four months old, as they do not develop the reflex to breathe through their mouth until that point. If your baby or young child is mouth breathing at night, it can become a regular habit even when they are awake.

It is especially important to be aware of mouth breathing in babies since it can affect the development of their brains if left untreated.

Your child is at risk of breathing through the mouth if they suck their thumb or have prolonged use of pacifiers, or if they stop breastfeeding or bottle feeding before three months of age.

How Do You Stop Mouth Breathing in Children?

If you notice signs of chronic mouth breathing, the first step is scheduling an evaluation with a pediatric dentist who understands airway development. Mouth breathing is usually a symptom rather than the underlying problem, so identifying the cause is key.

Depending on what’s contributing to your child’s open-mouth breathing, treatment may include:

• Allergy management
• Breathing retraining or myofunctional therapy
• Orthodontic treatment to guide jaw growth and improve airway space
• Removal of enlarged tonsils or adenoids
• Tongue tie release, if indicated
• Addressing nasal or throat obstruction
• Habit correction (such as thumb sucking)
• Evaluating healthy weight for airway support

Because airway growth impacts facial development, sleep quality, and behavior, early intervention is a super important step toward healthier breathing and a thriving smile!

Final Thoughts

Open-mouth breathing in children can be reversed, but it is essential to take steps to prevent it from happening. If you notice that your child breathes through their mouth and they are not sick, make an appointment at The Super Dentists to help determine the cause.

Learn more about our Pediatric Dental Services at The Super Dentists. Learn more about our Kids and Teen Dental Services at The Super Dentists. Schedule an appointment today and bring your family to a Super Dentists location near you!

FAQs

Can Mouth Breathing Affect My Child’s Facial Development?

Yes, chronic mouth breathing can lead to many types of changes in facial structure, such as:

• A longer face
• A narrower jaw
• A high-arched palate

How Can I Tell if My Child Has Sleep Apnea?

Loud snoring, pauses in breathing during sleep, restless sleep, and daytime sleepiness can be signs of sleep apnea. Consult a doctor if you notice these symptoms.

Will My Child Outgrow Mouth Breathing?

It depends.

Some issues, such as enlarged adenoids, may be resolved with age. Others require intervention. It’s important to have your child evaluated to see what is causing their mouth breathing in order to recommend the appropriate course of action, if any.

Can Mouth Breathing Cause Bad Breath or Dental Issues?

Yes, mouth breathing can dry out the mouth.

This can lead to a decrease in saliva production, which in turn can contribute to not only bad breath but also other issues over time, like tooth decay.

Can Mouth Breathing Affect a Toddler’s Speech?

If your child breathes through their mouth most of the time, it can affect their speech. Your child is likely to struggle with certain speech sounds or develop a lisp. If your child develops a lisp, they may have difficulty saying the letter “s” properly.

Their speech may be affected by mouth breathing because it can cause a tongue thrust swallowing pattern. This typically occurs during late childhood, but it is due to your child breathing through their mouth for a long period of time. In severe circumstances, this can also cause trouble with swallowing and make your child more prone to choking.

Does mouth breathing cause nasal congestion?

Yes, it can. While nasal congestion often causes mouth breathing in the first place, the reverse can also happen. When a child regularly breathes through their mouth, the nasal passages don’t get the normal airflow they need to stay clear and healthy. Over time, this can lead to swelling and inflammation inside the nose, creating a cycle of chronic mouth breathing and stuffiness. Supporting proper nasal breathing helps maintain healthy airway function and protects your child’s developing smile.

Do enlarged adenoids cause mouth breathing?

Yes. Enlarged adenoids are one of the most common causes of mouth breathing in children. Adenoids sit behind the nose, and when they become swollen—often from allergies or frequent infections—they can partially block the nasal airway. If air can’t move easily through the nose, children naturally switch to breathing through their mouths. Persistent mouth breathing may affect sleep, facial development, and dental health, so an airway-focused evaluation is a Super important next step if symptoms continue.

TL;DR:

Lip tie in babies happens when the tissue connecting the lip to the gums is too tight or thick, potentially affecting feeding, comfort, and oral development.

In this blog, you’ll learn how to recognize the signs, understand the difference between baby lip tie vs normal anatomy, and explore treatment options.

• Lip tie can affect breastfeeding and bottle feeding, causing latch issues, gassiness, and slow weight gain.
• There are different types of lip ties, ranging from mild to more restrictive.
• Comparing lip tie vs normal pictures can help parents spot structural differences.
• Untreated lip ties may contribute to speech, dental, or orthodontic concerns later.
• A simple, gentle procedure may improve feeding and comfort when necessary.

Lip tie in babies occurs when the labial frenulum, a piece of connective tissue that attaches your lip to your gums, is too closely attached (is too tight). Lip ties can create issues with breastfeeding or bottle feeding, as well as other dental issues, such as overbites. Therefore, it’s important to be sure that your baby is examined by a pediatric dentist to ensure that their labial frenulum is normal and not overly tight, especially if they exhibit some of the most common symptoms associated with lip tie.

When comparing baby lip ties vs normal anatomy, the key difference is mobility. In normal lip structure, the upper lip can gently flare outward during feeding. With a lip tie, on the other hand, the tissue may appear thick, tight, or extend lower toward the gum line, thereby limiting natural movement.

Many parents search for things like “lip tie vs normal pictures” to better understand what they’re seeing. Truthfully, while online images can offer general information, a professional evaluation is always the most reliable way to determine whether your baby’s lip structure is functioning normally or whether they have a lip tie.

Lip Tie in Babies: An Overview

Upper lip tie in babies is more common than lower lip tie, but it is possible for either the superior (upper) labial frenulum or the inferior (lower) labial frenulum to exhibit lip tie.

In either case, lip tie happens when the frenulum is either too tight, too thick, or both. While this is usually not painful for the baby experiencing lip tie, it can cause various issues with both feeding and oral development.

There are different types of lip ties, often classified based on how far the frenulum extends toward the gum line:

• Class I: Mild attachment with minimal restriction
• Class II: Attachment extends further down the gum
• Class III: Tight attachment near the edge of the gum ridge
• Class IV: Thick, restrictive attachment that may significantly limit lip mobility

It’s important to remember that appearance alone doesn’t determine whether treatment is necessary. Rather, function, or the loss of function, is what matters most.

Signs & Symptoms of Lip Tie

Recognizing the signs of a lip tie in your baby could help ensure early intervention. Some common indicators include:

• Feeding Challenges: Can a lip tie affect bottle feeding or breastfeeding? It sure can. Difficulty latching, prolonged feeding sessions, and frequent gassiness or fussiness during or after feeding are common feeding-related symptoms associated with lip tie in babies. Your baby may also make clicking sounds when feeding with lip tie.

• Oral Development Issues: What about the impact on oral development? Simply put, limited lip movement can impact a baby’s ability to suck effectively, which can lead to oral development issues like overbites.

If you notice any of these symptoms, it’s best to contact a trusted pediatric dentist to conduct a medical examination of your baby and determine if the lip tie should be removed to free up movement and prevent further issues.

In one study, parents concerned about lip tie cited the following as the most common symptoms associated with lip tie, in descending order:

• Breastfeeding problems
• Speech problems
• Bottle feeding problems
• Orthodontic problems
• Feeding problems in older children
• Reflux
• Snoring/sleep problems
• Dental decay
• Nasal problems

Impact of Lip Tie in Babies

Lip ties can cause a number of issues for both baby and mama in both the short-term and long-term. Here are some of the most common:

• Slow Weight Gain: A lip tie can make it hard for your baby to get enough milk, which can make them constantly hungry and cranky. This can, in turn, lead to abnormal weight gain, so keeping a log of your baby’s weight, especially if you suspect lip tie, could be smart.
• Pain for Nursing Moms: Lip ties can make breastfeeding uncomfortable and even lead to sore or cracked nipples. If you notice excess pain after nursing, lip tie could be contributing.
• Tummy Troubles: Lip ties can cause babies to swallow a lot of air, which can lead to abnormal levels of gas or spit up. If you’ve been burping your baby religiously but gas continues to be an issue, this could be to blame.
• Future Issues: In some cases, lip ties might even contribute to speech difficulties or dental problems, including dental decay or orthodontic issues down the road.

Treatment for Lip Tie in Babies: What to Expect

Not every lip tie in babies requires treatment. Many mild cases are monitored rather than corrected. At The Super Dentists, we take a conservative, function-first approach, weighing the risks and benefits before recommending any procedure.

If it is corrected, normal anatomy is usually restored via a relatively painless procedure called a lingual frenotomy.

During a lingual frenotomy, local anesthesia is usually applied, then the lip is held taught and the lip tie is cut, freeing up movement in the affected area.

During the recovery process, your baby might experience minor pain and swelling for a few days, but in most cases, healing begins in a day or two.

To avoid re-attachment of the frenulum, there are a number of post-surgical stretches and exercises you can perform on your baby to enhance the long-term outcome of success.

Get Your Baby Evaluated for Lip Tie Issues

Concerned about your baby’s lip tie? Wondering if what your baby is experiencing is, in fact, lip tie, or something else? We invite you to schedule a consultation with The Super Dentists today to ensure your baby gets the expert care they deserve.

FAQs About Lip Tie in Babies

Does a lip tie need to be corrected?

Not always. Many lip ties cause no functional problems and do not require treatment. Correction is typically recommended only if feeding, growth, or oral development is affected. It is important to get a professional diagnosis to understand whether your little one’s lip tie requires only monitoring or surgical correction.

Should I be worried if my baby has a lip tie?

In most cases, there’s no need to panic. Many lip ties are mild and harmless. The most important factor is whether your baby is feeding comfortably and gaining weight appropriately. A pediatric dental evaluation or medical evaluation can provide clarity and peace of mind.

What does a lip tie do?

A lip tie can restrict upper lip movement, potentially impacting latch during feeding, causing air intake and gassiness, and in some cases contributing to spacing or orthodontic concerns later in childhood.

What age is best for lip tie release?

If feeding is significantly impacted, lip-tie release can be performed in infancy. However, timing depends on symptoms and function, not just age. Some children never require treatment.

TL;DR:

A tongue tie (ankyloglossia) is a common condition babies are born with that can affect feeding, speech, and oral development. Some tongue ties are mild and need monitoring, while others may benefit from a simple procedure.

• Tongue tie types describe where the tissue attaches (anterior vs. posterior tongue tie).
• Grades or classes describe how severe the restriction is (for example, grade 3 tongue tie = severe limitation).
• Signs in babies often include breastfeeding difficulty, poor latch, or long feeding times.
• Not all tongue ties require treatment — function matters more than appearance.
• When needed, treatment is typically a quick, safe procedure like a frenotomy.

The most important step? A functional evaluation by a pediatric dentist or tongue-tie specialist to determine what’s best for your child’s Super smile and healthy development.

A tied tongue is a condition in which the tongue remains attached to the bottom of the mouth, causing potential difficulties with breastfeeding and speech. A tongue tie is common in newborns, infants, and young children, and adults can have it too.

It is considered a congenital condition, as it is something you can be born with, and it is also a hereditary condition. Dentists can diagnose a tongue tie, as can pediatricians or ENTS. A lactation consultant may even notice the tongue tie before a parent since it is common in babies.

What is a Tongue Tie?

A tongue tie, also known as ankyloglossia, is a condition that presents at birth. It is when a band of tissue connects the underside of the tongue to the bottom of the mouth, restricting the tongue’s motion range.

What Does Tongue Tie Look Like?

Since everybody’s tongues are slightly different, it can be challenging to diagnose a tongue tie based on appearance. However, there are several different types of tongue ties that can help to diagnose the condition properly.

Type 1

With a class 1 tongue tie, the ties are attached to the tip of the tongue. This is what most people think of when they refer to tongue ties. A class 1 tongue tie is also known as an anterior tie.

Type 2

A class 2 tongue tie, also known as an anterior tie, is further behind the tip of the tongue.

Type 3

A class 3 tongue tie is closer to the base of the tongue and is also known as an anterior tie.

Type 4

Class 4 tongue ties are also known as posterior ties. Submucosal, underneath the mucous membrane’s covering, must be felt. Many babies are misdiagnosed with a short tongue.

Understanding Tongue Tie Types vs. Grades

When researching tongue tie types, you will learn about different types, as discussed above. “Type” in relation to tongue ties refers to the Coryllos system, which describes the anatomical location of the frenulum.

On the other hand, “Grade” or “Class” typically refers to the Kotlow system, which measures severity based on how much the tongue can move (a grade 3 tongue tie indicates severe restriction measuring 3–7 mm, while a grade 4 tongue tie is very severe).

How to Tell if a Baby is Tongue Tied?

A tied tongue can affect between 4 and 11 percent of newborns and infants. Parents may be able to tell that their baby has a tongue tie if the tip of their tongue is shaped like a small heart, but that is not always the case in every baby. It can appear to look like a heart because the tissue that attaches the baby’s tongue to the bottom of his mouth is too thick or too short.

It pulls down on the area of the tongue, which can make the tip appear to be heart-shaped. Parents typically notice the first signs that their baby may be tongue-tied while breastfeeding. You can tell what is a tongue tie in a baby, as babies that have a tongue tie might display these signs and symptoms:

• Have trouble latching while breastfeeding
• Does not suck during breastfeeding, but compresses
• Has loud feeding sessions due to swallowing too much air
• Require long feeding times
• Cause pain for their mother while breastfeeding
• Does not produce enough dirty or wet diapers

Some other ways to tell that your baby may be tongue-tied are if your baby cannot do the following:

• Move their tongue from side to side
• Lift their tongue to the mouth’s roof
• Move their tongue past their gum line, where their teeth will grow
• Keep a binky in their mouth (many babies do not like binkies, so this isn’t always a symptom)

Does Tongue Tie Affect Speech?

A tongue tie can affect speech, as the tongue is necessary to form certain sounds. When a child has a tongue tie, their ability to move their tongue to form specific sounds may be impaired. Children with a tongue tie may have trouble enunciating these sounds:

• D
• L
• R
• S
• T
• Th
• Z

These specific sounds require the tongue’s full range of motion. If your child has a tongue tie, they might still be able to pronounce these sounds slightly, but they can sound slurred. However, it is essential to understand that not every child with a tongue tie struggles with speech.

Does Tongue Tie Go Away?

Tongue tie does not go away, but it may not cause any problems for your child as they get older. Sometimes, any tightness can resolve naturally as the child grows older and the mouth develops. However, some children may experience speech difficulties or difficulty chewing their food.

How to Address Tongue Tie

To address a tongue tie, minor surgery is typically required. Two types of surgeries can correct the tongue tie: a frenotomy or a frenuloplasty.

Frenotomy

A frenotomy is a minor surgical procedure to address a tongue tie. It can be performed with or without the use of anesthesia in the doctor’s office. The doctor will examine the lingual frenulum and use sterile surgery scissors to clip the frenulum.

This procedure is minimal and quick since there are few blood vessels or nerve endings in the lingual frenulum. If there is any bleeding, it will most likely be a couple of drops of blood. Babies will be able to breastfeed immediately following the surgery.

While a frenotomy’s complications are rare, some complications can occur. These complications can include tongue damage, damage to the salivary glands, infection, or bleeding.

Frenuloplasty

A frenuloplasty is recommended for those whose lingual frenulum is too thick to perform a frenotomy or if additional repairs are needed. A frenuloplasty requires the use of general anesthesia and surgical tools.

Once the frenulum is freed, the wound will be closed using sutures. The sutures are designed to absorb themselves while the tongue heals itself. Like all minor surgeries, there is a possibility of complications.

While complications are rare, they include infection, bleeding, and damage to the salivary glands and the tongue. Reactions to anesthesia can also concur. Simple exercises for the tongue might be helpful after a frenuloplasty to enhance the full motion of the tongue.

Final Thoughts

While a tongue tie can initially seem scary, it can be addressed by performing minor surgery.

At The Super Dentists, our amazing pediatric dental team takes a balanced, personalized approach, carefully evaluating types of tongue tie, differentiating posterior vs anterior tongue tie, and diagnosing mild vs severe tongue tie to determine the approach that’s truly best for your child’s health and development.

Learn more about our Pediatric Dental Services at The Super Dentists. Schedule an appointment today and bring your family to a Super Dentists location near you!

FAQs

Does a tongue-tie need to be corrected?

Not always. Whether a tongue tie needs correction depends on function, not just appearance. If feeding, speech, oral development, or airway growth is affected, treatment may be recommended. In mild cases, monitoring may be the best approach.

What causes tongue-tie in babies?

Tongue tie is a congenital condition, meaning babies are born with it. The exact cause isn’t fully understood, but genetics may play a role since it can run in families.

Do tongue ties go away?

Tongue ties do not typically disappear, but symptoms may lessen as a child grows. Some children experience no long-term issues, while others may require treatment depending on severity and function.

At what age should a tongue-tie be cut?

If feeding difficulties are present, a frenotomy can be performed in infancy — sometimes within the first weeks of life. If speech or functional issues arise later, treatment may be considered in toddlerhood or childhood. The timing depends on individual needs and symptoms.

TL;DR:

Need a dental cleaning, but not sure what kind?

A regular cleaning is preventive and removes plaque above the gums. A deep dental cleaning goes below the gumline to treat gum disease.

Read on to understand the difference between deep cleaning and regular cleaning, the benefits of deep cleaning teeth, how often you should get a deep cleaning, and answers to FAQs like “Why are dentists recommending deep cleanings?”

Dental Deep Cleaning vs Regular Cleaning: What’s the Difference?

A regular dental cleaning, also known as prophylaxis, is the standard treatment for creating healthy smiles, and it’s what you or your little ones have most likely experienced in the past. During a regular or routine dental cleaning, your dentist or dental hygienist removes plaque and tartar from the surface of your teeth. This helps prevent cavities, ward off bad breath, and keep gingivitis (gum inflammation) at bay. What’s more, as Delta Dental notes, most dental insurance plans cover 100% of the cost of routine cleanings when you visit an in-network provider.

A deep cleaning, on the other hand, otherwise known as a scaling and root planing, is often the go-to choice when a patient already exhibits significant gum inflammation or infection. It is more involved than a routine cleaning, involving removing bacteria below the gumline, smoothing out the roots of teeth, and helping gums reattach. Usually, a deep cleaning cannot be completed in just one visit, and it may require local anesthesia.

Benefits of Deep Cleaning

Deep cleaning can:

• Stop gum disease from getting worse
• Prevent tooth and bone loss
• Improve bad breath
• Help gums heal and reattach
• Save you from more costly treatments later on

There are no “cons” to deep cleaning, but there are side effects, including possible sensitivity, gum soreness, or mild swelling. The long-term benefits of deep cleaning far outweigh the temporary discomfort it can create.

How Often Should You Get a Deep Cleaning vs Regular Cleaning?

Deep cleaning is not something that you should regularly have done. Rather, deep cleaning is for gum disease. Your dentist will likely recommend it if they notice gum pockets over 4 mm deep, bleeding, or signs of periodontitis.

After the first round of deep cleaning, however, it’s common for your dentist to recommend maintenance cleanings every 3-4 months.

Most people who don’t need deep cleaning, on the other hand, should get routine (“regular”) cleanings completed once to twice a year, or every 6-12 months.

Ready to Learn More or Schedule a Cleaning?

If you’re curious about the cost of deep cleaning, we’ve broken it down for you here.

Ready to schedule a dental cleaning for your family? Visit our Kids’ Teeth Cleaning page now.

TL;DR: The Super Dentists are revolutionizing what it means to go to the dentist. In this fun and imaginative blog, readers will explore how The Super Dentists use superheroes, storytelling, and state-of-the-art care to transform dental visits from scary to spectacular.

Learn why this fun kids’ dentist has become a favorite among families—and why kids actually beg to come back.

Specifically, you’ll discover:

• A day in the life of Melo-D, a beloved Super Dentist character who helps ease anxiety and spark joy
• How The Super Dentists use characters like Dr. Have One Super Smile and The Tooth Keri to educate and entertain
• Cavitar’s origin story and how he helps teach kids the dangers of sugar and poor oral hygiene
• Why parents and kids love the interactive, theme-park-style dental offices
• How The Super Dentists locations combine comfort, tech, and fun to create an unforgettable experience

What if going to the dentist made your kid excited? Imagine how much easier it would be to get them to appointments. No more pleading or bribes. No more meltdowns and anxiety.

At The Super Dentists, that’s the reality! Every appointment you make for your kids at The Super Dentists is like a trip to their favorite theme park. All of our locations boast a one-of-a-kind cast of characters, state-of-the-art technology, and themed offices that spark joy even in adults!

We’re on a quest to transform what it means to visit the dentist, and you’re invited. Our aim? To defeat sugar bugs, outsmart Cavitar, and ultimately, slay the fear of dental visits once and for all while saving smiles, one family at a time.

Here, kids don’t just tolerate their appointments—they beg to beg to come back for more superhero-themed fun!

To show you just how magical a visit can be, we’re taking you inside a day in the life of one of our most beloved heroes: Melo-D. Along the way, you’ll meet our full cast of characters, learn how our environment turns anxiety into excitement, and discover why families across San Diego and Riverside Counties call us their favorite pediatric dentist. But first, let us regale you with the tale of how The Super Dentists came to be in the first place.

From Two Lands Not Far Away: The Super Dentists Origin Story

Long ago, in two lands not far away, a pair of young heroes were developing their dental superpowers in tandem.

The Tooth Keri, with her magical dental wand, and Dr. Have One Super Smile, armed with turbo treatment and x-ray vision, crossed paths in the most powerful of settings: dental school.

They trained side by side, memorizing mountains of information, and emerged stronger than ever. As their knowledge grew, so too did their powers. Then, they joined forces, forming The Super Dentists and setting out to redefine dental care, defending kids’ teeth from sugar bugs, cavities, and fear.

But that’s not nearly the end of the story…Not everyone in dental school shared their vision. A former classmate, Cavitar, turned to the dark side instead of joining the fight against cavities.

With his sugar-fueled plans for dental destruction, Cavitar now serves as the Super Dentists’ main villain—reminding kids what happens when you don’t brush your teeth or floss regularly!

To bring their mission to life, The Super Dentists set out to be not just any fun dentist for kids… but the most fun family and kids’ dentist in California. And so the dental offices were strengthened in their commitment to providing the empathetic, evidence-based care, and they increased in number daily, resolute in their mission to do away with cavities once and for all…

(For the full story, check out our animated short, The Super Dentists Movie.)

A Day in the Life of Melo-D: The Face of the Fun Kids’ Dentist

Now it’s time for a peek into the day in the life of one of The Super Dentists’ main heroes, Melo-D.

She’s much more than just a character. She’s a fan-favorite hero hailing from the Do-Re-Mi Galaxy who sings, dances, and turns dental anxiety into joy.

Known for her bright voice, sparkling personality, and musical magic that puts even the most anxious of kids at ease, Melo-D is often the first face kids recognize from our social media and videos.

Every day, Melo-D arrives ready to guide kids through their appointments with songs and smiles. Whether she’s leading a singalong in the Super Lounge, helping teach brushing techniques through rhythm, or taking selfies with new patients, her positive energy and sense of purpose are contagious.

She reminds every child that going to the dentist can be a positive, empowering, and fun experience!

Melo-D also stars in our in-office tour video, guiding families through the entire Super Dentists experience. From flavored gloves to laser treatments using “The Wand,” the video offers a behind-the-scenes look at how The Super Dentists combine care and creativity. You can watch that full tour here: The Super Dentists Experience Video.

Meet the Super Dentists’ Characters

Melo-D may be the face of The Super Dentists, but she’s surrounded by a supportive sugar-slaying, cavity-busting team, including:

• Dr. Have One Super Smile: Our resident orthodontist was born on the Tooth Star Planet. With the power to make braces go invisible and straighten teeth in record time, he’s a leader in both dental care and superhero action.
• The Tooth Keri: A gentle but fierce pediatric dentist from Tooth Keri Land. Her powers include flying, creating force-field sealants, and making dental pain disappear. She is beloved by children and parents alike.
• Flossosaurus: The Tooth Keri’s dinosaur sidekick, they’re known for protecting kids from sugar bugs and spreading joy in every office with his larger-than-life hugs and flossing skills.
• Turbo: Dr. Have One Super Smile’s high-tech spaceship. He helps deliver care with lightning-fast speed and advanced technology that kids love.
• Denion: Our “Super Assistant,” Denion graduated top of the class and now supports the dental team in real-time superhero fashion.

Then there’s Cavitar, the anti-hero of the Super Dentists’ story. Once a dental student himself, he now dedicates his time to spreading sugar and chaos.

Alongside his sidekick Molar, Cavitar constantly tries to sabotage dental health. But like all forces of evil, he never wins. You can watch Cavitar in action in this fun video: Cavitar Attacks.

Why Do Kids Beg to Come Back?

These characters aren’t just for show. They’re part of how we turn routine dental and orthodontic visits into unforgettable moments and help children form long-lasting positive associations with their oral health.

It starts with our themed offices, where waiting rooms are transformed into Super Lounges complete with movie screens, video games, dress-up stations, and interactive tech. Kids can trade candy for prizes, take selfies with superheroes, and even visit our in-office toy store.

It continues through our storytelling. Our characters and videos help kids build emotional connections and understand the value of dental care. When children see that the heroes have fun taking care of their teeth, they want to do the same.

And it ends with the parents, who love our flexible scheduling, advanced orthodontic treatments, and comforting techniques. Parents can even run errands during appointments, thanks to our paging system, or receive treatment themselves while their children are being cared for.

Dr. Hoss explains it best: “In their minds, they’re not going to the dentist. They’re going to a theme park.”

Watch the full interview here: Dr. Hoss on Getting Kids Excited About the Dentist.

The Super Dentists Locations and Experience

The Super Dentists has six locations across San Diego County—Carmel Valley, Chula Vista, Eastlake, Escondido, Kearny Mesa, and Oceanside—plus an office in Moreno Valley, Riverside County.

Each office is designed with kids and families in mind, from the Super Lounge to the Tooth Castle, where patients learn that going to the dentist can be both fun and comforting.

We combine the latest technology with a patient-first approach. This includes self-tightening braces, invisible orthodontics, laser treatments, and age-specific products through SuperMouth, our line of custom oral care solutions designed to keep kids healthy between visits.

Whether you’re looking for a pediatric dentist, orthodontist, or a place that understands the whole family’s needs, The Super Dentists deliver an extraordinary experience that’s unlike anything else.

Ready to See What All the Excitement is About?

Schedule an appointment at a Super Dentists location near you and discover why kids can’t wait to come back.

Need more reason to check us out? Check Out The Super Dentists’ reviews here.

TL;DR: February is National Children’s Dental Health Month (NCDHM), a time to raise awareness about kids’ oral health and inspire families to build lifelong dental care habits. In this blog, you’ll discover why this month matters and how to celebrate with fun, science-backed tips and activities.

• Learn why children’s dental health is a national concern with key facts and statistics
• Explore creative ways to celebrate with your kids, from art projects to healthy snacks
• Get 8 actionable tips to help your child develop lasting oral hygiene habits
• Discover expert advice from The Super Dentists and Dr. Kami Hoss on daily care routines

The month of February is probably best known for being a time of sharing love with each other during Valentine’s Day. But the entire month is important for another reason; it’s National Children’s Dental Health Month (NCDHM). The brainchild of the American Dental Association, NCDHM, or as it’s often called, Children’s Dental Health Month, is all about raising awareness about the importance of pediatric oral health, as well as helping the little ones in our lives develop lasting healthy habits.

Children’s Dental Health Month Facts: Why This Month Matters

The most common chronic disease among most kids is dental disease, but 95% of dental disease is preventable by establishing healthy oral care habits at home and going to the dentist twice a year!

Moreover, in California alone,

• Over 70% of third graders exhibit signs of dental decay
• 1 in 5 kindergartners has an excess of 7 cavities
• Nearly 40% of children brush their teeth less than twice a day
• Children requiring dental care were three times more likely to miss school compared to those who didn’t

Nationally, the situation isn’t much better. In fact, according to the American Centers for Disease Control (CDC), more than half of children from ages 6-8 have had a cavity in at least one of their baby teeth, and over half of teens from ages 12-19 have had a cavity in at least one of their permanent teeth.

Thankfully, you and your family don’t have to be statistics. That’s where National Children’s Dental Health Month comes in. Held every February, this campaign empowers families, schools, and communities to:

• Promote daily brushing and flossing
• Support healthy food choices
• Encourage regular dental visits
• Make oral care fun and memorable for kids of all ages

Need a better understanding of what constitutes good oral health habits? Want a better understanding of what constitutes good oral health habits? Check out Dr. Kami Hoss’ blog post “Establish Good Oral Health with These Habits” now!

Tips and Activities for Children’s Dental Health Month: How to Celebrate with Your Family

Looking for some creative children’s dental health month activities to engage your little ones and get them to understand why taking care of their teeth and gums is so vital?

Try these suggestions from the Seattle YMCA on for size!:

1. The “Egg-Periment”: Witness the power of protecting your teeth firsthand! Soak eggs in dark soda or vinegar overnight to mimic how acids and sugars attack enamel. The next morning, let your little one “save” the eggs by brushing away the stains with a toothbrush and paste. It’s a visual way to show how brushing keeps their real smile bright and strong.
2. Toothbrush Masterpiece: Turn dental hygiene into an art project! Use a large tooth cutout as a canvas and let your child “paint” it white using an old toothbrush. It’s a fun, low-pressure way to practice those important circular brushing motions while creating a work of art.
3. Healthy “Apple Smiles”: Stack up some tooth-friendly fun! Use two apple slices for lips, a swipe of nut butter for “gums,” and mini marshmallows or blanched almonds for teeth to create a silly snack. While they crunch away, you can chat about how healthy foods like apples help keep their real teeth happy (and why sugar should be enjoyed only in moderation).
4. DIY Tooth Fairy Pouch: Get ready for the Tooth Fairy’s visit with a handmade, no-sew felt pillow. Crafting a special spot for lost teeth is the perfect time to share a little secret: the Tooth Fairy gives the biggest rewards for teeth that have been brushed and flossed every single day!
5. Storytime for Smiles: Ease those “dentist jitters” with a cozy reading session. Choose classics like The Berenstain Bears Visit the Dentist or Just Going to the Dentist to turn the unknown into an adventure. Books are a great way to build excitement and curiosity about their next checkup.

Eight Ways to Encourage Your Little One to Embody Healthy Oral Hygiene Habits

Now you know the relevant Children’s Dental Health Month fun facts and statistics, some of them less fun than others! And you have some ideas about how to encourage your child to understand the importance of good oral health and hygiene. But how in the world do you get them to walk the walk and take care of their teeth and gums?

Here are 8 concrete ways to instill good dental health habits in your child:

1. Model good brushing and flossing behavior, and let your kid watch
2. Promote healthy eating habits
3. Use the “Brush Your Teeth Sing-Along Song”
4. Incentivize them
5. Choose the right oral care products (those designed specially for kids)
6. Take the lead! Remember, you’re the parent and the role model
7. Combine brushing, flossing, and play

Your Kids’ Oral Health Starts with You!

For more details, check out our associated blog post.

Alternatively, take our free mouthcare quiz to find out about you or your child’s Super Smile Personality and get them on the road to better oral health.

Blog Summary: Navigating the teen years comes with a lot of changes—especially when it comes to your smile. From braces to wisdom teeth, this guide shares essential oral health tips to help teens (and parents of teens) feel informed, confident, and prepared.

In this guide, you’ll learn:

• When teens should get braces—and how to plan around school photos and prom
• What to pack in your backpack to keep your breath fresh and help with oral hygiene
• How to choose the right rubber band colors for braces (hint: go seasonal!)
• Which sports require mouthguards and why they’re a must with braces
• The early signs of wisdom teeth coming in—and when removal might be needed

Being a teen comes with a lot of changes. Between selfies to sports, school photos to braces, there’s a lot to navigate. This is also true when it comes to dental health.

From deciding when to get braces and how to rock braces at prom to figuring out the signs of wisdom teeth coming in, there’s a lot of oral care info you need to know as a teen or parent of a teen.

With that said, let’s dive into our list of top teen oral health tips now!

Braces, Hygiene, & Tips for Living Your Best Life

Whether you’re a teen wondering how to navigate senior pictures with braces or what to keep in your backpack to keep your smile looking fresh, or a parent of a teen wondering whether it’s time to have their wisdom teeth extracted, we hope this section offers key insights and tips that prove helpful.

When to Get Braces

The ideal age to get braces is between 9 and 14, falling squarely into the teenage years. The exact age at which you or your teen should get braces depends on various factors. That said, many kids who’d benefit from braces and don’t get them by middle school wind up getting them as a pre-teen or teen in early high school.

Truthfully, while every adolescent is unique, often, the earlier you get braces, the better! The only way to know for sure if braces are required is to have a consultation with an orthodontist.

Braces Survival Tips for School & Socializing

Getting ready for senior pictures or wondering how in the world you’ll take care of your braces when not at home? Curious about whether you really can rock braces at prom confidently? These tips are for you.

What to Keep in Your Backpack

Whether wearing braces or not, daily oral care is an absolutely essential part of everyday life as a teen.

Here’s what to bring with you on the go so you can take care of your teeth and gums the right way, whether at practice, school, or a friend’s house.

• Travel toothbrush or braces toothbrush + fluoride toothpaste
• Ortho floss
• Orthodontic wax (for wire pokes!)
• Xylitol gum (for those not wearing braces) or sugar-free mints (for those who are)
• Mini mouthwash
• Mirror & lip balm

The Fun Side of Braces: What Colors Should You Get?

One of the best things about having braces for teens is getting to pick different color rubber bands at each meeting.

From orange and black and purple and green for Halloween to red and green for Christmas or blue and white for Hannukkah, your options to show off your seasonal spirit or personal style are endless.

Is prom coming up? A great way to embrace braces during this time is to coordinate your colors with your prom outfit. This tip also works with school pictures! The key to wearing braces around friends – especially when at special occasions like prom – is to lean in and wear them with confidence.

Play Hard, Smile Safely: Sports & Mouthguards as a Teen

From shredding on a halfpipe to scoring goals on the field, to playing clarinet in the school band, there are various situations when teens should protect their teeth and braces with a mouthguard.

If you or your teen plays a contact sport like football, basketball, soccer, or even a sport like skating or martial arts, a mouthguard is a must. Not only do mouthguards offer much-needed protection for teens, they also may help save parents money, given that the cost of a knocked-out tooth is usually around $1,100…ouch! Even in non-dental emergencies, they act as a physical barrier to braces, helping them stay intact and preventing situations like broken brackets.

For more info on which sports require mouthguards, check out our blog post “Mouth Guards for Kids: Which Sports Require Extra Protection?”.

If you or your teen is a musician, especially one who plays a brass or woodwind instrument, then mouthguards are equally important to help protect the lips, cheeks, and mouth from repeated contact with the braces, brackets, and wires.

What to Know About Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth, also commonly referred to as “third molars”, show up most often in teens and young adults ages 17-25. But signs of wisdom teeth crowning might appear sooner.

Did You Know: Some teens won’t ever need their wisdom teeth removed. The reason that most teens do is that they often get impacted, which can lead to serious issues like crowding, cysts, and infections.

Signs that your teen’s wisdom teeth may be getting impacted and require removal include:

• Pain that’s getting worse instead of better
• Red, swollen gums at the back of the mouth
• Noticeably worsening breath or a sudden change in breath odor
• Pain or discomfort while chewing, yawning, or talking

For more information, read our comprehensive blog post on this topic entitled “Signs of Wisdom Teeth Coming In & When to See a Dentist”.

Need More Help? Schedule an Appointment With The Super Dentists!

From braces to wisdom teeth, The Super Dentists is here for every stage of your teen smile journey, ranging from the eruption of baby teeth to dealing with impacted wisdom teeth and orthodontic treatment.

Regardless of whether you or your teen is wondering whether wisdom teeth are cause for concern, braces are warranted, or ordering a mouthguard is in order, the best way to be sure is to schedule an appointment with a pediatric and family dentist like The Super Dentists.

Ready to get the care you or your teen needs? Find a location near you and schedule your visit today.

Blog Summary: Navigating dental insurance in California can feel complex, but understanding the basics makes it easier to protect your family’s smiles:

• Dental insurance works like health insurance: you pay a monthly premium and share costs through deductibles, copays, or coinsurance.
• Plans usually include preventive care at 100% coverage, with cost-sharing for basic and major procedures.
• PPO, HMO, and indemnity plans are the three main types of dental insurance.
• Key terms like premiums, deductibles, copays, coinsurance, annual maximums, and waiting periods are essential to know.
• Most plans cover preventive services and fillings, but braces, implants, and cosmetic treatments are often excluded or partially covered.
• Pediatric coverage often lasts through age 18, with some plans extending to age 26 for dependents.
• Proactive understanding of your plan helps avoid surprise bills and ensures your family gets the care they need.

Navigating the world of dental insurance can seem like an impossible task as an individual, let alone a family. But it doesn’t have to be.

Taking the time to understand the complex web of types of insurance, coverages, and exclusions, and common terms is worth it. After all, care that ensures the health of you and your little ones is what you’re hoping to have covered, and taking care of those we love is almost always worth the effort!

In that spirit, we’ve created this guide with the objective of helping you understand how dental insurance in California works, what it covers and what it doesn’t, and how to make the most of your benefits.

Whether you’re new to dental insurance or are just looking for a refresher, we hope you’ll find this handy guide to dental insurance in CA helpful!

How Does Dental Insurance Coverage Work?: Breaking Down the Basics

There are a ton of insurers out there, and each provides various types of coverage. It can be overwhelming to navigate. But we mention this primarily to note that you might hear things about dental insurance from well-meaning friends or family members in other states or with different plans (even from the same insurer). But their coverage is probably not the same as yours.

With that out of the way, let’s take a step back and discuss what dental insurance is and how it works in California.

Dental insurance works similarly to health insurance. You pay a monthly premium that keeps your coverage active. With active coverage, when you make a dentist’s appointment, all or part of that appointment is either fully covered, covered partially, or, in some cases, not covered. When you pay part, you usually do so through a copayment, deductible, or coinsurance. Many plans also come with an annual maximum, or total amount the insurance company will pay per year.

There are three main types of dental insurance plans, plus discount dental plans/dental savings plans, which are often a good option for those who are uninsured or cannot obtain dental insurance, but are not technically a type of dental insurance.

Here, we’ll focus on the three main types of insurance only. Here’s what you should know about each, generally speaking:

1. PPOs/DPPOs: Dental preferred provider organization plans allow those who sign up for them to choose between a variety of dentists and dental specialists, making them a popular choice for those who want flexibility.
2. HMOs/DHMOs: Dental health maintenance organization plans include only specific dentists under contract with the insurance company to offer services at set rates, making them a popular choice with those who want more monthly savings and don’t mind some rigidity.
3. Dental Indemnity Insurance: With this type of coverage, insureds pay dentists directly instead of going through insurance first. Then, they submit claims to receive compensation later. These plans aren’t as popular due to the more involved claims process.

For more high-level information on dental insurance, we recommend the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ (NAIC) consumer insight guide.

Pro Tip: It may be helpful to remember that the main goal of all types of dental insurance is to cover some mix of preventative dental care, basic dental care, and major dental care.

6 Key Dental Insurance Terms to Know

How does a deductible work for dental insurance? Do you know the difference between a copay and coinsurance? We recently mentioned a few terms when explaining dental insurance, and now we’d like to back up and explain them in greater detail:

1. Premium: The recurring payment you make to maintain your dental insurance.
2. Deductible: The amount you’re responsible for paying for your dental care before your insurance benefits kick in. For example, if your deductible is $50, you’ll pay the first $50 of your dental costs each year.
3. Copayment: A fixed amount you pay for a specific service at the time of your visit. For instance, you might pay a $20 copay for a routine cleaning, with your insurance covering the rest.
4. Coinsurance: The portion of the cost you’re responsible for after you’ve met your deductible. It’s often expressed as a percentage, such as paying 20% of the cost for a filling while your insurance covers the remaining 80%.
5. Annual Maximum: The most your dental insurance will pay for your care within a single year. After this limit is reached, you are responsible for any additional costs.
6. Waiting Period: The amount of time you must wait after enrolling in a plan before certain treatments are covered. For example, some plans might have a 6-12 month waiting period for major procedures like crowns or braces.

Looking for other definitions? Check out this exhaustive NAIC glossary of insurance terms.

What Does Dental Insurance Usually Cover for Kids & Families?

Most – but not all – dental plans are designed to encourage preventative care since doing so is associated with less need for costly repairs later down the line.

Why? It costs insurance companies less money in the long run. (It also generally costs individuals – even those uninsured – less in the long run to get preventative care done routinely before small issues turn into issues that cost thousands).

That said, here’s an overview of what most plans cover.

Note: This is not meant to be exhaustive, since plans vary greatly in their coverages, exclusions, and amounts. So if in doubt, always:

• Review your insurance’s Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC)
• Log in to your insurer’s website or app
• Call your insurance provider directly
• Ask your dentist’s office! (At The Super Dentists, our Super Agents are happy to help decode your plan)

What’s Typically Covered

• Preventive Care (Usually 100% Covered): This includes things like cleanings, exams, X-rays, and fluoride treatments.
• Basic Procedures: Expect coverage for fillings, extractions, and space maintainers.
• Some Major Treatments: Depending on your plan, you may also have coverage for root canals and crowns.

What’s Not Always Covered or Only Partially Covered

• Braces and Other Orthodontic Treatments: Coverage for these can vary widely and may require an extra or supplemental plan.
• Cosmetic Procedures: Things like teeth whitening are often not covered.
• Dental Implants: These are frequently excluded, or only partially covered, even with higher-tier plans.

Wondering how much care costs without insurance, or dubious about the benefits of preventative care? Our blog post “How Much is a Dental Cleaning Without Insurance?” covers both topics and is worth a read.

In Conclusion

Dental insurance can help you save money, decrease stress over bills, and keep your whole family in tip-top health! Don’t wait for a surprise bill or avoid going to the dentist because you thought something wasn’t covered. Instead, seek to understand your coverage, ask questions, and stay proactive about regular visits!

The Super Dentists is in-network with all major insurance providers. Still need help? Visit our insurance page, check out our additional FAQs below, or reach out anytime for assistance!

Dental Insurance FAQs

Does dental insurance cover braces for children?

Some do. Many plans offer partial coverage, often through an orthodontic rider, and may have lifetime benefit limits.

Does dental insurance cover dental implants?

Typically, no. Implants are often considered elective, though some premium or supplemental plans may offer assistance.

What is the age limit for pediatric dental coverage?

Most plans provide coverage for children up to age 18, and some extend this to age 26 for dependents.

How does dental insurance for children function?

Preventive care is usually fully covered, while other treatments involve cost-sharing. Plans like those on Covered California have a limit on out-of-pocket costs for children.

How does a dental insurance deductible operate?

It’s the annual amount you pay for your care before your insurance begins to contribute. Preventive services are usually exempt from the deductible.

Blog Summary:

This blog provides a practical and supportive guide for parents preparing their child for their first cavity filling. It covers what cavities look like in kids, why they form, how pediatric dentists treat them, and how to help your child feel more at ease.

Highlights:

• What cavities look like in kids: Cavities often appear as white chalky spots, brown or black marks, or visible holes. Children may also report sensitivity or tooth pain even if the cavity isn’t visible.
• What causes cavities in kids: Poor brushing habits, excess sugar and starch intake, lack of fluoride, mouth breathing, and certain medical conditions or medications can all contribute to tooth decay.
• How pediatric dentists fill cavities: Dentists numb the area with a child-safe anesthetic, gently remove decay, and fill the hole with a suitable material. The process is safe, quick, and designed for small mouths and growing teeth.
• How to prepare your child: Stay calm yourself, validate their feelings, explain the procedure in a kid-friendly way, and choose a pediatric dentist who specializes in treating children gently and effectively.
• Top parent FAQs answered: The blog answers common questions like how to prevent cavities, whether fillings hurt, what happens if cavities are untreated, how dentists fill them, and why they occur in children.

Preparing your child for a cavity filling can be a nerve-wracking experience as a parent. After all, getting a filling is rarely fun. But, as we all know, neither is having a cavity caused by tooth decay! But you’re not alone.

To help you get your child ready for their first cavity filling, we put together this guide. It’s full of information you can share with your child, and tips for you to help them feel at ease, calm, and confident about the procedure. The bottom line is this: pediatric cavity fillings are fairly common, and the procedure to fill cavities is, thankfully, usually fairly routine. With the right prep, your kiddo can breeze through it all like a true dental superhero!

What do cavities look like in kids’ teeth?

Cavities in children often are so small you might not even be able to see them without a dental exam! In cases where you can see them, they usually look like one of the following:

• White chalky spots on the enamel (demineralization)
• Brown or black spots that don’t brush away
• Visible holes or pitting in the teeth

Sometimes, even when cavities aren’t visible, your little one will complain of tooth pain, especially when chewing, or sensitivity to hot, cold, or very sweet foods.

What is a cavity, anyway?

A cavity is caused by bacteria in the mouth. Without proper oral hygiene, these bacteria create acids from unhealthy foods such as sugary or processed foods.. The acid eats away at teeth until eventually a hole is formed. This hole is called a cavity.

Cavities in a child’s mouth are very common. In fact, the CDC says, “Among children aged 6 to 8 years, over half (52%) have had a cavity in their primary (baby) teeth. Children from low-income families are twice as likely to have untreated cavities as higher-income children. Among adolescents aged 12 to 19, more than half (57%) have had a cavity in their permanent teeth.”

When a tooth is fractured or damaged due to decay or trauma, dental fillings can replace and restore the tooth’s structure. No one wants to hear that they have a cavity; however, cavity filling is a routine procedure that can fix the tooth, remove the decay, and help the child feel more comfortable.

Looking for information on how to explain a cavity to a kid?: “A cavity is like a tiny hole in your tooth that happens when ‘sugar bugs’ (bacteria) make your tooth sick. But don’t worry! The dentist can fix it with a special material that makes your tooth strong again!”

What causes cavities in children?

Cavities are usually formed in a child’s teeth when they are not properly brushed. Some other common causes include

• Consuming too many sugars and starches
• Public water supply without fluoride
• High levels of the bacteria that cause cavities
• Less saliva flow than normal
• Mouth breathing
• Medical conditions or medications
• Poor oral care routines or products

How do dentists fill cavities in toddlers and children?

Baby teeth are filled much the same way an adult tooth is, so if you are familiar with that process, it’s a good place to start. If you are new to the idea of filling a cavity, the procedure for filling a child’s cavity is fairly straightforward:

• First, the dentist removes the decay,
• Next, the dentist fills the hole with composite or metal material,
• Lastly, the dentist adheres the filling material to the tooth.

Your dentist will work hard to make the procedure as comfortable as possible. A local anesthetic is used to numb the area via a small needle prior to the procedure. A topical anesthetic jelly is applied first to the child’s cheek and gums so they will not feel the needle. Dentists may also offer nitrous oxide to help children relax during the filling.

So, as you can see, the process is similar to what you may have seen for yourself. There are a few differences in what happens when a child gets a filling:

• A pediatric dentist will use pain management that is safe for children
• The dentist will use tools that are specially sized to treat cavities in baby teeth and small mouths
• The dentist will assess your child’s situation and determine which filling is best suited to them specifically (is the filling in a baby tooth that will fall out soon, or in a permanent adult tooth?)

Tips for preparing a child for cavity filling

As you can see, getting a filling is an easy procedure, but it does tend to cause some anxiety. Here are a few ways that you can help them feel more comfortable.

Stay calm yourself

If you are nervous about the dentist yourself, make sure you don’t project that anxiety onto your child. To put it simply, if you show them you are nervous, it’s an invitation for them to feel the same way!

Understanding Your Child’s Fear and Anxiety

That said, it’s also important to recognize and legitimize your child’s anxiety. Remember that this is a new experience for them, and that new experiences are full of mystery. They may not have been to the dentist many times, so this might be a place full of relatively new sights, sounds, and even smells.

Some pediatric dentistry offices, like The Super Dentists, are experts at calming little nerves. You can help, too. Perhaps let your child bring a favorite comfort item (like a teddy bear).

Consider the advice that Today’s Parent Magazine suggests:

“That bright light the dentist shines on your kid’s mouth might bother her eyes and could make her want to bolt. Bring along a pair of fun sunglasses, or call ahead to see if your dentist already provides them.”

Explain the procedure

While sunglasses are a fun tool, we suggest that you DON’T keep your child in the dark about what they should expect. Talk them through the procedure–though be careful of “scary” words. If they want specifics, we suggest that you “Let the dentist answer the detailed or complex questions your child may have. Pediatric dentists learn the non-threatening way to explain procedures to children in an easy-to-understand language.”

Choose the right dentist

Picking the right dentist is the very best way to prepare your child for cavity filling. The Super Dentists is the leading pediatric dental services provider in San Diego, and we boast comprehensive experience in working with kids and parents alike.

We’re here to make the entire process of treating kids’ teeth with cavities as easy and comfortable as possible for everyone involved, especially your kiddo! At the end of the day, we want to be here to help prevent cavities in kids, if possible, with the right care tips and advice, but we get that sometimes, that’s just not possible. In those instances where cavities have developed, we happily fill them, making the entire experience as fun, painless, and empathetic as we can!

Are you concerned about gingivitis or cavities in your child? Schedule a visit at a The Super Dentists location near you!

FAQs About Pediatric Cavity Fillings & Cavities in Kids

How can I prevent cavities in kids?

Good brushing and flossing habits, a healthy diet, and regular checkups with your pediatric dentist are the best ways to keep cavities away.

What happens if a cavity in a baby tooth is left untreated?

It can lead to bigger problems like pain, swelling, infections, and damage to permanent teeth underneath.

Do pediatric cavity fillings hurt?

Not usually. Pediatric dentists use gentle numbing techniques and fun distractions to make the experience easy for kids.

How do pediatric dentists fill cavities?

They gently remove the decay, clean the area, and fill the space with a safe material to protect the tooth and stop the cavity from getting worse.

What causes cavities in kids?

Cavities are caused by bacteria in the mouth that feed on sugars and starches, producing acids that damage tooth enamel over time.

If you’re considering braces, you’re probably concerned about how much they may hurt. You might also be wondering, “How long do braces hurt?” The anticipation of pain can be daunting, but don’t worry! Most of our patients tell us that the process hurts less than they expected. Stick around to learn why braces hurt, how much pain to expect, and how to relieve braces pain.

Does Getting Braces Hurt?

Braces are important for your overall oral health. Don’t let the fear of pain prevent you from getting the smile of your dreams!

Braces pain is usually experienced shortly after getting your braces attached. Getting braces installed is typically the most time-consuming part of the process; however, it does not hurt to get braces put on.

Instead, you can expect a little tightness or minor discomfort. Here’s how traditional braces are installed:

• We attach brackets to each tooth with enamel-colored dental cement.
• We then feed wires through tiny holes in the brackets.
• After the wires are all laced through, we trim the ends.

Afterward, you can select the bands that hold your wires in place. The Super Dentists also offer cool, kid-friendly designs to express your personality. During the entire process, braces, pain, and discomfort are limited and kept in check. We’ll ask if there is any pain, check that your tongue isn’t obstructed, and ensure there is no rubbing with your new braces.

A few days to a week after your appointment, you may experience some slight pain or discomfort as your teeth adjust. However, we have a plan for braces pain relief

We realize many patients experience anxiety when it comes to braces. Our orthodontists at The Super Dentists do everything necessary to ensure each patient receives the best possible care. Our method includes practical methods to lessen any fear before, during, and after your appointment. Our team provides the best care possible for patients of all ages who decide to get braces!

! Keep reading to learn more about what kind of pain to expect and how to relieve it.

A Braces Pain Timeline: What to Expect Day by Day

Day 1

Do braces hurt when you get them on? Simply put, no. But most people feel tenderness and pressure a few hours later as their teeth start to shift. This pressure can feel “weird” or “uncomfortable”.

Days 2-3

For many people, this is the peak period of soreness. But this isn’t true for every person, as your pain tolerance may be different than others’ pain tolerance. It’s not uncommon to feel irritation of the cheeks or tongue, or even get canker sores from braces during this time period. Using dental wax during this period and keeping your mouth clean can both help in that regard.

Days 4-7

When do braces stop hurting? For most people, discomfort and pain start to ease up around day 4-7. So if your braces hurt so bad you can’t sleep right now, and that’s not due to a protruding wire or broken braces bracket, take heart! It will get better soon – usually by the end of your first week wearing braces!

Later (Monthly Visits)

You should continue to expect some mild soreness lasting for about a day or two after each adjustment appointment. This is normal. As your mouth adjusts, you may feel residual pressure and occasional tenderness that is periodic or lasts longer. This is also normal.

Final Week (Braces Off)

The process of removing braces is a relatively quick and easy one! You might feel some pressure or discomfort as your braces are removed, but that should go away.

How Much Do Braces Hurt?

Because pain is relative, it’s very hard to answer this question! Even patients with very similar mouths and treatment schedules will experience discomfort differently. Braces don’t hurt when you get them, but minor discomfort is common. Some patients have pain while their mouth adjusts to their braces, and they describe it as a sore or achy jaw.

Mild over-the-counter pain relievers and home remedies like saltwater rinses are very effective at soothing braces pain. Although it can be uncomfortable, the pain is manageable. You can do it!

After braces are first placed or adjusted, it’s common to experience soreness and discomfort for a few days. This discomfort is caused by the pressure exerted on the teeth and the adjustment of the wires and brackets.

As your teeth gradually shift into their new positions, you may experience occasional episodes of discomfort after each tightening appointment. The intensity and duration of this pain typically decrease as your treatment progresses.

We want to remind you that everyone experiences pain in their own way. Everyone’s pain threshold is different, so what may be tolerable for one person could be more uncomfortable for another. Rest assured that there are many ways to soothe braces-related pain!

Does Brace Tightening Hurt?

During regular checkups for your braces, bands and wires will need adjustment, which makes the teeth feel “tight.” This is totally normal and expected. Pain during adjustment is one of the most common concerns about wearing braces.

As your teeth gradually shift into proper alignment, periodic adjustments will be necessary to ensure progress. During these tightening appointments, we may apply pressure to the braces, encouraging the teeth to move in the desired direction.

Just keep in mind that the mild discomfort is minimal and temporary. It will subside in a few days and might feel like a slight ache around the teeth and gums. Over-the-counter pain medications can be used during this time.

However, at The Super Dentists, we use the highest quality self-adjusting braces, which means we don’t have to do the traditional “tightening” of the braces. Instead, these braces self-adjust gradually and over time to maximize comfort while also significantly reducing office visits and treatment times.

Does It Hurt to Get Your Braces Off?

For many patients, getting braces off includes mild pain, but it’s not that uncomfortable. The Super Dentists’ orthodontists remove the bands and wires, then gently pry off the brackets from each tooth. Patients report that this is an even easier experience than getting braces installed or tightened.

Once the braces are removed, we’ll do a thorough teeth cleaning and possibly take X-rays to confirm how effective the braces were. You also may receive a retainer to wear at certain times during the day, which helps keep your teeth properly positioned while your gums and teeth heal.

Along with getting braces on, this will probably be your longest orthodontist appointment. That said, it’s also the most exciting one. Before you know it, your braces are off and you’re ready to show off your new smile!

Braces Pain Relief

Unfortunately, there is no way to stop braces pain immediately. Although there are no instant fixes, you have many options for pain relief!

With pain relievers (Tylenol, not anti-inflammation medication such as Aspirin and Advil), warm saltwater rinses, and oral anesthetics, any minor pain should be eliminated. Ensuring you take care of your braces will also help keep discomfort to a minimum.

Pro Tip: Avoid crunchy, sticky, or hard foods, especially during the first week or right after an adjustment. Stick to soft foods like smoothies, yogurt, mashed potatoes, or oatmeal.

When to Contact The Super Dentists

If you experience extreme discomfort that interferes with your sleep or daily life (such as saying, “My braces hurt so bad I can’t sleep”), don’t hesitate to reach out to our team right away. We can check your braces for issues like protruding wires or excessive pressure that may need an adjustment.

If you have any questions about braces pain or would like to discuss orthodontic treatments with the Super Dentists, feel free to visit or reach out to us. Check out our area locations, call us at 1 (855) GO SUPER, or send a text message to 1 (844) 765-1234. You can always schedule an appointment online as well!

Thanks for considering The Super Dentists for your complete orthodontic needs. Visit us today and see why 1 in 5 San Diego children is a Super Dentists kid!

FAQs About Braces Pain

Do braces hurt the whole time you have them?

Most patients only feel discomfort for a few days after each adjustment or during the first week of getting braces.

Can braces give you canker sores?

Yes, irritation from new brackets or wires can lead to a canker sore from braces, especially during the first few weeks. Dental wax and rinses can help.

What should I do if my braces hurt at night?

If you’re thinking, “My braces hurt so bad I can’t sleep,” try using wax, taking OTC pain meds, and sticking to soft foods. If it persists, contact us!

When do braces stop hurting after getting them?

Typically, within 3 to 7 days after getting them or a couple of days after an adjustment.

Do braces hurt when you get them on?

The installation doesn’t hurt, but mild soreness may develop a few hours later.

How long do braces hurt after an adjustment?

You may feel discomfort for 1 to 3 days after tightening, but it usually fades quickly.

Is it normal to be in pain a week after braces tightening?

It can happen, especially if it was a major adjustment. But if pain continues beyond 7 days, it’s best to contact your orthodontist to make sure everything is progressing normally.

What’s the best pain relief for sores from braces?

Try using orthodontic wax to cover any sharp areas, rinse with warm saltwater, and apply an over-the-counter oral gel to numb the sore area.

What if the braces pain gets worse instead of better after an adjustment?

Worsening pain may be a sign of an issue, like a loose bracket or a wire poking your cheek. Contact us so we can check and adjust if needed.

What can I do if pain medicine isn’t helping?

If OTC pain relievers aren’t enough, call us. We may need to adjust your braces or check for an underlying issue like an ulcer or bent wire.

Blog Summary:

• Bleeding gums in babies and toddlers can be caused by teething, plaque buildup, dry mouth, or improper brushing techniques.
• Mild gum bleeding during teething is normal and often seen in 1-year-olds, especially around erupting molars.
• Parents should continue gentle brushing with a soft-bristled toothbrush and avoid skipping oral hygiene, even if gums bleed.
• Prevent gum issues by limiting sugar, using the right toothbrush, and encouraging healthy brushing habits early.
• If bleeding lasts more than a few days or is paired with swelling or fever, consult your pediatric dentist for a checkup.

Bleeding gums in toddlers are nothing to be overly alarmed about, but it’s certainly not something you want to ignore. As Super Dentists, we pay attention to every little detail when it comes to your little one’s teeth, but an often neglected area of the mouth is the gums.

If your toddler’s gums are bleeding, it could be a sign of a more serious problem. There are many factors that can contribute to toddler gum bleeding, some are serious, while some are not.

In this guide, our goal is to help you understand why your toddler’s gums are bleeding, how to prevent it, and how to stop their gums from bleeding in the future.

What Causes Bleeding Gums in Toddlers?

Take a look in your toddler’s mouth. Do their gums look swollen or inflamed, and do they have pink-tainted saliva? If so, they might be experiencing gum bleeding without you even knowing it.

Here are some of the reasons your toddler’s gums are bleeding:

Plaque

No matter how much you brush your toddler’s teeth, they can still develop plaque. Plaque is a film that forms on your teeth due to sugary and starchy foods.

This can lead to gum bleeding because your toddler’s mouth bacteria will feed on these sugars and cause plaque. When the plaque hardens into tartar, it can start to irritate the gums, causing bleeding whenever they’re brushed or further irritated.

Your toddler’s bleeding gums and bad breath are not something you want to ignore because tartar can eventually turn into gingivitis and more serious gum diseases.

Too Much Sugar

As mentioned, sugar turns into plaque, which has a host of issues that come along with it. But the sugar your child is ingesting might not always be so obvious. Did you know that some fruit juices can have as much sugar as a can of soda?

Drinks can cause a lot of plaque buildup because they sit in our mouth and graze across our teeth, and for a developing toddler’s teeth, this is never a good thing. If your children’s gums are bleeding, you might want to take a look at their diet.

Dry Mouth

Toddlers can develop a dry mouth due to mouth breathing as a result of swollen tonsils or allergic reactions. Sometimes children with severe seasonal allergies will also breathe through their mouths more often than normal.

When this happens, the gums can become dry, cracked, and irritated. When you brush them, they bleed and cause further irritation. The best way to prevent this from happening is to make sure your child isn’t dealing with any allergies and pay attention to how they breathe. If it seems like they struggle to breathe through their nose, this might be something you’ll want to bring up.

Poor Quality Toothbrush

Keep in mind that not all toothbrushes are made for kids. It’s important that you check to make sure the toothbrush that you’re using isn’t causing bleeding gums for your toddler.

Make sure that the bristles of the toothbrush are not too hard, and feel free to ask for a recommendation on toothbrushes or a free one from your Super Dentist.

Bad Oral Hygiene

In some cases, bad oral hygiene is the cause of your toddler’s gums bleeding, but don’t feel bad. Not everyone knows how to properly care for a child’s dental hygiene, and you’re taking the right steps in fixing this problem.

Your child’s gums might be bleeding because of inflammation from their teeth not being brushed enough. This leads to an increase in plaque, which leads to gum disease and tooth decay.

The best way to prevent it is with twice-daily brushing, flossing, and careful dietary choices.

Can Bleeding Gums Be Caused by Teething?

Yes! One of the most common reasons for babies’ gums bleeding is teething. As those tiny little chompers break through the gums, they create a lot of pressure and tenderness that leads to teething bloody gums, especially in the front of the mouth.

You might notice things like:

• Pink-stained drool
• Blood on baby teethers or washcloths
• Swollen gum tissue
• A baby that’s generally irritable and cranky due to the pain

How To Prevent Bleeding Gums in Toddlers?

If your toddler’s gums are bleeding when brushing their teeth, you’ll want to do everything in your power to prevent this from happening in the future.

The best way to prevent toddler gum bleeding is by getting into the habit of brushing their teeth twice a day with a soft-bristle toothbrush. Make sure the toothbrush fits comfortably into their mouth and ensure they do not have any discomfort when you’re doing it.

Ideally, you want teeth brushing to be a happy time that they’re not scared or nervous to do. Brush after breakfast and before bedtime every day.

We also recommend that you brush after high-sugar or starchy foods.

Don’t avoid brushing your child’s gums either. A lot of parents think that if they’re bleeding, it means you should avoid them. That’s not true.

Be gentle and brush their gums because it will remove the plaque that is causing the bleeding.

1-Year-Old Gums Bleeding When Brushing: Should You Be Worried?

If your 1-year-old’s gums are bleeding when brushing, it could be due to teething, sensitivity, or even brushing too hard. Remember, your little one’s gums are delicate! Since many children are teething at this age, though, this is the most common culprit. What’s more, it’s completely normal in most cases to see mild bleeding of teething gums, especially around erupting molars.

Here’s what you can do to help:

• Use an extra-sensitive baby toothbrush with super soft bristles
• Don’t skip brushing; just brush more gently
• Try brushing after a warm bath; your little one is likely to be more relaxed then
• Massage your kiddo’s gums with a clean finger or a cool cloth

If bleeding continues for more than a few days, it’s time to consult your pediatric dentist.

Can a 2-Year-Old Have Gum Disease?

Yes, believe it or not, a two-year-old can have gum disease. Toddler gum bleeding from brushing teeth can be a signal of gum disease. The two most common types of gum disease in children are:

• Gingivitis
• Periodontitis

It’s important to understand that gingivitis is the first stage of periodontitis, which can cause more plaque to build up on their teeth, leading to periodontitis if untreated.

Is it Normal for a Toddler’s Teeth to Bleed?

If you notice blood in your child’s spit when you’re brushing their teeth, you don’t want to ignore it because it is the first sign of gum disease. Pay attention, see if their gums look swollen or tender, and talk to your Super Dentist about it next time you come in to see us.

Final Thoughts

Bleeding gums in toddlers is usually not a cause for alarm, but it’s certainly something you’ll want to pay attention to. Instilling good oral health habits at a young age is crucial to developing a child with a healthy mouth and a healthy body.

Remember that you play a major role in this, so if you notice that your toddler’s gums are bleeding, feel free to contact your pediatric dentist and get them in for a checkup just in case.

Learn more about our Pediatric Dental Services at The Super Dentists. Schedule an appointment today and bring your family to a Super Dentists location near you!

FAQs: Common Questions About Baby & Toddler Gum Bleeding

What causes baby gums bleeding during teething?

As teeth push through the gums, they may rupture small blood vessels, which can cause mild bleeding. This is a natural part of teething and typically resolves on its own.

Is it safe to keep brushing if my child’s gums are bleeding?

Yes, as long as you’re gentle. Bleeding can result from irritated or inflamed gums, often due to plaque buildup. Use a soft-bristle toothbrush and brush with light circular motions to keep their mouth clean and comfortable.

Can I use toothpaste on my baby’s gums?

Yes! Use a tiny smear about the size of a grain of rice for children under 3. Fluoride-free anticavity toothpaste (such as SuperMouth mouthpaste with Hydroxamin) is both safe and effective at helping prevent baby tooth decay.

What are the best home remedies for bleeding teething gums?

Try chilled silicone teethers, a clean, cold washcloth, or massaging their gums with a clean finger. These simple remedies help soothe discomfort and reduce inflammation during teething.

When should I call the dentist about gum bleeding?

If bleeding lasts more than a few days, is accompanied by swelling, fever, or refusal to eat, it’s best to contact your Super Dentist for a professional evaluation.

Blog Summary:

• Routine dental cleanings without insurance typically cost $100–$200, with San Diego prices on the higher end.
• Deep cleanings (scaling and root planing) can cost $600–$1,200 for the full mouth.
• Skipping cleanings may lead to costly issues like gum disease, root canals, or tooth loss.
• Treatments for advanced dental problems can range from $800 to over $5,000 per tooth.
• The Super Dentists offer a $99/year Super Smile Savings Plan to make preventive care affordable without insurance.

Are you 1 of 3 Americans who don’t have dental coverage? Has it been a while since your last teeth cleaning appointment? (We’ve all been there). Then you’re probably wondering how much a dental cleaning costs. The simple answer? Usually, somewhere between $100-$200+.

Let’s unpack that some more so you can understand just how much your budget will be impacted by routine dental work.

We’ll also compare the potential opportunity cost of avoiding dental work with the cost of getting that work done in the first place.

The Average Cost of Dental Cleaning with No Insurance

How expensive is a dentist without insurance? You might’ve heard horror stories of friends and family members who’ve gone in to have their pearly whites checked and walked out with a bill in the several-hundred-dollar or even several-thousand-dollar range.

Thankfully, when it comes to prophylaxis dental cleanings, specifically, the costs are often much more manageable. Are they expensive enough to prohibit some individuals from going to the dentist often? Sure. (We’ll explain why that’s a financial and health mistake later).

For now, here’s how much going to the dentist with no insurance typically costs for a cleaning, according to several sources:

• GoodRx: $104 average nationally
• Humana: $125 on average with a range of up to $200
• Delta Dental: $100-$130, depending on location and services
• Aflac: Up to $200

Averaging these figures together (using the higher value from Delta Dental data), we get an approximate mean cost of $139.75. Looking at extremes, you’re not likely to pay much less than $100, but you’re also not likely to pay much more than $200. This, of course, varies based on location. Here in the San Diego area, where prices are often higher relative to national averages, you’re likely to pay more towards the higher end of these ranges.

Also worth noting is the fact that a brand-new patient appointment (with cleaning, X-rays, exams, and more) usually will cost more than a standalone cleaning.

The Average Cost of Deep Cleaning Without Insurance

Prophylaxis dental cleanings, or preventative cleanings, are different than deep cleanings (also known as scaling and root planing).

If scaling and root planing are required, that normally costs around $150-$300 per quadrant. Given that there are four quadrants in the mouth (upper right, upper left, lower right, lower left), that puts the cost of a deep cleaning somewhere around the neighborhood of $600-$1,200, on average.

Learn more about what to expect during a cleaning at The Super Dentists’ Teeth Cleaning page.

Deterred By Cleaning Costs? Here’s Why Skipping Cleanings Can Cost You More in the Long Run

When living paycheck-to-paycheck, especially in an area as expensive as San Diego, it can be tempting to skip routine dental cleanings. After all, what’s the impact, right?

This is the wrong approach. Skipping cleanings and avoiding daily brushing and flossing often leads to far more expensive and invasive procedures later on. Here’s what can happen if you skip cleanings:

• Plaque hardens into tartar, which brushing doesn’t remove
• Gum inflammation (Gingivitis) develops
• Periodontitis may develop from unchecked Gingivitis, destroying bone and gum tissue and leading to irreversible damage
• Tooth decay may go unnoticed for months or years
• Tooth loss and infections may follow

Even deep cleaning seems cheap in contrast to the cost of treatments necessary to remedy some of the above issues.

• Crowns often cost $800-$2,500 each
• Periodontal surgery can run you as much as $3,000+
• Dental implants can cost $3,000-$5,000+ each
• Root canal often costs up to $1,500

In short, investing in a $100-$150 cleaning every 6-12 months could help you save thousands in the long run.

What’s more, money aside, regular checkups alongside cleanings are essential for early detection of issues. For example, a small cavity can be filled cheaply before it spreads and results in the necessity of a tooth extraction.

How to Save Money on Dental Cleaning Without Insurance

At The Super Dentists, we offer a Super Smile Savings Plan for patients without insurance, which includes:

• Two dental cleanings per year
• Comprehensive exams and X-rays for preventative maintenance
• Discounts on additional treatments

For just $99 annually, our membership costs nearly 50% less than the average cost of a single dental cleaning, and you get double the value with two included cleanings! All with no insurance!

It’s truly a win-win. And we made it that way intentionally, to make dental care more affordable and more accessible to all Southern California families.

At the Super Dentists, Affording Dental Cleaning with No Insurance is Possible

Accessing dental care without any insurance often feels intimidating, but it doesn’t have to.

The reality is that routine dental cleaning is not only essential, but far more affordable than other procedures that often ensue from avoiding routine cleanings!

Plus, at The Super Dentists, we offer flexible subscription plans (along with payment plans if that’s not your thing) to make taking care of you and your family’s teeth easier to swallow.

Don’t wait until something hurts or your tooth falls out to go to the dentist. Schedule cleaning now.

Blog Summary:

• More than 42% of adults over 30 have some form of gum disease, and gum recession is a common symptom that can lead to serious dental problems if left untreated.
• Brushing too aggressively, using abrasive toothpaste, and skipping daily flossing are top contributors to gum recession—but all can be corrected with proper technique and products.
• A healthy diet rich in vitamin C, CoQ10, and omega-3s supports gum tissue and may help reduce inflammation and prevent progression of gum disease.
• Regular dental visits are essential to monitor gum health, catch recession early, and perform cleanings or treatments like scaling or root planing when needed.
• By following five simple steps at home, you can fix a receding gum line without surgery and protect your smile for the long term.

Did you know that more than 42% of all adults ages 30 and up have some form of gum disease, and about 8% have severe gum disease?

Receding gums are often a symptom of periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, which is an infection that damages the soft tissue and bone around the teeth.

Gum disease starts with Gingivitis, or red, swollen, and bleeding gums. When left untreated, however, Gingivitis can progress into periodontal disease, leading to gum recession and even tooth loss.

The good news is that gum disease is usually highly preventable. If you do have it, chances are you can stop or slow its progression by integrating some simple oral care habits into your daily routine. But how much does it cost to fix receding gums? What’s involved? Specifically, what steps should you take?

We invite you to follow these five super steps to learn how to heal receding gums without surgery!

How to Fix a Receding Gum Line Without Surgery in 5 Steps

All you need is about 10 minutes a day, a soft-bristled toothbrush, fluoride or hydroxyapatite toothpaste, PFOA/PFAs-free dental floss, or a water flosser. If you act preventatively to avoid major surgery, fixing a receding gumline is a fairly low-cost endeavor!

1. Brush Gently Using a Soft-Bristled Toothbrush or Smart Toothbrush

Did you know that brushing your teeth too vigorously is a leading cause of gum recession? Both firm pressure and medium or hard bristles can contribute to gum recession that may eventually lead to tooth loss. Even in instances where tooth loss never occurs (which is most people), gum recession can still cause intense toothaches and unpleasant sensitivity.

So be sure to brush gently in small circular motions at a 45-degree angle to the gum line and avoid scrubbing side to side.

Pro Tip: Many people find that using a smart toothbrush with a pressure sensor helps them brush with the right amount of pressure!

2. Choose Your Toothpaste Wisely

The best toothpastes for receding gums are often labeled for sensitive teeth or antigingivitis. Avoid whitening pastes and abrasive formulations, which can cause more damage to delicate gum tissue.

Instead, choose a toothpaste with either fluoride or hydroxyapatite – or both – and make sure it has been formulated to protect your oral microbiome and support whole-mouth health as well (SuperMouth toothpaste is a great option).

3. Floss at Least Once a Day, But Gently

As the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) notes, failure to remove plaque along the gumline and in between the teeth is a leading cause of gum recession. It works like this: plaque builds up and, over time, hardens, turning into tartar buildup. This causes periodontal disease, which in turn causes gum recession.

Brushing your teeth is good at helping remove plaque along the gumline. But flossing is essential for helping to remove plaque between the teeth. SO it’s important to do both every day!

When flossing, be sure to use the “C-shape” flossing method, curving the floss around each tooth and sliding it gently beneath the gumline, then lifting. Don’t “saw” the floss.

Pro Tip: Consider a water flosser as a gentler option if your gums and teeth are highly sensitive. Otherwise, use a floss with fluoride and prebiotics to support both gum health and overall mouth health.

4. Change Your Diet

Many people forget that there’s a link between diet and gum health! The fact is, like every part of your body, your teeth and gums require certain essential nutrients to stay healthy, not to mention potentially even stimulate regeneration.

Studies have linked poor gum health to a low intake of things like CoQ10, omega-3s, and vitamin C!

Consider talking to your doctor about adding more leafy greens, citrus fruits, berries, and omega-3-rich foods like flax or salmon to your diet. If deficient, supplements may also be recommended.

Meanwhile, try to cut back on excessive starchy/sticky carbs, sugar, and processed foods.

5. Visit the Dentist Regularly for Evaluations and Cleanings

Home care is essential, but it’s not a substitute for professional dental care. It is, therefore, important to visit a dentist regularly for routine preventative exams where your gum pockets will be measured, you’ll be checked for inflammation or infection, and you’ll often have X-rays taken to assess bone levels in the teeth and jaw.

After these assessments, your dentist might recommend everything from scaling and root planing to laser therapy.

Take Action to Protect Your Gum Health Now

Your teeth might be the superstars of your mouth, but your gums are the foundation of your smile! As noted by the NIDCR and ADA, periodontal disease and gum recession are serious business. But they’re also both highly preventable conditions!

By making small changes like switching out your toothbrush, using the right technique when brushing, flossing correctly and regularly, choosing the right products, and going to the dentist regularly for cleanings and checkups, you can potentially help prevent the development or further progression of gum disease and gum recession!

Take action today to get started! Book a consultation with The Super Dentists at one of our convenient locations near you and let our tooth-loving crew recommend the right care for a healthier smile!

Blog Summary:

• The fluoride vs non-fluoride toothpaste debate has overshadowed more serious ingredient concerns.
• Fluoride, when used properly, is a safe and effective cavity-fighting mineral.
• Non-fluoride toothpastes may still contain harmful ingredients like triclosan, peppermint oil, and charcoal.
• Common ingredients like PTFE (Teflon) and titanium dioxide carry serious health risks.
• Many oral care products disrupt the oral microbiome, impacting digestion, immunity, and heart health.
• The mouth is a living ecosystem; proper care supports whole-body wellness.
• Choose products that remineralize enamel, are microbiome-friendly, and age-appropriate.
• SuperMouth offers dentist-approved, science-backed oral care with or without fluoride.
• All SuperMouth products feature Hydroxamin®: nano-hydroxyapatite + D3 & K2 for safe remineralization.

When it comes to toothpaste and other mouthcare products containing fluoride, there’s a lot of debate amongst the general population about which option is best. But truthfully, as the fluoride vs. non-fluoride debate has played out over the past several decades, toothpaste manufacturers and big box brands you may know well – and trust – have been filling their products with ingredients far more dangerous than fluoride, including everything from titanium dioxide to PFAS. Let’s dig up what’s been hiding in plain sight so you can make more informed decisions about your oral care and overall health.

The Truth About Fluoride: What it Does & Doesn’t Do

You may have heard things about fluoride being toxic. Truthfully, while fluoride can lead to a rare condition called dental fluorosis if used in excess or used improperly, fluoride is generally considered to be a safe and effective anticavity agent – an assertion backed by over 70 years of scientific research.

Did You Know? Fluoride is found naturally in foods you probably eat every day, including many vegetables, teas, and types of seafood. Before the baby teeth even erupt, fluoride taken in from foods and beverages helps create strong enamel. And, after eruption, fluoride helps rebuild (or “remineralize”) enamel by creating fluorapatite, which is up to ten times more acid-resistant than natural enamel!

In other words, when used properly in small doses, fluoride toothpaste offers fantastic protection against cavities, especially in kids and teens who are still building healthy oral care habits. But it should never be ingested.

That means, for little ones who may accidentally swallow their toothpaste, fluoride is generally not recommended.

What’s the verdict? While fluoride is hardly the villain it’s pictured to be, it’s also not a cure-all…which warrants a discussion of non-fluoride toothpaste.

Non-Fluoride Toothpaste: Cleaner or Just Unclear?

If you were to believe all the clever marketing you read, you might be led to think that “non-fluoride” equates to “guaranteed safe for use”. But that is simply not true. Choosing a non-fluoride toothpaste only tells you what isn’t in your tube of toothpaste – not what is inside.

Many non-fluoride toothpastes on the market are touted as “natural” or “clean,” but they still include ingredients that could be harmful for your teeth, including harsh ingredients like charcoal and peppermint oil.

This is also the problem with fluoride toothpaste, as it so happens. That is, knowing that a toothpaste does contain fluoride doesn’t necessarily clue you into what else is in it.

Did You Know? Many flosses also contain PTFE (Teflon), a class of “forever chemicals” that’s known to be associated with increased risks of cancer.

What’s Really in Your Toothpaste?

We’ve now established that comparing non-fluoride toothpaste vs fluoride toothpaste isn’t the only thing you should be doing to safeguard your health. You should also be looking at the toothpaste ingredients holistically.

But what ingredients, specifically, should you avoid? According to the EWG, which ranks ingredients by their relative toxicity, with scores of 1 being the safest and 10 being the most toxic, there are many toothpaste and oral care ingredients that you should avoid for a number of good reasons, ranging from genotoxicity concerns to oral microbiome disruption.

Your Mouth is an Ecosystem

It’s easy to understand why you should avoid toxic chemicals like PTFE and Titanium Dioxide. But peppermint oil? (You might be thinking, Really?! Come on!).

Here’s the rub – to truly understand why it’s important to stay away from ingredients like peppermint oil or alcohol, you have to realize that the mouth is an ecosystem and maintaining the delicate balance of good to bad bacteria in your mouth helps support not just your oral health but also your immune system and overall health. More than that,

• Your teeth are alive and need minerals like calcium and phosphorus
• Your gums are a gateway to your bloodstream
• Your oral microbiome plays a role in everything from digestion the heart health

So it’s important to look for products that are not only free of dangerous chemicals but also pH-balanced.

Failure to do so can result in everything from bad breath to increased risk of gum disease and digestive challenges (among other things).

Is Your Toothpaste Whole-Mouth Friendly?

Asking about fluoride vs non-fluoride toothpaste is a step in the right direction when it comes to taking care of your oral health and overall health. But it’s not perhaps the most effective question you could be asking. Instead, when choosing toothpaste, mouthwash, floss, and other mouthcare products, you should be asking: “Is this product whole mouth friendly?”. You should seek out products that:

• Remineralize enamel
• Support beneficial oral bacteria
• Avoid harsh, toxic, or drying ingredients
• Fit your age and cavity risk level

Experience Mouthcare in a Whole New Way

Looking for a toothpaste (or floss, or mouthwash for that matter) that’s formulated to help prevent cavities, rebuild enamel, AND support whole mouth health?

Look no further than SuperMouth. Formulated with OR without fluoride and with Hydroxamin – a proprietary blend of hydroxyapatite (another powerful remineralizing agent) plus vitamins D3 and K2 for calcium absorption, all SuperMouth products are safe, effective, and dentist-approved.

Blog Summary:

• Tooth enamel is strong but can’t regenerate once lost—only strengthened.
• Acidic foods and drinks like citrus, soda, coffee, and vinegar-based sauces wear enamel down. This is called erosion.
• Sticky and starchy snacks promote acid-producing bacteria that erode enamel.
• Habits like brushing too hard, grinding teeth, mouth breathing, and overusing whitening strips can cause damage.
• Signs of enamel loss include sensitivity, yellowing, rough edges, and frequent cavities.
• Enamel can be protected with fluoride, calcium-rich foods, good hydration, and enamel-safe oral care.

Not all superheroes wear capes, but many do carry a shield. Enamel is kind of like a superhero shield for your teeth! Ranking at 5 on the Mohs scale, tooth enamel is ranked in-between steel and titanium for hardness.

But enamel is not indestructible. What causes enamel loss, exactly? There are a ton of foods and habits – some of which you probably know are bad and others which you might not even think twice about – that could be quietly destroying your enamel.

In this blog post, we list 9 expected and surprising foods as well as 6 daily habits that contribute to tooth enamel loss. We also share how to protect and strengthen your smile with several super tips, as well as answer some common questions about enamel that people often have, like whether it can be rebuilt.

What is Tooth Enamel – and Why Does it Matter?

Tooth enamel is the hard and mineral-rich layer that covers your teeth and gives them their white appearance. It’s also what protects the rest of the teeth from cavities, sensitivity, and tooth decay.

It’s composed of a compound called hydroxyapatite, a calcium phosphate crystal that helps protect against wear, decay, and bacteria.

People often wonder: “Can tooth enamel grow back?” The unfortunate truth is that once enamel is gone, it isn’t able to grow back. The good news is that you can remineralize and strengthen the enamel that you do have left.

But before we get to how to help remineralize enamel, let’s uncover what might be causing it to erode in the first place.

9 Foods That Can Often Cause Tooth Enamel Loss

Hard as enamel may be, it can get eaten at slowly over time by these common culprits:

1. Citrus Fruits & Juices: From limes and lemons to grapefruits and oranges, all citrus fruits are high in acid, which softens enamel and makes it easier for it to get damaged.
2. Soda: The acid and sugar in soda pose a double threat to enamel, but even diet soda often has enough acid to cause erosion.
3. Black Coffee: Does black coffee erode tooth enamel? It absolutely does. (Sorry Java lovers!) It’s acidic and also dries out the mouth, reducing the protective supply of saliva.
4. Sports & Energy Drinks: These have a ton of sugar and acid, just like soda, and are often a primary cause of tooth enamel loss and tooth decay in kids.
5. Dried Fruit & Candy: Sticky snacks with sugar that cling to teeth feed bacteria that create enamel-eroding acids.
6. Starchy Snacks (i.e., Chips): These convert to sugars and also often get stuck in the teeth, increasing acid production like dried fruit and candy.
7. Sour Candies: Many of these are nearly as acidic as battery acid!
8. Alcohol: This causes dehydration and reduces saliva flow, which leads to dry mouth and higher cavity risk.
9. Vinegar-Based Foods: From pickles to salad dressings, hot sauces, and barbecue sauces, highly acidic vinegar-based foods often contribute to enamel loss.

6 Daily Habits That Harm Enamel

Yes, those OTC whitening strips damage tooth enamel. In fact, all of the following 6 habits could be slowly eating away at your enamel and harming your oral health:

1. Brushing Too Hard
2. Grinding Your Teeth
3. Breathing through Your Mouth (Especially at Night)
4. Overusing Whitening Strips
5. Frequently Snacking & Sipping (Especially Acidic or Sugary Substances)
6. Skipping Dental Visits

How to Know if Your Enamel is Damaged

If you experience any of the following regularly, then there’s a good chance that your tooth enamel is damaged or eroding:

• Sensitivity to hot, cold, or sweet foods
• Yellowing or dull teeth
• Chips, pits, or rough edges
• More frequent cavities

How to Promote Healthy Enamel & Remineralize Teeth

We know now that enamel can’t regenerate or “grow back”. But can existing tooth enamel be restored (strengthened)? Yes! This is called remineralization. Here’s what to do to help not only retain but also remineralize your existing enamel:

• Using remineralizing agents such as fluoride and nano-hydroxyapatite.
• Eating foods rich in calcium, like green leafy vegetables, almonds, and dairy products.
• Staying hydrated and drinking water often, especially after eating trigger foods, to rinse acid and sugar off teeth.
• Chewing sugar-free gum to help stimulate saliva (as long as you don’t have braces).
• Waiting 30-60 minutes to brush your teeth after consuming acidic foods.
• Using enamel-safe oral care products.

How to Promote Healthy Enamel & Remineralize Teeth

We know now that enamel can’t regenerate or “grow back”. But can existing tooth enamel be restored (strengthened)? Yes! This is called remineralization. Here’s what to do to help not only retain but also remineralize your existing enamel:

• Using remineralizing agents such as fluoride and nano-hydroxyapatite.
• Eating foods rich in calcium, like green leafy vegetables, almonds, and dairy products.
• Staying hydrated and drinking water often, especially after eating trigger foods, to rinse acid and sugar off teeth.
• Chewing sugar-free gum to help stimulate saliva (as long as you don’t have braces).
• Waiting 30-60 minutes to brush your teeth after consuming acidic foods.
• Using enamel-safe oral care products.

How Do Dentists Fix Severe Enamel Erosion?

If you’ve come here looking for information on how to rebuild tooth enamel, as you now know, that’s not possible. That being said, when enamel erosion is severe enough, dentists often are able to provide treatments like fluoride varnishes, dental bonding, veneers or crowns, or night guards for bruxism (teeth grinding).

Protect Your Smile with The Super Dentists

While tooth enamel loss is serious business, it’s usually preventable! By eating the right things, avoiding the wrong ones or consuming them in moderation, and avoiding certain habits, you can preserve and even strengthen your enamel.

Worried about tooth enamel loss in you or your children? Schedule an appointment with The Super Dentists now!

Blog Summary:

• Routine dental cleanings without insurance typically cost $100–$200, with San Diego prices on the higher end.
• Deep cleanings (scaling and root planing) can cost $600–$1,200 for the full mouth.
• Skipping cleanings may lead to costly issues like gum disease, root canals, or tooth loss.
• Treatments for advanced dental problems can range from $800 to over $5,000 per tooth.
• The Super Dentists offer a $99/year Super Smile Savings Plan to make preventive care affordable without insurance.

Are you 1 of 3 Americans who don’t have dental coverage? Has it been a while since your last teeth cleaning appointment? (We’ve all been there). Then you’re probably wondering how much a dental cleaning costs. The simple answer? Usually, somewhere between $100-$200+.

Let’s unpack that some more so you can understand just how much your budget will be impacted by routine dental work.

We’ll also compare the potential opportunity cost of avoiding dental work with the cost of getting that work done in the first place.

The Average Cost of Dental Cleaning with No Insurance

How expensive is a dentist without insurance? You might’ve heard horror stories of friends and family members who’ve gone in to have their pearly whites checked and walked out with a bill in the several-hundred-dollar or even several-thousand-dollar range.

Thankfully, when it comes to prophylaxis dental cleanings, specifically, the costs are often much more manageable. Are they expensive enough to prohibit some individuals from going to the dentist often? Sure. (We’ll explain why that’s a financial and health mistake later).

For now, here’s how much going to the dentist with no insurance typically costs for a cleaning, according to several sources:

• GoodRx: $104 average nationally
• Humana: $125 on average with a range of up to $200
• Delta Dental: $100-$130, depending on location and services
• Aflac: Up to $200

Averaging these figures together (using the higher value from Delta Dental data), we get an approximate mean cost of $139.75. Looking at extremes, you’re not likely to pay much less than $100, but you’re also not likely to pay much more than $200. This, of course, varies based on location. Here in the San Diego area, where prices are often higher relative to national averages, you’re likely to pay more towards the higher end of these ranges.

Also worth noting is the fact that a brand-new patient appointment (with cleaning, X-rays, exams, and more) usually will cost more than a standalone cleaning.

The Average Cost of Deep Cleaning Without Insurance

Prophylaxis dental cleanings, or preventative cleanings, are different than deep cleanings (also known as scaling and root planing).

If scaling and root planing are required, that normally costs around $150-$300 per quadrant. Given that there are four quadrants in the mouth (upper right, upper left, lower right, lower left), that puts the cost of a deep cleaning somewhere around the neighborhood of $600-$1,200, on average.

Learn more about what to expect during a cleaning at The Super Dentists’ Teeth Cleaning page.

Deterred By Cleaning Costs? Here’s Why Skipping Cleanings Can Cost You More in the Long Run

When living paycheck-to-paycheck, especially in an area as expensive as San Diego, it can be tempting to skip routine dental cleanings. After all, what’s the impact, right?

This is the wrong approach. Skipping cleanings and avoiding daily brushing and flossing often leads to far more expensive and invasive procedures later on. Here’s what can happen if you skip cleanings:

• Plaque hardens into tartar, which brushing doesn’t remove
• Gum inflammation (Gingivitis) develops
• Periodontitis may develop from unchecked Gingivitis, destroying bone and gum tissue and leading to irreversible damage
• Tooth decay may go unnoticed for months or years
• Tooth loss and infections may follow

Even deep cleaning seems cheap in contrast to the cost of treatments necessary to remedy some of the above issues.

• Crowns often cost $800-$2,500 each
• Periodontal surgery can run you as much as $3,000+
• Dental implants can cost $3,000-$5,000+ each
• Root canal often costs up to $1,500

In short, investing in a $100-$150 cleaning every 6-12 months could help you save thousands in the long run.

What’s more, money aside, regular checkups alongside cleanings are essential for early detection of issues. For example, a small cavity can be filled cheaply before it spreads and results in the necessity of a tooth extraction.

How to Save Money on Dental Cleaning Without Insurance

At The Super Dentists, we offer a Super Smile Savings Plan for patients without insurance, which includes:

• Two dental cleanings per year
• Comprehensive exams and X-rays for preventative maintenance
• Discounts on additional treatments

For just $99 annually, our membership costs nearly 50% less than the average cost of a single dental cleaning, and you get double the value with two included cleanings! All with no insurance!

It’s truly a win-win. And we made it that way intentionally, to make dental care more affordable and more accessible to all Southern California families.

At the Super Dentists, Affording Dental Cleaning with No Insurance is Possible

Accessing dental care without any insurance often feels intimidating, but it doesn’t have to.

The reality is that routine dental cleaning is not only essential, but far more affordable than other procedures that often ensue from avoiding routine cleanings!

Plus, at The Super Dentists, we offer flexible subscription plans (along with payment plans if that’s not your thing) to make taking care of you and your family’s teeth easier to swallow.

Don’t wait until something hurts or your tooth falls out to go to the dentist. Schedule cleaning now.

Blog Summary:

• Gingivitis is extremely common, affecting over 70% of children ages 6–11 in the U.S.
• Fortunately, Gingivitis is reversible with early action, consistent at-home care, and regular dental visits.
• The condition develops in clear stages—from invisible inflammation to visibly swollen, bleeding gums—but can still be reversed before it becomes advanced-stage gum disease (periodontitis).
• Home care essentials include brushing twice daily, flossing, using alcohol-free mouthwash, and routine dental cleanings.
• Mild Gingivitis often clears up within 1–3 weeks of improved oral hygiene.
• While gingivitis can be cured, it can return quickly, too without lifelong oral care habits.
• Kids need help brushing until at least age 7–8 and should be closely monitored for signs of early gum disease. If you do observe these signs, bring them to the dentist.

As far as dental issues experienced by American children and adults go, Gingivitis is among the most common. In fact, the National Institutes of Health found that an overwhelming majority, or over 70%, of American kids aged 6-11 show signs of Gingivitis.

But did you know that Gingivitis is maybe also the most reversible dental health issue? It’s true! If you’ve noticed that your gums bleed regularly or you have persistent bad breath, you might be wondering, “Can you cure Gingivitis?” and if so, “How long does it take to reverse Gingivitis?” or even “How is Gingivitis reversed?”.

Here’s the short answer: Gingivitis is reversible with a combination of daily care, early action, and dental intervention. Below, we’ll dive deeper into all of these things so you can keep yourself and your little ones happy and their mouths squeaky clean and inflammation-free!

What is Gingivitis & Why Does it Happen?

Simply put, Gingivitis refers to inflammation of the gum tissue, usually caused by bacterial plaque building up around the gumline and between the teeth (known as plaque-induced Gingivitis). But there are other types of Gingivitis too, including Nutritional Gingivitis, Hormonal Gingivitis, and Drug-Induced Gingivitis.

Technically, Gingivitis is the first stage of periodontitis (gum disease). But it can be seen as a precursor to periodontitis rather than the initial stage of it because, unlike gum disease, Gingivitis is reversible. This is because it hasn’t yet impacted the bones or surrounding tissues.

Probably the most common triggers of Gingivitis include:

• Poor and/or inconsistent oral hygiene habits
• Sugary diets and nutritional deficits
• Hormonal shifts such as those occurring during puberty or pregnancy

The Stages of Gingivitis: A Gum Disease Progression Timeline

Gingivitis develops in stages. Early detection and intervention are key to reversing it completely! Here are the 3 stages of Gingivitis:

1. Initial Lesion: Plaque builds up, and within 2-4 days of this buildup, it causes inflammation of the gums. Usually, this stage is not associated with any visible signs or tactile symptoms.
2. Early Lesion: Within a week, the gums may begin to look red. They may bleed when brushed. In this stage, lymphocytes and macrophages dominate the immune response.
3. Established Lesion: When left unchecked, inflammation gets worse, and immune cells such as B-lymphocytes and plasma cells begin accumulating. Gum pockets may also develop at this stage. But even at this stage, Gingivitis is still reversible!

While some include a stage 4, or Advanced Lesion (periodontitis) as a stage of Gingivitis, this stage marks the point of no return, where infection reaches the bone and connective tissue, causing permanent damage. Therefore, it’s arguably more accurate to demarcate stage 4 as the beginning of advanced gum disease as opposed to a state of Gingivitis, which definitionally, is reversible.

How to Reverse Gingivitis at Home

With a little help (and a lot of consistency), stopping Gingivitis’ progression in its tracks – and even fully reversing it – is possible. In some cases, it’s even possible to reverse it yourself with home remedies only, rather than with the help of others or professional cures.

The exception is little kids. As we covered in a previous blog post, “If a child has gingivitis, it is imperative for them to develop a consistent oral hygiene routine, supported by the parents. In addition, it can be treated with regular dental checkups. Remember that children still need help brushing their teeth until they are around age 7 to 8.”

If you’re an adult, though, you can likely reverse Gingivitis at home by taking the following four actions:

1. Brush twice daily. Make sure to use an anticavity toothpaste with fluoride or nano-hydroxyapatite.
2. Floss at least once daily or use a water flosser.
3. Use alcohol-free mouthwash.
4. While not technically an “at-home” remedy, it’s also important to supplement the above with routine dental cleanings.

How Long Does it Take to Reverse Gingivitis?

Most cases of mild Gingivitis can be healed completely in as little as one to two weeks with diligent at-home care. Even slightly worse cases often resolve in about three weeks to a month. If any of the following are true, then you should schedule a dental consultation to get help dealing with your or your little ones’ Gingivitis:

1. You don’t see any improvement in symptoms after about a month of at-home treatment
2. You’re not sure how to brush and floss correctly
3. You need help choosing the right oral care products to reverse Gingivitis

Can Gingivitis Be Permanently Cured?

Yes! But only if you maintain lifelong oral hygiene. If you don’t, inflammation will come back. It’s also worth noting that if Gingivitis causes receding gums, you typically won’t be able to grow back the portion of your gums that has receded.

Final Thoughts: Don’t Overlook Gum Health, Especially in Kids

Gingivitis might be a relatively minor form of gum disease, but it’s not one you should ignore. Because if you catch Gingivitis early enough, you can fully reverse it! That’s good news, especially for your little ones!

So be sure to educate yourself about how to properly care for your whole mouth health and your little ones’ whole mouth health! Consider reading Dr. Kami Hoss’ book, “If Your Mouth Could Talk” for more information.

Want help kicking Gingivitis to the curb? Schedule an appointment with The Super Dentists now.

As a parent, you’ve probably found yourself in the grocery store with your child looking up at you, begging for you to get them a soda. While it might seem harmless to occasionally give in, understanding the impact of these sugary drinks on your child’s developing teeth can help you make more informed decisions about their oral health.

TL;DR

Soda may seem like an innocent treat, but it’s incredibly damaging to your child’s teeth. The acids and sugars erode enamel, cause cavities, and even stain teeth. Limiting soda, drinking it quickly through a straw, and rinsing afterward can reduce harm — but the best choice is always water.

Main Points:

• Soda causes acid attacks that erode enamel and lead to cavities.
• Both regular and diet sodas are harmful due to acidity.
• Sipping slowly over time is worse than drinking quickly.
• Brushing immediately after soda can worsen enamel damage.
• Soda stains teeth — especially brightly colored ones.
• Sports drinks and juices can also harm teeth but soda is typically worse.
• Use straws, rinse with water, and avoid bedtime consumption.
• Soda also contributes to broader health issues like obesity and diabetes.
• Moderation and good oral hygiene can limit soda’s long-term effects.
• Regular dental checkups are key to catching damage early.

The Science Behind Soda’s Impact on Teeth

When your child takes that first sip of soda, a complex chemical reaction begins in their mouth. The sugar in the beverage combines with naturally occurring bacteria to form acid, and this acid becomes the primary culprit in tooth damage.

Both regular and diet sodas contain their own acids, including citric acid and phosphoric acid, which directly attack teeth.

Each time your child sips their drink, this acid assault continues for about 20 minutes. If they’re slowly nursing that soda throughout the afternoon, their teeth remain under constant attack with little time to recover. Young children and teenagers face even greater risks since their tooth enamel hasn’t fully developed yet, so they are more susceptible to damage.

Understanding the Two Main Types of Dental Damage

The effects of soda on teeth show up in two main ways, erosion and cavities. Think of erosion like sandpaper slowly wearing down a piece of wood — that’s what acids do to your child’s tooth enamel.

The protective outer layer gets weaker and thinner, which is why kids might suddenly complain that ice cream or cold drinks hurt their teeth. Diet soda causes this too, even without any sugar.

Cavities work differently since they’re actual holes that form when bacteria feast on sugar and pump out acid as waste. While erosion stays on the surface, cavities go right through the enamel and can reach the softer dentin underneath.

When cavities are left untreated, your child could experience painful toothaches, expensive procedures, and sometimes even tooth loss in severe cases. What makes this especially troubling for parents is that soda and teeth problems don’t discriminate — even diet sodas pose significant risks due to their high acidity levels.

The Hidden Dangers Parents Often Miss

Many parents don’t realize that the timing and method of soda consumption can dramatically affect the damage it causes. Drinking soda before bedtime creates an especially dangerous situation because the sugar and acid have all night to attack your child’s teeth while saliva production decreases during sleep.

The way children typically consume soda — sipping slowly over extended periods — maximizes the exposure time and increases potential damage. Here’s something that surprises most parents…brushing your child’s teeth right after they drink soda can make things worse.

When enamel is soft from acid exposure, scrubbing it with a toothbrush is like rubbing sandpaper on already damaged paint. Soda stains on teeth create another headache for parents, especially when you’re dealing with teenagers who care about how they look.

Those bright red and orange sodas don’t just taste artificial — they contain dyes that can permanently stain teeth. Combined with the acids that rough up the tooth surface, these stains can become stubborn reminders of poor drink choices.

Comparing Soda to Other Drinks

Generally, soda is one of the most harmful drinks for dental health. It’s common to think of sports drinks as healthier alternatives, but they typically have similar levels of sugar and acid.

While fruit juices contain natural sugars and have some nutritional benefits, they’re still highly acidic and can cause significant tooth damage.

The pH scale can help you see just how acidic these beverages are. With pure water scoring a neutral 7, most sodas range between 2.4 and 4.5, making them highly acidic and capable of causing significant enamel erosion.

Practical Strategies for Concerned Parents

Let’s be honest — telling kids they can never have soda again isn’t realistic for most families. Instead, you can teach them smarter ways to drink it that won’t wreck their teeth. When your child does get a soda, encourage them to drink it fast rather than nurse it for an hour. Think of it like ripping off a band-aid — quick exposure causes less damage than prolonged contact.

Straws can help if you use them right. Position the straw toward the back of your child’s mouth so the soda bypasses most of their teeth. It’s not perfect protection, but it helps. After they finish drinking, have them swish some water around their mouth to rinse away the leftover sugar and acid that’s clinging to their teeth.

Timing matters too and avoiding soda consumption before bedtime gives teeth the best chance to recover overnight. When brushing after soda consumption, waiting 30 to 60 minutes allows saliva to naturally neutralize acids and remineralize enamel before introducing the mechanical action of brushing.

The Broader Health Picture

Tooth damage is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what soda does to kids’ bodies. The effects of soft drinks on teeth might be what you see first, but regular soda drinking also sets kids up for weight problems, diabetes, and a whole bunch of other health issues down the road.

When you teach your children to reach for water instead of soda, you’re not just protecting their teeth, but you’re helping them build habits that’ll keep them healthy for life. Don’t beat yourself up if your child has had soda before. Instead of panicking every time they ask for a Sprite at a restaurant, use it as a teaching moment about taking care of their teeth afterward.

Kids who drink sugary stuff occasionally need to see their dentist more often, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing and catching small problems early means avoiding big, expensive fixes later.

If you’re worried about what all that soda is doing to your child’s smile, schedule an appointment with The Super Dentists to talk about what you can do to protect their teeth going forward.

Why Is Soda Bad for Your Teeth? FAQs

Why is soda considered bad for your teeth?

Soda contains high levels of sugar and acid that work together to damage teeth in two ways. The sugar feeds harmful bacteria in the mouth, which produce acid that erodes tooth enamel. Additionally, sodas contain their own acids (like citric and phosphoric acid) that directly attack teeth, weakening enamel and making teeth more vulnerable to decay and sensitivity.

How can I drink soda without damaging my teeth?

While no method completely eliminates risk, drinking through a straw, consuming quickly, rinsing with water afterward, and waiting before brushing can reduce potential damage. The most effective approach remains limiting consumption frequency and quantity.

Is soda worse for your teeth than juice?

Generally, yes — soda typically contains more acid and sugar than most juices, and children tend to consume it more frequently. But both beverages pose significant risks to dental health when consumed regularly.

How much soda is OK for teeth?

Honestly? Zero is the answer dentists want to give, but we all know that’s not happening in the real world. If your kid’s going to have soda anyway, save it for birthdays, holidays, or other special treats instead of making it an everyday thing. And when they do indulge, make sure they’re brushing and flossing like they should.

Final Thoughts

Understanding why soda is bad for your teeth helps you to make better choices for your family. While occasional soda consumption won’t necessarily doom your child to a lifetime of dental problems, establishing patterns of moderation and proper oral care creates the foundation for lifelong oral health.

The goal isn’t perfection but it’s helping your children understand the consequences of their choices and giving them the tools to make informed decisions about their health. By explaining why soda is considered bad for your teeth in age-appropriate terms, you’re teaching valuable lessons about cause and effect that extend far beyond dental health.

Remember that preventing dental problems is always easier and less expensive than treating them. Regular dental visits, proper brushing and flossing techniques, and mindful beverage choices work together to protect your child’s smile for years to come.

The Super Dentists in San Diego have been recognized as leading pediatric dentists for over 20 years. Find a location near you and book an appointment for your child today.

Summary: Wisdom teeth start coming in during the late teens and early twenties, and the early signs include jaw pain, swollen gums, and discomfort. If wisdom teeth are impacted, meaning they can’t erupt out of the gum or bone properly, they can lead to infections, tooth shifting, and more serious oral health problems. A dental consultation is needed to help determine if removal is necessary to prevent complications.

Superhero key takeaways:

• Early signs of wisdom teeth coming in can include jaw soreness, swollen gums, and dull pain in the back of the mouth, often between the ages of 17-25.
• Impacted wisdom teeth can’t erupt properly and may cause severe symptoms like persistent pain, gum infections, swelling, headaches, and even shifting teeth.
• Not all wisdom teeth need removal, but if they are impacted, crowding other teeth, or causing repeated infections, a dental consultation is a must.
• During a consultation, you can expect x-rays, symptom assessment, and a personalized treatment plan to help ensure proactive care before issues worsen.

Has your teen complained of jaw pain or soreness at the back of their mouth? It could be one of the first signs of wisdom teeth coming in. As a parent, it’s entirely natural to wonder: are these normal growing pains…or something more?

In this guide, the Super Dentists will walk you through what to expect, how to spot the signs and symptoms of wisdom teeth coming in, and when it’s time to consult a dentist, especially if those teeth begin causing trouble.

What Are Wisdom Teeth, and Why Do They Cause Problems?

Wisdom teeth are your third set of molars that typically appear between ages 17 and 25.

While not everyone has them, most people will develop at least one. These molars helped our ancestors chew through raw, tough meat and plants in prehistoric times. But today? They’re more likely to overcrowd your mouth and create oral health issues than help with chewing.

Our modern jaws are also much smaller, meaning there’s often not enough room for our wisdom teeth to grow correctly. That’s where the risk of them becoming impacted grows.

First Signs of Wisdom Teeth Coming In

Recognizing the first signs of wisdom teeth coming in is an excellent, proactive step in helping your teen avoid discomfort and, possibly, future complications. Here’s what to look for:

• Mild jaw pain or tenderness toward the back of the mouth
• Red or swollen gums near their back molars
• A dull throbbing ache or pressure in the jaw or ear area
• Visible white spots (the tops of emerging teeth) poking through the gums
• Bad breath or odd tastes, which could be signs of trapped food or bacteria

These early symptoms can be easily overlooked as they may not be consistent. But if your child shows persistent discomfort or swelling, you could be dealing with something more serious: impacted wisdom teeth.

Why Are My Teen’s Wisdom Teeth So Painful Already?

This is a fantastic question and one we hear often from parents and teens alike. Pain from wisdom teeth can start even before the teeth break through the gums. This is due to the pressure they create as they push against surrounding teeth and bones.

In some cases, wisdom teeth create small pockets in the gum where bacteria love to hide, leading to pericoronitis infection. This can cause swelling, bad breath, and even fever.

Painful teeth and wisdom teeth should never be ignored by your teen. Early consultation can help prevent infections and avoid long-term damage to the surrounding teeth and jaw.

How Do I Know If My Wisdom Teeth Are Impacted?

While only dentists can definitively diagnose impacted wisdom teeth using either traditional or digital X-rays or digital imaging technologies like the CBCT (Cone-Beam Computed Tomography), there are a few common signs to keep an eye on at home:

1. Is the pain getting worse, not better?
2. Are the gums at the back of the mouth visibly red and swollen?
3. Has your teen’s breath suddenly changed and worsened?
4. Are they experiencing pain when chewing, yawning, or talking?

If you answered “yes” to any of these, this is your clear sign that there are wisdom teeth issues possibly impacted and that a dental consultation is the next right call.

Are There Other Impacted Wisdom Teeth Symptoms to Look Out For?

One of the most significant signs is that impacted wisdom teeth frequently create intense, consistent, and lasting pain more than usual after eruption. Here are a few more signs it’s time to schedule an appointment as soon as possible:

1. The jaw pain begins radiating to the ear or neck
2. The swollen, red gums near the back molars may bleed
3. Persistent jaw stiffness and headaches in the morning
4. Difficulty opening their mouth fully
5. Visible crowding or their other teeth are shifting
6. Recurring infections or cysts found in the back of the mouth

If your teen is experiencing any of these impacted wisdom teeth symptoms, it’s time to consult a dental professional. Left untreated, impacted teeth could lead to more severe complications later on.

How to Know if You Need Your Wisdom Teeth Pulled

If you’re here and wondering if your teen, or even: do I need my wisdom teeth removed? The answer is, well, complicated.

Not everyone will need them removed so long as the teeth come in straight, don’t crowd others, and aren’t causing pain and infection. If so, they may be safe to keep.

However, the only way to know for sure is, you guessed it—your dentist! In general, your dentists will suggest removal if:

• The teeth are impacted or growing at an angle
• They’re causing damage to your nearby, healthy teeth
• You experience persistent gum infections
• Cavities or cysts are forming
• They are causing you to have bite alignment issues

Are Impacted Wisdom Teeth Harder to Remove?

Unfortunately, yes, they can. Impacted teeth often require surgical extraction rather than a simple pull. Since our wisdom teeth are buried under the gum or the bone, it takes a bit more skill, time, precision, and care to remove them safely.

Thankfully, The Super Dentists use today’s most innovative dental technology. These new leaps in technology and dental health make this process much quicker and more comfortable.

Are My Wisdom Teeth an Issue?

If you are experiencing discomfort, pain, or swelling, or even unsure if something is normal, it’s worth checking out early. Early identification helps prevent major issues later, allowing you to enjoy more proactive, gentler care.

What to Expect During a Wisdom Teeth Consultation?

What happens when you schedule a consultation for wisdom teeth at The Super Dentists?

• X-rays to evaluate how the wisdom teeth are growing and whether they are impacted.
• Oral examination of the gums and surrounding teeth.
• A discussion about any symptoms your child may be experiencing.
• A custom treatment plan with flexible payment options, including whether removal is recommended and when.
• A walkthrough of the entire extraction process and what recovery would look like.

Not to mention, our dental Superhero team will make every second as wonderful and comfortable as possible, answering your questions and ensuring you and your teen feel safe, informed, and confident.

The Bottom Line? Don’t Ignore the Signs

Wisdom teeth don’t always arrive with so much drama, but when they do cause problems, it is best to act as fast as possible. Understanding the signs and symptoms of wisdom teeth coming in empowers you and your teen to take care of oral health before pain becomes hard to manage. If those third molars are causing discomfort or there are signs of possible impaction, don’t wait.

Why not come visit and see how we are reimagining dentistry for all stages of life? Please schedule a consultation for wisdom teeth evaluation at The Super Dentists and discover why our team is called Superheroes.

How to Choose a Dentist for Wisdom Teeth Removal in San Diego: What You Need to Know

Blog Summary: In this blog, you’ll learn:

• What wisdom teeth are and why they can cause pain, crowding, and infection.
• Whether wisdom teeth removal is necessary, including both the pros and cons of preventative extraction.
• Who can perform the surgery — yes, general dentists can remove wisdom teeth, not just oral surgeons!
• How long the procedure takes — typically 40–90 minutes, with total visit time around 2 hours.
• What kind of dentist removes wisdom teeth — general and family dentists often do, especially with proper experience.
• How to choose the right provider in San Diego, with tips on credentials, reviews, sedation options, and pricing transparency.
• How much it costs, and what options exist for patients without dental insurance.
• Why The Super Dentists are a top choice for affordable, expert wisdom teeth removal in San Diego!

Ah, wisdom teeth. Those pesky little buggers that for most people, pop up from around ages 17-21 can cause a lot of pain!

Did you know? Wisdom teeth are called that because they usually are present only after a child matures into early adulthood, and, as the saying goes, “the older the wiser”. In other words, wisdom teeth have been named as a playful nod to their status as the late bloomers of the human adult mouth (the last teeth to erupt).

But do these teeth really make you wiser? Not necessarily. In fact, most people don’t have enough space in their mouths to accommodate them, and that’s when problems, like overcrowding, swelling, pain, and infections, can occur. Not fun, we know! This is why about 10,000,000 wisdom teeth are removed by dentists and oral surgeons every year, according to Vox.

Wondering if you should get your wisdom teeth out? Let’s cover the answer to that question – and more. Here’s everything you want to know about wisdom teeth surgery, including how long it lasts, who can perform it, how much it costs, and whether or not you can have it done without dental insurance.

Is Wisdom Teeth Removal Really Necessary?

It used to be the case that dentists and oral surgeons recommended wisdom teeth removal as a preventative measure. But in recent years, that has changed, as Vox notes. Today, dentists and oral surgeons are split on whether preventive removal should be a best practice. Why? As with most medical procedures, it’s a question of risk vs. reward.

Those in favor of preemptive wisdom teeth removal note that it can help patients avoid potential future complications such as impaction, infection, and crowding. They also note that wisdom teeth are normally removed while patients are fairly young, and young patients heal faster than older ones.

On the other hand, those who are against preventative removal note that if wisdom teeth aren’t causing problems, it’s safe to regularly monitor them over time by seeing a dentist every six months to a year. The costs and risks associated with surgery do not outweigh the benefits, in the view of these individuals.

Curious if you need your wisdom teeth out? The Super Dentists can help.

Can a Dentist Remove Wisdom Teeth?

Yes! It’s a common misconception that only oral surgeons can remove wisdom teeth. In fact, both dentists and oral surgeons hold the experience and training required to safely and successfully remove wisdom teeth.

What Type of Dentist Removes Wisdom Teeth?

General dentists are usually capable of removing wisdom teeth, but family dentists may also perform wisdom teeth removal surgeries.

How Long is Wisdom Teeth Surgery?

Just how long does wisdom teeth surgery take on average? Well, for most patients, extraction of wisdom teeth takes anywhere from around 40 minutes to around 90 minutes. Total time you’ll spend in the dentist’s or oral surgeon’s office, however, is usually closer to around 120 minutes, especially if you are administered general anesthesia.

How to Choose the Right Dentist for Wisdom Teeth Removal in San Diego

When comparing dentists or oral surgeons, be sure to consider these five factors.

1. Credentials and Specialization: Where did the dentist or oral surgeon go to school, and what degrees did they receive? Do they specialize in any particular area of dentistry (i.e., pediatric dentistry)?
2. Experience: How many wisdom teeth extractions have they done, and how long have they been practicing?
3. Patient Reviews or Testimonials: Does the dentist, oral surgeon, or practice have generally positive reviews and patient testimonials?
4. Office Technology & Sedation Options: What kind of technology does the office use? Is it cutting-edge? How about sedation – is general anesthesia an option? Only local numbing?
5. Transparency About Pricing & Insurance: Does the provider take dental insurance, and if not, what are your options? Wisdom teeth removal costs in San Diego can vary, but average around $3,120 out of network. (At The Super Dentists, we offer affordable wisdom teeth removal in San Diego with no insurance via our Super Dentists Savings Plans.)

Rely on The Super Dentists for Affordable & Safe Wisdom Teeth Removal in San Diego

Planning wisdom teeth removal? Schedule a consultation at a Super Dentists location near you!

Adult Teeth Can Fall Out. Here’s How to Make Sure They Don’t

Blog Summary:

Wondering if adult teeth can really fall out? They can—and often for preventable reasons. Here’s what you need to know at a glance before diving into the full article.

• Adult teeth can fall out due to trauma, gum disease, tooth decay, or smoking.
• The top three causes of loose teeth in adults are untreated cavities, periodontitis, and tobacco use.
• Avoid wiggling or pulling a loose tooth—see a dentist as soon as possible instead.
• Rinsing with salt water, eating soft foods, and wearing a nightguard can help stabilize a loose tooth temporarily.
• Prevent tooth loss with daily brushing and flossing, regular dental visits, and managing chronic health conditions like diabetes.
• Tooth loss is linked to decreased quality of life and increased health risks—protect your smile with proactive care.

Your adult teeth are here to stay forever…usually, that is. Under certain circumstances, permanent teeth can and do fall out.

Sometimes, adults lose teeth due to injury-related trauma, such as falling and hitting the mouth while playing sports (this is a common cause of a loose front tooth in adults). Other times, they lose teeth due to advanced-stage gum disease (periodontitis), or bad oral health habits, like smoking.

So, how do you avoid this unfortunate situation? Let’s uncover why adults loose teeth and what to do about it.

Why is My Adult Tooth Loose?

The three most common reasons for a loose adult tooth, according to the CDC, are:

1. Tooth Decay (Cavities): Cavities are a leading cause of tooth loss because when the tooth decays enough, without being treated with a filling, onlay, crown, or other method of stopping further progression, the pulp and roots of the tooth can eventually start to decay and become infected, loosening the tooth enough for it to fall out. This usually only happens when cavities are left untreated, however, which is why it’s so important to get annual dental exams and treat any cavities that have developed since your last visit.
2. Periodontitis (Gum Disease with Associated Bone Loss): Gum disease happens in stages. The first stage is known as gingivitis, a mild and reversible form of periodontal disease found in 90% of the population. Periodontitis, on the other hand, which itself is classified into four stages (initial, moderate, severe with the potential for additional tooth loss, and severe with the potential for loss of dentition), is chronic and irreversible.
3. Smoking: Smoking tobacco is one of the biggest risk factors for losing adult teeth because it damages both the gum tissue and weakens the bone structure of the teeth. Smokers have twice the risk of gum disease as non-smokers.

More often than not, tooth loss is caused by preventable factors, given that most cavities and gum disease occur from a long-term lack of good oral hygiene. Other modifiable risk factors associated with tooth loss are diabetes mellitus and pregnancy.

Meanwhile, non-modifiable risk factors, like age and heredity, including genetic diseases, do play a role in the development of tooth loss in adults, although a much smaller one.

What to Do About a Loose Tooth Before it Falls Out

Swelling and bleeding of the gums, wobbly teeth, and pain are common symptoms of a loose tooth. So, what do you do if you find yourself experiencing any of these things?

First off, don’t start Googling “how to remove a loose tooth in adults” or attempt to take the tooth out yourself. And don’t put off seeing a dentist ─ that will only make things worse.

Do avoid biting with the tooth if at all possible and avoid wiggling it. Try to eat soft foods. Rinse with salt water regularly to reduce inflammation. If you grind your teeth, wear a mouthguard, especially at night.

Suffering from what might be the beginning of a loose tooth or a tooth that is fully loose? Book an appointment at The Super Dentists now.

How to Keep Your Adult Teeth Strong (Preventative Care)

The link between dental health and overall health is incontrovertible. It’s been proven that people with more missing teeth have a poorer quality of life and even a higher risk of premature death than those with less or no missing teeth.

Thankfully, preventing tooth decay (cavities) and periodontitis (gum disease) is relatively easy by 1) developing consistent healthy oral hygiene habits at home, such as daily brushing and flossing, and 2) going to the dentist regularly for checkups and cleanings.

The CDC also recommends limiting intake of sugary foods and beverages and talking to your healthcare provider about any chronic conditions you may have (i.e. diabetes or HIV) that may increase your risk of tooth loss.

Get Super Care for Your Loose Adult Teeth

Noticing a loose adult tooth? Schedule an appointment with The Super Dentists! Find a location near you and book an appointment now.

Blog Summary: This blog post breaks down everything you need to know about your first braces consultation:

• Learn what to expect during the appointment, including the initial examination, X-rays, treatment planning, and financial discussions.
• Read answers to common questions like how long consultations take and whether you can get braces on the same day.
• Discover the benefits of early orthodontic intervention and what happens at your first appointment after the consultation, so you can feel prepared and confident about your journey to a straighter smile.

Getting braces is something that many people used to dread.

Maybe that’s because kids and teens who have worn braces used to be teased or treated differently, being called names like “brace-face”. Thankfully, in today’s world, braces are a widely-accepted part of life, and “brace-ism” is on the decline – so much so that an estimated 3 million Canadian and American teens now wear braces!

With the reduced stigma of braces, not to mention the many options now available, including clear aligners, many more people are getting curious about braces and wondering what to expect during their initial consultation.

If you’re ready to embrace the best version of you with a whole new smile, then keep reading, because we’re going to let you in on everything you need to know about your first appointment for braces.

What is a Braces Consultation & When Should You Get One?

Simply put, a braces consultation is your first visit to the orthodontist. During a consultation, you’ll have your smile evaluated. Then, the orthodontist will create a customized treatment plan based on what they see.

According to the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO), kids should see an orthodontist by age 7 to check for early orthodontic concerns. This isn’t by mistake. Early orthodontic treatment has several benefits. It helps to:

• Create space & symmetry – Guides jaw growth to prevent crowding and improve facial balance.
• Protect teeth & reduce trauma – Lowers the risk of injuries to protruding front teeth.
• Prevent extractions & surgery – Early treatment can reduce the need for tooth removal or jaw surgery.
• Shorten braces time – Corrects bite issues early, making future orthodontic treatment faster and easier.

Did you know that many kids don’t get braces until they’re between 9 and 14 years old? If you or your kids are around that age, don’t worry – it’s not necessarily a bad thing. It’s just that getting braces earlier can offer additional benefits.

What Happens During a Braces Consultation?

In most braces consultations, there are 7 essential steps:

1. Welcome & Registration: Upon arrival, you’ll register, fill out necessary health forms, and provide your insurance information.
2. Preliminary Assessment: The orthodontist will perform a thorough examination of your teeth, bite, and jaw alignment. Digital scans, X-rays, and photographs will be taken to build a detailed picture for your personalized treatment.
3. Analysis of Results: Your orthodontist will discuss their findings and outline any dental or skeletal issues.
4. Treatment Options Explained: You’ll be presented with various treatment choices, such as braces or aligners, and learn about the anticipated duration.
5. Financial Planning: A comprehensive review of treatment costs, insurance benefits, and flexible payment options will be conducted.
6. Appointment Scheduling: If braces are recommended, your initial application appointment will be scheduled.
7. Follow-Up: You may need to schedule follow-up appointments for more assessments, adjustments, or progress check-ins.

For more details, refer to the American Association of Orthodontists’ blog post “What Happens at Your First Orthodontic Appointment? A Step-by-Step Guide”.

How Long Does a Braces Consultation Take?

Usually, braces consultations last anywhere from half an hour to a little over an hour. The exact time may vary depending on a variety of factors including whether you fill out forms in advance, how many questions you have, how busy the office is, whether you need to schedule follow-ups, and more.

Can You Get Braces the Same Day as Your Consultation?

People often ask The Super Dentists “Do you get braces on your first orthodontist appointment?” Generally, no. This is true for several reasons:

• Your orthodontist needs to study your mouth and x-rays to devise a customized treatment plan. This takes time.
• Some patients might need to see a dentist before having braces put on for a tooth cleaning, extraction, or something else.
• Braces have to be ordered and then the brackets and wires need to be custom-fitted to your teeth.

What Happens at the First Appointment After the Consultation?

During your first braces appointment following the consultation appointment, typically the orthodontist will clean and prep your teeth, apply brackets and wires, fitting them to your teeth, check comfort and make adjustments, and run through a demonstration of proper braces care (how to brush, floss, and even eat with braces).

Many orthodontists will also offer advice for what to do if a wire pops, provide wax for emergencies, and talk about the initial discomfort associated with braces and how to manage it. Usually, you’ll also receive information about how long you’re expected to wear braces and how following the orthodontist’s instructions can keep you to that timeline.

Reach Out to Learn More or Visit Us Today!

Ready to start the journey to a straighter smile for you or your child? Schedule a braces consultation today at The Super Dentists or visit a location near you.

Blog Summary:

Palate expanders are used to address common dental issues like crossbites and crowding by gradually widening the upper jaw. But how long will you or your little one have to wear one?

Treatment timelines vary depending on factors such as age, severity of the condition, and patient compliance, but most patients wear an expander for 6-12 months—sometimes less for younger children and more for adults.

In this blog, we’ll break down:

• What a palate expander is and why it’s used
• The typical treatment process and timeline
• The different types of palate expanders available
• How to determine the right treatment for you or your child

At The Super Dentists, we specialize in providing families and pediatric patients with rapid palatal expanders for effective and comfortable treatment. Want to know exactly how long treatment might take you? Book an appointment today to get personalized insights!

Did you know that the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends orthodontic evaluations at the age of seven? It’s true! By that age, most kids have enough adult teeth for orthodontists to diagnose and treat both jaw and alignment issues, which palate expanders are often used to treat.

Given the chance, most teens & young adults would probably prefer their orthodontic treatment to be over and done with by the time they’re in middle school or high school. But there’s another more important reason to start early; early orthodontic treatment can prevent more expensive and invasive treatment later in life.

Palate expanders should be used during youth while the patient is still growing to help reduce the need for tooth removal, prevent impacted teeth, and potentially even eliminate the need for surgery in adulthood.

But just how long will a palate expander be on your kid, and what does the process of using one to correct issues look like? Let’s dive deeper.

What is a Palate Expander & Why is It Used?

Before we talk about how long palate expanders take to work, let’s discuss what they are and why they’re important.

Palate expanders, which the American Association of Orthodontics usually refer to as “palatal expanders”, and some refer to as simply “expanders”, are orthodontic appliances used to address oral malocclusions. That’s a fancy way of saying that palate expanders help fix teeth & jaw issues including:

• Crossbite: A horizontal misalignment issue that occurs when upper teeth are behind the corresponding lower teeth when the mouth is closed.
• Crowding: An alignment issue where a narrow jaw causes there to be inadequate space for teeth to align properly.

How Long Do Palate Expanders Stay In & What Is the Treatment Process Like?

Now, let’s cover treatment timelines. Remember when we talked about the importance of early intervention when it comes to treating orthodontic issues in kids? Let’s revisit that.

The truth is that there is no “typical” amount of time to wear a palate expander. While it’s true that a majority of patients wear palate expanders for 6-12 months, treatment times vary widely based on a number of factors, including:

• The Patient’s Age: Younger kids without fully formed dental bone structures often require a lot less time than older kids or adults. A child who’s 8 or 9 might only need to wear a palate expander for 1-2 months.
• The Patient’s Condition & Severity: The severity and type of malocclusion can impact treatment time considerably.
• The Patient’s Compliance: For patients who wear removable palate expanders, regularly wearing the device as prescribed keeps treatment time in check. For patients with standard palette expanders, there’s usually a need to adjust the expander periodically with a special key. Avoiding this can prolong treatment time.

While timelines can vary, the treatment process usually involves these steps:

1. Initial placement of the palate expander by the orthodontist.
2. Activation by the patient by turning a special key. (Usually, this phase lasts for somewhere between 14-28 turns).
3. Expansion of the teeth, usually over a few months, and sometimes years.
4. Maintenance, which often occurs over a period of months & allows the jawbone to set.
5. Removal, at which point a retainer is often provided for long-term maintenance.

What is the Difference Between an Expander & Palate Expander?

You might’ve heard the term “expander” used apart from the term “palate expander”, but “expander”, “palate expander”, and “palatal expander” all refer to the same appliance. In other words, there is no difference between an expander and palate expander or even a palatal expander.

What Types of Palate Expanders Exist?

According to the AAO, the three most common types of palate expanders available are:

1. Rapid palate expanders: These are made of metal bands that are affixed to molars and connected by a metal framework with a screw in the center that helps expand the device to gently widen the upper jaw over time.
2. Bonded palate expanders: These are similar to rapid palate expanders but they use an acrylic archment that’s affixed to the molars with dental cement or bonding material instead of metal bands.
3. Removable palate expanders: Removable expanders are often used for milder cases of malocclusion, and they can be taken out for eating, cleaning, or other activities.

At The Super Dentists, we use rapid palatal expanders.

See How Long Palate Expander Treatment Might Last You

Wondering how long you or your little ones might have to wear a palate expander? Book an appointment at one of The Super Dentists’ locations closest to you and find out! It might just be less time than you think.

Blog Summary: If you’ve ever wondered about the differences between an overbite and an underbite—or how to correct them—this blog covers everything you need to know.

Malocclusions, or misalignments of the teeth and jaw, often take the form of overbites or underbites. While minor bite variations are normal, excessive misalignment can cause complications such as jaw pain, tooth wear, and speech difficulties.

This comprehensive post explores the key differences between overbites and underbites, including their causes, potential complications, and treatment options.

Key highlights include:

• Understanding Bite Types: Compare overbites vs underbites vs normal alignment
• Causes of Malocclusions: From genetics to childhood habits like thumb-sucking
• Effective Treatment Options: Braces, appliances, and whether Invisalign can help
• The Importance of Early Intervention: How treating bite issues early can prevent complications

Plus, a dedicated FAQ section answers common questions like “Which is worse: overbite or underbite?” and “Can an overbite or underbite go away naturally?”

Overbites and underbites are two different types of dental malocclusions, which is a fancy way of saying misalignments of the teeth and jaw.

There are many types of malocclusions, ranging from spacing or crowing issues (Class I) to overbites & overjets (Class II), to underbites & crossbites (Class III). That said, overbites and underbites are the most common types of malocclusions.

So, what exactly defines underbites vs overbites, what causes them, and how do you treat them? Here’s what you need to know.

Comparing Overbites & Underbites

Technically speaking, everyone has a tiny overbite. In fact, in a typical bite, the upper teeth do slightly overlap the lower teeth. The key here is that, per the California Association of Orthodontics (CAO), when this overlap is more than 2-3 mm, it’s called an overbite. So what most people refer to as just an “overbite” is technically an “excessive overbite,” but no one commonly uses that terminology.

Per the CAO, underbites are pretty much the opposite of overbites. They’re not necessarily defined by a gap of a certain measurement, either. In the CAO’s words, “If the lower front row extends out in front of the upper row, you have an underbite.”

Why Malocclusions Like Overbites & Underbites Happen

There are a number of reasons why you or your kiddo might have an overbite or an underbite. These include habits and genetics. Some of the most common causes of malocclusions, according to the American Association of Orthodontics (AAO) are:

• Excessive pacifier use
• Thumb sucking
• Tongue thrusting in children aged 1-3
• Early loss of baby teeth
• The eruption of extra teeth
• Having abnormally shaped teeth

How to Fix an Overbite or Underbite

The solutions for how to fix underbites or overbites are generally the same. Orthodontics must be used to move the teeth and jaw to where they should be.

Wearing braces is the most common method of fixing overbites or underbites.

Other methods of fixing overbites & underbites include:

• Herbst Appliances: Herbst appliances are used to move the lower jaw forward, so they can be used to fix overbites. They are attached to the back molars in the upper and lower jaws.
• MARA Appliances: MARA is short for “mandibular anterior repositioning device”. The mandible is a bone that forms the lower jaw in the posterior (or back) of the mouth. And as these devices are used to reposition teeth, that’s where the name comes from. They can be used to fix overbites.
• Twin Blocks: These removable appliances are generally used to assist in fixing overbites in kids who are still growing. They’re usually used with other orthodontic appliances like braces.
• Elastics: These are used on braces, applying extra force to correct overbites/underbites that are on the more severe side.

People often wonder “Can Invisalign fix an overbite or underbite?”, and the answer is that they sometimes can, but not always. It depends on the patient and severity of the malocclusion.

Some people also ask our tooth-loving crew here at The Super Dentists about how to fix an underbite naturally, in other words, without orthodontics. Unfortunately, there is no “natural” method of fixing either type of issue. That’s because any treatment for an overbite or underbite must slowly move the teeth and jaw into their proper positions by applying pressure.

Why Early Intervention Matters

Overbites and underbites can be fixed at any age, but typically, you can avoid further complications from developing by tackling them when your little one is younger, during early jaw development. This is where Phase I orthodontics at The Super Dentists come in handy.

Phase II orthodontics, meanwhile, still addresses these issues, but is completed after most permanent teeth have come in.

Looking for more information? Check out our patient resources and FAQs below. Otherwise, if you’re ready to see how we can help correct an overbite or underbite, feel free to reach out at any time. We are here to help!

FAQs

Which is worse, an overbite or underbite?

Neither is worse than the other; overbites and underbites are just two different types of malocclusions.

Do overbites & underbites go away naturally?

Not usually, no.

Will Invisalign fix an overbite or underbite?

It’s possible depending on the severity & specifics of the overbite or underbite.

Primary teeth—also called baby teeth or deciduous teeth—might be small, but they are a big deal. These little teeth play an essential role in your child’s development and set the stage for a healthy, happy smile. Let’s dive into what primary teeth are, why they matter, and how to care for them.

What Are Primary Teeth?

Primary teeth are the first set of teeth that grow in a child’s mouth. These little teeth are an essential part of the primary teeth dentition, helping young children eat, speak, and smile confidently.

So, how many primary teeth do humans have? The answer is 20! These include:

• Incisors: The flat teeth at the front of the mouth used for biting into food.
• Canine teeth: The pointed teeth next to the incisors, perfect for tearing food.
• Molars: The big, flat teeth in the back of the mouth that help grind food.

By the time your child is about three years old, they will have their complete set of primary teeth.

Why Are Primary Teeth Important?

While primary teeth eventually fall out, they’re crucial for your child’s growth and overall health. Here’s why:

1. Chewing and Digestion

Primary teeth make eating possible. Without them, kids can’t chew food properly, which is necessary for healthy digestion. Imagine trying to eat an apple with no teeth—it’s not easy!

3. Guiding Permanent Teeth

Primary teeth act as placeholders for the adult permanent tooth that will grow in later. Without them, permanent teeth might grow in crooked or crowded.

4. Healthy Habits Start Early

Learning to keep primary teeth brushed and flossed teaches children good oral hygiene habits. These habits will last a lifetime!

Why Are Primary Teeth Whiter Than Permanent Teeth?

If you’ve noticed that your child’s smile is brighter than yours, you’re not imagining things. Why are primary teeth whiter than permanent teeth? The answer lies in their enamel.

Primary teeth have thinner enamel than permanent teeth, making them appear whiter. However, this thin enamel also makes them more vulnerable to cavities, so regular dental checkups are crucial.

When Do Primary Teeth Start and Fall Out?

Teeth starting is an exciting milestone for babies and parents alike! Most children get their first tooth around six months old, and all 20 primary teeth typically erupt by age three.

But what age do primary teeth fall out? Children usually lose their baby teeth starting at age six. The process often begins with the lower front teeth and continues until age 12 when the molars fall out.

Fun Fact: The Tooth Fairy’s Role in Losing Baby Teeth

Losing a baby tooth can feel bittersweet for kids—it’s exciting, but sometimes a little scary. This is where the tooth fairy works her magic! By making the experience fun and rewarding, the tooth fairy helps kids embrace this big milestone with excitement.

Caring for Your Child’s Primary Teeth

Taking care of primary teeth is vital, even though they’re not permanent. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), cavities in baby teeth or deciduous teeth can lead to pain, infections, and even problems with the underlying permanent teeth.

Here’s how to keep those little pearly whites healthy:

• Brush and Floss Daily: Start brushing your child’s teeth as soon as the first one appears. By age two, you can introduce a tiny amount of fluoride toothpaste. Don’t forget to floss once two teeth touch!
• Visit a Pediatric Dentist Regularly: Routine dental visits are key. Pediatric dentistry focuses on the unique needs of young children.
• Limit Sugary Snacks and Drinks: Sugar is a major cause of cavities in primary teeth. Encourage healthy snacks like fruits and vegetables instead.
• Encourage Water Over Juice: Water helps wash away food particles and bacteria.

Why Are Primary Teeth Overlooked?

Sometimes, parents don’t realize how important primary teeth are because they’re temporary. But here’s the truth: unhealthy primary teeth dentition can lead to problems with eating, speaking, and even self-confidence.

Decayed baby teeth fall earlier than they should, which can cause the permanent tooth underneath to come in out of place. This might result in the need for braces or other orthodontic treatments down the road.

Common Questions About Primary Teeth

Here are some answers to questions parents often ask about primary teeth:

• What age do primary teeth fall out? Most children start losing their primary teeth around age six, and the process continues until about age 12.
• Why are primary teeth whiter than permanent teeth? Primary teeth have thinner enamel, which makes them appear whiter but also more prone to decay.

Making Primary Teeth a Priority

At The Super Dentists, we believe that every child deserves a healthy, happy smile. By teaching your kids the importance of taking care of their primary teeth, you’re setting them up for a lifetime of oral health.

From keeping their teeth brushed and flossed to regular visits with a pediatric dentistry professional, every little step helps. And don’t forget to make the experience fun—whether it’s a visit from the tooth fairy or celebrating when they lose their baby teeth, these moments can create positive memories around dental care.

The Bottom Line

Primary teeth might be temporary, but their impact is permanent. They help kids eat, speak, and smile while also paving the way for healthy permanent teeth. Taking care of them early on ensures that your child’s mouth stays healthy and strong.

So, the next time your child loses a baby tooth, celebrate the milestone! After all, these little teeth are the foundation of a lifetime of healthy smiles.

For expert advice and care, schedule a visit with The Super Dentists. We’ll help make your child’s dental journey fun, exciting, and tooth fairy-approved!

Crowded teeth are a dental villain. They disrupt the harmony of your child’s smile and create serious challenges for their oral health. But fear not! The Super Dentists are here and ready to save the day!

We understand how worrying crowded teeth can be and want to reassure you that solutions exist. From understanding the causes to exploring braces and aligners, we’ll guide you every step of the way. Together, we’ll create space for your superhero’s smile and share tips to prevent future issues.

Dental Hero Parents, assemble! Put on your capes and discover how early intervention can transform your little champion’s smile.

What Does It Mean When a Child’s Teeth Are Crowded?

Teeth crowding is the term for what happens when there’s not enough room in your child’s jaw for their teeth to properly align. This dental dilemma can over result in overlapping, twisted, or teeth pushing against one another. Crowded teeth can happen in both the top and bottom jaw but are especially noticeable as crowded bottom teeth in children.

While crowded teeth can appear as just a cosmetic issue, there are chances it is far more than that.

Misaligned teeth can make brushing and flossing harder which leads to plaque buildup, cavities, and gum issues. Left untreated, teeth crowding can also affect bite function and jaw alignment. Issues with jaw alignment could lead to discomfort and speech challenges in the future.

What Causes Crowded Teeth?

The causes behind crowded teeth can vary, but the most common are:

1. Genetics

Just like hair color or height, your child’s jaw size and teeth alignment are often inherited. If you or another family member had crowded teeth, your child may, too.

2. Early to Late Loss of Baby Teeth

Think of baby teeth as the placeholders for your child’s future, adult teeth. When they are lost too early or too late, this can disturb the alignment of their incoming permanent adult teeth.

3. Thumb Sucking or Pacifier Use

Prolonged thumb-sucking or pacifier use can alter jaw development, increasing the likelihood of teeth crowding.

4. Jaw Growth Issues

If a child’s jaw doesn’t grow proportionally to accommodate all their teeth, overcrowding can occur.

When you learn and understand the causes behind crowded teeth, you can take the first steps to finding the right dental solutions.

Will Crowded Teeth Straighten Out or Get Worse?

The bad news? Crowded teeth very rarely resolve on their own. In most cases, they grow worse over time. Your little hero’s teeth are most likely to crowd the worst during the years between baby teeth and adult teeth.

Without expert intervention, crowded teeth could lead to:

Increased difficulty in maintaining good oral hygiene
A higher risk of cavities, gum disease, and enamel wear
Jaw pain or bite issues like underbites or overbites
Speech or chewing difficulties
No need to worry however—early detection and treatment will be the weapon of choice to protect your growing hero. By acting as early as possible, you can become proactive in managing your kid’s dental health. This can help you ensure they have the best chance at a healthy, confident smile.

How Do You Fix Crowded Teeth in Kids?

Treating teeth crowding doesn’t need to be a classified secret with The Super Dentists. When teeth crowding begins, treatment begins by creating space for proper tooth alignment. We have several super-human solutions to tackle this Villain, and all are tailored to your child’s unique needs, giving you confidence in the care and treatment they receive.

1. Crowded Teeth: Braces

Traditionally, braces remain a popular and effective choice for correcting crowded teeth. Braces gradually shift teeth into better alignment using brackets and wires, making space for a balanced bite and a beautiful smile. Braces can also address even severe cases of teeth crowding, such as crowded bottom teeth or overlap, and are still a go-to option when early intervention is needed.

2. Clear Aligners

For families that would like a less noticeable option, clear aligners offer a super-powered level solution. Aligners gently guide teeth into position over time and can be removed for meals and brushing. Aligners are also great for your older kids or teens experiencing mild to moderate teeth crowding.

3. Palatal Expanders

Sometimes, a palatal expander may be recommended to widen the upper jaw to create more space for incoming teeth. This is a particularly effective treatment for younger children, as their jaws are still developing and much easier to adjust.

4. Tooth Extraction

In the very rare case where overcrowding is severe, removing one or more baby teeth may be needed to make room for proper growth and alignment. The fantastic news is that should it ever come to that, our team can and will make this process as smooth and as stress-free as possible!

5. Early Orthodontic Treatment

Interceptive orthodontics, also known as Phase 1 treatment, can guide jaw development and create more space before permanent teeth emerge. Early treatment prevents more complex problems that can crop up later. So let us help you set the stage for healthy dental development by catching crowded teeth early and visiting us!

What Happens if You Don’t Treat Crowded Teeth?

Unfortunately, leaving crowded teeth untreated is like letting in a sneaky ninja that lingers in your child’s smile. Over time, untreated, teeth crowding could lead to:

Poor oral hygiene, increased gum disease, or tooth decay due to being unable to reach areas that need cleaning.
Chronic gum swelling and periodontal issues, like sore bleeding gums.
Uneven wear and tear on enamel, which can weaken teeth.
Painful jaw problems, like TMJ Disorders.
Lower confidence and self-esteem due to misaligned or crooked teeth.
Addressing crowded teeth goes far beyond aesthetics—it’s essential for your child’s long-term dental health and overall well-being!

Are There Alternative Solutions to Crowded Teeth?

While bracers and aligners are the most common solutions, there may be alternatives available to consider. This does depend on your child’s needs. Some alternatives include:

If your child loses a baby tooth far too soon, a space maintainer can open that spot for the permanent tooth to grow in properly.
A growth guidance appliance can encourage proper jaw development to create space naturally over time.
For mild cases, regular dental monitoring by The Super Dentists’ pediatric Super Agents (orthodontists) can help ensure no additional complications arise while your child’s jaw and smile develop.

Make Room for Their Growing Smiles with The Super Dentists!

Crowded teeth don’t stand a chance when The Super Dentists are on the job! With the power of early intervention and expert orthodontic care, we’re dedicated to helping your child’s smile flourish. Not only do we want to see their smile reach its full potential, but we also want the entire journey to be fun, stress-free, and most importantly safe.

Ensure your child’s smile has room to grow! Schedule a consultation with The Super Dentists, and let’s explore your child’s treatment options for crowded teeth. We’ll create a future filled with healthy, confident smiles—one tooth at a time!

Blog Summary:

Ever wondered why you or your child have gaps in your teeth? This blog post dives deep into the common and not-so-common causes of those spaces, known as diastema.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• Why gaps in kids’ teeth aren’t always a big deal: We explore how normal development plays a role.
• The role of genetics & habits in creating gaps: It’s not just about thumb-sucking!
• The link between gum disease & gaps: Learn how oral health impacts your smile.
• How dentists fix gaps: We break down solutions like braces, cosmetic options, and more.

When you think of gaps in teeth, what comes to mind? Possibly an image of a kid, holding up a missing tooth and smiling widely. But while missing teeth can technically cause a gap, they’re not what is usually referred to as a gap in teeth, at least from a clinical perspective.

Clinically, gaps in teeth are known as “diastema”. So, what causes diastema, and is it something to be concerned about?

Below, we cover everything you need to know!

Gaps in Baby Teeth vs. Adult Teeth

Gaps in baby teeth are very common and they often close on their own when adult teeth grow in. For this reason, if your little one has a gap in their front teeth, usually, it’s not any type of cause for concern.

Gaps in adult teeth are still more common than you might think, and usually, they’re not a cause for concern, as they aren’t dangerous. However, many people find them to be uncomfortable or inconvenient because food often gets stuck in them. Just as many others wonder how they can close gap teeth because they dislike the way they look.

What’s more, while gaps due to gum disease may not be harmful themselves, gum disease itself is and must be treated.

What Causes Teeth Gaps?

Three major reasons for diastema include genetics, habits, and oral health issues. Let’s uncover more about each of these causes.

1. Genetics

Unlike other tooth problems, genetics do play a major role in teeth gaps. Many people have teeth that are too small relative to their jawbone, which causes the teeth to be spaced very far apart, resulting in gaps.

If you’re wondering what causes gaps in front teeth, there are several possible contributing factors, but one that is often genetic is an overgrowth of the tissue that borders your gum line and your two upper front teeth. If you’re wondering how to fix a gap in front teeth with this cause, typically, a type of surgery called frenectomy is required to remove the excess tissue. Most types of gaps in teeth (including front teeth) can be remedied via other means, though.

2. Habits

In kids, thumb sucking can often cause diastema, especially of the front teeth. This is because thumb-sucking puts pressure on the front teeth, causing them to shift.

Older adults can also experience tooth gaps due to a phenomenon known as tongue thrusting. When an adult thrusts their tongue, they may experience incorrect swallowing reflexes whereby the tongue pushes against the front of the teeth rather than the roof of the mouth. Like thumb sucking, this places pressure on the teeth that ultimately moves them and creates a gap.

3. Oral Health Issues

Did you know that gum disease (periodontis) can cause teeth gaps? Unfortunately, it’s true. Gum disease often starts as a result of poor oral hygiene, but it also has a hereditary factor. What’s more, conditions like diabetes, Crohn’s disease, immunodeficiency, and lack of vitamin C can also contribute to the development of gum disease.

Regardless of the cause of gum disease itself, once developed to advanced stages, it can cause the gums to pull back from the teeth, and can even cause the teeth to shift position, resulting in gaps, or even loss of teeth.

How to Fix Gaps in Teeth

The two most common remedies for gaps in teeth are orthodonture and cosmetic dentistry. For gaps in teeth caused by gum disease, as the Cleveland Clinic notes, other treatments may be necessary.

1. Orthodonture

Getting braces is the most common way to fix gaps in teeth, especially if they occur between more than two teeth. Braces slowly shift the teeth by applying pressure to them that moves them over time. At the Super Dentists, we offer a number of types of braces to work for the budgets and needs of various individuals.

2. Cosmetic Dentistry

Depending on the type of gap between teeth, it may be fixable via cosmetic methods like dental bonding or applying porcelain veneers.

3. Gum Treatments

For gaps in teeth that are caused by advanced gum disease, the gum disease must be treated first before the gaps are dealt with. This may require procedures like scaling and root planing, or in more advanced cases, gingival flap surgery.

Schedule an Appointment for Gap Teeth Today

As you can see, the pesky little gaps that you might notice when you look in the mirror aren’t normally too concerning on their own from a health perspective. But gum disease is concerning and is correlated with a number of other health issues.

If you notice gaps in your teeth or your little one’s teeth and you’re looking to investigate why that is and what to do about them, we invite you to book an appointment with us at The Super Dentists now! We can help you diagnose gap teeth with a routine dental exam and devise an appropriate treatment plan given your circumstances.

Finding the right dental care for your loved one with special needs can feel overwhelming. You want a dentist who understands their unique requirements and can provide compassionate and effective care.

A special needs dentist offers specialized care and accommodations to allow your family members to receive the dental care they deserve in an environment that’s both welcoming and safe.

Who Needs Special Needs Dental Care?

Every person deserves access to quality dental care, but some need extra support or modifications to successfully receive treatment. Understanding who might benefit from special needs dental care can help families make informed decisions about their loved one’s dental health.

Physical Limitations

If your loved one uses a wheelchair or has limited mobility, you’ll need a dental office that’s fully accessible. Many special needs dentist offices have wider doorways, specialized equipment, and staff trained to help patients transfer safely to the dental chair.

We’ll work with you to make sure your family member or friend stays comfortable throughout their visit, using different positioning techniques and specialized support.

Cognitive Limitations

We all process information differently, and sometimes your loved one needs a bit more time to understand what’s happening during a dental visit.

That’s perfectly okay.

A dentist for special needs adults will take things at your family member’s pace, explaining each step of the treatment in a way that makes sense to them.

We might show pictures of the tools we use or demonstrate on a model first. The goal isn’t to rush through — it’s to make sure your loved one feels comfortable and understands what’s going on.

Communication Challenges

Every person has their own way of expressing themselves and a special needs pediatric dentist understands this better than most. Maybe your child uses sign language, or perhaps they communicate through pictures or gestures.

Your dentist will take the time to learn how your child best expresses themselves. We have a lot of tools to help — from picture cards showing different dental procedures to simple hand signals that mean “stop” or “need a break.” What matters most is finding the right way to connect with your child.

Anxiety

Dental anxiety affects many people, but it can be particularly challenging for patients with special needs. For someone with special needs, these feelings can be even stronger. That’s where dentists for special needs make all the difference.

We have a whole toolkit of ways to help your loved one feel safe and comfortable. Some patients do great with noise-canceling headphones to block out scary sounds, while others find comfort in a weighted blanket. Your dentist might even suggest sedation if that’s what’s best for your loved one.

Behavioral Issues

Sitting still in a dental chair isn’t easy — especially when you’re in an unfamiliar place with new people and strange sounds. Your special needs dentist gets this. We’ll work with you to figure out what helps your loved one feel most comfortable.

What Should a Dental Team Know?

Before your first visit, the dental team needs to understand your loved one’s medical history, medications, and specific needs. They should know about any mobility issues, sensory sensitivities, or communication preferences.

Share information about what makes your family member comfortable—or uncomfortable—so the team can provide the best possible care. Your dentist will also need to know about any medical conditions that might affect dental treatment.

Benefits of a Pediatric Special Needs Dentist

There are many reasons why seeing a pediatric dentist for special needs, like The Super Dentists, is beneficial:

Tailored Care

Your child isn’t like anyone else — and their dental care shouldn’t be either. That’s why special needs dentists take the time to really get to know your child and what makes them unique.

Maybe bright lights bother them, or they need extra breaks during treatment. Whatever your child’s specific needs are, these dentists will build a personalized plan around them. We’ll watch how your child responds and fine-tune their approach until they find what works best.

Helps Keep Your Child Calm

These specialists use proven techniques to reduce anxiety and make dental visits less stressful. We might use music, weighted blankets, or other comfort measures to help your child feel secure. Many offices also offer private treatment rooms to minimize distractions and create a more peaceful environment.

Keeps Your Child Safe

Special needs dentists understand medical conditions and potential complications. We’re prepared to handle emergencies and know how to modify treatments to ensure your child’s safety.

Their offices are equipped with specialized equipment and emergency protocols specifically designed for patients with special needs.

Additional Support From Staff

The entire office staff—from receptionists to dental assistants—is trained to work with special needs patients. We can help make every aspect of your visit smoother and more comfortable, from scheduling appointments at the best time for your loved one to providing extra assistance during treatments.

Helps Your Child Learn Proper Oral Care

Your dental team will teach you and your child appropriate oral hygiene techniques. We recommend specialized tools or modified approaches that make daily dental care easier at home.

This might include adaptive toothbrushes, special flossing tools, or other aids that accommodate physical limitations.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do autistic kids go to the dentist?

Many autistic children benefit from visiting a special needs pediatric dentist who understands sensory sensitivities and communication differences. These dentists often offer:

• Pre-visit office tours to familiarize children with the environment
• Quiet rooms with minimal sensory stimulation
• Visual schedules showing each step of the visit
• Extra time for appointments
• Consistent scheduling with the same staff members

What is an FD dentist?

An FD (Family Dentist) with special needs training has additional education in treating patients with various disabilities. They’re equipped to provide thorough care while considering each patient’s unique requirements and can often treat multiple family members in one location.

How do you find a dentist for a child with special needs?

Start by asking your child’s healthcare providers for recommendations. You can also:

• Contact local special needs support groups for referrals
• Ask other parents in similar situations about their experiences
• Check with your insurance provider for specialists in your area
• Call dental offices to ask about their experience with special needs patients
• Request a consultation visit before committing to treatment

Final Thoughts

Your loved one deserves dental care that meets their unique needs with dignity and respect. A special needs dentist provides more than just dental treatment.

At The Super Dentists, we offer understanding, patience, and specialized expertise to make dental care accessible for everyone.

Schedule your child’s next dental appointment with our Pediatric Dentists at The Super Dentists!

Blog Summary: This blog post provides dentist-approved advice on how often to change your toothbrush. Learn why the American Dental Association (ADA) recommends replacing your toothbrush every 3-4 months and discover the importance of replacing it after illness. We also share practical tips on how to keep your toothbrush clean during everyday use, including proper storage and sanitizing techniques. Keep your smile healthy and bright by following these simple guidelines!

How long has your toothbrush been sitting on your bathroom counter? When was the last time you thought about replacing it?

If you have an old-school bristle toothbrush, you’ll need to toss the whole thing eventually. If, on the other hand, you use a newer electric toothbrush or a sonic toothbrush, you can just replace the brush head when it becomes worn. But when, exactly? That’s the 32-tooth question!

Find dentist-recommended answers below.

How Often Should I Change My Toothbrush? (Standard Manual Toothbrushes)

You might have heard that you should replace your toothbrush every 6 months. But just how sound is this advice?

According to the American Dental Association (ADA), that’s about as twice as long as you should wait. The ADA recommends replacing your toothbrush every 3-4 months, or more often if it’s looking raggedy (if its bristles are “visibly matted or frayed”).

So what’s the takeaway, aim to replace toothbrushes that might not *look* like they need replacing 3-4 times per year. Otherwise, replace your toothbrush sooner if you notice it looking rough.

How Often Should I Change My Toothbrush Head? (Electric & Sonic Toothbrushes)

What about when to change an electric toothbrush head? In truth, it doesn’t matter if you use a traditional style manual toothbrush or if you use an electric toothbrush. Either way, you should aim to replace it in accordance with ADA guidelines as outlined above.

Why Do I Need to Replace My Toothbrush Every 3-4 Months?

The reason for this recommendation is threefold.

1. Bacteria can build up over time that even when not sick, could lead to sickness. (Did you know that your toothbrush is potentially home to about 1.2 million bacteria, including E. coli, staphylococci, yeast, and more?)
2. Bad bacteria that build up on your toothbrush could also disrupt the oral microbiome even if they don’t immediately make you sick.
3. When toothbrush bristles get worn out over time, they become significantly less effective at removing bacteria, plaque, and food particles, which could put you at higher risk for tooth and gum diseases over time.

When to Change a Toothbrush After Strep or Illness

How long should you wait to replace your toothbrush after you’ve been sick? Well…you shouldn’t!

As soon as your symptoms clear up, do your family a favor and replace that germy old toothbrush. This is because germs and viruses can live on your toothbrush for longer than you might think. For example, the flu can live on your toothbrush for up to three days!

Can you really reinfect yourself? Once recovered from an illness, it’s highly unlikely, but also not impossible. More likely is the chance that you’ll get others in your household sick.

Have your family member’s toothbrushes been stored near yours when sick or vice versa? It’s probably best to replace those too out of an abundance of caution, especially if anyone in your household is elderly, very young, or otherwise immunocompromised.

How to Keep Your Toothbrush Clean During Normal Use

There’s more to keeping your toothbrush clean than meets the eye. Here are some handy tips from our very own Dr. Kami Hoss for ensuring that you keep a clean toothbrush at all times:

1. Wash Up

You might not think about washing your hands before brushing your teeth, but you should. In fact, you should also wash your hands after brushing your teeth. This prevents transferring germs and bacteria to your toothbrush and from your toothbrush to others in your household.

2. Stand it Up and Dry it Out

After brushing, shake off excess water and then store your toothbrush upright in a holder where it can air dry completely. This helps kill bacteria that thrive in moisture. (You’re better off keeping your toothbrush open to the air than using a toothbrush clip or enclosing it somewhere where bacteria can multiply).

3. Mind the Toilet

Store your toothbrush as far from the toilet as possible and close the toilet lid before flushing to avoid contamination from fecal bacteria, which can become aerosolized in the hot, humid environment of the bathroom (especially after showers). Consider keeping your toothbrush away from the sink as well to prevent splashes from dirty hands.

4. Clean Your Toothbrush Carefully

1. Rinse your toothbrush with hot water before and after brushing.
2. Consider soaking in an antiseptic mouthwash every so often. If you don’t want to throw your toothbrush out after illness, and assuming its bristles still have life left in them, you can try this method. (Studies have shown that soaking your toothbrush in antiseptic mouthwash, like Listerine, for 20 minutes is 100% effective at killing microorganisms on your toothbrush).
3. UV toothbrush sanitizers, white vinegar, and denture cleaner are effective alternatives to sanitize toothbrushes if you don’t keep antiseptic mouthwash on hand.

These same tips apply to electric toothbrush heads.

Stay Healthy with The Super Dentists

Keep your child’s smile healthy and bright! Stay on top of your family’s oral health by scheduling your next dental check-up with The Super Dentists today.

There are many reasons your child has bad breath even after brushing their teeth. It can be due to a lack of oral hygiene, dehydration, or something simple you might not think about.

However, more reasons can contribute to smelly breath. Chronic bad breath, also known as Halitosis, can commonly affect children.

Why Does My Child’s Breath Smell Even After Brushing Teeth?

For many reasons, your child might have bad breath after brushing.

Lack of Flossing

Lack of flossing or not flossing at all is often one of the main reasons for what causes bad breath in kids.

Flossing the teeth helps to remove bacteria that is found between the teeth. Flossing regularly helps to control plaque buildup between the teeth, which eliminates and fights bacteria found in the gums between the teeth. When food particles become trapped between the teeth, it leads to bad breath.

Dehydration

Your child may have bad breath after brushing because they are dehydrated. Your child needs to drink plenty of water. Without enough water, the amount of saliva in the mouth decreases. The decrease in saliva causes an increase in odor.

Saliva helps to keep the mouth clean, as it naturally cleans the oral environment. Drinking plenty of water is an excellent way to stay hydrated and avoid bad breath

Eating Smelly Foods

Some of the best foods have smelly odors, such as foods that contain garlic or onions. After eating foods containing these ingredients, your child should rinse their mouth with water or brush their teeth.

Your child can also chew sugar-free gum, like Trident, to help freshen up their breath. Sugar-free gum can help to remove any food particles in the mouth after eating, which also helps to prevent bad breath. Gum also helps create saliva in the mouth to keep away odor.

Why Does My Child’s Breath Stink After Brushing?

There are likely other reasons besides lack of flossing, dehydration, and smelly foods that can cause bad breath after brushing.

Tooth Decay and Dental Infections

Your child may have constant bad breath due to tooth decay or a dental infection. If your child has a cavity, there are harmful bacteria in the mouth that causes the fresh breath to turn into bad breath.

Tooth decay and infections in the mouth allow an overgrowth of bacteria to accumulate in the mouth, resulting in bad breath.

Mouth Breathing

If your child breathes through their mouth instead of their nose, it produces poor saliva. This creates a similar issue with bacteria overgrowth as dehydration. Your child might breathe out of their mouth if they are congested, have seasonal allergies, or have a sinus infection.

If your child’s nose remains stuffy even when they are no longer sick, they will breathe out of their mouth because the nose is blocked. Schedule an appointment with your child’s doctor if your child breathes out of their mouth at all times, even when they are not sick.

Gum Disease

If your child has gum disease, also known as gingivitis, their breath can smell like sulfur or rotten eggs.

Gum disease causes the bacteria in the mouth to release chemicals with an unpleasant odor. Children with gum disease may also have swollen or red gums and bleed when brushing their teeth.

Medical Condition

Your child may have bad breath if they have certain medical conditions, such as tonsillitis, sinusitis, bronchitis, or other respiratory infections.

If your child has a more serious medical condition, such as uncontrolled diabetes or kidney disease, they may also experience chronic bad breath.

How Do I Get Rid of Toddler Bad Breath?

You should try the following solutions to get rid of your kid’s bad breath.

Good Dental Hygiene

Good dental hygiene is the best way to get rid of and prevent bad breath in your child. Your child should brush their teeth twice daily and floss at least once daily.

Regular Trips to the Dentist

Just like adults, children should see their dentist every six months. Some dentists even recommend visiting every three months, depending on your child’s oral health.

Switching Toothpastes

Switching kinds of toothpaste can help prevent and keep away bad breath in kids. Toothpaste that focuses on whitening teeth often contains ingredients that dry out the tongue, allowing bacteria to increase in the mouth.

Toothpaste with heavy baking soda can dry out the tongue too much, causing a decrease in saliva. The best kids’ toothpaste for bad breath, like Colgate or Crest, can help keep their breath fresh.

Fluoride Treatments

Fluoride treatments at the dentist can help to reduce tooth decay and fight infection in the mouth.

Mouthwash

While your child might prefer bubble gum or berry-flavored mouthwash, a minty mouthwash will help with bad breath.

Some adult mouthwashes might be too harsh for children, so using a gentle one for kids is best. Mouthwash is only a temporary fix for bad breath, so it should be used in addition to other solutions.

Change the Toothbrush

Using a heavily used toothbrush can make bad breath worse, as the bristles on the brush work less effectively to remove plaque and oral bacteria.

Your child should change their toothbrush every three to four months to ensure their breath stays fresh and their teeth are being properly cleaned.

How to Get Your Kids Excited About Brushing?

To get your child excited about brushing and oral hygiene, you can try a few things.

• Allow them to pick out their own toothbrush
• Explain why it is crucial to brush their teeth and how it helps keep their mouth healthy
• Give them a holder for their toothbrush to stay in when they are not using it
• Let them practice brushing teeth on you, as they can see all the grooves, curves, and edges of your teeth
• Use a toothbrush timer or play a two-minute song when brushing
• Brush your teeth together and establish a routine

Final Thoughts

There are many ways you can prevent bad breath in your child and get rid of it for good. It is important to keep up on regular trips to the dentist and establish a regular brushing and flossing routine to help keep away bad breath after brushing.

If your child’s bad breath is persistent even after trying these solutions, schedule a pediatric dentist appointment for a cleaning and discuss the halitosis concerns with your child’s dentist.

Learn more about our Pediatric Dental Services at The Super Dentists. Schedule an appointment today and bring your family to a Super Dentists location near you!

As parents, it’s important to keep an eye on your child’s dental health, especially as their adult teeth start to come in. Early orthodontic intervention can help avoid bigger problems later. Let’s explore some common orthodontic issues in kids and why orthodontic treatment is necessary.

1. Crowding of Teeth

One of the most common dental problems in kids is overcrowded teeth. When the child’s teeth or jaw don’t have enough room to accommodate all the teeth, it leads to crowding. This can cause the teeth to overlap and affect proper alignment. Early intervention can help reduce the risk of further complications.

2. Overbite

An overbite is when the upper front teeth overlap the lower teeth more than they should. The best age to get braces for an overbite varies, but catching it early can prevent future bite problems. Orthodontic care, such as braces, can correct the alignment of the upper and lower teeth, giving your child a beautiful smile.

3. Underbite

Opposite of an overbite, an underbite happens when the lower teeth stick out further than the upper front teeth. This condition can affect the teeth and jaws, leading to difficulty chewing or speaking. Early orthodontic intervention can address these issues before they become severe.

4. Crossbite

A crossbite occurs when the upper teeth sit inside the lower teeth rather than outside, causing an improper bite. This can lead to uneven wear on the teeth, jaw pain, and even damage to the gums. Correcting a crossbite at a young age helps ensure proper alignment.

5. Open Bite

An open bite means the upper and lower teeth don’t touch when the mouth is closed. Often caused by habits like thumb sucking or pacifier use, open bites can interfere with chewing and speech development. Pacifier orthodontic problems are common, but with early treatment options, this issue can be corrected.

6. Spacing Between Teeth

While some spacing is natural when kids lose baby teeth, excessive gaps between adult teeth may signal a problem. Large gaps can affect the way your child’s teeth grow in and may require braces to bring the teeth closer together.

7. Mouth Breathing

Mouth breathing is more than just an annoying habit; it can cause orthodontic issues by affecting the development of the teeth and jaws. Children who breathe through their mouths often have dental problems such as an open bite or a narrow jaw. Orthodontic care can help correct these issues and improve overall oral health.

8. Protruding Teeth

Teeth that stick out, especially the upper front teeth, are more prone to injury and may cause bite problems. Orthodontic treatment, such as braces, can push the teeth back into proper alignment, reducing the risk of damage.

9. Misalignment of the Jaw

If your child’s teeth or jaw seem off, they might have jaw misalignment. This can lead to bite problems, difficulty chewing, and jaw pain. Early intervention can help ensure that the upper and lower teeth align properly, setting your child up for a lifetime of good dental health.

When to Start Orthodontic Care

You might wonder, “What’s the earliest age for braces?” Orthodontic care can start as early as age seven, depending on the child’s dental development.

Early intervention allows for the most effective treatment plan, helping guide the teeth and jaws into their proper position. The goal is to reduce the risk of more complicated dental problems down the road.

Why Orthodontic Treatment is Necessary

Orthodontic treatment is about more than just achieving a beautiful smile. It’s about improving your child’s dental health, ensuring proper alignment of the teeth and jaws, and preventing future issues.

Addressing orthodontic problems at a young age can lead to easier, less invasive treatment options and long-term dental health benefits.

Schedule an Appointment Today

If you notice any of these orthodontic issues in your child, it might be time to schedule an appointment with an orthodontist. Early orthodontic intervention can make a world of difference in your child’s smile and overall dental health. Whether they need braces to correct an overbite or treatment for a misaligned jaw, acting early ensures the best outcome.

If you think your child needs braces, learn about early intervention and Phase 1 Orthodontics at The Super Dentists. Schedule a consultation today!

When it’s time to take your little one to the dentist, won’t any dentist do? Not necessarily.

While general and family dentists treat children, if you’re looking for the best dentist for your brood, then a pediatric dentist is hard to beat.

To understand why that is, we invite you to read more about the key differences between pediatric, family, and general dentists.

Comparing Different Types of Dentists: Pediatric vs Family Dentist vs General Dentist

General Dentistry: The Foundation of Dental Care

All dentists are highly trained, skilled medical professionals. On top of an undergraduate degree, dentists must attend dental school, which usually lasts four years, and results in a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) or Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree. Dentists must then be licensed and often, undergo a 2-3 year residency program.

All of this education and experience gives general dentists the ability to diagnose patients while providing both preventative and restorative care.

To be sure, general dentists are highly skilled clinicians providing such services as:

• Cleanings, exams, and X-rays
• Fillings, crowns, and bridges
• Root canal therapy
• Extractions
• In some cases, certain cosmetic procedures

The key is that most general dentists only treat adults.

Family Dentistry: Care for All Ages

Family dentistry is a term used to describe dentists who provide comprehensive care for patients of all ages, focusing on building long-term relationships with families.

As we covered in our blog post “What is a Family Dentist? And How Are the Super Dentists Different?”, family dentists provide various services, including:

• Teeth cleaning
• Root canals
• Whitening procedures
• Fillings
• Dentures
• Bridges, caps and crowns
• Orthodontic care (some family dentists offer this, but not all)
• Other general dental work

Pediatric Dentistry: Care from Infancy Through Adolescence

When comparing pediatric dentists vs general dentists and pediatric dentists vs family dentists, what’s the difference?

As our blog post “What is the Age Range for a Pediatric Dentist?” sums it up, “…general dentists focus solely on adult teeth, [but] pediatric dentists usually specialize in treating children’s teeth. A pediatric dentist has two to three years of specialty training following dental school.”

This specialty training allows pediatric dentists to treat patients from infancy onward. While there isn’t necessarily an upper age limit for pediatric dentists, and many are also capable of treating adults perfectly well, this unique specialization makes pediatric dentists the ideal choice for treating children and teens.

Sometimes, as is the case for us at The Super Dentists, pediatric dentists may also provide orthodontic care.

Even if a pediatric dentist does not provide orthodontic care, though, their unique training gives them not only a clinical advantage but also the ability to better work with children of different ages and abilities.

In summation,

• Due to their unique training, pediatric dentists possess the skills to create a safe and positive dental experience for children, ensuring they feel at ease during treatment.
• They effectively educate children about oral health using age-appropriate language and engaging communication methods.
• Pediatric dental offices are designed to be child-friendly, featuring playful décor, engaging activities, and entertainment options like movies or video games.
• Pediatric dentists use specialized instruments and materials specifically tailored to accommodate the smaller mouths of children.

Why Choose The Super Dentists?

Now you know some of the key differences between general dentists vs pediatric dentists and family dentists. But what makes the Super Dentists different?

Ten principles guide all that we do:

1. We are all about your KIDS: Pediatric dental specialists, with all services designed to support children’s needs.
2. We are all about your EXPERIENCE: Transforming the dental visit into a fun, theme-park-like adventure.
3. We are all about offering you EXPERTISE: Specialized dentists, highly trained assistants, and recognition for excellence.
4. We are all about bringing you the latest INNOVATIONS: Leading the way with new technologies and treatment approaches.
5. We are all about TECHNOLOGIES: Embracing cutting-edge tools for enhanced patient care and comfort.
6. We are all about your CONVENIENCE: Multiple locations, extended hours, and all specialties in one place.
7. We are all about ease of ACCESSIBILITY: Never turning away a child, regardless of their needs or circumstances.
8. We are all about making it AFFORDABLE: Accepting all insurances and offering flexible financing.
9. We are all about EDUCATION: Training future professionals and promoting oral health awareness.
10. We are all about our COMMUNITY: Giving back through free dental days, sponsorships, and various community events.

Schedule an Appointment with The Super Dentists Today!

Schedule an appointment at The Super Dentists today! Whether you or your little ones are in need of emergency pediatric dental services or just routine cleaning, our team can help. Find a location near you then schedule a consultation here.

Modern braces are composed of one bracket per tooth. On both the bottom row of teeth and the top row of teeth, the brackets are connected by an archwire. The archwire, in turn, is held down by small elastic ties. These are the three main components of braces: the archwire, brackets, and elastic ties.

Some patients require additional braces rubber bands, though. Also called orthodontic elastics, or braces elastics, these are not to be confused with the elastic ties that hold the archwires in place.

Let’s delve deeper into what braces elastics are and why they’re important.

Braces Rubber Bands vs. Elastic Ties

Braces rubber bands are not worn by everyone who wears braces, but all braces (other than clear aligner types) utilize elastic ties, AKA elastic ligatures, which come in a variety of colors.

Like elastic ties, braces rubber bands are sometimes available in different colors, but they are often clear or opaque.

Rubber bands help correct the alignment of the teeth or the jaw. When it comes to teeth, rubber bands can be worn horizontally to speed up movement. But if someone has an overbite or underbite, for example, their orthodontist will usually recommend a treatment involving rubber bands between the lower and upper jaws.

Braces rubber bands work by creating tension which helps to guide your teeth and/or jaw into proper alignment.

There are various “classes” of rubber bands for braces:

• Class 1: Used to close gaps between teeth
• Class 2: Decrease an overbite
• Class 3: Correct an underbite

What’s more, vertical bands help with open bites, and front cross elastics help correct crossbites.

What Are Triangle Rubber Bands for Braces?

Triangle rubber bands are usually used to correct bite gaps between the upper and lower jaws. Other shapes, like squares or crisscrossed configurations, are used for more complex movements, like shifting the jaw or addressing other bite issues.

Why Do Orthodontists Give Your Braces Elastics?

Braces rubber bands can be used to move either the teeth or the jaw, depending on the patient’s needs. Either way, they apply gentle and consistent pressure allowing for the intended movement to occur.

Many kids don’t like the feeling of rubber bands so they don’t wear them as often as they should. This can prolong treatment. So if rubber bands have been recommended for your little one, try to encourage them to wear them as often as possible!

When and How Long Do You Wear Rubber Bands?

The elastic ligatures that are attached to the brackets on the front of the teeth must always be worn. They are normally replaced at each orthodontic check-up appointment.

But just when do you start wearing rubber bands for braces? Specifically, what month do you get rubber bands for braces? That truly depends! Usually, your orthodontist will prescribe them after a few months of initial treatment. This is to ensure that sufficient progress has been made and that the elastics can work as intended.

It’s important to note that the exact timeline varies, so your orthodontist might suggest rubber bands after just a few weeks of treatment, after six months of treatment, or after a year or more of treatment.

Likewise, the amount of time you must wear rubber bands varies considerably based on how fast your teeth are responding to treatment and, as mentioned, how diligently you’ve worn your rubber bands.

Practical Tips for Wearing Braces Rubber Bands

How to Properly Wear and Store Rubber Bands

Your orthodontist will instruct you on the proper way to wear your rubber bands, walking you through how to apply them and in which configuration, based on your unique needs and treatment goals.

It’s important to wear them consistently and change them regularly (we’re talking once or twice a day as the elastic wears out) to maintain the right amount of pressure. Always keep your rubber bands in a safe, accessible place, and be sure to carry extra bands with you in case one snaps, which does sometimes happen!

Avoiding Loss of Rubber Bands

Braces elastics come in small plastic bags, usually about half the size of a snack-sized plastic bag, so they can be easy to misplace. Try keeping various bags of elastics in multiple places —like in a backpack, purse, car, medicine cabinet, or bedside table—so you always have them on hand. If you do lose a bag, contact your orthodontist ASAP to get replacements.

Schedule a Braces Consultation to Learn More

Do you suspect your pre-teen or teenager is ready for braces? Schedule a braces consultation with our Orthodontists team at The Super Dentists today!

Open-mouth breathing is breathing through the mouth instead of the nose. In children, open-mouth breathing is most common at night, but it can also occur during the day.

While most of the time mouth breathing occurs because your child is sick or has allergies, it can occur due to more severe issues. If mouth breathing never resolves during childhood, your child can be at risk of developing several serious medical conditions.

Is It Bad for Kids to Sleep with Their Mouth Open?

In most cases, mouth breathing in children usually occurs when the child suffers from congestion or allergies. This typically clears up on its own.

When children continuously breathe through their mouths, you may notice symptoms such as irritability, cracked lips, and excessive crying in younger children.

When children display frequent open-mouth breathing, it can cause numerous dental health concerns. These dental health concerns include:

• Enlarged tonsils
• Enlarged adenoids
• Temporomandibular disorder of the jaw
• Erosion of the teeth
• Teeth grinding
• Myofascial pain
• Periodontal disease
• Impacted teeth
• Malocclusion
• Tooth decay
• Chronic bad breath

In addition to dental health concerns, open mouth breathing can cause other overall health issues. Your child may also experience these health concerns if they display frequent open-mouth breathing.

• Dry mouth
• Drowsiness during the day
• Headaches
• Sleep deprivation
• Restless sleep
• Poor ability to focus or poor memory
• Snoring

Child mouth breathing typically occurs at night when the child is sleeping, often indicating a problem in the nasal passages.

If your child is not sick, your child must see their pediatric dentist to help resolve why your child experiences child mouth breathing at night. Children, as well as adults, usually don’t intend on open-mouth breathing. They do it unintentionally because they cannot breathe properly through their nose.

Why Is My Child Breathing Through Their Mouth?

Your child most likely experiences open-mouth breathing because there is an obstruction in their nasal passage. Some common underlying issues your child may breathe through their mouth include:

• Deviated septum
• Enlarged vessels, bones, or tissue in their nasal passage
• Tongue tie

If your child is mouth breathing and does not have a blocked nasal passage, then it could be due to problems with their bite and mouth structure. The shape of your child’s jaw
May prevent them from correctly closing their mouths.

Therefore, they breathe out of the mouth because it cannot shut properly.

If your toddler sleeps with their mouth open but breathes through the nose, they do not have an issue with their mouth or bite structure. Instead, they have a blockage in the upper airway, such as their throat or nose.

How Do You Fix a Child’s Mouth Breathing?

When learning how to stop mouth breathing in a child, you should make an appointment with their pediatric dentist to be evaluated for possible orthodontia. If it is not orthodontia, your child should be evaluated for an evaluation to remove their adenoids and tonsils.

If that is not the case either, have your child evaluated for:

• Throat or nasal obstruction
• Allergies
• Sinus and nasal issues
• Tongue tie
• Appropriate weight for their height, as an increased weight can contribute to open mouth breathing

Can Mouth Breathing Cause Behavior Problems?

Open-mouth breathing can cause behavioral problems in children, contributing to their inability to focus, irritability, and lack of sleep. Open-mouth breathing can cause problems in your child’s mental development because if they cannot properly breathe, their brain cannot function correctly.

Some common behavioral health concerns your children might experience due to mouth breathing includes:

• Slower cognitive development
• Difficulty concentrating and solving problems
• Disturbed social and emotional development
• Possibility of being diagnosed incorrectly with ADHD or ADD
• Poor school performance

What Age Can Open Mouth Breathing Begin?

Open-mouth breathing can occur in babies as young as three to four months old, as they do not develop the reflex to breathe through their mouth until that point. If your baby or young child is mouth breathing at night, it can become a regular habit even when they are awake.

It is especially important to be aware of mouth breathing in babies since it can affect the development of their brains if left untreated.

Your child is at risk of breathing through the mouth if they suck their thumb or have prolonged use of pacifiers or if they stop breastfeeding or bottle feeding before three months of age.

How Do You Treat Mouth Breathing in Children?

Once you notice symptoms of mouth breathing in your child, make an appointment with their pediatric dentist. The pediatric dentist may need to refer your child to another professional to diagnose why they are breathing through the mouth properly. Some treatment options for mouth breathing in children include:

• Allergy management
• Breathing training
• Surgery to remove enlarged tonsils, adenoids, tongue tie, or deviated septum
• Weaning of thumb sucking
• Orthodontic treatment to guide teeth and jaw movements

Can Mouth Breathing Affect a Toddler’s Speech?

If your child breathes through their mouth most of the time, it can affect their speech. Your child is likely to struggle with certain speech sounds or develop a lisp. If your child develops a lisp, they may have difficulty saying the letter “s” properly.

Their speech may be affected by the mouth breathing because it can cause a tongue thrust swallowing pattern. This typically occurs during late childhood, but it is due to your child breathing through their mouth for a long period of time. In severe circumstances, this can also cause trouble with swallowing and make your child more prone to choking.

Final Thoughts

Open-mouth breathing in children can be reversed, but it is essential to take steps to prevent it from happening. If you notice that your child breathes through their mouth, and they are not sick, make an appointment at The Super Dentists to help determine the cause.

Learn more about our Pediatric Dental Services at The Super Dentists. Schedule an appointment today and bring your family to a Super Dentists location near you!

What are the best braces colors? That depends on a variety of factors, including your personal preferences, the season, whether you’re trying to coordinate your braces to your outfit, and more. Ultimately, no one color for braces is universally considered to be “the best”.

But what if you want help choosing? No problem! You may find it helpful to keep the following in mind when picking out the perfect shade of braces colors.

Braces Colors: A Rainbow of Possibility

Most orthodontists offer a wide range of braces colors.

The small elastic bands that hold braces brackets to archwires are offered in neutrals like white, black, gray, and brown to more zany options like neon and even glow-in-the-dark! In short, the full ROYGBIV spectrum (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet) is available plus more.

While each orthodontist provides a different selection of colors, chances are if you choose traditional braces, you can pick just about any color you like at your next visit.

The exceptions to this rule are:

• If you have clear aligners, which don’t require rubber bands at all.
• If you have lingual braces, where the brackets are in the back so no color is seen from the front of the tooth.

Factors to Consider when Choosing Different Braces Colors

Want guidance in choosing the perfect shade of rubber bands for your braces? Here are the factors that most people keep in mind when deciding on the best color for their braces at each visit.

What Season Is It and Are There Any Upcoming Holidays or Special Occasions?

• Winter: Consider cool colors like blue, plum, white, gray, and black.
• Spring: Consider pastel shades like pink, sky blue, bright green, yellow, and lavender.
• Summer: Consider bright shades like orange, neon yellow or pink, royal blue, and aqua.
• Fall: Consider earth tones like brown, red-orange, goldenrod, olive, and cranberry.
• Holidays: Blue and white for Hannukah, red and green for Christmas, red, pink, and white for Valentine’s Day, red, white, and blue for Independence Day, and silver and gold for New Year’s Eve are just some popular holiday color choices.

What Color Braces Are Most Popular?

Variations on the main colors of the rainbow (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple) are generally the most popular.

What Are the Best Braces Color Combinations?

That depends! Some prefer monochrome looks (i.e. different shades of blue). Others prefer complimentary colors (i.e. blue and orange) for a pop. The choice is truly yours but we’re always happy to help you choose if you’re prone to decision fatigue.

What Color Braces Make Your Teeth Look Whiter?

Generally speaking, opting for braces with darker tones will make your teeth look whiter by comparison. These include shades like black, rich purple, and navy blue.

What Color Braces Look Best in Pictures?

It may be easier to notice darker colors vs. lighter colors in pictures.

Another factor to consider is the color of your skin tone, and eyes, and what colors would coordinate or contrast with those colors in photographs.

It may be helpful to analyze what “season” you are in terms of your features and choose colors accordingly.

What Color Braces Should a Girl Get vs. A Guy?

Traditionally, some colors like pink and purple have been considered more “feminine” and other colors like black and blue have been considered more “masculine”.

Today, for many people, associating certain colors with particular genders, like wearing white after Labor Day, is considered antiquated.

So choose whatever colors you like, regardless of how you identify on the gender spectrum.

Matching Your Braces to Your Personality & Preferences

• Personality: Are you more of an extrovert? You may be drawn to brighter bolder colors that attract attention. If you’re more of an introvert, you may instead be drawn to more subdued tones and neutrals.
• Favorite Color: If you just love the color pink, you might want to have that as your braces color. If, instead, you’re drawn to blue, that might be a good pick. For many people, the best braces colors, subjectively speaking, are their favorite colors!
• Eye Color: People often choose the match their braces to their eye color, especially if they’re adults who are looking to turn their braces into a part of their coordinated look, helping them blend in more than stand out.
• Mix & Match: For some folks, there’s no rhyme or reason to choosing braces colors. Feel free to mix and match colors to your heart’s delight if that’s your thing!

What to Expect with Braces & Colors

Many folks find getting braces can be uncomfortable at first. Changing your habits and routines can be unsettling, especially if you or your loved one is neurodivergent. And then of course there’s the fact that orthodontic treatment with braces does involve physically shifting your teeth which is no small feat. But rest assured: braces aren’t something to fear.

In fact, for the vast majority of people who get them, braces become just another part of their daily life in a matter of days to weeks. Due to the wide range of braces colors available and the ability to choose between them regularly at checkups, many folks even begin to look forward to visits to the orthodontist!

Like changing out a smartwatch band or choosing clothing accessories, choosing between subdued or bright-colored bands; glow-in-the-dark options, and neutrals can be extremely exciting. At The Super Dentists, we certainly work hard to make getting braces as fun and rewarding as possible for parents and kids!

If you are thinking about getting braces for yourself or your child, we invite you to schedule a braces consultation now to learn more about what to expect.

One minute, everything seems fine. The next? You feel a strange sensation in your mouth, and you realize one of your braces brackets has broken (what a tongue twister, literally).

What are you to do?

That’s what we’re here to help you uncover! From what to look for to how to fix a broken bracket both temporarily and permanently, here’s everything you need to know about your broken bracket.

Why Do Braces Brackets Break?

There are several reasons that brackets come unstuck. Here are a few of the most common:

• Something You Ate: From bagels to gum; apples to popcorn, there are plenty of foods that can pop a bracket.
• Improper Cleaning: If you fail to clean your braces properly AND have eaten problem foods, it’s possible that something could get wedged in the bracket, causing it to break ─ especially if the bracket adhesive is also failing.
• Injury or Accident: Injured on the court or in an accident involving trauma or force to the mouth? That could have very well broken your bracket.
• Adhesion Failure: Sometimes the glue that binds brackets to your teeth, which is meant to last for the entirety of the time your braces stay on, fails for one reason or another, causing brackets to come unstuck.

How to Tell if a Bracket is Broken

What Does a Broken Bracket Look Like?

Broken brackets that have come unstuck from the tooth can be rotated around the archwire. The picture we’ve included at the beginning of this blog post is a good representation of a broken bracket.

Types of Broken Brackets

Normally the archwire stays in place and the bracket comes loose on it. Sometimes, if the bracket that breaks is on one of the last molars and the archwire breaks too, the bracket may come completely loose in the mouth. But this is rare.

Most times, if the bracket that has broken is between other brackets (on one of the middle teeth), it stays attached to the archwire, causing it to come unstuck but stay in place between other brackets. In other words, in these instances, it will come loose from the tooth but stay strung on the wire.

Imagine for a minute that you were to glue a necklace to your teeth (crazy we know – don’t do that!). If the glue from one bead came undone but it was still attached to the rest of the necklace, that’s kind of what a broken bracket is normally like.

Short Term Fixes for Broken Brackets

Here’s the million-dollar question: if a bracket is broken on your braces, what are you to do? While broken brackets do classify as a dental emergency, meaning you’ll eventually need to see your orthodontist, you can do the following before being seen by a professional.

Inspect the Area

Take a good look at the area so you can get a handle on what’s going on. Is the bracket broken off the tooth? Partially broken? Is it an end bracket coupled with a loose archwire? A middle bracket that’s less at risk of coming off completely? These are the types of questions to ask.

Apply Orthodontic Wax or Remove the Bracket If Needed

If the bracket is at the end of the tooth and the archwire has come loose, it’s probably best to remove the bracket entirely so you don’t risk ingesting it.

Otherwise, if the bracket, which in normal circumstances, holds the archwire down, comes loose enough that it’s starting to cut your inner lips or gums or enough to cause the wire to lift and create irritation, we recommend applying orthodontic wax around the bracket and surrounding wire.

For a Long-Term Fix, Contact Your Orthodontist

The only way to have a broken bracket fixed permanently is to schedule an emergency appointment with your orthodontist. They’ll have the tools and materials required to re-affix the bracket permanently.

In the meantime, feel free to learn more about the right ways to clean & maintain teeth with braces.

Baby shark doo-doo, doo-doo, doo-doo…by now, you’ve probably heard the viral song. But did you know that there’s actually a phenomenon called shark teeth in kids? If you’re a parent and you’re observing this phenomenon in your little one, here’s what you need to know.

Teeth Behind Teeth: What Shark Teeth Are

“Shark teeth” in children occur when adult (permanent) teeth grow in behind baby (primary) teeth instead of the primary teeth falling out and being replaced. Essentially “shark teeth” is the unofficial name for a type of “ectopic eruption” that occurs in kids of a certain age.

As you may recall from our blog “When Do Molars Come In? The Arrival of Your Child’s Chewing Champions”, eruption is a fancy name for a tooth coming in, and it’s a normal part of odontogenesis, which itself is simply a term for “oral development”.

While adults can have teeth behind teeth too, when an adult has a permanent tooth behind another permanent tooth, that is not known as “shark teeth”. Shark teeth in kids extend only into the transitional dentition period.

Shark teeth can occur on the bottom or top rows.

Why Shark Teeth Occur

There are a number of reasons why shark teeth may occur in children. They include:

• Overcrowding in the Jaw: When there’s not enough space in a child’s mouth for all teeth to align properly, this can force adult teeth to erupt behind baby teeth.
• Angled or Early Eruption: Sometimes, a child’s adult tooth emerges at an angle before the baby tooth has fallen out. This can happen if the adult tooth doesn’t dissolve the roots of the baby tooth to make space for itself. When this happens, the adult tooth can come in behind or beside the baby tooth, causing a “shark teeth” appearance.
• Genetics: Genetics may play a role in the appearance of shark teeth in kids.
• Thumb-Sucking or Other Habits: Habits like prolonged thumb-sucking may influence the development of shark teeth.
• In Rare Cases, Specific Conditions: Hypothyroidism, down syndrome, and other medical conditions may contribute to the development of shark teeth in kids.

My Kid Has an Adult Tooth Growing in Behind a Baby Tooth. Should I Worry?

While noticing some teeth that grow behind other teeth in your child’s mouth might look concerning and abnormal, it’s actually more common than you might think. So don’t worry too much, and certainly don’t panic.

There are scenarios in which a shark tooth might be cause for concern, so if you notice them in your child, it might be worth seeing your dentist. But in the vast majority of instances, shark teeth will normally resolve on their own.

One of the questions we get often here at the Super Dentists is “Will shark teeth move forward?” Sometimes, people ask “Will shark teeth resolve on their own?”.

The answer is that yes, they can and may resolve on their own! Sometimes they do not, however, move forward and push out the baby teeth in front of them on their own.

Managing Shark Teeth at Home as a Parent

In most cases, where shark teeth can be dealt with without medical assistance, here’s what to do to help them knock out the loose baby teeth and begin moving toward their natural spot:

• Tell Your Kids to Wiggle Their Baby Teeth: Give them an excuse to fidget and get out that excess energy! Encourage your child to gently wiggle the loose baby tooth (if it is actually loose). If it’s not loose, don’t have them try to wiggle it.
• Practice Good Oral Hygiene: Emphasize brushing and flossing to keep the area clean and prevent cavities.
• Promote a Healthy Diet: Limit sugary foods and drinks that can contribute to further tooth decay and load up on foods high in vitamins, minerals, and nutrients that may help promote healing.
• Have Patience: Reassure your little ones that most shark teeth situations resolve naturally as their mouth develops but that if they don’t, there are easy solutions to provide a remedy!

When to See a Dentist

Here are some of the reasons you might consider bringing your kid with “shark teeth” to a dentist:

• The baby tooth doesn’t become loose within three months.
• The loose teeth cause unusual pain or discomfort.
• The primary tooth is still firmly in place a few weeks after the shark teeth have begun to emerge.
• The shark teeth are coming in behind or in front of the primary molars.
• The shark teeth are causing issues with crowding or speech.

Check Your Child’s Shark Teeth: Book a Visit to The Super Dentists Today

Want to have your little one’s “shark teeth” checked out to make sure everything is a-okay?

Schedule a dental appointment for your child at The Super Dentists in San Diego now!

As top-rated pediatric dentists in the area, The Super Dentists can provide care for the whole family. Visit us at a location near you.

It seems harder than ever to find true and accurate information, especially online.

Misinformation runs rampant ─ and this is especially dangerous when it comes to health misinformation.

When it comes to maintaining good oral health and combatting myths, it’s important to consult reputable sources, like the American Dental Association.

But is there any truth to certain “home remedies”? Possibly. And is there a middle ground between established truths and “alternative” claims? Maybe. The ADA takes a health-first and science-first approach when recommending products (which we can’t underscore the importance of), and most big brands follow their lead.

In doing so they may miss out on the opportunity to recommend products that are proven to be effective while causing less environmental damage.

We’ve already written one blog post entitled “Debunking Dental Myths” that we hope has been helpful. But there’s so much more to explore when it comes to this topic. So let’s dive a little deeper!

Why Debunking Dental Myths Matters

Let’s take toothpaste with nanomaterials and microplastics as an example. While it may be effective, it also may not be the best choice from an environmental POV.

There’s a common myth that toothpaste has no microplastics anymore, when in reality, the FDA only partially addressed the use of microplastics in toothpaste in 2015 with the Microbead Free Waters Act.

There are studies that show that some toothpastes still contain levels of harmful microplastics.

On the other hand, there are many supposed “natural” products out there that could cause you far more harm than good because they are not tested for efficacy and may be unregulated.

From toothpaste with too much charcoal that can cause abrasion of enamel, to misleading “non-fluoride” labels, to products that list key ingredients but don’t have enough of them to be effective, there are a ton of products that offer misleading and potentially harmful claims.

How We Can Help

At The Super Dentists, the largest, most trusted, and top awarded pediatric dentistry, orthodontics, and parent dentist in San Diego, we believe in taking an evidence-based approach first. We also believe in consulting multiple studies and sources and not taking any information at face value.

We encourage you to do your own homework about the risks vs. benefits of different dental products and practices to come to the most informed decision possible when it comes to protecting your health and the health of your little ones.

Need a little more assistance finding the right products for you or your family? While this blog post isn’t intended to be comprehensive, it is meant to be a helpful guide to untangling fact from fiction when it comes to some of the dental industry’s most pervasive myths.

12 Dental Myths Debunked

1. The Illusion of Foam

Foam in toothpaste might make it look or even feel effective. But too much foam can actually obscure your view of the cleaning process. Ingredients like SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate) and DEA (Diethanolamine) are often responsible for this misleading effect. And these ingredients may also have deleterious health effects. For instance, while SLS can be effective, it has also been proven to have drying properties when used orally, which can affect the oral microbiome.

2. Intense Flavors and Sensations

Toothpaste and mouthwashes that provide a strong mint flavor or a tingling sensation can be misleading. These sensations, often derived from ingredients such as peppermint oil, might not indicate true effectiveness and could be harsh, particularly for children.

This is why it’s important to shop for oral care products based on age and stage. While you might be okay using a toothpaste with more flavor and still cleaning effectively, your two to five year old might not be.

3. Effective Ingredient Levels

Many oral care products boast beneficial ingredients like nano-hydroxyapatite or xylitol, yet often at levels too low to offer real benefits. This can mislead consumers who are trying to make healthy choices and informed decisions.

4. The Truth About Ingredient Sources

The origin of ingredients, such as xylitol sourced from GMO corn versus non-GMO birch trees, plays a significant role in product quality and consumer perception.

5. Risks of Essential Oils

Essential oils are commonly used in oral care for their appealing scents and potential health benefits, including, in some instances, antimicrobial or antiseptic properties. However, the very properties that make some of these essential oils effective may actually mean you want to avoid them.

For instance, unless you’re trying to keep your mouth infection-free after surgery with an antiseptic rinse or essential oil-derived product, you may wish to avoid products that affect the delicate balance of the oral microbiome.

6. Compatibility of Ingredients

When used as directed, fluoride is highly effective at restoring tooth enamel. But its effectiveness can be diminished when the product it is in, be that a toothpaste or mouth rinse, includes certain calcium compounds, misleading consumers about the benefits of fluoride in that product.

7. Visual Appeal vs. Effectiveness

The use of artificial colors in toothpaste and mouthwash is primarily for aesthetic purposes and does not enhance product effectiveness or safety, contrary to popular belief.

8. Vagueness of ‘Non-Fluoride’ Labels

Labels like ‘non-fluoride’ are often too ambiguous, lacking detailed comparisons with effective alternatives such as hydroxyapatite, which can mislead consumers ─ especially parents seeking safe and effective fluoride-free options for their little ones who may not be capable of practicing safe swallowing techniques yet.

9. The Drawbacks of Modern Toothbrushes

Not all brushes are created equally. While high-speed electric toothbrushes with stiff bristles might seem advanced, they can cause dental sensitivity and damage to tooth enamel if used aggressively or improperly.

10. Trendy Ingredients

Ingredients like charcoal are currently in vogue for their modern, edgy appeal, but they may be overly abrasive, posing risks to dental health.

11. Misleading ‘Natural’ Claims

The label ‘natural’ does not always mean safe or effective, as this term is not well regulated. Products marketed as ‘natural’ may still contain synthetic ingredients or perhaps even worse, lack crucial elements essential to proper oral care.

12. Sterilization vs. Microbiome Health

Products containing alcohol and antibacterial agents may kill harmful bacteria, but they also eradicate beneficial microbes, disrupting the balance necessary for oral health.

Protect Your Dental & Oral Health With These Resources…

Want to learn more about proven ways to safeguard the oral health of yourself, your kiddos, or both?

Check out our patient resources page. It’s chock-full of helpful articles, videos, and answers to your common dental health questions.

Looking for a more in-depth resources on comprehensive oral care dos and don’ts? Read Dr. Kami Hoss’ highly acclaimed and national best-selling book “If Your Mouth Could Talk” today.

Dealing with an overbite or underbite, two types of common and frustrating malocclusions, is more than a matter of being frustrated you’re your appearance.

Overbites and underbites are diagnosable conditions that can cause very real jaw pain, not to mention other complications like speech challenges or even, in some cases, breathing issues.

So, how do you cure an overbite or underbite, you may wonder, and are braces truly the answer? Let’s explore!

Why Should I Fix My Overbite?

Overbites can result in some of the following issues, as the Cleveland Clinic notes:

• Tooth erosion (excessive wear and tear).
• Breathing issues.
• Pain while chewing.
• Gum disease.
• Jaw pain.
• Temporomandibular disorders (TMD).
• Cavities.
• Speech challenges.

Why Should I Fix My Underbite?

Underbites can result in some of the following issues, as the Cleveland Clinic emphasizes:

• Trouble opening or closing your mouth all the way.
• Discomfort or pain while speaking or chewing.
• Biting the inside of your mouth.
• Difficulty breathing.
• Jaw pain.
• Bad breath (halitosis).

Can Braces Fix an Underbite or Overbite?

Yes!

Many parents come to us at The Super Dentists wondering if braces will fix their child’s overbite or underbite, and the answer is most definitely!

But just as many adults who never had any type of orthodontic work come to us wondering if braces can fix an overbite in adults.

Absolutely!

While other courses of treatments, such as headgear and palette expanders do exist, braces are one of the most common and effective methods of treatment for both overbites and underbites in both children and adults.

How Braces Fix an Overbite or Underbite

There are a variety of dental issues that braces can fix, from realigning teeth that are crooked to improving speech to realigning a misaligned jaw.

As the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) notes, addressing misalignment issues or discrepancies between the upper and lower jaws “is particularly important for individuals with skeletal malocclusions or jaw growth abnormalities”. These, of course, include both overbites and underbites.

Here’s how it works in a nutshell, per the AAO: “By guiding the growth of the jaws, braces can help achieve proper alignment and balance between the upper and lower teeth.”

But just how involved is fixing an overbite or underbite? Here’s what the process usually looks like:

1. Diagnosis: You will need to be diagnosed with an overbite or underbite by a qualified dentist or orthodontist.
2. Treatment Consultation: Once diagnosed, you will talk to your orthodontist about your treatment options.
3. Application of Braces: If braces are chosen as the treatment method, you will have to get them installed. This will likely take up to a couple of hours.
4. Regular Checkups & Adjustments: Your orthodontist will have to adjust or “tighten” your braces regularly to ensure that your teeth and jaw have adequate levels of pressure applied to them in order to guide the growth of the jaws properly. With overbites and underbites, elastics are usually used to bring the top and bottom jaws closer to each other/into alignment. If you don’t wear your elastics, your overbite/underbite will not have the chance to correct.
5. Removal of Braces: Once your jaw is properly aligned, which usually takes a period of years, the braces are removed.
6. Jaw Repositioning: In some cases, where braces aren’t sufficient, other appliances, like headgear, might have to be worn. In rarer cases of severe misalignment, jaw surgery may be required. But in most cases, this step is unnecessary.

Can You Fix an Overbite Without Braces?

Sometimes, people wonder how to fix an overbite naturally, or if there is even a way to do so. The honest answer? It depends.

There are a number of devices that may work to correct you or your child’s overbite or underbite depending on the circumstances and severity, including:

• Herbst appliances or MARA appliances
• Rapid palatal expanders (RPEs)
• Lingual arches
• Twin blocks
• Elastics (used on braces)

Learn About Your Options for Jaw Alignment

Wondering what your treatment options for an overbite or underbite are?

At The Super Dentists, Dr. Hoss and our team of orthodontic experts are here to help make treating your dental issues easy, stress-free, and, dare we say FUN!

If you’re looking for more content about malocclusions or braces, we encourage you to check out our patient resources page or head over to our blog, both of which are filled with a ton of informative resources designed to take the guesswork out of dentistry and orthodontics.

Meanwhile, if you’d like a further diagnosis for yourself or your little one, we invite you to schedule a new patient ortho exam now. That is, by and large, the best way for you to get an exact assessment of what may be going on in your mouth and how we might be able to treat it!

So, you’re thinking of getting braces. Or maybe it’s your kid who needs them. Either way, what exactly should you expect?

If you don’t have any experience with the wide world of orthodontics, then the process of getting braces put on can seem intimidating and maybe more than a little confusing.

Thankfully, we’re here to break down what’s involved in the process of getting braces put on.

While some pain and discomfort is associated with the process during installation and immediately thereafter, getting braces put on isn’t altogether complex once you know what’s involved.

What’s more, the benefits of braces far outweigh any potential drawbacks for the overwhelming majority of patients.

With that having been said, let’s talk a little bit about what you can expect when you or your little one has braces put on.

Pre-Installation Steps

Before you get braces put on, you’ll consult with an orthodontist to discuss any issues you may be experiencing, from an overbite to TMJ to self-consciousness due to crooked teeth.

Then, the orthodontist will examine your mouth and usually, take x-rays. Sometimes, physical dental impressions will be taken. Other times, digital impressions will be taken.

Lastly, a treatment plan will be prescribed, detailing where the orthodontist will put the braces, how long (approximately) you’ll have to wear them, and more.

All of this usually happens in at least two separate appointments to the orthodontist.

What to Expect When Getting Braces

What Are the Steps Required to Have Braces Put On?

Traditional braces are made up of three main components: brackets, archwires, and elastic bands. The brackets get affixed to the teeth with adhesive, but it’s the wires that apply the tension required to move the teeth into their eventual intended position. The elastic bands are what keep the archwires in place.

The procedure for getting braces put on is fairly simple, with four main steps relating to installing these three main components:

1. Cleaning and drying your teeth.
2. Applying adhesive to teeth to attach the brackets.
3. Installing the archwires into the brackets.
4. Then using elastic bands to secure them.

While this is the simplified version, here’s a little more in-depth version of what usually happens when getting traditional braces put on (note that the process for invisible braces and other types is different):

• The orthodontist installing the braces usually uses cheek retractors and a tongue piece – or other equipment to ensure that the tongue, cheeks, and any parts of the mouth with moisture stay away from the teeth where the brackets will be installed. It is extremely important to keep the teeth 100% dry to ready them for braces.
• Pressurized air is then used to dry the teeth completely otherwise the bracket installation could fail.
• The braces installer usually applies a slightly acidic etching liquid to the teeth to create a better for the glue to adhere to. This usually sits for 30 seconds or so and is then rinsed off.
• The teeth are dried again.
• The braces installer normally applies a thin layer of primer and thins it out with air.
• The orthodontist gathers all the brackets. Next, a composite or glue is applied to the back of the brackets one at a time and they are placed on the teeth.
• Bracket placement is checked to ensure that everything is correctly positioned according to the orthodontic treatment plan.
• A blue light or UV light is used to “cure” or “set” the bracket glue.
• Next, the braces installer puts the archwires in – the wire is what moves the teeth – and holds that in place by installing the elastic bands.

Getting braces off after treatment is completed is a fairly simple process and shouldn’t take more than 45 minutes.

How Long Does It Take to Get Braces On?

It normally takes anywhere from around 45 minutes to an hour to get braces put on from the time you sit in the chair to the time you’re out the door, but this time can vary based on a multitude of factors, such as whether the glue sets the first time and how familiar the orthodontist is with the process.

Do Braces Hurt When You Get Them On?

Most people describe the process of getting braces put on as uncomfortable because they are adjusting to the pressure of the archwire being applied.

Depending on your pain tolerance, you may feel some pain. However, most people wouldn’t describe the process of getting braces put on as painful.

How Long Does Pain Last After Braces Are Put On?

Discomfort and/or pain following the application of braces may last for up to around a week with the first couple of days being the worst.

What’s more, as you get acclimated to the feeling of having metal brackets and wires in your mouth you may experience some minor cuts on your cheeks or tongue, as well as a feeling of pressure leading to soreness in both your teeth and gums.

Learn How to Care for Your Braces

Learn how to take care of your braces and brush your teeth with them, what to do if a wire pops out, and more, by heading to our informational page on getting started on your orthodontic journey.

Meanwhile, if you’re interested in learning about clear aligners or other types of braces that are less involved to have taken on and off than traditional braces, we invite you to head to our webpage on different types of braces.

The big day is fast approaching, and you’re brimming with anticipatory excitement (Yay!). You or your child has been living for several months (or even years) with metal in your mouth. Now, it’s almost time for all of it to be removed.

But, wait a minute, you might wonder… Is getting braces removed really all sunshine and rainbows? The good news is that compared to having braces put on, getting them taken off is pretty simple (and takes less time)!

That said, there are a few things you should know to prepare yourself for what to expect.

It’s with that in mind that we dive into some of your most pressing questions about teeth braces removal, including everything from “How long does it take to get braces off?” to “Do braces hurt when you get them off”.

Can I Get My Braces Off Early?

There are two ways to answer the question “Can I get my braces off early”. Let’s tackle each one separately.

Is There a Possibility That Treatment Time Will Be Less Than Estimated?

In short, yes, but don’t count on it. During regular orthodontic check-up appointments, especially towards the end of your estimated treatment window, your orthodontist should be able to tell you if there’s a chance that your braces could be removed sooner than initially expected.

When it comes to braces removal, it’s less about timing and more about ensuring that the job has been done right.

Here are some signs your orthodontist looks for to know that it’s time to remove your braces:

• Correct Alignment of Teeth: Orthodontists look for straight teeth and correct spacing, ensuring issues like overcrowding and gaps are resolved.
• Proper Bite Alignment: Checking that upper and lower teeth fit well together for optimal chewing and speaking, preventing tooth wear.
• Completed Growth: For adolescents, full jaw growth is awaited to ensure the treatment’s stability and effectiveness.
• X-Ray Verification: Uses X-rays to confirm teeth roots and bone have properly adjusted, indicating a successful treatment beneath the surface.
• Satisfactory Oral Hygiene: Evaluate gum and teeth health to ensure no delays in treatment completion due to poor oral hygiene.
• Completion of Growth Modifications: Ensures any treatments for jaw growth or alignment are complete and have achieved stable results.
• Patient Compliance: Considers patient adherence to care instructions and appliance use, such as rubber bands, as critical for timely and effective treatment.

Can You Get Your Braces Off Whenever You Want?

Technically yes, but it is not at all recommended.

We’ll tell you a secret: no orthodontist likes to hear this question because removing braces before treatment is complete essentially defeats the purpose of having braces in the first place, whether that’s closing gaps in your teeth, correcting an overbite or underbite, or straightening teeth. In the end, you’re the one that loses out.

Therefore, your braces really should be removed only after your orthodontist deems treatment to be complete, and that is what any good orthodontist will tell you.

Getting Teeth Braces Removed: Here’s What to Know

How to Prepare for Braces Removal

While braces removal prep isn’t too involved, there are a few things you should keep in mind:

1. Maintain good oral hygiene. Brush and floss well before your appointment.
2. Expect some pain/discomfort and scraping during the removal process. If this makes you flinch, talk to your orthodontist about taking an OTC pain medication beforehand.
3. Set an appointment reminder on your smartphone or jot it down on your calendar if you’re prone to forgetfulness! 😉

What to Expect During Removal

The process of removing braces really isn’t all that involved.

1. During removal, your orthodontist will use a special metal tool to squeeze and loosen the brackets of your braces. In most cases, your braces, which will have been engineered to be removed in this way, will just pop off section by section and tooth by tooth, wires, brackets, and all.
2. After your orthodontist removes your braces, they will conduct a thorough teeth and mouth cleaning, since braces often trap food and plaque in your teeth, even with your best efforts to keep up good oral hygiene. Many people also want to know how to get braces glue off teeth (after all braces don’t affix themselves!) Simply put, your orthodontist will handle that with a special grinding or scraping tool.
3. In many cases, your orthodontist will take an X-ray of your teeth or take a bite impression to ensure that they’ve done their job right. These images/impressions are often also used for crafting a retainer for you to wear to keep teeth in place over the long run.
4. Depending on your or your kid’s age and stage of life, your orthodontist may inspect your wisdom teeth and recommend removal.

How Long Does Getting Braces Off Take?

The process of actually popping off your braces could take as little as a few minutes. But your teeth braces removal appointment is likely to last anywhere from 45 minutes to well over an hour due to the other items involved such as teeth cleaning, taking impressions, and of course, settling your account or paying any outstanding bills related to treatment.

Does It Hurt to Get Braces Off?

As we hinted at earlier, while getting braces off isn’t necessarily painful for most people, it could cause some discomfort. Most people would describe the feeling of having braces removed as a bit uncomfortable, involving slight pressure rather than acute pain.

Post Removal Considerations

Your braces are off. Hallelujah! Now what? Here’s what to expect.

• Adjustment Period: Your teeth will likely remain sensitive for at least a few days after your braces are removed. So, you might want to eat soft foods during that period of time. Also, having gotten used to wearing them, you might feel strange without them. This will pass, and eventually, you’ll admire your smile!
• Retainers: Your orthodontist will most likely recommend that you wear a retainer following braces. The specifics of how often and how long you’ll need to wear your retainer can vary greatly from person to person, based on individual treatment needs and the orthodontist’s recommendations.
• Oral Hygiene: As always, the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene habits is a must!

Ready for Braces? Looking for More Removal Advice? The Super Dentists Can Help!

Schedule an orthodontic consultation at The Super Dentists for more answers to all your teeth braces-related questions as well as medical advice tailored to your unique needs.

Braces slowly move your teeth over time. This is made possible thanks to the periodontal ligament, a specialized connective tissue that surrounds the roots of the teeth and anchors them to the jawbone (Stay with us here, we have a point!)…

While the periodontal ligament makes movement of the teeth relative to each other and the jawbone possible, the amount of pressure and force required to shift teeth (even slowly over time with orthodontic treatment) is pretty noticeable.

In other words, braces cause discomfort. Some might even go so far as to call the discomfort slightly painful.

Braces are also expensive, costing $2,500-$7,500 or more on average.

How does this relate to food, you might ask? Well, taken together, these two things ─ sensitivity and risk of damage ─ are the top two reasons why you will want to adjust your diet while wearing braces. This is especially true as you’re getting used to them during the first week to the first month of orthodontic treatment.

Now that you know the “why” let’s explore the “what” -in the form of 17 foods to eat during your first week of braces and 12 foods to avoid.

17 Foods to Embrace During Your First Week of Braces

As the American Association of Orthodontists notes, the period right after your braces are freshly installed, ranging from a few days to a week or so, is the most uncomfortable.

Every time your braces are tightened when you visit the orthodontist (which is usually about every 6-10 weeks or so), you’ll experience some sensitivity, sure. So, these tips also apply to the period directly after orthodontic adjustments. Still, the initial period after braces is going to be the time that they are most helpful because braces will be so new to you.

So, when it comes to the question of what to eat with braces the first week, does fast food reign supreme, or ice cream? How about mashed potatoes or yogurt?

Here’s a list of 9 Soft Snacks That Are Braces-Friendly:

1. Smoothies
2. Yogurt
3. String cheese
4. Grapes
5. Bananas
6. Applesauce
7. Sweet potato fries
8. Pudding or custard
9. Hummus

The key to eating the first week of braces? Embrace the 3 S’s: Soft. Soft. And Soft. (yes, it’s so important we said it three times!)

What about other options, you might be thinking? The American Academy of Orthodontists recommends these additional foods during your first week of braces:

1. Oatmeal
2. Scrambled eggs
3. Soups
4. Pasta
5. Soft flaky fish
6. Steamed or boiled soft vegetables
7. Mashed potatoes
8. Ice cream

Just know that while your friends might tell you to eat milkshakes or soup, you might want to be mindful of the temperature of foods you eat as well as the texture as your teeth may be more sensitive to extreme temperatures during your first week wearing braces.

12 Foods to Avoid During Your First Week of Braces

Many of these apply throughout your entire orthodontic journey wearing braces, but during your first day or first week wearing braces, they’ll be especially important to avoid.

The commonality between them all? If soft foods are to be embraced, chewy, crunchy, and sticky ones are to be avoided:

1. Popcorn
2. Chewy bread
3. Chewy cuts of meat
4. Hard candy
5. Corn on the cob, whole apples, and other whole fruits
6. Sticky/tacky candy
7. Nuts
8. Crunchy vegetables and fruits
9. Pizza crust
10. Bagels
11. Ice
12. Crunchy snacks like chips and pretzels

A Note On Nutrition & The Oral Microbiome

The importance of eating food with good nutritional value doesn’t diminish while wearing braces. In fact, the opposite is true.

Braces make it more difficult to reach all those nooks and crannies both in your teeth and gums, making oral care that much more important for a person who wears braces. And part of oral care is eating the right foods. That’s because diet has a 1:1 effect on the oral microbiome, which in turn affects things like tooth decay.

Or, as we phrased it in the blog we just linked to, “Cavities aren’t caused solely by sugar itself, but rather by the process where oral bacteria consume sugar (and similar foods) and produce acid as a byproduct.”

So, while you may feel free to eat ice cream the day after you got your braces on (if your teeth aren’t too sensitive), don’t throw healthy eating habits out the window when wearing braces just for the sake of comfort; instead, strive for foods that are:

• Soft
• Nutritious
• Are less inclined to create a more acidic oral pH, which in turn can lead to cavities & tooth decay

Want to learn more about how to supercharge your oral health with or without braces? Check out our blog post “Mouth 101”.

Give Your Mouth Some Love With pH-Alkalizing Mouthcare Products

Considering braces for your child? Schedule an appointment with our Orthodontists at The Super Dentists!

Meanwhile, we invite you to learn more about how to choose oral care products for you or your child with braces more mindfully by checking out SuperMouth’s informative blog post “Antibiotics, Prebiotics, and Probiotics in Oral Care: Harnessing Nature’s Wisdom”.

Crooked teeth. Crowding. Jaw misalignment. Oh my!

These are just some of the clues that you or your child might benefit from dental braces.

Let’s go through the most common signs that a person might need braces, both as a child and as an adult, together.

Does My Child Need Braces?

Wondering if it’s high time you took your little one to see an orthodontist? There are a couple of ways you could look at this question.

At What Age Should Kids Get Braces?

The American Academy of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends children visit an orthodontist for the first time no later than age 7. In case you’re wondering why, this is because, by this age, a child generally has enough permanent teeth for orthodontists to know whether an orthodontic problem either exists now or is in the process of developing.

12 Common Signs Your Child May Need Braces

Having a general understanding of the age at which your child might benefit from visiting the orthodontist for the first time is helpful. But as we explain in our blog post “What is the Best Age for Kids to Get Braces?”, so is developing an understanding of the signs that braces are warranted. Here are twelve of the most common:

1. Early or Late Loss of Baby Teeth: Baby teeth act as placeholders for adult teeth. Losing them too early or too late can disrupt the eruption pattern of permanent teeth, leading to crowding or misalignment. Braces can help guide adult teeth into their proper positions.
2. Trouble Chewing or Biting: Improper jaw alignment or misaligned teeth can make chewing difficult and uncomfortable. Braces can correct these issues, leading to improved chewing efficiency and better digestion.
3. Mouth Breathing: Chronic mouth breathing can be a sign of airway obstruction due to a narrow jaw or crowded teeth. Braces can help widen the jaw and create space for proper tongue positioning, encouraging nasal breathing and improving overall health.
4. Finger Sucking or Other Poor Oral Habits: Persistent habits like finger sucking or thumb sucking can push teeth out of alignment. Early intervention with braces can help prevent these habits from causing lasting damage.
5. Crowding, Misplaced, or Blocked-Out Teeth: When there’s not enough space for all your teeth to erupt properly, they can become crowded, misaligned, or even trapped beneath the gum line. Braces can create space and guide teeth into their correct positions.
6. Jaws that Make Sounds, Shift, Protrude, or are Recessed: Clicking, popping, or grinding sounds in the jaw joint can be signs of a misaligned bite. Braces can correct jaw discrepancies and improve joint function. Similarly, protruding or recessed jaws can be addressed with braces to create a more balanced facial profile.
7. Difficulty Speaking: Speech impediments like lisps or difficulty pronouncing certain sounds can sometimes be caused by misaligned teeth or jaw positions. Braces can improve speech clarity by correcting these issues.
8. Cheek Biting or Biting into the Roof of the Mouth: This repetitive behavior can be a sign of an overcrowded mouth or misaligned bite. Braces can address these issues, eliminating the need for this coping mechanism.
9. Protruding Teeth (Upper or Lower): Teeth that stick out are more prone to damage and can affect your facial profile. Braces can retract these teeth for a more balanced smile.
10. Teeth that Fail to Meet Normally or at All: An improper bite can cause uneven wear and tear on teeth. Braces can correct bite problems, ensuring your teeth meet properly for optimal function.
11. Facial Imbalance or Asymmetry: Sometimes, misaligned teeth or jaws can lead to facial asymmetry. Braces can help achieve a more balanced and aesthetically pleasing facial profile.
12. Teeth Grinding or Clenching: While not always caused by misalignment, grinding or clenching can be related to bite issues. Braces can help correct underlying bite problems that might contribute to this habit.

Do I Need Adult Braces? 5 Signs it Might Be Time

There used to be a mentality among certain adults that if you didn’t get braces as a child, getting them as an adult would be pointless and inconvenient (or maybe even a marker of unnecessary vanity).

Luckily, attitudes have long since changed. Perhaps this is due to the ever-expanding types of braces now available, such as clear aligners. Or maybe it’s just due to increasing awareness surrounding the importance of oral health and the respect for various reasons an adult might get braces, from the desire to have an improved smile to the need to eradicate chronic jaw pain.

Regardless, here are five of the top signs how to know if you need braces as an adult:

1. Gradual Teeth Movement: Teeth may shift due to age, bone loss, or injury, and this gradual movement could cause the teeth to become crooked and overcrowded.
2. Jaw Pain: Teeth problems may lead to jaw pain and other physical issues like TMJ.
3. Difficulty Cleaning the Teeth: As the teeth shift, it may become exceedingly difficult to clean the teeth properly, increasing the risk of cavities, tooth decay, and other oral health problems.
4. Past Treatment Wears Off: An adult who had braces as a child may consider it once again to straighten teeth that have shifted over time.
5. Enhanced Smile: Adult orthodontics treatments provide a viable option to deliver a healthy smile with as little treatment time as possible.

How to Maintain Good Oral Health With Braces

One valid concern many adults have when weighing the pros and cons of braces on behalf of themselves or their children is how to keep a mouth with braces healthy and clean.

This used to be more of an issue years ago than it is today. While you can make adjustments to your routine using existing dental products, today, there are entire mouthcare systems designed specifically to work with braces.

Want to learn more? Explore the science behind superior oral care with or without braces now at Supermouth.com!

Cavities are one of the most common chronic diseases affecting children today. Over 40% of children have cavities by the time they reach kindergarten. Fortunately, there are many effective ways parents can help prevent cavities in kids and stop existing ones from getting worse.

This article will provide tips on limiting sugary foods, maintaining good oral hygiene, monitoring symptoms, using over-the-counter remedies, and more.

Why Do Cavities Form?

In order to know what anticavity products to choose, you should first seek to understand how and why cavities occur. While genetics do play a factor, they’re hardly the whole story.

The fact is, cavities form “when there’s an imbalance in the oral bacterial population, leading to a malfunction in the dental biofilm (plaque). This imbalance is often exacerbated by acidic conditions in the mouth, primarily caused by dietary choices, especially frequent consumption of sugary foods and drinks. The constant battle between demineralization and remineralization of the enamel is pivotal. When the balance tips towards demineralization, cavities begin to form.”

How to Prevent Cavities From Getting Worse

The best way to deal with cavities is to prevent them in the first place. However, even if a child already has some decay, there are steps parents can take to stop it from advancing further. Arresting cavity growth before it turns into a severely painful hole in the tooth is important. Here are some useful tips.

1. Limit Sugary Foods

Sugar is the primary food source for the bacteria that cause cavities. The more frequently kids eat sugary snacks, the higher their risk. Limiting sugary foods is an essential cavity prevention strategy.

Specifically, parents should restrict sugary treats like candy, cookies, cake, and sugary cereals. Beverages like soda and sweet tea can also cause major tooth decay, so limit those as well. Focus on healthy whole foods instead, like fruits, vegetables, nuts, eggs, cheese and lean protein.

If kids do eat sweets, have them rinse their mouths with water afterward. When possible, consume these treats along with meals instead of as stand-alone snacks. This decreases the time when acid attacks the teeth.

2. Maintain Good Oral Hygiene

Thorough oral hygiene is vital for combating cavities. Help kids brush properly twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush. Use about a pea-sized amount of either fluoride toothpaste or other high-quality toothpaste, depending on your child’s age (more on that later!)

If you take one thing away from this blog post, it is this: Good oral hygiene and cavity prevention is about much more than just avoiding sugar, brushing daily, or using fluoride. Other factors that many people don’t take into account that contribute to good oral hygiene, or the lack thereof, include:

• The importance of mouth pH
• Saliva vs. dry mouth
• The oral microbiome
• Healthy enamel

What’s more, it’s important to keep your child’s age and ability in mind when thinking about their dental care and cavity prevention, as well as their risk factor to certain oral care ingredients.

Kids’ motor skills allow increasing independence with brushing starting around age 4. However, continue providing supervision and spot-cleaning hard-to-reach places. Also, teach them to swish the toothbrush bristles along their gum lines as well as tooth surfaces.

Don’t forget to teach your little one the importance of flossing, either! Flossing also removes plaque between teeth that brushing misses. Have kids floss once daily before bedtime. Several flossing tools can make the process simpler if dexterity is an issue.

Lastly, schedule regular dental exams according to your dentist’s recommendation. Typically every 6 months covers a complete cleaning and assessment for emerging problems.

3. Monitor Symptoms and Pain

Pay attention if your child complains of tooth pain when eating or drinking cold, hot, or sweet foods. This discomfort indicates possible decay. Also, watch for questionable dark spots or holes appearing. Catching cavities early increases opportunities for simpler treatment.

Likewise, be alert to sudden unexplained toothaches. Continuous throbbing may signal an abscess (infection) forming beneath the tooth’s surface. This requires prompt dental intervention before the problem spreads. Report any suspicious symptoms at your child’s next dental appointment.

4. Use Over the Counter Medications

For mild tooth sensitivity or pain, over-the-counter remedies can temporarily relieve discomfort until seeing a dentist. However, don’t rely on these as substitutes for professional treatment.

The most effective option is ibuprofen, due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Acetaminophen also eases pain. Products marketed specifically for toothaches contain these ingredients plus topical pain relievers like eugenol or benzocaine. Use caution with numbing gels in young children, avoiding contact with the gums or swallowing.

5. Gargle With a Saltwater Rinse

For minor irritation, swelling a salt water rinse soothes inflamed tissues. Simply stir a teaspoon of table salt into a cup of warm water.

Have kids swish this mixture around the affected area for 30 seconds then spit it out. Its mild antibacterial effect helps flush bacteria from the mouth. Use this rinse a few times daily until seeing the dentist.

6. Choose Anticavity Products Wisely

At The Super Dentists, we don’t believe in “one-size-fits-all” approaches to dentistry. The reality is that every patient is unique and so are their dental needs! What’s more, kids’ oral development happens in distinct stages.

Therefore, what works for your toddler may not work for your teen. Whereas your teen or pre-teen may have a low risk associated with using a fluoridated toothpaste, for instance, you’d be wise to avoid such a product with your baby or toddler.

As is the case when catering your approach to oral care with your child by age and stage, so too should you cater your approach to choosing anticavity products by age and stage.

To Use Fluoride or Not: That is the Question

Whether you’re choosing toothpaste or mouthwash, many parents wonder if using fluoride for their children is safe. The honest answer? It depends!

If your child is old enough to safely gargle or use toothpaste without much if any risk of swallowing, they may be able to use fluoride. But should they? That also depends. A good rule of thumb is that if they have had more than 2 cavities in the last 2 years, fluoride may be advisable (but always check with your dentist first!) This is because it can help remineralize teeth, providing resistance against acidic substances that dissolve a tooth’s natural hydroxyapatite.

But for some children, including toddlers and babies, fluoride is not advisable. In these cases, using a product with OTC hydroxyapatite rather than fluoride, like SuperMouth Hydroxamin® non-Fluoride Toothpaste is usually best.

Fun fact: did you know that SuperMouth Hydroxamin includes both nano-hydroxyapatite with vitamins K2 & D3 to restore the tooth’s natural hydroxyapatite without fluoride while restoring the oral microbiome?

How to Identify Cavities in Children

Catching cavities early allows simpler treatments. But how do parents recognize the early signs of tooth decay? Here is what to look for while brushing, flossing, or eating.

First, inspect all surfaces of kids’ teeth regularly. Look for tiny white, brown, or black spots appearing on the enamel. These indicate areas losing minerals, which is the initial phase of cavity development. Also, examine between teeth for similar spots where enamel eroded completely.

Additionally, stained fissures and pits on chewing surfaces signify decay starting in vulnerable crevices. Feel these regions for slimy plaque collecting inside deep grooves. Report any suspicious discolored lesions to the dentist right away before they progress.

How Can You Reverse Cavity Growth?

So, can you stop a cavity from getting worse? Unfortunately, you can’t and this is why it’s so important to get your kids to a dentist regularly.

While cavities can’t be reversed once the enamel erodes fully, it is possible to stop and remineralize damage in the beginning phases. This requires removing bacteria fueling acid production and then rebuilding lost tooth minerals.

Dentists have various methods to achieve this for early non-cavitated (no hole yet) lesions. Applying highly concentrated fluoride is very effective for rebuilding crystals. But Hydroxamin®

Is also proven to be effective. This is why SuperMouth toothpaste for adults and (certain) children utilizes both Hydroxamin® and fluoride.

Promptly treating early decay combined with diligent oral hygiene can turn around cavity formation before holes result.

Can You Heal a Cavity Naturally?

Once a true cavity forms, removing the diseased inner structure is unavoidable. However, some evidence shows certain dietary measures help support the tooth after restorative treatment. This may strengthen surrounding enamel and minimize recurrence risk.

First, ensure a daily calcium intake according to recommended dietary allowances for age. Dairy products provide the most easily absorbed source. Calcium-fortified non-dairy milk and juices are suitable alternatives for intolerant kids. This mineral is essential for rebuilding strong enamel.

Some research also indicates the mineral xylitol prevents bacteria from adhering to teeth. Regular gum or lozenge use reduces acid production after meals.

Thus, it helps remineralization efforts between exposures to sugar. Xylitol products aim to stimulate saliva flow as well. More alkaline saliva neutralizes acid and enhances mineral redeposition.

Probiotic supplements may benefit oral health too, according to emerging evidence. Certain strains reduce cavity-causing streptococci bacteria levels while increasing defensive ones.

The best results come from starting kids on “good” bacteria early. Discuss incorporating kid-friendly chewable or powdered formulas with your pediatrician.

Can You Prevent a Cavity From Worsening? Final Thoughts

Left unchecked, cavities progress from minor enamel loss to severely infected pulp then abscess formation. But parents can intervene by implementing responsible hygiene and dietary strategies starting even before teeth first appear.

Consistent prevention efforts continued throughout childhood pay dividends in minimizing lifetime decay risks.

This is why it’s essential to schedule regular dental checkups for your child. Click here to get your kid the treatment they need with the help of The Super Dentists!

Want to learn more about age and stage based oral care and anticavity products? Check out SuperMouth age and stage based kids’ mouth care systems here.

It is an exciting concept for your child to look forward to the tooth fairy coming. As this is also an exciting time for you, it can be overwhelming, especially if your child is losing their first tooth.

Years ago, it was simple enough for parents to put fifty cents or one dollar under the pillow, and that was it. In today’s world, the tooth fairy brings more than just a few cents or a dollar.

Instead, the tooth fairy offers a memorable experience for your child to remember forever.

To help your child feel excited about losing teeth and getting a visit from the tooth fairy, you can come up with tooth fairy note ideas, small gifts, or add some glitter to make it known the tooth fairy was there. These creative tooth fairy ideas help make losing a tooth exciting for your child.

1. Write a Letter to the Tooth Fairy

A great way to introduce your little one to the idea of the tooth fairy is to have them write a letter to the tooth fairy thanking her for visiting.

Your role in this simple DIY tooth fairy idea is to write a response letter to your child from the tooth fairy for them to find when they wake up.

Since the tooth fairy is so tiny, you should ensure your tooth fairy letter idea from the fairy matches her size. You can cut out a tiny piece of paper, write small, and create a little envelope to put it in.

Your child will be so excited that the tooth fairy took the time out of her busy schedule to write a letter, especially for them.

2. Create a Fairy Trail

Creating a tooth fairy trail adds a special sparkle to the idea of the tooth fairy. When your child is asleep, use glitter to trace where the tooth fairy has been in your child’s bedroom.

You can use a tiny doll and dip its fit in glitter to make fairy-sized footprints on your child’s nightstand or windowsill.

You can also just sprinkle some glitter in those areas to make your trail, showing that the tooth fairy has been there. Your child will feel the tooth fairy’s magic when they wake up. The trail can also lead to some oral care products for your child as a gift from the tooth fairy.

3. Include Tooth-Friendly Gifts

While children are just as happy to find some money under their pillow in the morning, they are also excited to see some tooth-friendly gifts from the tooth fairy to help keep their teeth cavity-free.

This is one of the best tooth fairy ideas for the first tooth that your child loses.

You can include small gifts, such as a new toothbrush, toothpaste, a timer, and dental floss. These small gifts help to make your child more motivated to brush their teeth, especially since it is a gift from the tooth fairy.

4. Tooth Fairy Containers, Boxes, or Pillows

Another good first tooth tooth fairy idea is giving your child a tooth container, box, or pillow from the tooth fairy. This gift also helps parents since it is much easier to grab a tooth from under a pillow when it is inside a box.

You can create your own DIY tooth fairy pillow or find a small container or box that works perfectly to fit a tooth in. Your child can reuse the container every time they lose a tooth. A tooth fairy container is a practical gift idea that not only children love but parents love too.

5. Holiday-Themed Tooth Fairy Ideas

There’s always a chance that your child could lose a tooth during a holiday. Whether it happens during Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Saint Patrick’s Day, Easter, the Fourth of July, Halloween, or Hanukkah, the tooth fairy can give your child a gift based on the occasion.

For example, the tooth fairy can give your child a red toothbrush for Valentine’s Day or a green tooth pillow for Saint Patrick’s Day. For Easter, she can leave a plastic egg with surprises inside, and for Christmas, she can leave some goodies inside a mini stocking.

What Is a Good Tooth Fairy Gift for Losing Your First Tooth?

There are many good tooth fairy gifts for your child losing their first tooth. The tooth fairy can bring a personalized letter, a small keepsake box, a baby tooth chart, or fun tooth-friendly gifts.

You can also give your child money for the occasion, but a more personalized gift from the tooth fairy can add a special touch.

What Is the Average Tooth Fairy Payment?

About 2 in 5 parents pay at least $5 per tooth, but this number can change based on the amount of cash a parent has on hand. If you do not have enough $1 or $5 bills on hand, the amount of money your child receives may be lower or higher than you plan.

What Do You Say to a Child Who Loses Their First Tooth?

It is essential to always react positively to your child when they lose their first tooth. You can tell them how this is what happens to big girls and boys, and this is something to look forward to.

Explain how the bleeding is expected when the tooth comes out and that it is nothing to be afraid of. You can tell them they are becoming so grown up, and losing teeth is something to be excited about. Then, introduce the idea of the tooth fairy.

Final Thoughts

You can use so many fun tooth fairy ideas to make the idea of the tooth fairy exciting for your child. You can begin taking your child to a pediatric dentist as young as one year old or within six months of their first tooth coming in.

Learn more about our Pediatric Dental Services at The Super Dentists. Schedule an appointment today and bring your family to a Super Dentists location near you!

Has your dentist indicated that your child might need a pulpotomy? We understand that news like that can be alarming, So we’ve created this guide to walk you through the pulpotomy procedure step by step.

Let’s start with a little background, and look at what a pulpotomy is and how it’s different from some procedures that are somewhat similar. Then we’ll examine how the procedure is performed and some of the things that you can do to help make it easier for your kids (and for you).

What is a pulpotomy?

A pulpotomy is a procedure in which a dentist removes part of the tooth’s pulp to prevent, or treat, the formation of an abscess. A pulpotomy for children is usually performed to buy some time so the baby tooth can remain until it falls out naturally. Generally speaking, a dentist will only perform a pulpotomy on primary teeth, and different procedures are necessary for permanent (secondary) teeth.

When might a child need a pulpotomy?

A pulpotomy is performed then a deep cavity in a baby tooth reaches the nerve. Baby teeth are softer than permanent teeth, and can decay more quickly, so when this sort of cavity occurs removing the infected pulp tissue can help save the tooth and prevent tooth extraction. 

As Healthline explains, “Baby teeth help maintain spacing for the permanent teeth that will follow, so leaving them intact is often a priority.” This is why many dentists, including The Super Dentists, recommend a pulpotomy for baby teeth instead of removal. It is critical to restore baby teeth for future development.

If your child has a deep cavity, sometimes called a primary tooth abscess, they may complain about the pain in their mouth. The toothache caused by an abscess can be pretty intense. There are generally warning signs tied to a decayed tooth, including

• Sensitivity to hot and cold
• Trouble focusing at school
• Tooth discoloration
• Bad breath
• Bleeding gums
• General toothache

If you see any of these indicators, you may want to schedule an appointment with your dentist right away.

Pulpotomy vs Pulpectomy

When someone has a dental abscess in a permanent tooth, their dentist may recommend a pulpectomy. As the names suggest, a pulpectomy and pulpotomy are fairly similar, except that a pulpectomy is designed to remove ALL of the pulp from the inside of a tooth, whereas a pulpotomy removes only some of it.

The International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health explains that a pulpectomy is performed on a tooth that has already died or is infected. When a tooth nerve dies, it no longer responds to heat or cold, and has no sensation. 

When a tooth is alive, on the other hand–and particularly if there is the hope of keeping the affected tooth intact and alive, the dentist will opt for a pulpotomy instead. As we explained above, this is generally the goal with baby teeth in particular.

Pulpotomy vs Root Canal

Pulpotomies are also related to root canal procedures, but here, as with pulpectomies, they are not quite the same. In fact, a root canal has more in common with a pulpectomy than a pulpotomy. As Colgate explains, “A pulpectomy is the process of removing all of the nerves within the tooth and cleaning out the infection. Root canal treatment takes this a step further by filling the emptied and sterilized canals with a sealing material.”

How is a pulpotomy performed?

Things are often less scary if we know what to expect. This is certainly true of a pulpotomy. Because you know your child better than anyone, we thought it best to walk you through the pulpotomy procedure step by step, so that you can determine how best to explain it to them.

Your dentist will begin with X-rays which will help them to determine the need for the pulpotomy. This may happen on the day of the dental procedure or in advance.

Then they will numb the area around the abscessed tooth with a local anesthetic. As Healthline explains, “This injection typically doesn’t hurt, although you may feel a slight, fleeting pinch.”

Next, using a dental drill, your dentist will make an opening in the top of the tooth to access the pulp chamber. The infected or inflamed pulp is removed using a dental drill or other instruments.

The remaining healthy pulp in the roots is treated with medication to help prevent infection.

The opening in the tooth is then sealed with filling material, such as a composite resin. This is often a temporary filling to protect the tooth until a permanent crown can be placed. A follow-up visit is scheduled to monitor the healing process and ensure that the tooth is healthy.

As you can see, a pulpotomy is not a terribly involved procedure, and the relief that it brings from the discomfort your child has been feeling makes it well worth the effort.

If your child is experiencing pain in discomfort in their teeth, visit your pediatric dentist right away. This is the best way to see if a pulpotomy is the right procedure for primary tooth restoration for your child.

Learn more about Pulpotomies and other Pediatric Dental Treatment Options at The Super Dentists. Schedule an appointment today and bring your family to a Super Dentists location near you!

There are many reasons your child has bad breath even after brushing their teeth. It can be due to a lack of oral hygiene, dehydration, or something simple you might not think about.

However, more reasons can contribute to smelly breath. Chronic bad breath, also known as Halitosis, can commonly affect children.

Why Does My Child’s Breath Smell Even After Brushing Teeth?

For many reasons, your child might have bad breath after brushing.

Lack of Flossing

Lack of flossing or not flossing at all is often one of the main reasons for what causes bad breath in kids. 

Flossing the teeth helps to remove bacteria that is found between the teeth. Flossing regularly helps to control plaque buildup between the teeth, which eliminates and fights bacteria found in the gums between the teeth. When food particles become trapped between the teeth, it leads to bad breath.

Dehydration

Your child may have bad breath after brushing because they are dehydrated. Your child needs to drink plenty of water. Without enough water, the amount of saliva in the mouth decreases. The decrease in saliva causes an increase in odor. 

Saliva helps to keep the mouth clean, as it naturally cleans the oral environment. Drinking plenty of water is an excellent way to stay hydrated and avoid bad breath.

Eating Smelly Foods

Some of the best foods have smelly odors, such as foods that contain garlic or onions. After eating foods containing these ingredients, your child should rinse their mouth with water or brush their teeth. 

Your child can also chew sugar-free gum, like Trident, to help freshen up their breath. Sugar-free gum can help to remove any food particles in the mouth after eating, which also helps to prevent bad breath. Gum also helps create saliva in the mouth to keep away odor.

Why Does My Child Have Bad Breath All the Time?

There are likely other reasons besides lack of flossing, dehydration, and smelly foods that can cause bad breath after brushing.

Tooth Decay and Dental Infections

Your child may have constant bad breath due to tooth decay or a dental infection. If your child has a cavity, there are harmful bacteria in the mouth that causes the fresh breath to turn into bad breath. 

Tooth decay and infections in the mouth allow an overgrowth of bacteria to accumulate in the mouth, resulting in bad breath.

Mouth Breathing

If your child breathes through their mouth instead of their nose, it produces poor saliva. This creates a similar issue with bacteria overgrowth as dehydration. Your child might breathe out of their mouth if they are congested, have seasonal allergies, or have a sinus infection. 

If your child’s nose remains stuffy even when they are no longer sick, they will breathe out of their mouth because the nose is blocked. Schedule an appointment with your child’s doctor if your child breathes out of their mouth at all times, even when they are not sick.

Gum Disease

If your child has gum disease, also known as gingivitis, their breath can smell like sulfur or rotten eggs. 

Gum disease causes the bacteria in the mouth to release chemicals with an unpleasant odor. Children with gum disease may also have swollen or red gums and bleed when brushing their teeth.

Medical Condition

Your child may have bad breath if they have certain medical conditions, such as tonsillitis, sinusitis, bronchitis, or other respiratory infections. 

If your child has a more serious medical condition, such as uncontrolled diabetes or kidney disease, they may also experience chronic bad breath.

How Do I Get Rid of My Kids’ Bad Breath?

You should try the following solutions to get rid of your kid’s bad breath.

Good Dental Hygiene

Good dental hygiene is the best way to get rid of and prevent bad breath in your child. Your child should brush their teeth twice daily and floss at least once daily. 

Regular Trips to the Dentist

Just like adults, children should see their dentist every six months. Some dentists even recommend visiting every three months, depending on your child’s oral health.

Switching Toothpastes

Switching kinds of toothpaste can help prevent and keep away bad breath in kids. Toothpaste that focuses on whitening teeth often contains ingredients that dry out the tongue, allowing bacteria to increase in the mouth. 

Toothpaste with heavy baking soda can dry out the tongue too much, causing a decrease in saliva. The best kids’ toothpaste for bad breath, like Colgate or Crest, can help keep their breath fresh.

Fluoride Treatments

Fluoride treatments at the dentist can help to reduce tooth decay and fight infection in the mouth. 

Fluoride varnish, used during a fluoride treatment, is a mineral that helps to strengthen tooth enamel. Fluoride varnish can protect your child’s teeth for several months and should be reapplied every three to six months.

Mouthwash

While your child might prefer bubble gum or berry-flavored mouthwash, a minty mouthwash will help with bad breath. 

Some adult mouthwashes might be too harsh for children, so using a gentle one for kids is best. Mouthwash is only a temporary fix for bad breath, so it should be used in addition to other solutions.

Change the Toothbrush

Using a heavily used toothbrush can make bad breath worse, as the bristles on the brush work less effectively to remove plaque and oral bacteria. 

Your child should change their toothbrush every three to four months to ensure their breath stays fresh and their teeth are being properly cleaned.

How to Get Your Kids Excited About Brushing?

To get your child excited about brushing and oral hygiene, you can try a few things.

• Allow them to pick out their own toothbrush
• Explain why it is crucial to brush their teeth and how it helps keep their mouth healthy
• Give them a holder for their toothbrush to stay in when they are not using it
• Let them practice brushing teeth on you, as they can see all the grooves, curves, and edges of your teeth
• Use a toothbrush timer or play a two-minute song when brushing
• Brush your teeth together and establish a routine

Final Thoughts

There are many ways you can prevent bad breath in your child and get rid of it for good. It is important to keep up on regular trips to the dentist and establish a regular brushing and flossing routine to help keep away bad breath after brushing.

If your child’s bad breath is persistent even after trying these solutions, schedule a pediatric dentist appointment for a cleaning and discuss the halitosis concerns with your child’s dentist.

Learn more about our Pediatric Dental Services at The Super Dentists. Schedule an appointment today and bring your family to a Super Dentists location near you!

Many kids experience toothaches at night, and it can be difficult for adults to understand how to help a child with a toothache. Children, especially young children, often struggle to express themselves and communicate their pain. 

One of the most challenging situations to relieve for children is toothache, as there can be multiple causes. Some cause kids toothaches at night and can be severe, while others are not. Some remedies can help eliminate a toothache’s pain and discomfort, such as rinsing with warm salt water or taking children’s over-the-counter medication.

If you have not yet already taken your child to a pediatric dentist for a toothache, you should schedule an appointment as soon as possible to discover the reason for the toothache and prevent it from worsening.

What Causes Toothache for Kids?

There are many causes of why a child has a toothache, and the severity of pain can differ for each reason.

Cavities or Tooth Decay

Most toothaches in kids are caused by cavities when the pulp inside a tooth becomes infected and inflamed. Besides feelings of pain and discomfort, children may have tiredness and can display a fever because of the dental infection.

Teeth Grinding

Sometimes, kids have toothaches at night because they grind their teeth. Teeth grinding can cause toothache if a child has no signs of cavities or tooth decay. If the teeth grinding is left untreated, it can wear away the enamel on the teeth, causing increased tooth sensitivity. 

Dentists often recommend wearing a night guard for older children to help relieve Bruxism once they have all of their permanent teeth. Young children grinding their teeth typically do not experience negative long-term side effects. In some cases, teeth grinding can be a symptom of Sleep Disordered Breathing if the child exhibits other symptoms.

Tooth Fracture

Some children can endure a tooth fracture, especially if they play sports, causing them to have a toothache. Children who do not wear mouthguards during sports are more likely to damage their teeth than those who wear mouthguards. 

A tooth fracture can go unnoticed if your child does not go to regular dental cleanings every six months, as a cracked tooth is not always visible.

Inflamed Gums

Inflamed gums are more formally known as Gingivitis, and the gums are tender and red. Infrequent brushing and flossing can cause inflamed gums, and the gums usually begin bleeding when the child begins to brush and floss again. 

Inflamed gums can make a child feel like they are experiencing a toothache. To prevent gingivitis, regular brushing and flossing are encouraged twice daily.

Abscessed Tooth

If your kid has a toothache at night, it can be due to an abscessed tooth. An abscessed tooth appears like a pimple or boils on the gum line, where pus is inside a pocket. The pus pocket is formed within the tooth’s root and has become infected. 

Tooth pain because of an abscess can feel like a throbbing pain. If it is not treated, it will affect the development of the child’s adult teeth by eroding through the bone. A child with an abscessed tooth should see their dentist immediately for treatment.

Sensitivity

Like adults, kids can also experience tooth sensitivity. Tooth sensitivity occurs when porous tissue under the tooth enamel (dentin) becomes exposed. 

When dealing with tooth sensitivity, your child might feel tingling, stinging, or pain, especially after eating cold or hot foods. Children’s toothache relief due to sensitivity is to brush twice daily and use toothpaste for sensitive teeth.

How Long Does a Toothache Last for Kids?

Most toothaches in children do not last too long and will usually go away within 24 hours if it is due to sensitivity. If the pain does not go away after 24 hours, you should contact the dentist as soon as possible to ensure the toothache is not due to a cavity or other health concern.

When Should I Take My Child to the ER for a Toothache?

A trip to the emergency room will likely not help resolve a toothache for your child. If your child is experiencing a severe toothache, you should seek emergency care from your pediatric dentist. Severe toothaches are often due to abscesses or infections.

What Can I Give My Child for a Toothache?

Some home remedies for a kid’s toothache can help relieve the pain. To help with children’s toothache pain relief, you should try the following remedies. Do not use any of these foods if your child has an allergy.

• Rinse with warm salt water
• Use garlic paste, as it contains antibacterial properties to help kill harmful bacteria
• Rinse with diluted hydrogen peroxide
• Massage with aloe vera gel
• Use clove oil on the painful area
• Use thyme mouthwash, as it has antioxidant and antibacterial properties
• Peppermint tea bags can help relax the gums
• Apply a cold compress
• Children’s medicine for toothaches, such as children’s ibuprofen or acetaminophen to dull the ache

How to Tell If a Child Has a Toothache

Since children are not expressive with their words, especially when they are small, there are symptoms to be aware of that can indicate whether your child has a toothache. The symptoms of a toothache in a child include:

• Constant pain or throbbing in the mouth
• Pain when touching the tooth
• Severe reactions to hot or cold foods
• A tender and sore jaw around the tooth
• Overly tired
• Fever
• Sudden change in eating habits
• Difficulty sleeping
• Constant rubbing of the teeth, jaw, or gums
• Irritability

How Is a Toothache Diagnosed in a Child?

A toothache can usually be diagnosed with a complete health history and exam. Your child may receive X-rays so the dentist can visualize their internal bones, tissues, and teeth. The dentist might also check for cavities by using a transilluminator, which does not use radiation. 

Final Thoughts

If your kid has a toothache at night or is experiencing pain and discomfort, we can help provide some relief. Learn more about our Pediatric Dental Services at The Super Dentists. Schedule an appointment today and bring your family to a Super Dentists location near you!

It is often wrongly assumed that braces guarantee permanent results. Teeth tend to return to their original position once the braces are removed, which is why retainers are used. 

A retainer after braces helps keep your child’s teeth aligned and helps to ensure the best possible results for the ideal smile. It is essential to wear a retainer for the recommended amount of time after braces to ensure your child’s teeth stay in the proper place and do not shift.

Types of Retainers After Braces

Your child can wear three different types of retainers after getting their braces off. These common types of retainers will help keep your child’s teeth from sliding back into their old position once the braces have been removed. 

Clear Plastic Retainer

A clear plastic container is an aligner to help keep your child’s teeth in place. This type of retainer is often used for those who want to keep their retainer unnoticeable to others. Usually, teenagers prefer the clear plastic retainer because they are virtually invisible. 

Children who do not want a retainer are likely to wear this type since others will not notice. The clear plastic retainer is not recommended for children who grind their teeth and is not as durable as the Hawley retainer.

Hawley Retainer

The Hawley retainer is the most common type for children to receive after braces. This type of retainer is tongue-shaped and is made from metal and acrylic. It is designed to fit into your child’s mouth, and the wire keeps their teeth in the proper position. 

It positions the teeth by stabilizing them while the bone around the teeth hardens. The Hawley retainer is durable and can be easily adjusted for minor movements of your child’s teeth. 

Fixed Bonded Retainer

A fixed bonded retainer is used on children if it is a concern that their teeth will move back to their original position after braces. A fixed bonded retainer is invisible because it is connected at the back of the teeth, and a wire holds the teeth in place. 

This type of retainer cannot be removed like the Hawley retainer or the clear plastic retainer, as it is bonded into place until it must be removed. 

How Long Do You Have to Wear Retainers After Braces 

For some children, it is recommended that they wear their retainer after braces every day for months. 

Other children are instructed to wear their retainer for a year or sometimes more. They should be worn throughout the day, except for eating. Sometimes, your child’s orthodontist may recommend wearing a retainer indefinitely because the teeth never stop shifting. 

Results of Not Wearing Retainer

There are several consequences your child may face if they do not wear their retainer after getting their braces off. These are the four most common effects of not wearing a retainer after braces.

Teeth Alignment is Worsened

Your child’s teeth alignment may worsen if they do not wear their retainer, as their teeth can shift back into a position worse than before they got braces. 

If this happens, your child may need braces for a second time to realign the teeth. Then, they must wear their retainer for the recommended time after bracing. 

The teeth constantly shift because they are subject to forceful movements when we talk, chew, bite, or swallow. While the shifting of your children’s teeth cannot be controlled, it can be helped by wearing a retainer.

Orthodontic Relapse

The main point of using a retainer is to keep the teeth from shifting back to their original position. If your child does not wear their retainer as instructed, their teeth return to their original position. 

Orthodontic relapse is most common during the first year after braces, as your child’s ligament and gum fibers are getting used to their new teeth positions. Orthodontic relapse typically occurs for everyone who does not wear their retainer after braces within the first ten years. 

Bite Changes

While not wearing a retainer can cause your child’s teeth to shift, it can also cause unwanted bite changes. 

Braces and retainers are intended to fix your child’s bite while also straightening teeth. If the retainer is not worn, your child’s bite can shift back, causing an uncomfortable sensation when biting down. 

Repeat Treatment Is Necessary

The American Association of Orthodontics states that the retention stage is just as important as the active phase of treatment. 

The active phase is the braces, and the retention phase is wearing a retainer. The retention phase is crucial to maintain straight teeth after braces. If your child does not wear the retainer, all orthodontic progress up to that point can be lost. 

Repeat treatment would be necessary to reverse this, and it is typically unwanted by both the child and the parent. The orthodontist’s time and your money and time have been wasted.

How Fast do Teeth Move Without a Retainer

If your child does not wear their retainer, their teeth can begin shifting back into their original position in as little as two weeks. It can be one tooth that moves and creates a gap or multiple teeth that cause many issues. 

The shifting of your child’s teeth can be prevented by wearing a retainer, even if they did not wear it for a few days. The retainer should be worn as much as possible to prevent the teeth from causing further issues.

What to Do if You Lost Your Retainer

If your child has lost their retainer, you should contact our office immediately and request a replacement retainer. Ask for the replacement as soon as possible to prevent your child’s teeth from shifting. 

It is as simple as calling our office and stating, “I lost my retainer.” We will order a new one for your child as quickly as possible.

Final Thoughts

Wearing a retainer after braces is essential, as it is responsible for properly aligning your child’s teeth. 

Learn more about our Orthodontic & Pediatric Dental Services at The Super Dentists. Schedule an appointment today and bring your family to a Super Dentists location near you!

It is challenging for children to get used to wearing braces and even more difficult for them to adjust their eating habits. 

While it might not be a big deal to your child, it’s important that you provide them with braces-friendly snacks that will not damage their braces and prolong their dental realignment. You should also make sure they understand why they shouldn’t eat certain snacks so they don’t make the mistake of testing the waters at school or friends’ houses. 

While there are specific snacks that your child should avoid because of their braces, there are many snacks that they can enjoy. Here are 9 soft snacks for kids with braces.

1. Yogurt

Yogurt is one of the best snacks for braces, especially for children who just got their braces put on. Yogurt is packed with protein and calcium, soothing the gums and teeth. 

The calcium helps contribute to keeping the teeth and bones strong. To maintain a balanced diet, try to give your child low-fat yogurts that do not contain a lot of sugar.

2. Grapes

Grapes are great snacks for kids with braces. Grapes are considered soft fruit, which is easy for kids to chew with braces. 

They contain many vitamins and fiber, making them a healthy choice. Grapes do not get stuck to the teeth and are generally simple to chew.

3. Bananas

Bananas are a soft, smooth, and nutritious snack that is easy to chew. A banana is a perfect snack if you are on the go and are easy on the braces. Bananas contain vitamin C, fiber, potassium, and other beneficial compounds. 

Not only will bananas help your child’s digestive and heart health, but they will also not get stuck in the teeth.

4. String Cheese

String cheese is soft, easy to chew, and full of calcium. Pulling apart the cheese into small, bite-sized pieces is the best way for your child to eat this delicious snack.

String cheese is an excellent source of vitamins, minerals, calcium, and protein. In addition, there are various types of string cheese to choose from. Your child can enjoy cheddar, mozzarella, muenster, or even colby jack. 

5. Smoothies

Smoothies are gentle on braces and teeth and come in many combinations. You can mix fruits and vegetables into smoothies, providing nutrition to your child. A smoothie is helpful when braces are first put on, as it can help numb your mouth and relieve it. Some popular smoothies include

• Strawberry banana 
• Banana and peanut butter
• Pineapple
• Peach
• Berry
• Cherry
• Tropical fruit
• Raspberry
• Mango
• Cucumber and kale
• Avocado and papaya

6. Applesauce

Applesauce is one of the most delicious and gentle snacks for braces. Your child can enjoy various types of applesauce, like plain, banana, blueberry, strawberry, and mixed berry applesauce. Sprinkle some cinnamon on top to add extra flavor.

If you would instead not purchase pre-made applesauce from the store, you can make one for your child. Making your own applesauce can be more cost-effective, as it is inexpensive to make and store.

7. Sweet Potato Fries

Sweet potato fries are healthy and satisfying, making them good snacks for braces. They are typically soft enough to eat even when the teeth and jaw are sore after getting braces or an adjustment. 

Sweet potato fries can be purchased in the grocery store’s frozen aisle, or you can make them at home using fresh sweet potatoes. Your child might enjoy them with a pinch of salt and a dipping sauce like catsup on the side.

8. Pudding or Custard

Soft pudding or custard is an excellent snack for children with braces, as most kids will enjoy it. Puddings and custards are sweet and creamy and come in various flavors. 

Your child may enjoy some puddings, including vanilla, chocolate, lemon, banana, butterscotch, or caramel. Your child may enjoy custard flavors, including vanilla, butterscotch, strawberry, or raspberry.

9. Hummus

Hummus is a creamy, smooth blend of chickpeas blended with lemon juice, garlic, olive oil, and tahini. While it might sound like something your child will not enjoy, they will most likely enjoy it once they taste it. 

Hummus is excellent for your child to eat with soft crackers, bread, or veggies. You can make the hummus yourself or purchase it pre-made at the store. It typically comes in flavors like plain hummus, sun-dried tomato and basil, roasted red pepper, chipotle, and roasted garlic.

Frequently Asked Questions 

These are some common frequently asked questions regarding braces-friendly snacks and foods.

What candies can kids eat with braces?

There are multiple types of candies that your child with braces can enjoy. Some candies that are safe to eat with braces include

• Plain or peanut butter M&Ms
• Chocolate bars
• KitKats
• Reese’s pieces
• 3 Musketeers
• Smarties
• Peppermint Patties
• Snow Caps
• Pixy Stix

Your child should avoid candies with caramel, nuts, or anything too sticky, as they can become wedged under the wire and pop off your child’s brackets. 

What foods can break your braces?

Your child should avoid crunchy, chewy, sticky, or hard foods when they have braces. Kids with braces should avoid these types of foods:

• Popcorn
• Pretzels
• Nuts
• Chewing gum
• Bagels
• Hard rolls
• Corn on the cob
• Raw carrots
• Apples
• Hard taco shells

What are good soft foods to eat with braces?

Some good soft foods to eat with braces include:

• Scrambled eggs
• Pancakes
• Cream of wheat
• Oatmeal
• Cottage cheese
• Yogurt
• French toast
• Fish
• Sweet potatoes
• Pasta
• Mashed potatoes
• Rice
• Ice cream

Final Thoughts 

We understand that adjusting your child’s diet is challenging once they receive braces. However, the adjustments aren’t impossible. There are many soft snacks for kids with braces that will not cause damage.

Learn more about our Orthodontic & Pediatric Dental Services at The Super Dentists. Schedule an appointment today and bring your family to a Super Dentists location near you!

Charcoal toothpaste, also referred to as “black toothpaste,” is a current trend marketed as a way to keep teeth clean and white without using harmful ingredients. It’s very popular among youth and, as such, should be researched before allowing children to use it.
Charcoal is a black solid form of carbon that comes from burning organic material down to its basic form. Charcoal toothpaste is made from activated charcoal, a process by which charcoal is heated with gas. When the charcoal is heated, it opens up the pores, which trap chemicals. Around the world, activated charcoal is the most commonly used poison control treatment since it helps absorb the toxins in the stomach.
Charcoal toothpaste supporters say that the charcoal acts as a magnet, pulling tartar, bacteria and stains from your teeth. So, does charcoal toothpaste work, and is it safe for everyday use? Some say that using charcoal as a toothpaste could be dangerous to your teeth. Here’s what parents need to know.

Does Charcoal Toothpaste Work to Clean Teeth?

Fans of charcoal toothpaste claim it whitens teeth and freshens breath better than your regular toothpaste brands. Charcoal can lift away plaque and food particles that lead to bad breath. However, the effect won’t be much more dramatic than what you’d get with any other toothpaste.
An unexpected benefit of charcoal toothpaste is that it may cause people to brush their teeth for longer in an attempt to remove the black color from their teeth and mouth. In addition, using activated charcoal as toothpaste tends to be inexpensive. For those who struggle with chronic halitosis (bad breath), charcoal is said to lessen the toxins in the mouth.

Is Charcoal Toothpaste Safe?

New studies are questioning whether charcoal is actually doing more harm than good when it comes to your teeth. A 2017 study in The Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA) warns that Dental clinicians should advise their patients to be cautious when using charcoal and charcoal-based dentifrices with unproven claims of efficacy and safety.

Here’s what we do know about charcoal toothpaste:

• Charcoal toothpaste is abrasive and should not be used daily. Using charcoal toothpaste can wear down your teeth’s enamel, which may make your teeth look more yellow.
• Charcoal toothpaste may cause staining on teeth.
• Everyday use of charcoal toothpaste could cause tooth sensitivity.
• Charcoal’s effect on dental restorations is not known.
• Most charcoal toothpaste brands do not contain fluoride, an ingredient that protects teeth against cavities and decay.

The American Dental Association has not found any evidence that charcoal toothpaste is safe or effective, but research shows it may actually harm the teeth and gums.

Modern toothpaste and toothbrushes are designed to clean the surface of the teeth gently. Using something abrasive like charcoal can scrape your teeth and remove enamel permanently. Another concern is that charcoal may accumulate in cracks and gaps between teeth and form stains around dental work.

Then there is the concern about tooth decay. A review in the British Dental Journal from early 2019 found that charcoal provides little protection against tooth decay. In fact, the study found that adding powdered charcoal to toothpaste can actually worsen the state of fillings and get caught in the gums and irritate them.

Does Charcoal Whiten Teeth?

Charcoal toothpaste is advertised as a whitening agent that helps remove particles from teeth, but this isn’t exactly true. In most cases, teeth are discolored because of intrinsic stains that will not be removed by charcoal drawing them out of the teeth.

Deeper, intrinsic stains are dark coloring that comes from within the tooth, sometimes as a result of trauma, weak enamel, some medications and overuse of fluoride. These types of stains can only be lightened by bleaching treatments that penetrate below the outer surface of teeth.

Surface stains are created by the things we ingest in our mouths, like coffee, red wine, tobacco and dark-colored foods and drinks. They live on the enamel layer and can be removed with toothpaste or surface whitening treatments. But, generally speaking, charcoal toothpaste isn’t in contact with the tooth long enough to have a meaningful effect.

A 2021 study published in Clin Oral Invest examined the whitening effects of charcoal toothpaste compared to regular fluoride toothpaste and found no difference in whitening. It concluded that in the short term, it might look like your teeth are brighter after using charcoal toothpaste because stains and plaque have been rubbed away. However, in the long term, charcoal toothpaste simply wears tooth enamel down, which can never be regrown.

For more information about charcoal toothpaste or to schedule a teeth cleaning appointment, don’t hesitate to contact the dental hygiene experts at The Super Dentists. The Super Dentists’ very own oral hygiene expert, Dr. Kami Hoss, has authored a book titled, If Your Mouth Could Talk.

Our mouth is arguably one of the most important parts of our entire body as it is responsible for allowing us to eat, drink, speak and sing. But often our mouth, and teeth in particular, seem like a cavern of mystery. There is no shortage of common dental myths, like is it safe to go to the dentist when you’re pregnant and can a tooth dissolve in Coca-Cola? In this article fluoride myths will be debunked and hygiene myths and facts will be exposed to help everyone attain excellent oral health. 

George Washington Had Wooden Teeth

As the first president of the United States, George Washington had access to the best dental care that one could find in the 18th century. Unfortunately, Washington was suffering from oral hygiene problems long before he became president. He began losing teeth in his 20s, which necessitated that he wear painful dentures.

Although it was a fun legend to believe that our first president had a mouth full of wood, it remains a common dental myth as they were actually made of rare hippopotamus ivory and metal. 

When he was inaugurated as president in 1789, Washington only had one natural tooth left in his mouth. Throughout his life, he experienced pain and facial distortion from his dentures, which offers a valuable lesson today: always brush your teeth to keep those pearly whites healthy!

Whitening Teeth Means Weakening Teeth

As we age and subject our teeth to stain-causing foods and beverages, it is inevitable that our teeth color will darken. There are concerns that teeth whitening procedures can harm or weaken the enamel on our teeth, but is this true or a myth? The answer is, it depends. Teeth whitening can irritate the gums and  having your teeth whitened too often can cause damage.

While teeth enamel may be slightly diminished because of teeth whitening, the effect is believed to be negligible. Laser dentistry as well as Zoom teeth whitening are two procedures that ensure that teeth whitening does not result in the diminishing of tooth enamel. 

Laser teeth whitening works by using a concentrated bleaching gel and a laser that creates an effective way to whiten your teeth quickly. The laser procedure will not damage your teeth, and The American Dental Association deems these methods of teeth whitening as safe. 

Zoom teeth whitening uses a bleaching agent (usually hydrogen peroxide) and blue light to lighten tooth color. Zoom whitening only takes 45 minutes, which is quicker than other whitening techniques. 

A Tooth Can Dissolve in a Bottle of Coke in 24 Hours

While it’s true that any liquid substance containing acid and sugar has the potential to contribute to bad tooth health, it is certainly a common dental myth that teeth will dissolve in coke over a 24 hour period of time.

This myth is thought to have been started by a misquoted statement made by a Cornell University professor in 1950. Even Coca-Cola states on its website that teeth dissolving in coke is not true and that “The key to good dental health is to have good dental hygiene and brush your teeth regularly. It is also important to have these foods and beverages in moderation.” The truth is, Coke is indeed acidic but not to the point that it can dissolve a tooth in mere hours.

Mouthwash Containing Alcohol is Better

Common sense users should automatically throw up the red flag for this myth. Alcohol is not an essential part of mouthwash, making it one of the most common dental myths. In fact, dentists recommend using mouthwash that is bereft of any alcohol.

Mouthwash containing alcohol creates an uncomfortable burning sensation in your mouth and kills good and bad bacteria. Alcohol is also harmful to people who suffer from dry mouth. Alternatively, alcohol-free mouthwash targets more of the bad bacteria rather than the good, creating a better balance in your mouth.

A study by BioMed Research International says that “alcohol-free mouthwashes have a better effect on the gloss, colour, hardness and wear of tooth composite compared to mouthwashes that contain alcohol.” Alcohol-free mouthwashes are known to prevent dry mouth, halitosis, tooth decay, periodontal disease and plaque and tartar buildup.

For helping choosing a mouthwash, check out Super Dentist’s list of best mouthwashes. 

Is Fluoride Toothpaste Safe for Toddlers?

Whether fluoride is safe for kids is a highly debated topic with conflicting opinions. Thankfully, there are many facts surrounding this topic that will leave fluoride myths debunked. Fluoride has enamel-strengthening properties, which is why it is a great addition to oral healthcare products. Fluoride also works effectively to make teeth more resistant to acid and tooth decay, which reduces the risk of cavities. But does this mean that fluoride is safe for toddlers and children? 

The real danger to children is not the use of fluoride—it’s the inappropriate use of fluoride. Too much fluoride can cause a condition called dental fluorosis, which can change the color of tooth enamel. If too much fluoride is ingested, it could lead to toxicity. 

The Super Dentists recommends that toddlers (12 to 36 months old) who have cut their first teeth may use a small amount of fluoride. Fluoride is safe for toddlers (12 months or older) as long as parents limit the amount of toothpaste (pea-sized amount) and make sure they spit and rinse thoroughly after brushing. The American Dental Association recommends fluoride for both children and adults as long as it’s used correctly.

Can You Go to the Dentist While Pregnant?

One of the most common myths about dental hygiene is that pregnant moms should not visit the dentist. The truth is, skipping dental exams because you are pregnant is not advised, and here is why. Pregnancy causes hormonal changes that put expectant moms at risk for periodontal disease and gingivitis. In fact, 40 percent of pregnant women develop gingivitis, which can cause premature births. Food cravings during pregnancy can also lead to poor eating choices that affect tooth health. Morning sickness during pregnancy often causes vomiting and the stomach acids erode tooth enamel. Both food cravings and morning sickness cause harmful bacteria and reduced teeth brushing.

But what about getting dental x-rays with all of that radiation? Getting dental x-rays is safe because a low amount of radiation is emitted and the heavy lead apron will protect you and your baby from harm. There is also no harm in getting fillings and extractions during pregnancy, because the procedure and local anesthetics are safe.  

Out of all the hygiene myths and facts, this is an important one to debunk. Professional dental cleanings are vital for pregnant women, so don’t skip a visit out of fear for your baby. Pregnant or not, you should always visit the dentist for cleanings every six months. In between visits to your dentist, be sure to brush twice daily with fluoride toothpaste and use a mouthwash that does not contain alcohol. 

What Should I Do if My Child Chips Their Tooth?

Your child’s teeth are a vital part of growing up. They’re also central to many milestones along their journey to adulthood, such as the first tooth, brushing on their own, braces and retainers as well as those funny gap-toothed smiles when they lose a tooth. Most of the time, teeth are associated with fond memories. 

However, they’re not always so “chipper.” That’s because the dreaded baby or toddler chipped tooth is also quite common during childhood. Thankfully, most kids experience a chipped tooth when their primary teeth are still present, which eventually will make way for their secondary or adult teeth.

The Super Dentists, San Diego’s premier pediatric dentistry, has dealt with our share of chipped teeth in the past. When a child’s chipped tooth occurs, parents have tons of questions – and we have the answers, so keep reading below!

 How Common Are Chipped Teeth In Babies and Toddlers?

So just how common are chipped teeth for babies and toddlers? Much more common than you’d think. Youngsters are curious and love to explore – even in confined areas – and the occasional accident is bound to happen.

For example, a baby’s chipped front tooth could happen during all sorts of activities – bumping into things, falling when attempting to walk or chewing on a toy.

Take it from us here at The Super Dentists – a toddler’s chipped tooth is common and often isn’t a big deal. We’re always here to help with this common dental emergency!

How to Fix a Chipped Tooth

So your kid has a chipped tooth – what do you do next? The first thing to remember is to stay calm. Before you drive your kid to the dentist or hospital to receive care, follow these steps:

• Check to see if your child has trouble breathing or swallowing. This may indicate they’ve swallowed part of the chipped tooth. In this case, go to the emergency room immediately.
• Examine your child for any mouth trauma (bleeding, painful gums or jaw, etc.) If the injury seems especially urgent, go to urgent care or the emergency room. Otherwise, schedule an appointment with The Super Dentists.
• Try to find the missing tooth fragment (if not swallowed). If it’s small enough, there’s a chance it can be bonded back into place. If you’re fortunate enough to locate the missing chip, place it in a clean, airtight container and bring it with you to The Super Dentists.

To schedule an appointment during normal business hours, call us at 1 (855) GO SUPER, or text us at 1-844-765-1234. The Super Dentists is the #1 emergency kids dentist in San Diego. So if your kid chipped a tooth, we’re here to help!

Signs That Your Child Might Have Chipped Their Tooth

How can you tell if your baby has a chipped front tooth or your toddler has a chipped tooth? Some signs are obvious, while others are more subtle to detect. Here are some things to look for:

• Bleeding teeth or gums
• Pain near your child’s chipped tooth
• Trouble eating or talking
• Swelling of the gums or discoloration of your toddler’s chipped tooth

Depending on how young your child is, they might not be able to explain what happened, or even if they have a chipped tooth.

How to Temporary Fix a Chipped Tooth at Home

We don’t recommend trying to fix a child’s chipped tooth at home. In fact, attempts to fix a child or toddler’s chipped tooth on your own can actually make the problem worse. Instead, rely on a trained expert like you’ll find at The Super Dentists. We can provide the proper care required and get your kid back to eating and playing in no time.

When your kid has chipped their tooth, contact The Super Dentists immediately and we’ll address and fix your child’s chipped tooth as soon as possible!

What Will the Dentist Recommend For My Child’s Chipped Tooth?

The Super Dentists has helped hundreds of children with this particular dental emergency, and we’re here for your toddler’s chipped tooth. It’s common for parents to panic immediately after an accident resulting in a chipped tooth, but there’s no need as The Super Dentists will help restore your child’s smile right away!

After a thorough examination of your child’s chipped tooth, The Super Dentists have two options to fix it:

1. Attach your kid’s/baby’s chipped front tooth fragment (if feasible).
2. Apply a bonding material (for larger chipped teeth) after smoothing out any jagged or sharp edges from your kid’s chipped tooth.

Every chipped tooth is different and requires unique care (in the office and at home), but our dentists will ensure you have all the necessary instructions to properly care for the tooth at home. Depending on how your child’s chipped tooth was fixed, special dietary restrictions are also a possibility.

If your child’s chipped tooth is the result of cavities, The Super Dentists offers the best pediatric cavity services in Southern California. We’ll help your child establish the optimal dental care habits to strengthen their teeth and reduce the chance of chips and breaks. Make sure you book an appointment ASAP, and The Super Dentists will restore your child’s smile and confidence today!

Effects of Thumb Sucking on Teeth and What Parents Need to Know

If you’re like most parents, you worry about everything from when your child will start walking and potty training to how thumb sucking beyond a certain age will impact their dental health. But rest assured, thumb-sucking is a natural instinct for many children.

Most outgrow it before it becomes problematic. But just in case you’re still concerned, read on to learn why kids suck their thumbs, what happens to teeth after sucking thumbs for an extended period, and great tips to encourage them to stop.

Why Do Children Suck Their Thumbs?

Did you know some ultrasounds have shown babies sucking their thumbs in the womb? To say this is an instinct would be putting it mildly. Babies often suck thumbs as a way to relax or self-soothe, as it mimics the suckling motion during breastfeeding.

Thumb sucking is a natural reflex for comfort and self-soothing. When babies nurse or take a bottle, it’s more than just eating for them. This is a time when they can bond with the people that make them feel safe.

As a result, sucking a thumb or finger can become a coping mechanism as children age. As they grow, they’ll find the same sensation as they did when they nursed or took a bottle when they were little. This isn’t a bad thing!

After all, we want our children to feel safe, grow to be independent, and find ways to relax and self-soothe. So sometimes when a child finds themselves in a stressful situation, the go-to way to manage those big feelings is through thumb sucking.

That said, while it’s important for our children to soothe, thumb-sucking has a negative effect on your child’s permanent teeth.

When Should Children Stop Sucking Their Thumbs?

Most children stop sucking their thumbs either in infancy (6-9 months) or toddlerhood (2-4 years.)

There is some conflicting and confusing information as to when babies and children should stop to prevent issues with teeth and jaw development. Some may say not to worry until permanent teeth are coming in, whereas others suggest putting a stop to it before kindergarten.

The problem is that every child develops differently. So while some kids begin losing teeth as early as 5 (or even 4!), other children don’t lose their first tooth until they are 8.

This is why thumb-sucking can have such a negative effect on their teeth. A thumb sucker’s jaw and teeth can start to shift even before they lose their first teeth.

In order to minimize and prevent oral issues, The Super Dentists encourage your child to stop vigorous or constant thumb sucking between ages 4. This will also give you time to use gradual and positive steps to wean them rather than racing against the clock as the first adult teeth erupt.

Long-Term Impact of Thumb Sucking on Teeth and Jaws

So why does it matter if your Super Kid sucks their thumb? As noted, it can actually have a large and lasting impact on the development of their teeth and jaws and beyond.

But keep one thing in mind – how often and how hard they suck their thumb is a big factor. If your child lightly sucks their thumb unconsciously at night, it’s probably not a big deal. However, if they are forcefully sucking constantly or even doing it during the daytime hours, it can impact your child’s mouth.

The long-term effects of thumb sucking on teeth may include:

• Misaligned bite. This can be an overbite, overjet, open bite, or crossbite. Essentially, the upper and lower teeth don’t line up properly. This can lead to worn enamel or cracked or broken teeth, as well as other issues.

• Palate issues. This refers to the roof of their mouths. The palate may become misshapen or overly sensitive. This could even contribute to sleep apnea later in life.

• Change to the jaw shape.

• Tooth decay.

• Speech issues. Incorrect shaping and formation of the jaws, teeth and palate can lead to speech impediments such as lisps. In some cases, even speech therapy cannot undo or fix the speech issues caused by malformation of the mouth.

Potential Thumb Sucking Damage

This cute little habit in your snuggly newborn becomes a lot less cute when it starts affecting your child’s ability to properly chew or speak.

It can become very costly very quickly. Add up the cost of repairing, pulling or replacing cracked or broken teeth, getting kids braces to correct jaw and teeth alignment issues, headgear or palate spacers, or even surgery to correct severe oral issues and you’re looking at a large sum of money.

But even beyond the financial burden of thumb-sucking is the social cost. Let’s face it, people can be unkind. A child still sucking their thumb at school is more prone to being made fun of.

Even as adults, speech impediments can get you teased. Stopping thumb-sucking can allow the wonder and beauty of your child to shine through while also minimizing the societal challenges they face.

Preventing the Negative Effects of Thumb Sucking on Teeth

So how can you get your child to break the thumb-sucking habit before it becomes problematic? The Super Dentists are happy to provide some fun, positive, and effective ways to reduce thumb sucking.

• Praise or Reward your child for not sucking their thumb. You know your kid best. If saying something at the moment makes them feel seen and proud of their efforts, acknowledge it. If they thrive on physical rewards like stickers on a chart, use them.
• Plan a Special Outing if your child is suck-free for a certain number of days.
• Shoot for a Time Restriction such as no sucking the thumb an hour before bedtime. Little, attainable goals can lead to longer, sustainable periods without thumb-sucking.
• Distract your child when they start thumb-sucking with different activities or soothing options such as a stuffed animal or a comforting blanket.
• Create a safe place within the home to reduce stress.
• Recognize triggers to your child’s thumb sucking and work to reduce the triggers or develop safe alternatives.
• Gently remind them to stop sucking their thumb whenever you notice it.
• Try to gradually reduce the amount of thumb-sucking your child does. Focus on time periods of the day when you notice the thumb sucking becomes its worst.

Remember that it’s most important to be patient with a child that is sucking their thumb. They’re not worried about the negative effects, that’s your job. Do not scare them with the consequences and instead, try to understand why your child feels the need to suck their thumb.

Provide positive reinforcements whenever possible. Remember that young children typically respond better to rewards than consequences.

Finally, if all else fails, Bring your child to The Super Dentists! Older children may be more open and understanding to the information about the potential issues of thumb-sucking from professionals. And a trip to The Super Dentists is always a good time! Call (855) GO SUPER to schedule an appointment.

About the Super Dentists

The Super Dentists are San Diego’s largest and most trusted Pediatric Dentist, Orthodontic, and Teen and Adult Dentistry practice. We create the most unique and out-of-this-world dental experience for children and their parents. We are the only dental practice where kids ask, and even beg, their parents to take them to the dentist – imagine that!

We offer the newest technologies for the most comfortable, safe, and effective dental treatments. The Super Dentists accept most insurance, including Medi-Cal, and are available on the weekends and for emergencies.

With 6 locations throughout San Diego and growing, the practice gives back to our communities whenever possible by hosting free quarterly events, and complimentary dental care to those in need.

If you’re concerned that your child’s thumb sucking is having a negative impact on their oral health, schedule an appointment today!

What You Need to Know About Fluoride

Communities have been fluoridating water for 75 years in a concentrated effort to reduce tooth decay among residents, old and young. And it’s working. Significant differences in the number of cavities are seen in communities that fluoridate versus those that do not. But fluoride is not without controversy. Like plenty of things in life, a little is good, a lot is too much. So is fluoride bad for teeth? Success is definitely found in moderation when it comes to fluoride.

To learn more about fluoride and its safety, read on and let The Super Dentists address all your questions.

What is Fluoride and Is It Safe?

First things first…what exactly is fluoride? Fluoride is a mineral derived from a naturally occurring and abundant element called fluorine. It’s found in water and some foods, but not usually at levels enough to be beneficial. Like other vitamins, minerals and supplements, the right amount is safe and beneficial but too much can be harmful. 

So is fluoride safe when it comes to your health? Just like you can overdo it on Vitamin D (sunburn, anyone?) it is possible to consume too much fluoride. Fortunately, the gap between recommended levels and actual harmful levels is pretty wide.

The amount of fluoride added to water, naturally found in food and added to an appropriately used amount of toothpaste is unlikely to get close to the harmful levels. In fact, harmful levels (4 parts per million) are generally recognized as almost six times the recommended amount added to municipal water (0.7 ppm) or toothpaste (~2 ppm, most of which you spit out). And to get to those dangerous levels of fluoride, you would have to consume excessive amounts over a long, ongoing period of time.

Are There Different Types of Fluoride?

There are different types of fluoride, from naturally occurring to synthesized. Calcium fluoride is found in everything from your water to soil to rocks. It’s literally all around us and usually quite harmless in the amounts found in the average American tap water. Sodium fluoride is a synthetic fluoride developed for fluoridation of water and toothpastes.

Is Fluoride Good or Bad for Your Teeth?

The answer to this question is a little bit of both. Fluoride is good for teeth in two ways – protection against demineralization and remineralization. Let’s break these two benefits down first:

• Protection against Demineralization. When the bacteria in your mouth combines with sugar, they form an acid that can erode tooth enamel. This is known as demineralization. The minerals that make up your teeth are literally being removed. Protecting against this by strengthening the enamel before the acid hits it is a good thing.
• Remineralization. No matter how healthy you or your child eat, sugar will come into contact with the bacteria in your mouth (even naturally occurring sugar from fruits and vegetables.) And when that happens, the acid forms. And the acid attacks and decreases your enamel. But fluoride swoops in like a superhero to accumulate on those weakened areas. It shores up damaged parts, rebuilding and strengthening the enamel after acid impacts it.

So yes, fluoride is good for your teeth. “But I thought you said it was bad for your teeth, too?” You’re right. The most common complaint about fluoride on teeth is a mild condition known as dental fluorosis. This is a minor discoloration in which tiny white streaks or specks appear on the tooth’s enamel. It does not cause pain, nor does it affect the health of the teeth. But excessive levels of fluoride can cause this tooth discoloration.

Is Fluoride Necessary in Toothpaste and Mouthwash?

Still wondering if fluoride toothpaste is good for you? At The Super Dentists, we absolutely believe fluoride is necessary in toothpaste and mouthwash, as long as the users are using only the amount needed to brush their teeth and are spitting out both the toothpaste and mouthwash. Because of the inclusion of fluoride in toothpaste and other oral products, many are instead questioning the need to add fluoride to water. But with so many people using bottled or filtered water these days, much of that fluoride is filtered out or not included. So yes, fluoride toothpaste for kids is a great way to protect your child’s teeth from decay.

Can You Have Adverse Reactions to Fluoride?

As mentioned, yes, there is a risk that excessive levels of fluoride can cause an adverse reaction. But please keep in mind, these are usually the result of excessive exposure over several years, not an occasional event of swallowing toothpaste.

• Skeletal fluorosis is a condition in which bones may become hardened and less elastic, causing a higher propensity to fractures, limited mobility or pain.
• Thyroid problems may occur, leading to hyperparathyroidism and a depletion of calcium in the bones.
• In some studies, exposure to fluoride was suggested to contribute to neurological and cognitive problems.

Still have questions about fluoride? No problem. Contact The Super Dentists at (855) GO SUPER  or Text 1 (844) 765-1234 and discuss your concerns with a caring pediatric dentist who cares about the complete health and wellness of your Super Kid.

Congratulations on getting braces! It’s pretty exciting to know in a few months, your smile or your child’s smile will be straighter than ever. It’s important to make sure you’re listening to The Super Dentists and keeping on top of your braces care routine.

Learning how to take care of braces is important for their effectiveness and the overall timeline of how long it takes for the braces to work.

The Importance of Braces Care

Why is it so important to know how to take care of your braces? Let’s start with the big one. Wearing braces is an investment in your oral health.

No one wants to see their investment mistreated. Proper care while wearing braces not only makes them more effective, it can shorten the length of time they must be worn.

Tips on How to Take Care of Braces

There are a few basic things you’ll need to do for regular braces care. And while sometimes mistakes and accidents happen, you can minimize issues by doing the following:

• Protect your mouth. Using a mouthguard during certain activities and sports can protect your mouth from getting cut or brackets and wires from getting damaged or popping off.

• Get help when needed. If a bracket does become unattached or a wire snaps, contact and return to the orthodontist immediately to get the issue resolved.

• Practice good oral hygiene. Brushing and flossing appropriately are more important than ever.

• Adhere to the eating guidelines. Make sure that you avoid sticky foods or chewy things like gummy candies. These will make caring for your braces more difficult.

Brushing and Flossing with Braces

When you have traditional metal or clear braces on your teeth, brushing and flossing become even more critical. There are lots of extra tiny nooks and crannies for food particles to get stuck. And food that builds up around and underneath the brackets without getting removed timely can cause plaque buildup and cavities.

But you don’t want to brush and floss hard or you could damage the braces. Instead, use a soft bristle and a circular motion to brush. Floss gently with the thread between the teeth and wire for maximum food removal. (There are specially designed orthodontic tools that can help.)

Using a Waterpik and mouthwash may also protect the teeth.

As frustrating as it may seem, you need to make sure to floss your teeth and brush after every meal. This includes snacks, small meals, dinners out, anything. It might seem like a little much but it’s important for taking care of your braces.

Eating with Braces

Did you know there are food restrictions when it comes to braces? It’s not the end of the world, and it’s only for a little while. But following the dietary guidelines can make a big impact on both your brackets staying on and your comfort.

While there are many foods you shouldn’t eat with braces, it’s important to understand how to eat correctly and how you should handle eating certain foods.

Hard Foods – Hard and crunchy foods can break or dislodge your braces. Avoid eating hard candies, nuts, popcorn, ice cubes, and hard pretzels. If you still want to enjoy these foods, consider cutting them into small, bite-sized pieces.

Tough Meats – When eating meat, make sure it’s tender and cut into small, manageable pieces. Avoid chewing on large, tough cuts of meat that require excessive force.

Fruits and Veggies – Raw fruits and vegetables are essential for a balanced diet. However, it’s best to cut them into small, manageable pieces to avoid damaging your braces. Steaming or cooking them can also make them easier to eat.

Foods to Avoid with Braces

There are some foods that should just be avoided when you’re wearing traditional braces. These include:

• Popcorn
• Apples
• Caramels
• Pretzels
• Gum
• Bagels
• Corn on the cob

Basically anything hard, crunchy, or sticky. And while we’re at it, it’s time to kick those bad habits of chewing on non-food items like pencils, pens, and fingernails. Gnawing on these non-food items can damage the braces as well.

It’s also a good idea to minimize sugary drinks and candy. Otherwise, that sugar just sits under the brackets, waiting to wreak havoc on your enamel.

Foods to Eat with Braces

Now for the foods that you can eat. Yay! If it’s not on the previous list, it’s probably okay to eat. 

But be aware, when you first get braces put on, and possibly even after they’ve been adjusted on regular orthodontia visits, your teeth, gums, and jaw may be sore or tender. To spare yourself the temporary pain, stick to soft foods like:

• Mashed potatoes
• Pudding
• Pasta
• Soup
• Ice cream
• Soft fruits like bananas and grapes
• Bread
• Eggs

See? This list isn’t so bad after all.

Braces Essentials

Whether you’re getting braces for your children or as an adult, it’s important to follow these braces care guidelines. Understanding how to take care of braces will help guarantee that you get the healthy smile you’ve always dreamed of.

By properly caring for your braces, you’ll have a better experience and shorten the length of time you are wearing braces. Still have more questions? Reach out to The Super Dentists at Call or text 619-Dentist.

Did you know that at The Super Dentists we have more than just general dentists? Our Smile Team includes a variety of different types of oral care specialists! Learn more about what they each do below.