Sprout Dentistry for Kids Blog

When your child is an infant or toddler, it’s not uncommon to see them sucking their thumb or finger. This habit often serves as a coping mechanism that helps them to calm down and find comfort. Unfortunately, when left to continue for too long, the habit of thumb-sucking can cause issues with your child’s oral and facial development. If you want to potentially avoid serious orthodontic or complex dental surgery or treatment, find out how your child’s pediatric dentists can help.

For many new parents, breastfeeding can be a personal and challenging journey. However, myths and misconceptions often cloud this beautiful bonding experience. One common myth is that breastfeeding should be painful. But is that really true? Your dentist might have the answers you seek. Continue reading as we dispel a few common, harmful myths about nursing so you can learn the truth.

As your child’s baby teeth begin to loosen, it can be an exciting time as they anticipate a visit from the tooth fairy. However, if a tooth hangs around for too long, it can become bothersome. While it’s crucial not to force a tooth out prematurely, there are safe ways to assist its natural removal when it’s ready. Read on to discover some gentle methods recommended by your child’s pediatric dentist to help your child safely remove a loose tooth.

When pregnant, it’s only natural to care for your body well. You want to ensure that your baby is born safe and sound! That said, remember to include your mouth in this care process. Pregnancy affects oral health in several negative ways, raising your risk of dental problems. Luckily, your Allen dentist will help out with some crucial details. Here’s a summary of how pregnancy could affect your mouth, including how to protect oral health while pregnant.

Cavities are the most common oral health condition in the world. As a parent, you want your child’s oral health to be impeccable, so there’s an urgency in preventing them. While brushing and flossing can help prevent tooth decay at home, what’s the best professional treatment to stop cavities in their tracks? Introducing silver diamine fluoride (SDF)!

If you want to learn more about SDF and how it can help your child prevent cavities, continue reading.

Everyone wants their child to have a healthy smile, but with all the candy and soda offered to kids these days, it’s important to give them all the protection they can get. While brushing and flossing are a crucial part of preventing tooth decay and gum disease, it can be hard for a child’s inexperienced hands to get into all the nooks and crannies in their smile. Molars can be especially difficult because they have deep pits in which bacteria and food debris can hide.

Luckily, your family dentist can treat your child’s teeth with a dental sealant to help protect them from the nasty things that might do them harm. A sealant is a thin protective coating that covers the chewing surfaces of the molars, and it can be an effective way to prevent cavities and decay. Here are a few common questions about dental sealants along with their answers.

Every parent understands the challenge of convincing a child to do anything, let alone go to the dentist. Dental anxiety is fairly common among children, especially if they’ve never been to the dentist before. If you’re struggling to help your little one overcome their fear, try books! Reading stories about other kids (or bears) going to the dentist can help lower their stress.

If you want a few examples of great children’s books to help you prime your kiddo for their dental visit, continue reading.

The early years of a child’s life are some of the sweetest times, especially as you consider their changing smile. What starts as a soft, gummy grin quickly morphs into an adorable smirk that showcases only a few budding teeth. Before you know it, more of those pearly whites will appear only to soon fall out and leave you with a (temporarily) toothless child. As you await these times, you may wonder when you can expect it all to happen. Hear from two pediatric dentists who can offer details as to when your child’s tooth eruption will likely begin and when you will say goodbye to their baby teeth.

Oral health is crucial to the welfare of the rest of the body, and children should start developing good dental hygiene habits as soon as they possibly can. While teaching a child to brush can be difficult enough, getting them on board with flossing can be even more challenging. Here are some tips to help your child master the art of dental floss so they can have a healthy smile for life.

As everyone knows, the tooth fairy is definitely real and has been around for as long as children have been putting their teeth under their pillows. While there’s nothing wrong with the fairy’s methods, sometimes it can be fun to shake things up. Maybe it’s time you start some new traditions, especially if they make your child excited about their oral health.

If you want to make some new memories and let a little tooth fairy magic into your home, continue reading. You’ll find four fantastical ideas for traditions and crafts.