The Battle of the Thumb
What's Wrong with Sucking Your Thumb? Most parents of preschoolers are engaged in the "battle of the thumb." The thumb usually wins hands down. Continuous pressure on teeth from sucking can affect bone growth or ...
Your Kids & Their Teeth
As modern dentistry continues to improve, children can expect entirely different dental experiences than Mom and Dad remember from childhood. Fluorides and sealants have virtually eliminated rampant decay problems. For kids nowadays, dental care is ...
Preventing Cavities in Your Baby’s Teeth
Eating & Drinking Don't let it continue throughout the day. Limit to 4 or 5 periods. This especially includes apple juice, raisins. Residual fruit sugars easily damage baby teeth. Restricting unlimited contact between food and ...
Can a Musical Instrument Affect Teeth?
Ever think of asking your dentist which musical instrument you should play? Few people do. But especially for young people, an early dental analysis—before selecting a musical instrument—can be important. Surprisingly, some instruments—woodwind or brass—can ...
Are First Teeth Just Born to Lose?
Kids' teeth—paying special attention to them lays a firm foundation for a lifetime of healthy teeth. They're milestones in your child's development, those first teeth. You mark the date in the baby book when the ...
These are Times that Stress Kids’ Mouths
What does a student facing exam pressure have in common with a World War I soldier—or an 18th-Century British sailor? More than you might think. Kids surviving on junk food and stress are at risk ...
What Did You Say?
We've all heard young children speak "baby talk." Sometimes it can sound endearing—or it may be a speech defect. In early infancy, babies begin to make vowel sounds, usually mastered by age three. Consonant sounds ...
Baby Pacifier Pros and Cons
Is putting baby to bed with a pacifier the way to Sleep Heaven? Or the start of a dangerous habit? Moms and Dads, doctors, even dentists have passionate opinions on both sides. As usual, the ...
Baby Teeth and Teething
Being mammals, we sport two sets of teeth, the primaries and the permanent. Assuming Mom has already lent strength to her baby's teeth during pregnancy—beginning from week seven of prenatal life—teeth grow through two stages. ...
Thumb Sucking: A Most Common Habit
What's the most common thing nearly half of American toddlers do when they're tired, relaxing, sleeping or being scolded? They suck their thumbs! Thumb-sucking is the earliest and most common habit among children. It's nothing ...
