When Should My Child Stop Sucking Their Thumb?

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Thumb sucking is, by anyone’s standards, normal childhood behavior. This is true even though the theories and the research behind it may not always be as definitive as a parent wants them to be. At Luce Tooth Pediatric Dental, our staff recommends eliminating the habit by the time the child reaches the age of four. We’ll tell you more about the general principles of pediatric care and why it’s important to keep tabs on activities like thumb-sucking.

Dental Care for Life

Dental care should ideally start as soon as possible, which is why kids are encouraged to visit a dentist at least twice a year (same as adults). In a perfect world, a pediatric dentist in Seminole, FL would be a constant partner in a parent’s life from the first sign of a tooth breaking through the gums.

This is because how a child’s teeth are shaped comes down to a wide variety of factors, including how the child eats and what kinds of habits they pick up. Thumb sucking may seem harmless, but it can have negative effects on the alignment of their teeth. It can also lead to more expensive treatments down the road, such as traditional braces or invisible aligners. Finally, because thumb sucking is usually a means of self-soothing, working with a child can also give him more practical ways to deal with stress as they get older.

Pediatric Dentists in Seminole, FL

The right dentist in Seminole, FL will know how to work with their patients to get the best possible results. If you want to talk to someone who can give you real advice in addition to standard exams and treatments, Luce Tooth Pediatric Dental is a practice that caters to the oral health and well-being of children. To learn more about how to give your child their best chance at having a healthy set of teeth, contact us today.

Could My Infant Have a Tongue-Tie?

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Some children are born with a condition called a tongue-tie. The fancy term is ankyloglossia. This condition often becomes noticeable when the infant experiences problems with breastfeeding. However, if the baby has no problems with eating, a tongue-tie may go unnoticed until a later time. Usually, your pediatrician will notice a tongue-tie during your baby’s routine medical exam. For families located in central Florida, treatment may require a visit to your pediatric dentist in Seminole.

Symptoms of Infant Tongue-Tie

You may notice several symptoms if your infant has a tongue-tie. They include:

  • Heart-shaped appearance of the tongue when extended
  • Difficulty latching on when breastfeeding
  • Difficulty moving the tongue, either in or out or from side to side

If a tongue-tie causes little problems for your newborn, it may go undetected until your child is old enough to speak. At this point, your child’s doctor or teacher may notice speech problems.

Is a Tongue-Tie Dangerous?

A tongue-tie is only dangerous if it prevents an infant from taking in the necessary nutrition. It happens because a small flap of skin, called the lingual frenulum, fails to separate before birth. Instead, it remains attached to the bottom of the tongue, greatly limiting its movement.

If your baby fails to gain weight in infancy, your pediatrician will check for a tongue-tie. The condition can then be corrected quite easily through procedures such as a frenotomy or frenuloplasty. These involve snipping the small flap of skin that ties the tongue to the bottom of the mouth. In some instances, an infant tongue-tie may correct on its own, without surgical intervention.

Treatment for Tongue-Tie in Seminole, FL

If your child is struggling with the symptoms of tongue-tie in Seminole, FL, Luce Tooth Pediatric Dentistry has solutions. Call today to schedule a consultation and routine dental exam.

At Luce Tooth Pediatric Dentistry, we specialize in working with children. Our team is highly experienced, friendly, and always ready to make you and your child feel at ease. Contact us today to set up an appointment.

Sources

Home

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tongue-tie/symptoms-causes/syc-20378452#:~:text=Tongue%2Dtie%20(ankyloglossia)%20is%20a%20condition%20present%20at%20birth,may%20interfere%20with%20breast%2Dfeeding.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tongue-tie/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20378456

How to Choose a Pediatric Dentist

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As a parent, you want to find the best possible pediatric dentist in Seminole, FL. But exactly how do you go about finding a dentist you and your child can trust?

Five Tips for Choosing the Right Pediatric Dentist for Your Child

Here are five tips that will help you find the best possible pediatric dentist for your child.

1. Education and Pediatric Dental Experience

It’s important to find a dentist that specializes in pediatric dental care. A dentist that knows how to deal with children on their level and can make the entire “scary” experience comfortable rather than terrifying.

2. Comfortable Kid-Friendly Environment and a Personalized Experience

Your pediatric dentist’s office should feel warm and inviting and come across as a magical place to visit. The office should be kid-friendly, so the first thing your child sees when they walk in is a “fun” place to be. Your child’s pediatric dentist should also provide each child with a personalized experience based on their specific issues, fears, and personality.

3. Initial Consultation

A good pediatric dentist in Seminole, FL, will also have you bring your child in for an initial consultation. On the first visit, the dentist will look inside your child’s mouth without using any type of dental equipment. This will give your child a chance to get used to the dentist and the dental experience without fear. This will also help set a good foundation for future dental visits.

4. Observe How Your Child Is Treated and How They Interact with All Staff Members

During your child’s first dental visit, observe how your child is treated and how they interact with the dentist and the entire staff. This will tell you if that dentist is a good fit for your child.

5. Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions

Finding the right pediatric dentist for your child takes some research. So don’t hesitate to ask questions. If you receive any answers you are not comfortable with or don’t agree with, move on.

What’s Next?

If you need a pediatric dentist in Seminole, FL, or the surrounding area, please Contact Luce Tooth Pediatric Dentistry today. We promise to make your child’s dental experience comfortable, fun, and fear-free. Our office has kid-friendly video games, TVs over the chairs with wireless headphones, prize towers, and a super-special photo wall to show your child how great they are.

My Child Is Nervous About Visiting the Dentist. What Can I Do?

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Some children get anxious when they see the dentist. If your child feels nervous about seeing the pediatric dentist in Seminole, FL, you can help. By setting expectations, working with the right dentist, and by reading books about the dentist to your child, you can help your child feel more comfortable with their next dental visit. Below, we’ve listed several things you can do to help your child feel better about their next visit to the dentist.

Set Expectations

Some kids just need to know what they can expect from their next dental visit. You can set expectations by talking about what happens when you see the dentist, and how good you feel when you’re done with your dentist appointments. The more your child hears about your visits with the dentist, the better they can feel about their own trips to the dentist.

Find a Dentist With Strategies to Help Kids

Some dentists work with kids all the time. These dentists often have smart strategies for helping their patients feel less anxiety. Find a dentist in your area that works with children and has methods for helping their patients feel better in the dental chair.

Read Books About Going to the Dentist

There are lots of kids books about going to the dentist. Find books that appeal to your child and read to them about how dentists help you keep clean teeth. This will help set expectations for your child.

Play Dentist

Before you take your child to their next pediatric dental exam in Seminole, FL, play dentist together. Pretend you’re the dentist and show your child how the dentist will perform the examination. Your child will see there’s nothing to be afraid of.

Want more suggestions? Contact Luce Tooth Pediatric Dentistry today.

When Should My Child’s First Dental Visit Be?

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Many new parents mistakenly think that the first tooth coming in is the right time to take their child to the pediatric dentist in Seminole, FL. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry advises going to the dentist much earlier, however.

It Depends Upon the Age of Your Child, Not on the First Tooth

It is a mistake to hold off until the first tooth erupts. That moment may not occur until the child is much older, up to two years old. Officially, dentists recommend bringing your child to the dentist as soon as the first tooth appears, but this needs to occur no later than one year of age, whether or not the first tooth has appeared. Don’t wait until the tooth has fully grown in.

Problems Can Develop Below the Gum Line

In fact, certain issues may cause poor tooth development beneath the gum line, even before the first tooth has even erupted. When you take your child to the dentist before the first tooth has completely erupted, the pediatric dentist in Seminole, FL will be able to do a dental exam and take necessary preventive measures to address problems before they worsen.

Health of Primary Teeth is Crucial

The AAPD states that it is crucial to preserve primary (or “baby”) teeth until they fall out naturally. The primary teeth are crucial for a variety of reasons, including:

  • supporting chewing to obtain good nutrition
  • ensuring adequate speech development
  • saving room for permanent teeth

Parents can take advantage of the first dental appointment to discover the best ways to look after their children’s teeth so that, when the child is old enough, they can teach their children the best ways to ensure oral health. To book your child’s first visit to the dentist now, please contact us today!

When Should My Child Have Their First Visit With The Dentist?  

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Do you know when your child should have their first appointment with their dentist in Seminole, FL? Knowing when to schedule the first visit is important. Making their first appointment on time, knowing what to expect and preparing for the first visit can make the experience a positive one for you and your child.

When to Schedule the First Appointment

Schedule your child’s first appointment with the dentist when their tooth first erupts from the gums (within about six months of the event), or when they turn one year old – whichever comes first. During this first appointment, the dentist can help your child become familiar with the dentist office, while also checking to see whether everything is going alright with your child’s dental development.

What to Expect During Your Child’s First Dental Exam

During your child’s first dental exam, the dentist will take a look in your child’s mouth and answer any questions you might have about your child’s oral hygiene. The dentist will also show you how to brush your child’s teeth.

If your child is older than a baby or a toddler, the dentist may give your child a full dental cleaning. This will depend on your child’s age.

How to Prepare for the Appointment

Get prepared for your child’s first appointment with the dentist by writing down any questions you might have about your child’s teeth, and how to take care of them.

Your child may only have one or two teeth at this point, but that doesn’t mean they don’t need proper dental care! Your child’s dentist can help.

Does your child need a pediatric dental exam in Seminole FL? Contact Luce Tooth Pediatric Dentistry to make your appointment today.

 

 

What to Expect from Pediatric Tongue Tie Surgery  

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Ankyloglossia, more commonly referred to as tongue tie, is a common condition in young children. This congenital problem causes tightness or shortness of the lingual frenulum, which is a thin fold of tissue underneath the tongue that can cause issues with mobility.

Children with a tongue tie may not be able to eat properly or speak clearly until a dentist fixes the problem. A tongue tie is often more serious among infants who cannot latch onto the breast or a bottle nipple properly when eating. Here are some other symptoms that parents of infants and young children with a tongue tie might notice:

  • Infants appear malnourished or receive a diagnosis of failure to thrive
  • Children cannot move the tongue sideways, toward the upper teeth, or stick their tongue out past the lower front teeth.
  • Children struggle to produce certain speech sounds, especially d, l, r, n, t, th, and z.
  • Breastfeeding mothers complain of pain because babies bite rather than suck.

Tongue tie surgery in Seminole, FL is just one of the many services we provide at Luce Tooth Pediatric Dentistry.

Our Approaches to Tongue Tie Surgery

During a frenotomy, your child’s dentist makes a small cut in the lingual frenulum to free the tongue to make all types of movements. Babies can begin feeding normally immediately after the procedure. Parents should also stretch their infant’s tongue tissue for up to four weeks to make sure that the skin does not grow back too tight.

The dental team reserves the frenuloplasty for more severe cases of tongue tie when the lingual frenulum is too thick for a simple cut. Children will need anesthesia for a frenuloplasty because it is plastic surgery.

We encourage parents not to let a tongue tie go uncorrected indefinitely as it could lead to significant problems for their child. Please contact our pediatric dental practice in Seminole, FL to learn more about these two procedures today.