Madeline McGee

Brush Up on Oral Health Tips for Children’s Dental Health Month

February 1, 2025 by Madeline McGee

During the month of February, the American Dental Association celebrates National Children’s Dental Health Month. This month-long national health observance reinforces the importance of oral health in children as well as helping parents with tips to keep their child’s smile on track! At Children’s Dental Health, our dentists and staff are taking this opportunity to share oral health tips and raise awareness of the importance of pediatric dental care at an early age.

First Tooth, First Birthday, First Dental Visit.

New parents often ask, “When should my child first see a dentist?” It’s never too early to start focusing on your child’s oral health! The American Association of Pediatric Dentists recommends that parents establish a dental home for their child by their first tooth or first birthday. During this time, parents/guardians will have the opportunity to ask questions and address any dental concerns at the primary visit and the dentist will gently swab the child’s mouth to check their gums and any erupted teeth. As the child starts teething, the dentist will be able to monitor their progress and implement preventative measures for any concerns with your baby’s teeth.

Protect Tiny Teeth

Baby teeth are so important because of their key role of saving space for a child’s permanent teeth. They stay in a child’s mouth for 8-10 years and also affect their speaking, chewing, and, of course, smiling. Baby teeth can also indicate a child’s overall quality of health. Untreated tooth decay can cause oral infections that enter the bloodstream and lead to other serious health problems, while also allowing bacteria to spread to new adult teeth.

While daily brushing is an important part of a child’s oral hygiene routine, bacteria that causes tooth decay can still linger between teeth where the toothbrush can’t reach. That’s why it’s so important to help your kids incorporate flossing in their daily routine.

One significant oral health risk for infants and young children under the age of 1 is from baby bottle tooth decay. This occurs when your child consumes sugary liquid and bacteria in their mouth consume the sugar and produce acid. This acid attacks the enamel on baby teeth can trigger tooth decay after continued exposure. Liquids that contribute to this condition include milk, formula, fruit juice, soda, and any other sweetened drinks. If your child needs to sleep with a bottle, water is the safest option without any risk.

Parents, Did You Know?

Early childhood tooth decay has become the most common chronic childhood disease, impacting more children than asthma. According to the ADA, more than 40% of children have tooth decay by the time they reach Kindergarten. Additionally, kids who suffer from poor oral health are three times more likely to miss school as a result of dental pain.

The State of Pennsylvania has tried to tackle this oral health epidemic by requiring each child to receive a dental examination before enrolling in school, as well as in the 3rd and 7th grades. However, without regular six-month check-ups and establishing healthy oral health habits at an early age, small cavities can lead to much larger problems in little mouths.

Tips for Maintaining Your Child’s Oral Health

Our doctors take pride in serving patients in such vital years of early childhood. As pediatric dentists, they’ve had additional training beyond dental school to work specifically with babies and children in monitoring early oral development. We recommend the following oral health tips to start your little ones on their journey to a lifetime of healthy smiles.

Schedule routine check-ups. If it’s been more than six months since your child has seen a dentist, schedule an appointment as soon as possible.
Clean your baby’s gums daily. Until those teeth come in gently wipe a damp washcloth over the gums to clear away harmful bacteria after each feeding.
Start brushing with the first tooth. Begin brushing your baby’s teeth when you see one coming in with an infant toothbrush. Use water and a tiny bit of fluoride toothpaste (about the size of a grain of rice).
Brush twice each day for two minutes. Children ages 2-6 should use a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. Always supervise kids younger than six years old while brushing, as they are more likely to swallow toothpaste.
Begin flossing. Once your child’s teeth touch, you can start flossing in between them.
Snack healthy! Fruit juice, sports drinks, fruit snacks, and sticky candies all pose serious threats to your child’s teeth. Give kids calcium-rich snacks like cheese or low-sugar yogurt. If you have to resort to candy – a chocolate bar is preferable to gummy or sticky sweets that can get lodged in between the teeth, even after brushing.
Keep them hydrated! Avoid sugary drinks and stick to good old-fashioned water. Water helps to rinse away any sugar or particles that can lead to cavities. Many municipal water sources also contain fluoride, which is recommended by the American Dental Association and U.S. Surgeons General, among others, as an efficient way to prevent tooth decay. In fact, the theme of this year’s National Children’s Dental Health Month is celebrating 75 years of water fluoridation.
Replace your child’s toothbrush every three to four months.

Children’s Dental Health has been providing quality pediatric dental care in our communities for more than 40 years. With 20 practices located throughout Pennsylvania and Delaware, we provide access to dental care that is engaging, fun, and educational for patients. With our “show, tell, do” method, our growing patients actively learn routines to ensure a healthy smile for years to come. Schedule a tour or request an appointment online today by calling 1-(866) KIDS-DENTAL.

New Year Resolutions That Will Help Your Child’s Overall Health

December 10, 2024 by Madeline McGee

A new year is here, and it is a great time to reflect on the year and pick a resolution for the upcoming year. We can’t think of a resolution that’s more important than improving your child’s health for years to come. Prioritizing your child’s oral health is a wonderful new year resolution, so here are a few ways that parents can contribute to improving their child’s oral hygiene:

Healthy Diet = Happy Teeth

An easy way to improve your child’s oral health is to look at what your kids are eating, and what’s in your fridge and pantry. Maintaining a balanced diet with the proper nutrients can substantially impact children’s oral and overall health. Consuming a variety of veggies, fruits, proteins, and high-fiber grains is one of the best natural defenses against cavities and gum disease. These healthy foods also help freshen breath, clean plaque from teeth, keep your gums clean, and your teeth strong.

Sugary foods and drinks like sodas, candies, juice, and unhealthy sweetened cereal can lead to tooth decay and gum disease. Combine an unhealthy diet with poor oral hygiene habits and you’ve got a recipe for disaster! It’s best to avoid foods that are processed or high in carbohydrates, starches, or sugars. Those carbs, starches, and sugars cause plaque, the sticky clear film on your teeth. As that plaque stays on your child’s teeth, it creates acid that breaks down the tooth’s enamel and causes cavities. Cutting back on sweets and unhealthy foods as a new year resolution will help ensure your child has a healthy diet that will help keep the cavities away.

little girl and dad brushing teeth together

Consistent Oral Health Routine in the New Year

Did you know that it takes about 66 days to make a habit ‘automatic’? That’s why consistency is so important when helping your child form a dental routine at a young age. The early years of childhood can make or break a child’s smile. Parents who help their children exercise healthy habits on a daily basis and teach them about the importance of caring for their teeth are much less likely to have dental problems down the road in adolescence and adulthood. Brushing twice a day for two minutes and flossing daily are habits that will positively impact the oral health of your child.

Keep Up With Routine Dental Appointments

Many parents don’t know that their child should visit the dentist by their first birthday or by the time their first tooth comes in! If you’ve been procrastinating scheduling your child’s first (or next) dental checkup, January is the perfect time to get their smile on the right track. It’s important to establish a dental home early on and have your children see the dentist every six months for routine dental checkups and cleanings.

It’s never too late to start healthy habits at home with your kids, and now is as good a time as ever as you’re making new year resolutions. For more tips on practicing healthy habits at home, see our other blog posts.

Sources: https://www.healthline.com/health/how-long-does-it-take-to-form-a-habit

How To Keep Your Child’s Teeth Healthy and Happy This Halloween

October 16, 2023 by Madeline McGee

Trick or Teeth! Halloween can play some major tricks on your child’s teeth if you’re not careful. We don’t discourage anyone from treating their sweet tooth this time of year, but we want to help make Halloween not so scary for parents who care about their children’s oral health. Here are some tricks we have up our sleeve on how to keep their child’s teeth happy and healthy without taking the fun out of Halloween.

What Is The Worst Candy For My Child’s Teeth?

We can all agree that candy simply isn’t good for teeth, but some candies are worse than others – especially if your child has braces. Here’s our list of the “scariest” candies most likely to give your dentist nightmares:

Sticky, Chewy, or Gummy Candy- Beware of sticky candy! The stickier the food is, the longer it will adhere to your child’s teeth and the more likely it is to be left behind, even after brushing. This gives bacteria more time to do their dirty work, making your child’s teeth more prone to cavities the longer candy is stuck in between your child’s teeth. If your child has braces, chewing on sticky candy can lead to broken brackets and more trips to the orthodontist. Some sticky candies you should pass on if your child has braces are taffy, caramels, Tootsie Rolls, gummy bears, Starbursts, and butterscotch to name a few.
Sour or Acidic Candy- It’s the tart and tangy candy that seems to be all fun and games until they break down enamel and create lasting damage to your teeth. Sour Patch Kids, War Heads, Air Heads, Sour Punch Straws, and other sour candies can make your child more prone to tooth decay due to the acids breaking down their tooth enamel. The more frequently kids have these treats the more likely this damage is to occur.
Hard Candy- Hard candies like Jolly Ranchers and Tootsie Roll Pops are bad for your teeth due to the amount of time that it takes to suck on the candy before it’s gone. Your child’s teeth are essentially swimming in sugar for an extended period of time, which means an increased risk of tooth decay. Candies that are finished quickly are better for your child’s teeth since the sugar has less time to linger. Not to mention chewing on hard candy can take a toll on both your child’s teeth and their orthodontic appliances.

What Are The Best Candies For My Child To Eat?

So you’re probably wondering, “What candy can my kids eat?”. Candy certainly doesn’t do your child’s smile any favors, but your kids will have a not-so-scary dental visit if they eat more of these candies that are less likely to do damage:

Chocolate and Candy Bars- Chocolate is a better alternative to indulge in since it’s less likely to stay behind after you brush and generally has less sugar than sticky and acidic candies. There are countless chocolate bars to choose from like white, dark, or nutty chocolate bars of all shapes and sizes. There are even some health benefits to a small daily dose of dark chocolate! According to Medical News Today, studies have shown that dark chocolate can decrease the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. The antioxidants and minerals found in dark chocolate contribute to the variety of health benefits this sweet treat can give you if you care to indulge.
Sugarless Gum and Candies- Though you need to be aware of artificial flavoring, sugarless gum and other candies tend to be less sticky and not as hard or acidic as other candies you’ll find in the candy aisle. They also clearly have less sugar content, which could save you the stress of a late-night sugar rush many trick or treaters have. Sugar-free candies are a great alternative for children with diabetes and also have less carbs, fat, and calories than traditional candy.

Treat Your Child’s Sweet Tooth At Meal Time

The best time for your child to indulge in their sweet treats is following their lunch or dinner. This is when saliva production is the highest. The increase in saliva does your teeth a favor by preventing acid buildup along with rinsing away food particles. This is a healthier alternative than eating candy throughout the day which allows plaque to build up and rest on teeth for longer periods of time, which can lead to cavities.

Brush and Floss Your Fangs

Everyone knows the golden rule of brushing twice a day for two minutes and flossing each night, but your child’s smile will need a little extra care this time of year! One way to make brushing fun for your kids this Halloween is giving your child a new toothbrush in their favorite color once the trick or treating has come to a close. When your child has had their treats for the night, give them their new toothbrush and remind them how to keep those fangs clean as a whistle. Brushing each tooth in small circles on the front, back and top can be a little tricky for kids. Supervising and brushing your teeth with your child can make brushing both fun and thorough.

How Can Dental Sealants Prevent Cavities?

January 13, 2022 by Madeline McGee

During your child’s next 6 month check-up, ask your pediatric dentist about dental sealants and how they can prevent cavities. In many cases, it is nearly impossible for children to clean the tiny grooves in their teeth – especially those molars in the back of their mouths. This is where sealants can help!

What Are Sealants?

Sealants are a hardened plastic resin material that protects teeth from bacteria. When sealants are applied to a tooth, it’s bonded into the grooves of the chewing surface. There are no longer any places on the chewing part of the tooth that a toothbrush can’t reach and clean, which aids in preventing tooth decay.

When we explain dental sealants to kids, we often compare them to a shield or raincoat, keeping the bacteria and acids in foods from settling into the teeth, just like a raincoat prevents people from getting wet.

What To Expect When Getting Sealants

Sealants are quick and painless! Generally, the procedure of applying a sealant takes just one visit, and all normal activities can resume directly after the appointment. To prepare to put the sealant in place, we’ll put a gauze in your mouth to make sure your teeth are comfortable and kept dry. Next we clean your tooth to prepare to apply the sealant. After the sealant is applied, your pediatric dentist will then harden your new sealant with a blue light to help protect the tooth from cavities and bacteria. Sealants are typically clear or white, so they’re not visible when you’re smiling or talking.

Even with sealants, children should still continue to brush and floss daily. Sealants do not completely protect teeth from cavities. At your next routine dental checkup, your pediatric dentist will ensure that your sealants aren’t in need of repair or reapplication. Sealants should last several years but can become loose or worn over time and need to eventually be replaced to continue to protect the tooth properly.

Should My Child Get Sealants?

If your child has trouble brushing well, sealants may be an option to consider. Sealants are used most in children and teenagers since that’s when teeth are first developing and signs of tooth decay may begin to arise. The best way to know for sure is to speak with your pediatric dentist at your next appointment to determine if sealants are the best option for your child.

The benefits of sealants are:

Prevent cavities
Reduced dental expenses
Quick and painless procedure

How Speech Correlates with Oral Health Development

December 3, 2021 by Madeline McGee

A Guest Blog by Theraplay

Many parents don’t realize how closely teeth correlate with children’s speech development. Teeth have the ability to impact how children articulate words, produce sounds, and can have a lasting effect on a child’s ability to talk. Without teeth, a child would struggle with speech and feeding. Ironically, voice can be impacted as well and even language.

To speak on this topic, we’re excited to feature a guest blog post from our community partner, Theraplay. Theraplay is an organization that provides occupational, physical, speech and feeding therapy for children from birth to 21.

Articulation and Language Production

Teeth can dramatically impact articulation, which is the ability for us to produce sounds appropriately. Articulation is what many commonly think of when it comes to Speech Therapists and their work. Some examples of articulation therapy are kids in school working on their ‘R’ and ‘S’ productions. Language production starts around the time of a child’s first birthday which is when they should have their first dental appointment scheduled.

At the age of one, children start to put sounds together and make requests through expressive language. During this developmental stage, children will start to learn where they’re anchoring their sounds in their mouth. As they get more familiar with vocalizing and mouth movement, their sound production improves.

How Teeth Development Can Impact Sound Distortion

At Theraplay, your child’s speech therapist will check on the development of their teeth to ensure that they’re healthy! Good oral hygiene improves a child’s chances of avoiding sound distortion. Some children have healthy teeth and can still struggle with the production of certain sounds. If that’s the case, speech therapists sometimes substitute the sound they’re having difficulty pronouncing with other sounds that will help them produce a sound successfully. Some sounds are impacted by teeth development more than others, which is why children often struggle with the ‘F’ sound and ‘S’ sound.

‘F’ sound: To produce the ‘F’ sound, we put those top teeth on our bottom lip to make that ‘F’ production. If we don’t have those teeth, we’re already setting our children up for some challenges.
‘S’ sound: ‘S’ is another sound that is dramatically impacted by teeth development. If those teeth aren’t there in the front, our tongue can start to come out and we start to develop what’s called, a frontal lisp. And as we say the word Sally, that tongue is coming out the front, and then what we have to do is reteach the child, the motor plan so that they can successfully produce those sounds.

Assessing the Uvula at Your Child’s Dental Exam

The uvula, better known as the ‘hanging ball thing’ in the back of your throat, can also play a factor in sound articulation. At your child’s dental visit, your pediatric dentist may assess the uvula during their exam. This may help provide information for your child’s speech therapist if the uvula is impacting the production of sounds. One of the primary functions of the uvula is to close off the nasal passage. This allows air to move and produce the sounds out of our mouth.

Believe it or not, we have sounds that come out of our mouth as well as our nose! If the uvula is not functioning properly, sounds will be distorted, which could make a child hard to understand and can cause long term frustrations. If their peers can’t understand what they’re saying they can be frustrated over time. It is so important that we give our children the ability to have the structures in place to successfully produce the sounds.

The Tongue and Molars Role In Feeding

Did you know that at Theraplay, our speech therapists can work on feeding? One of the common questions we get is, “My child doesn’t have the teeth, can they eat the table food?” Yes, they can! Your speech therapist can assess how the food moves around your child’s mouth. Your child’s pediatric dentist may also help in assessing the structure of your child’s mouth to ensure food can move around the mouth successfully.

The tongue moves food back and forth in our mouth until it gets on the molars which chew and break down the food. Before children have their full set of baby teeth, molars play a key role at their young age to move and break down the food. After we chew up the food, we need our tongue to bring the “ball” of food (or bolus) back to the center of mouth, we get a cohesive bolus with the food and then we swallow it down.

Our occupational therapists at Theraplay also see children who have feeding challenges. They may see children who are picky eaters and/or have sensory aversions to temperature, texture, color and even brands of foods. If children start brushing their gums and teeth at a young age, besides keeping the gums and teeth healthy, it helps them desensitize and have that feeling of something in their mouth and then that will translate into the food as well. If a child doesn’t put anything in their mouth besides the bottle, they could be more resistant to accepting other things in their mouth including food.

Tongue Ties

If your child is facing issues like tongue ties, your child’s dentist will partner with your speech therapist. Your pediatric dentist at Children’s Dental Health can help your speech therapist assess the range of motion of the tongue and the structure of the tongue. Tongue ties can impact a child’s ability to feed successfully, especially for babies who are being breastfed. Children with tongue ties may have a harder time latching onto the breast if their tongue movement is restrictive which is something that your speech therapist at Theraplay can help with!

Sometimes, dentists recommend a tongue clip to help a child successfully feed. As children get older, sometimes they can’t move that tongue for the sound if their tongue has a limited range of motion because of a tongue tie. If that is the case, your speech therapist at Theraplay may need to consult with our dentists to see what the impact functionally is concerning the movement of the tongue.

How Water Impacts Children’s Voices and Oral Health

When it comes to children’s ability to speak, their water intake can play a huge factor. Water is important for our voice and helps use our voice successfully. As speech therapists, we hear a lot of kids that come in with a “froggy” voice. And sometimes that is truly because they are only drinking sugary drinks or the sodas with caffeine. Not only is this lack of water not healthy for their voice, but it’s also detrimental to their oral health. Sugary drinks and can lead to cavities, break down enamel, and effect their overall health. If you notice your child’s voice sounds “froggy,” “raspy,” or “hoarse” all the time, consult with a speech therapist and try to increase the water intake in your child.

About Theraplay

Theraplay has 14 centers in Eastern PA, DE and NJ. Theraplay’s Director of Clinical Services, Courtney Klinger is also a speech and language pathologist and treats many children with challenges ranging from articulation, expressive and receptive language delays, feeding challenges and a variety of oral motor issues.

Children’s Dental Health and Theraplay work together to help support our mutual patients and children of our communities. The pediatric dental residents from Temple University Hospital also spend time in Theraplay centers to learn about their patients and therapies.

If you are concerned about your child’s oral health, speech or feeding, please reach out to us to schedule an evaluation at one of our centers. All center locations are listed on Theraplay’s website: www.theraplayinc.com

Your Child’s First Orthodontic Exam

May 27, 2021 by Madeline McGee

Did you know that children should have their first orthodontic exam no later than the age of seven? While pediatric dentists focus on the health of the teeth and gums, orthodontists focus on the growth and development of the teeth and jaw. We offer free orthodontic consultations for kids since this is such an essential step in developing a healthy smile and self-esteem that will last a lifetime.

Our orthodontists ensure that your child’s smile is developing the proper spacing and alignment. Properly aligned teeth make brushing and flossing easier, reduce the risk of decay, and are less likely to be fractured or damaged during falls or other injuries.

Our pediatric dentists may notice preliminary orthodontic problems, but only an orthodontist can give a comprehensive evaluation to determine the proper course of action. Teeth, and sometimes entire facial structures, can be permanently changed and enhanced by orthodontic treatment. Our orthodontic specialists have extensive and specialized training that enables them to provide patients with professional, personalized treatment plans.

What are the benefits of early orthodontic treatment?

Children should visit an orthodontist by the age of seven to assess potential tooth and jaw problems. Early orthodontic treatment is advantageous because a young child’s teeth have not finished erupting, which allows orthodontists to guide the growth of facial and jawbones to address any problems at the earliest stage possible.

The goal of early treatment is to prevent a developing problem, eliminate the cause, and guide the growth of the facial and jawbones to prepare enough space for permanent teeth. A patient may require a second course of treatment after all permanent teeth have come in to move those teeth into their best positions.

An orthodontist may recommend treating a child who still has their baby teeth if they discover the following issues:

Underbites when the lower front teeth are ahead of the upper front teeth
Crossbites when the jaw shifts to one side
Crowded front teeth
Teeth that are spaced too far apart
Extra or missing teeth
Teeth that meet abnormally, or do not meet at all
Thumb, finger, or pacifier sucking that affects the teeth or jaw growth

While some of these issues are inherited, others may result from accidents, dental disease, sports injuries, or abnormal swallowing. Early orthodontic treatment can take many forms, and each plan will consider the patient’s oral growth and development. The orthodontist could prescribe a fixed or removable appliance to change the position of the jaw, move teeth, or hold teeth in place to see desirable changes. Sometimes appliances are not necessary, and rather, the removal of baby teeth may help the permanent teeth erupt better.

Get Your Child’s Smile On Track!

We want to help set your child up for success which is why we offer FREE Orthodontic Consultations!* At your child’s complimentary orthodontic consult, our orthodontist will perform a visual orthodontic evaluation and make a recommendation for a proposed treatment plan. You can expect your consultation to take about 15 minutes- quick and easy! Book your free consultation and give your child a gift that will last a lifetime.

Complimentary Consultation Includes:

Visual Orthodontic Evaluation
Panoramic X-ray