Tooth decay is the number one chronic disease affecting young children in the United States; it is 5-times more common than asthma and 7-times more common than allergies.

Tooth pain keeps children home from school and distracts them from learning.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recognizes that the best way to decrease children’s tooth decay is by visiting a dentist early on, recommending that each child should have a dental visit by his or her first birthday.

Teething can cause soreness and swelling in the gums as those baby teeth make their way through. Symptoms can start a few days before the tooth shows, and they may disappear as soon as the tooth erupts through the gum.

This pain and swelling is what causes them to be more fussy and agitated, and as a result can raise their body temperature to slightly warmer than normal. Teething is a normal physiologic process. If your child has a fever or nasal congestion, it is not from teething. Many babies also drool excessively during this time, which can cause a rash on their skin and face from the saliva. You may also notice that your baby will want to bite more on their fingers and toys to help relieve some of the discomfort they feel in their gums. On some extreme occasions, babies may be picky or refuse to eat and drink for a couple of days. If your baby’s symptoms seem severe or do not subside, contact your child's pediatrician.

Here are some helpful tips that will help them get through the teething process:

Rubbing: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends rubbing your baby’s swollen, tender gums with a (clean) finger to provide soothing counterpressure. Your baby may cry and resist at first because it seems to hurt initially, but the counterpressure soon brings relief.

Chewing: Teething babies love to chew, and for good reason: The gumming action provides counterpressure, which relieves the aching pressure of new pearly whites pushing up and out into the mouth. Provide safe objects for your baby to chew on, such as teething rings. Teethers come in many variations now, ranging from pacifier types for babies, to other types for older children finding discomfort in molars erupting. Silicone teethers are best and many can be placed in the refrigerator or freezer to be made cold and additionally aid in discomfort. A clean, cold, damp washcloth makes a great teether. Putting it in the freezer for a few minutes will additionally help in the relief to numb the gum.

Cold food: Like icy food to suck on or chilled food to eat, such as yogurt, blended peaches, and applesauce (once they've already been introduced to your baby), can be more appetizing than warm or room-temperature foods, and can ease achy gums. Also, frozen fruits like bananas and plums can be placed in a baby feeder mesh bag (so large chunks of gummed-off food can't pose a choking risk), but only under adult supervision and with baby sitting or propped upright.

Cold drinks: A bottle of icy cold water can offer chilly relief to achy gums for babies over six months old (when water can be introduced), or, if baby doesn't take a bottle or balks at sucking, give (ice-free) water in a cup.

Pain relief: If chewing, rubbing, and sucking chilly foods don't do the trick, you can give your baby a mild pain reliever that is labelled for their specific age. Acetaminophen may help relieve some of their discomfort for a longer length of time.

Teething gel: Teething gels should be your very last resort for children under 2 — and only with a doctor’s okay. The main ingredient in most teething gels, liquids, and swabs is benzocaine, an anesthetic that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says can cause a “rare but serious” condition called methemoglobinemia.

From the moment you call us for your child’s first appointment, we will make your child’s visit a pleasant one, establishing a relationship of trust and ultimately assisting you in developing necessary dental habits.

When you first arrive at our office, we will make your child feel welcome with a tour of the office. During this initial visit, our focus is on providing proper dental education and a comprehensive oral examination. We will recommend ways to protect your child’s oral health by evaluating habits, diet and use of fluoride. Our objective is to teach both you and your child how to properly clean and brush his or her teeth.

We may also choose to perform a professional cleaning, and provide a topical fluoride treatment. Also, if necessary, x-rays may be requested. If we find that your child requires treatment beyond a dental cleaning, we will discuss their treatment plan in detail with you, making sure you understand exactly what we recommend, what all your options are, and why.

Also called "periodontal disease," it is defined as inflammation and receding of the gums. If severe enough, gum disease can lead to loss of the soft and hard tissues that holds teeth in place, and ultimately loss of teeth.

Plaque, the key player in tooth decay, is also the cause of gum disease with different types of bacteria. When not removed properly, plaque can harden around the gumline, causing the gums to pull away from teeth and forming pockets where more bacteria can collect. If left untreated, gum disease can lead to the following symptoms: swollen/bleeding gums, constant bad breath, pus between teeth and gums, and in advanced cases, teeth that are loose or moving away from one another.

Painful and annoying, a mouth sore of any type can make eating and drinking for a week or two quite a challenge. Canker sores should not be mistaken for other mouth sores that are caused by viruses like the Cold sores. Here are the key differences and their treatments:

Canker sores only appear inside the mouth (inside the cheek, under the tongue, or in the back of the throat.) They usually have a red edge and a gray center.

They can be quite painful. Canker sores aren't contagious. They may happen if you have a viral infection. They may also be triggered by stress, food allergies, lack of vitamins and minerals, hormonal changes or menstrual periods. Sometimes trauma such as scratches, bites, or cuts in the mouth can also cause canker sores or further irritate an existing one. In some cases, the cause is unknown. The only treatment is to relieve its symptoms – they simply have to run their course of 7 to 10 days. Over-the-counter pain medication (Advil or Tylenol) or topical numbing agents or antimicrobial mouth rinses (ask your pharmacist) offer temporary but good relief. Also, avoiding spicy, hot, acidic, hard, or crunchy foods will keep the canker sore from getting further irritated and thus delaying the healing process.

Cold sores, or fever blisters, are fluid-filled red blisters on the lips and skin around them. They are caused by various herpes viruses, are highly contagious, and are sometimes accompanied by a cold or flu with fever. Some people find a cold sore painful and others find the sores tingle, itch, or burn. Once a patient is infected with this virus, it “sleeps” in the nerve cells and “wakes up” when the body is stressed. Wind, sunlight, and fatigue can cause a flare up of the herpes virus. Unfortunately, there is no cure for cold sore. A sore will usually heal on its own without any scar within 12 days by blistering, breaking open, oozing fluid, and a scab formation. The oozing fluid stage is the most contagious as the liquid contains millions of infectious virus particles that can spread to other body parts or other people via skin contact or by sharing utensils, towels, or drinks. Thus, during the outbreak, prevent your child from scratching or picking at the sores. Antiviral medication in pills or ointment can speed healing and can be most effective in early stage of outbreak (before blistering). Over-the-counter topical anesthetics or antiviral agents provide good temporary relief of discomfort. Contact your pediatrician or pediatric dentist to arrange a visit. Avoid your child from eating foods that can further irritate the sore such as acidic, spicy, hard, or crunchy foods. Using sun block before being in the sun and lip balm for dry lips can help prevent such outbreaks.

If your child breaks or chips a tooth in an accident: It is best to see the dentist as soon as possible.

Locate and save any broken tooth fragments.

At the site of the accident, rinse dirt from the injured area with warm water.

Place a cold compress or ice over the face if there is swelling or if the child has abrasions.