Teeth Whitening

/

Many patients inquire about teeth whitening or bleaching, whether they’re starting to lose those first very opaque white baby teeth and growing in the more yellowish looking adult teeth, or our teenagers that have just completed their orthodontic treatment. Its important to know that bleaching may not be for everyone! Here are some of the biggest considerations:

AGE: Firstly, we do not recommend bleaching under the age of 16, and that is because the teeth have not fully matured yet. The pulp chamber or nerve of the tooth is still enlarged up until this age. When the teeth are whitened, this could irritate the pulp and cause it to become sensitive or to encounter nerve damage.

DENTAL HEALTH: Secondly, we cannot recommend bleaching for a patient that has active gum disease, dental caries, abnormal tooth conditions or currently is wearing any sort of orthodontic appliances in the mouth. Whitening solutions can enter the tooth and progress decay by further weakening the tooth leading to sensitivity, pain and even infection. Whitening products or bleach do not work on existing dental restorations like composite “fillings” or crowns, so its important to consider that the entire tooth may not have an even esthetic result, especially on the front teeth. Teeth that have conditions that effect the outer or inner coloring of the teeth may not respond to bleaching. These conditions include erosion (i.e. acidic diet, medical conditions like reflux/GERD, etc), enamel hypoplasia, internal tetracycline staining, previous trauma causing an internally discolored tooth, and more. For these conditions its better to consider endodontic treatment and/or veneers/crowns to achieve the desired result.

What are your OPTIONS?  In the later teen years, we recommend first trying with a gentle over the counter product such as Crest whitening toothpaste or Whitestrips with parental supervision. Testing these out first will help the patient gauge how sensitive their teeth may be, if there are any allergies to the whitening agents used in the products, and if they can be reliable/consistent to use these products. If the patient tolerates these well and they still want to achieve a better result, then we recommend prescription products performed by the dentist. We make customer retainer trays that accurately fit the patient’s teeth to hold the proper amount of a higher concentration of teeth bleach that is effective and safe for the patient to use.

Bleaching is not a permanent solution and must be repeated as needed, especially because foods and drinks can re-stain the teeth over time. Bleaching should be done in a dental office by a trained professional who understand risks of damage to enamel, gums and other intraoral soft tissues and are able to educate and protect patients from such problems.

Want to know if your child is a candidate for teeth whitening? Come see us at Heights Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics!

Halloween Candy Buy Back

/

We are having our Annual Halloween Candy Buy Back program at Heights Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics starting November 1st!

Have your kids bring their leftover Halloween candy to our office and trade it in for $1.00 per pound (up to $5.00). 

The last day to collect candy will be November 9th!

We will donate the candy along with toothbrushes to our troops overseas through Move America Forward!

October is National Dental Hygiene Month!

/

This month is about promoting healthy mouths and healthy smiles! No one likes a dirty mouth, especially your own. And I bet you’ve noticed your breath more with all this mask wearing! A healthy mouth starts with a good oral hygiene routine in your own home. Here are some tips for starting a healthy routine for your family:

1) Brush twice a day for TWO minutes - Brushing removes the icky biofilm of bacteria on your teeth and tongue. This keeps the mouth clean and also helps with fresh breath because plaque and tartar carry a stinky smell! Using fluoride toothpaste with brushing helps to strengthen the enamel and fight cavities! So brush for two minutes twice a day in a gentle, circular motion at a 45-degree angle to brush the yucky away! AND, don’t forget the tongue!

2) Floss everyday - Did you know that if you don’t floss, then you’re missing cleaning 40% of the surfaces of your teeth? The teeth are usually tight and touching together, and may even be crowded so food gets trapped in this places in between the teeth. Our toothbrush bristles are too thick to reach in those tight contacts. That’s why flossing is so important! Use the floss up and down in between each tooth to clean. If you don’t, food and sugars may linger there causing cavities in between the teeth where you can’t see with yours eyes!

3) Rinse with mouthwash - Mouthwash prevents buildup of plaque, kills and reduces bacteria in the mouth, strengthens tooth enamel, promotes healthy gums, and helps freshen breath! Choose an antimicrobial, anti-cavity fluoride mouth rinse. If you don’t like the “sting” or “burn” of some mouth rinses, then it’s okay to choose an alcohol-free rinse!

We love our dental hygienists, Karlie and Stefanie! They do an amazing job taking care of all of our patients. This month we also celebrate them for keeping our mouths happy and healthy!

Make sure to schedule your next dental appointment and come visit us soon. It is recommended to see your dentist and dental hygienist every 6 months for a professional dental cleaning. We can provide tips on how to improve your oral hygiene routine at home, areas to focus on, tools to take home such as flossers that work around braces or new soft-bristled toothbrushes appropriate for your age and mouth size, etc.

Give us a call at 713-861-4000 to schedule your next appointment!

September Employee of the Month!

/

Our summer has officially come to an end, and Fall is off to a great start! We have the best team that worked extremely hard to provide the best care to our amazing patients. It’s hard to pick just one, but we want to congratulate our September Employee of the Month:

Phuong!

Congratulations! We love having you on our Heights Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics team. You are our smiling face to greet patients as they walk in the door every day! Thank you Phuong!

But the commercial said these are "healthy" drinks! Are they healthy or not?

/

Most people know that cokes and sodas are not good for your health or teeth because they contain lots of sugars! There are many drinks out there that are advertised as “healthy” but truly aren’t. These include Gatorade, fruit juice drinks, bubbly or flavored waters, energy drinks, and more. The following are some examples of these types of beverages:

  • Sports/Energy drinks – While they market themselves to contain electrolytes which might seem enticing for after sports and activities, several brands contain low pH, which means it is acidic. Acidic drinks can weaken the teeth by eroding enamel. When the enamel is weak, your teeth become sensitive to heat and cold and susceptible to cavities. Also check the grams of sugar, sodium and other chemicals they sneak into these drinks that are not good for overall health. Instead reach for coconut water! Coconut water provides much-needed electrolytes!

  • Fruit juices – Most people think that fruit juices are healthy so they take it in large doses and often give it to their children as sources of vitamins. However, fruit juices can never replace the benefits that you get from eating real fruits. Even the ones marketed as “organic” can contain high levels of sugar. Fruit juices’ sugar and acidity levels are high enough to weaken the tooth enamel.

  • Sparkling water - these waters can be very acidic since they contain carbonic acid. Which means it can erode tooth enamel!

  • Tea – Tea is an antioxidant and several studies show that it is good for overall health. But it can also erode and stain teeth. Black tea is found to erode teeth faster than the green variety. However, this effect is not as fast when compared to that of fruit juices and energy drinks because there is no sugar in plain tea unless it is artificially added. Be careful of the sweetened teas also like Boba and canned Arizona teas that contain flavorings. Thats all sugar!

  • Bottled water – Water in general is an excellent choice for rehydration, but bottled water does not contain fluoride, an ingredient that helps keep teeth strong and healthy. So when available, drink fluoridated tap water instead. It does not only save you a few dollars but also helps you keep your pearly whites for many years.

Here are some tips on minimizing damage from sugary and acidic drinks:

  • Read the label. If you can’t resist reaching for a “healthy” drink, at least choose one that has the least sugar and right pH level.

  • Use a straw to minimize contact of acid and/or sugar ingredients on your teeth and drink it in a short amount of time, instead of sipping on it throughout the day.

  • Fluoridated tap water remains the best choice so reach for the faucet instead of acidic beverages.

  • After having an acidic drink, rinse your mouth with water to give your enamel time to recover.

  • Brush your teeth twice daily with fluoride toothpaste, and floss daily!

  • Visit your dentist regularly. Check-ups are important for maintaining a healthy smile!

Want to know more?! Visit https://www.healthyfoodamerica.org/sugartoolkit_kahuna!

What are "bitewing" x-rays and why do we take them?

/

These are “bitewing” x-rays. We call them “cavity detecting x-rays”. They are used to detect interproximal (between the teeth) cavities if back teeth are touching. This is the most common area for children to have cavities! Dental x-rays are an important diagnostic tool in the treatment of children and can provide a broad range of information that cannot be gathered in visual exams. We often see children with no visual evidence of cavities, who surprise us on x-rays with significant cavities between the teeth. If the cavity is caught on the x-ray early, we can double our preventative methods or restore the tooth with a small filling. However, if we do not take an x-ray in early stages of cavity development, we can visually discover it only once it is large and needs “baby root canal” and crown or even an extraction.

At Heights Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics, we respect the radiation emitted by the x-rays, but it is our role as dental professionals to educate families on why, how, and when we utilize this important diagnostic tool. The interval of taking dental x-rays depends on then individual child’s risk for cavities or pathology. How do we determine risk? We look at bacteria levels by amount of plaque or tartar buildup on the teeth, texture of enamel, presence of visible cavities, and more. We also look at parent and sibling history of cavities, nighttime feeding practices (such as going to bed with food or drink or nighttime nursing), amount and frequency of acid and sugar exposure, daily oral hygiene practices, spacing between the teeth, age of the child, and more.

The Benefit of Sealants!

/

As soon as the first tooth erupts, cavities instantly become children’s dental archenemy making regular brushing extremely necessary. At Heights Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics, we place a great emphasis on prevention. That includes diet and oral hygiene instruction with patients and caregivers, fluoride application and specifically, sealants. Sealants are a protective coating for the grooves of teeth where toothbrush bristles and floss can’t reach, most specifically the back teeth such as premolars and molars.

Think of sealants as the Captain America shields against tooth decay. They are recommended for baby and adult teeth with deep pits and grooves that are susceptible to bacteria, plaque retention and acid attack, as well as for patients with a history of cavities or at higher risk for future cavities.       

According to scientific studies, children aged 5-10 years with sealants applied, sealants reduced cavities between 11% and 51% compared to those with no sealant, at 24 months. Another study also found dental sealants to reduce more tooth decay in the grooves of children’s molars than fluoride varnish application.

Aside from being effective, dental sealants are safe and affordable too! Insurance companies understand their impressive protection and cover them in large percentage. The cost of 4 sealants is close to the cost of one filling.

Talk to your pediatric dentist about sealants! They will examine your child’s teeth and report to you if dental sealants are appropriate for your child’s age and condition. Note that not all children need these. To give you an idea, kids six years of age are the best candidates for sealants because it is the age when the first permanent molars appear and are most vulnerable. Keep in mind that even with dental sealants applied, children still need to get regular dental checkups, cleanings, x-rays and fluoride treatments. Sealants may be applied by the dentist, the dental hygienist or dental assistant that is properly trained and certified in placing sealants.

The key to proper sealant placement and retention is good isolation and technique. We like to use Isolite dental isolation systems when placing sealants because they have a built-in bite block, control the patient’s cheeks and tongue while protecting the airway, come in many sizes and has a light for better illumination of the mouth. The edges of the Isolite can be trimmed for patient comfort if necessary. You can find out more about this on our clinical updates page!

Sealants are non-invasive, easy to place, cost-effective and a critical player in the fight against dental caries!

Summer Contest!

/

Our Summer Contest has begun!!

We are playing OUR version of everyone’s favorite search game “Where’s Waldo?!” Except this time we are wondering “Where’s Dr. Darsey and Dr. Lindhorst?!”

When you are here for your next visit, browse the map at our checkout desk and try to find our doctors on it. Then write down how many doctors you can find on our official contest entry form. (HINT: there’s more than one!)

Whoever finds the correct amount of doctors will when a prize! There will be two winners! Yay!

The contest ends August 15th! Good Luck!!!

Accidents happen! What to do if something happens to your child’s tooth?

/

Summer is here and all of the fun sports have started! Accidents can happen anytime and anywhere like while playing baseball, rock climbing, riding a bike, running down the sidewalk, dancing... So what should you do if your child hits their mouth or knocks out a tooth? These guidelines will help you determine what to do until you can see your pediatric dentist!

What to do if a BABY tooth is knocked out:

  • Call your pediatric dentist as soon as possible. Our office number is 713-861-4000.

  • Rinse the mouth with water and apply cold compresses to reduce swelling.

  • Spend time comforting the child rather than looking for the tooth. Remember, baby teeth should not be replanted because of potential damage to developing permanent teeth.

  • The pediatric dentist may make an appliance to replace the missing tooth depending on which tooth it is and the age of the child.

What to do if an ADULT tooth is knocked out:

  • Find the tooth and rinse it gently in cool water. DO NOT scrub it or use soap to clean it.

  • Replace the tooth in the socket and hold it there with clean gauze or a wash cloth. If you cannot put the tooth back in the socket, place the tooth in a “Save-A-Tooth” solution container, or a clean container with cold milk, or your own saliva. DO NOT put it in regular water.

  • Call your pediatric dentist to be seen in the office immediately.

What to do if a tooth is chipped or broken:

  • Call your pediatric dentist right away. They will determine how severe the chip is and if you need to be seen immediately or during normal business hours.

  • If you can find the broken tooth fragment, bring it to the dentist and they may be able to bond it back together.

What to do for a toothache:

  • Call your pediatric dentist to schedule an appointment for an exam and x-ray to determine the cause of the toothache and necessary treatment.

  • Take over-the-counter pain relievers such as Tylenol or Ibuprofen according to your child’s medical history, age and weight until you can be seen by the dentist.

There are many other types of dental injuries that can happen that aren’t listed here. It’s always best to contact your pediatric dentist right away for any injury so we can help guide you on what to do. Give us a call at 713-861-4000!

May Employee of the Month!

/

We are so excited to announce our newest Employee of the Month! Our team voted for our newest addition to the team….

Congrats to Shayla!

She is our new dental assistant and has been such an amazing addition! Our team said, “She is catching on quick, so sweet and working hard, a fast learner, helpful and checks on everyone, and doing awesome!”

Welcome to the Heights Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics team and congratulations!

Memorial Day Snack Idea!

/

Dr. Theriot has a delicious red, white and blue recipe for you and the kids to make this holiday weekend! It’s one of her favorite snacks and is super easy to make!!

All you need are your favorite yogurt, strawberries, and blueberries!

⭐️ Spread the yogurt out on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper
⭐️ Add fresh fruit on top of the yogurt. We like how they cut the strawberries into stars!
⭐️ Freeze for a few hours until yogurt is solid.
⭐️ Break up or slice, and serve!

Make this recipe your own with other yummy fruits and even granola!! Yogurt alternatives like Greek or non-dairy are great too! Instead of spreading out onto a baking sheet, you can even make individual bite sizes using cupcake cups for easy serving.

*Picture belongs to ForkAndBeans.com

Why its important to visit your dentist for routine check-ups!

/

Did you know that approximately more than 51 million school hours are missed annually by school-aged children due to a dental problem or visit?! Regular dental visits (i.e. “preventive dentistry”) help children stay cavity-free.

Preventive dentistry can keep your child’s smile healthy and attractive. Children in dental pain are distracted from their studies. Children with healthy teeth have better attendance and are more attentive in school. Children with healthy mouths are more likely to be able to eat comfortably and get the sleep they need. A healthy mouth is more attractive, giving children confidence in their appearance. Finally, preventive dentistry means less extensive and less expensive treatment for your child.

Teeth cleanings remove plaque build-up on the teeth. Plaque irritates the gums and causes decay. Fluoride treatment renews the fluoride content in the enamel, strengthening teeth and preventing cavities. X-rays help the dentist to see inside your teeth and underneath the gums and bone where we cannot visually see with our eyes. These x-rays can detect cavities before they become a big problem, can detect abnormal pathology, infections, missing teeth, and more. It is essential to get an on-going assessment of changes in a child’s oral health by a pediatric dentist. For example, a child may need additional fluoride, dietary changes, sealants or interceptive orthodontics for optimal oral health.

Other preventive steps you can take to keep your child cavity-free:

  1. Good home dental care - brush twice a day (after breakfast and before bed). Parents should supervise the brushing for school-age children until they are 7-8 years of age (about the same time they can tie their own shoelaces or write in cursive). The best toothbrushes have soft, round-ended (polished) bristles that clean while being gentle on the gums. The handle should be the correct size to fit your child’s hand. When adjacent tooth surfaces are touching or tight, it is time to begin daily flossing.

  2. Fluoride - Fluoride not only helps prevent cavities and slows the growth of decay, but it can also reverse decay in its early stages. The enamel of a tooth remineralized with fluoride is stronger than the original tooth surface. Water fluoridation is still the No. 1 cost effective way to prevent tooth decay. Select a fluoride toothpaste with the American Dental Association Seal of Acceptance.

  3. Sealants - Most cavities in children occur in places that sealants could have protected. Pit and fissure (i.e. grooves) decay accounts for 80-90% of cavities in permanent back teeth and 44% in baby teeth. With appropriate follow-up care, the success rate of sealants may be 80-90% even after a decade!

  4. Limited snacking - Snack in moderation, no more than three times a day. Snacks should contribute to the overall nutrition and health of the child. Cheese, fresh fruits, vegetables and yogurt are all nutritious snacks. Check out last month’s blog post all about snacking.

All information provided by FAST FACTS from the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (2014)