Stop thumb or finger sucking with the T-guard!

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Many parents struggle with helping their child break thumb or finger habits for years. That’s because they cannot be removed like pacifiers can! Some children wean themselves at an early age, but most will continue the habit well into the school age. We tell all our families that little can be done until the child is of an age that he or she understands the importance of quitting this habit. Children under three years of age rarely can be convinced to stop sucking the thumb. Stopping the habit before permanent teeth start erupting is important because sucking on fingers can cause changes in shape of the teeth and jaws called “malocclusion”. It also introduces germs in the mouth, and can affect their social development when a child seen sucking their fingers by their peers.

We advise our families to first start with positively talking to their children about stopping or giving rewards for stopping. Physical barriers can also be used as reminders during idle or tired times. Those range from gloves, plastic thumb/finger guards, or an appliance made by the dentist.

Today’s blog is specifically about the TGuard (as seen in the pictures). It’s a plastic, soft, flexible, and comfortable medical device that can be worn by the child as a physical barrier and reminder not to suck their finger or thumb! It’s 100% BPA-free and contains no harmful phthalates. It’s easy to put on and take off, and the straps come in various fun colors. For more information about the T guard, visit their website: www.tguard.com.

All habits are hard to break! We realize that it takes work and dedication to get rid of a habit, and we believe in a team approach. Any unwanted changes to the jaws and teeth will eventually be corrected either be itself or by orthodontic appliances (which can be costly). We try to provide parents and children encouragement and resources they need on this journey. If you have questions about your child’s finger sucking habit, give us a call at 713-861-4000 or come see us at Heights Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

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We hope that everyone is enjoying holidays with their families during this magical time of year.

As always, we are so thankful to have you in our dental family. Thank you for a memorable year and trusting us for all your kids' dental needs. We all truly blessed to continue watching your littles grow.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to all of our HPDO families!

Our Winter Contest has begun!!

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Its contest time again friends! This time we want to know what you are thankful this holiday season.
Write it down on an ornament and place it on our tree. If your name gets picked at the end of the month, you will be our winner!

Contest winner will be picked December 18th!

Good luck and Happy Holidays!

Teeth Whitening

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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

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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!

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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!

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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?

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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?

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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!

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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!

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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!!!