Happy Administrative Professionals Day!

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April 25th was Administrative Professionals Day and we had so much fun celebrating!

Whether you email, call or walk in the door of our office, you will be welcomed warmly by Anitra, Sara, Suanly and Stefanie. Anitra is our scheduling and financial coordinator as well as our office manager. She is an expert in answering insurance-related questions and helping you with financial aspects of your child's dental care. All of these ladies will help you fill out forms and set up your appointments. They are also able to address any of your overall questions. They truly make our office run smoothly.

We love our admin team! Give us a call at 713-461-1509 to schedule your next appointment!

Is my baby teething? What should I do?

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Did you know that when your baby is born, they already have 20 teeth, you just can’t see them yet?! YES! They are developing and hiding under the gums until they’re ready to start coming in around 6-12mos of age. All 20 baby teeth should be in place by about 3 years old. And then your little one can expect to start getting their second set of teeth at about 6 years old.

NORMAL symptoms of teething: fussiness, trouble sleeping, irritability, loss of appetite, drooling more than usual

NOT NORMAL symptoms of teething: fever, diarrhea, rash

*If your baby has any of these symptoms, then you should contact their pediatrician for another possible illness or cause.

How can you soothe your teething baby?

Massage the gums with a clean finger, provide your baby a clean teether toy to chew on, and you can also try letting them chew on something cool like a chilled rubber spoon or chilled moist clean rag. These can help provide comfort to sore or tender gums.

What should you avoid?

*Avoid objects that are hard or can break when chewed on. It’s important to make sure these teething toys are also free of hazardous materials like metal or lead. The CDC recommends avoiding homeopathic magnetic hematite “healing” bracelets or amber necklaces because 1) they can contain metal or lead which can harm your baby, 2) puts your baby at risk for strangulation or choking.

*Avoid teething gels and tablets. The FDA recommends against using numbing agents like benzocaine (i.e. Anbesol, Hurricaine, Orajel, Baby Orajel and Orabase) for children younger than 2 because it can pose serious sometimes fatal risks, and has little to no benefits for treating oral pain. “Benzocaine can cause a condition called methemoglobinemia, a disorder in which the amount of oxygen carried through the blood stream is greatly reduced”. The FDA found in homeopathic teething tables “inconsistent amounts of belladonna, a toxic substance… sometimes far exceeding the amount claimed on the label. Consumers should seek medical care immediately if their child experiences seizures, difficulty breathing, lethargy, excessive sleepiness, muscle weakness, skin flushing, constipation, difficulty urinating, or agitation after using homeopathic teething tablets or gels," the FDA states.

If you have any questions about how to relieve your child’s teething symptoms, call us at 713-461-1509!

Happy Dental Hygienists Week!

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We love our dental hygienists, Jamie and Stefanie! They do an amazing job taking care of all of our patients. This week we are celebrating 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 713-461-1509 to schedule your next appointment!

Happy Dental Assistants Week!

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We couldn’t do our jobs without our fabulous dental assistants!! We might be biased, but Smiles For Kids has the best!! They wear many hats around the office and keep everything running smoothly, help kiddos smile throughout their appointments from start to finish, keep the doctors running on time, and more. They do it all and we so appreciate you!! Thank you Rita, Ellie, Sula, Josie and Taylor!

Happy Dental Assistants Week!

More about our dental assistants: Visit our meet the team page!

Februrary is Children's Dental Health Month!

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Cavities, also known as caries or tooth decay, are the most common chronic disease of childhood, yet cavities are preventable. Developing good habits at an early age and scheduling regular dental visits helps children to get a good start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.

Check out these important facts & tips:

  1. Brush your child’s teeth twice a day for 2 minutes. Parents should help with brushing until they can clearly write their own name.

  2. Floss to clean in between the teeth.

  3. Fluoride helps to make enamel stronger and protects teeth against cavities by fighting acid & erosion.

  4. Avoid sticky snacks like gummies, candies, cookies and crackers because those will linger on the teeth longer. Instead, try yogurt, cheese, fruits and veggies!

  5. Water is the best drink for your teeth AND your body! Serve water at mealtime rather than juice or soda.

We’re celebrating all month long! Come visit us at Smiles For Kids!

Visit the ADA and CDC websites for more information and fun activities that you can do with your kids! Visit the ADA.org / Visit the CDC.org

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 713-461-1509 or come see us at Smiles For Kids!