How to Soothe Your Child’s Toothache

how to sooth your child's toothache

How to sooth your child's toothache

kids dentist murray utah

Kids Dentist, Dr. Ari Hobfoll

Simple and Effective Toothache Remedies

Toothaches are extremely common in children. It is critical to understand that a toothache is a symptom of a more severe problem, such as dental caries, also known as tooth decay, and should be addressed as soon as possible. If your child complains of a toothache, make an appointment with the dentist as quickly as possible to avoid complications or aggravated symptoms. While you wait for your child’s appointment, toothache remedies you can try at home. Below, our kids dentist in Salt Lake City shares how to soothe your child’s toothache. 

Salt Water

Our pediatric dentist in Salt Lake City explains that first,  your child in rinsing their mouth with warm saline or salty water. Saline is antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, which means it can kill bacteria in the mouth while also reducing swelling. This should be done at least 5-8 times per day for best results.

Clove Essential Oil

Soak a cotton ball in a few drops of clove oil and place it directly on the sore tooth. Our kids dentist near me explains that clove oil is said to have a numbing effect that can provide temporary relief from tooth pain.  

Cold Compression

Cold compression, such as ice packs, can temporarily relieve pain. These ice packs should be placed near the aching tooth on the child’s cheek. Cold compression can also help to reduce swelling and control bleeding.

Hydrogen Peroxide

Please make a small amount of hydrogen peroxide in a glass of clean water and assist your child in rinsing their mouth with this solution. Make sure that the child does not swallow it and spits it out after each rinse.

Peppermint

The peppermint plant is well-known for its many health benefits, including relief from common cold symptoms, headaches, and nausea. It has also been used to treat toothaches. This plant can be used in a variety of ways for this purpose.
Steep a peppermint teabag and, once warm, place or press it against the aching tooth.
Place a fresh peppermint in your mouth, close to the sore tooth.
For temporary relief, combine peppermint oil and a few drops of clove oil on a cotton ball and apply them to the aching tooth.

Garlic

Garlic is an antibacterial herb. It can inhibit bacterial activity and may thus be helpful in the treatment of toothaches. Smash a garlic clove, chop it, and apply it to the tooth. After a few minutes, rinse your mouth with warm water.

Herb Thyme

Our friends at Green Dental Care, dentist Parker CO, shares that thyme is a herb with numerous health benefits. Pain relief is one of these natural advantages. A few sprigs of thyme in a cup of boiling water can be used to treat toothaches at home. Allow it to cool slightly before rinsing your child’s mouth with it several times throughout the day for best results.

It is critical to note that these remedies may only provide temporary relief and may not work at all. This is why it is critical to contact the dentist as soon as possible.

How We Can Assist in the Treatment of Toothaches

Our team at Kaleidoscope Kids Dentistry love working with children and can make your child feel at ease. We are professionals adores dealing with children and making sure that when it’s time for them to depart, they feel completely at ease. If your child is suffering from a toothache, our pediatric dentist in Murray Utah are always there to assist!

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Tooth Friendly Snacks

tooth friendly snacks

Tooth Friendly Snacks

kids dentist murray utah

Kids Dentist, Dr. Ari Hobfoll

Tooth friendly snacks
for your kiddo

Smart snacking entails both strategic snack-time planning and the selection of certain foods. Both can help to reduce the likelihood of tooth decay. Today on the blog, Dr. Hobfoll, the best pediatric dentist SLC, shares tooth friendly snacks for your kids. 

Why Is It That Snacking is More Likely to Cause Tooth Decay?

Bacteria that cause oral cavities feed on every carbohydrate source we consume, including sugar, bread, potatoes, rice, crackers, chips, pretzels, candies, fruit snacks, juice, and so on. Bacteria consume carbs and turn them into acid. Our pediatric dentist SLC explains that this acid causes a cavity.

Our saliva helps to neutralize the acid’s effects. However, if children nibble throughout the day, the constant acid production overwhelms the saliva’s ability to buffer or neutralize the acid, increasing the likelihood of cavities developing.

What is Smart Snacking?

Smart snacking entails reducing the frequency with which children nibble between meals and selecting foods superior in terms of type and texture to others. Our kids dentist near me explains that it is preferable to consume the entire snack at once rather than in small portions throughout the day. The bacteria that cause cavities get their energy from glucose.

Additionally, our kids dentist SLC explains that limiting chewy and sticky foods helps. These foods can become lodged in the grooves of the back teeth and remain there for extended periods, increasing the risk of cavities.

What Are Some Healthier Snack Options?

  • Whole foods that are minimally processed (like an apple) will always be superior to processed carbohydrate-rich diets for various reasons, including tooth health (like sugar-sweetened applesauce).
  • Snacks high in protein and low in carbohydrates are especially beneficial. Dr. Wade, family dentist Pinellas Park FL, explains that for example, nuts and part-skim cheese are excellent in this regard, and they also aid in developing strong teeth.
  • Although they may include some sugar, fruits and vegetables are a smart choice because they provide a variety of essential elements. Harder or crunchier alternatives, such as apples, celery, and carrots, are delicious.
  • Complex meals can help brush off dental plaque accumulation (a film of bacteria and carbohydrates that accumulates on teeth) similar to additional brushing. Sticky dried fruits, such as raisins, provide nutritious value but can become stuck in the grooves of back teeth.

What Else Should You Think About When Arranging Snacks?

Hard, crunchy foods like granola and trail mix are classified differently from candy bars, and sticky fruit treats. Although these goods are sometimes seen as healthful, they include many carbs. In addition, granola and trail mix, despite being crunchy, can quickly become lodged in the grooves of the teeth.

Juice, sports drinks, and soda should be consumed in moderation. Anything other than water (including milk) contains sugars and can cause cavities. If children consume beverages other than water, they should adhere to the same guidelines as snack food: drink in one sitting and limit the number of drinks consumed.

“Limiting chewy and sticky foods can help with your child’s oral health. These foods can become lodged in the grooves of the back teeth and remain there for extended periods, increasing the risk of cavities.” – Dr. Hobfoll, kids dentist in Murray Utah

Smart Snacking

Smart snacking is key for keeping teeth healthy at all ages. In addition, making children aware of excellent timing and choices and encouraging them to maintain good dental hygiene habits has various health benefits.

Contact Kaleidoscope Kids Dentistry Today

Ready to get started with your kids oral health? Contact Kaleidoscope Kids Dentistry today for a tooth cleaning. 

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Is Juice Bad For My Child’s Teeth?

Is Juice Bad For My Childs Teeth?

Is Juice Bad For My Child's Teeth?

kids dentist murray utah

Kids Dentist, Dr. Ari Hobfoll

Is Juice Really bad for my child's teeth?

Kids enjoy juice because it tastes fantastic, and parents love that their children drink juice since it is beneficial for them! After all, fruits are high in vitamins and nutrients that your youngster requires to be healthy. While this is true, allowing your child to drink too much juice may cause more harm than benefit. Today on the blog, our kids dentist in Murray Utah answers the question, “Is juice really bad for my child’s teeth?”

Isn’t Fruit Juice Good for You?

The fact that juice is derived from fruit does not imply that it is nutritious. In reality, this delightful beverage may have a lot less nutritional value than you think! Mixed juice blends, juice cocktails, juice drinks, and fruit punch typically include only trace amounts of juice. Instead, our pediatric dentist in Salt Lake City explains that these beverages are loaded with sugar, artificial sweeteners, and high-fructose corn syrup.

Even beverages made entirely of fruit juice may contain far more sugar than you believe. This is because the majority of popular fruits are high in natural sugars. As a result, our kids dentist near me explains that a glass of apple, grape, or cranberry juice contains the same amount of sugar as a glass of soda! 

3 Consequences of Drinking Juice

Did you know that the most frequent chronic childhood ailment is cavities? While various variables contribute to children having a higher risk of tooth decay than adults, many dentists think that juice drinking plays a significant influence.  Our friend Dr. Helgerson, dentist in Grand Junction Co, shares that three characteristics make juice such a complex drink for growing teeth:

Sugar Content: As you might expect, the more sugar your child consumes through juice, the more likely they are to develop cavities.

Nature of Acidity: Citrus fruits, in particular, are highly acidic. These acids swiftly and readily dissolve tooth enamel, leaving it fragile, sensitive, and susceptible to decay.

Method of Serving: The more juice your child drinks during the day, the more sugars accumulate around their teeth and gums, encouraging tooth decay and gum disease.

What to Drink in Its Place

While the amount of sugar in beverages targeted to children, such as juice, may appear overwhelming at first, there is no need to panic! Dr. Hobfoll, the best pediatric dentist in SLC, explains that there are still plenty of tasty drinks your child will like, as well as several techniques to make drinking juice safer for their teeth, such as:

Make sure children under the age of six drink no more than 6 ounces of juice per day, and children over the age of six glass no more than 12 ounces per day (as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics).

  • To minimize the impact of the juice, dilute it with water.
  • Make your fruit smoothies at home using honey instead of sugar.
  • Drink more milk, particularly low-sugar varieties such as almond, soy, rice, 2 percent, or nonfat dairy.
  • Drink more tap water, which is both healthy and often contains the vital mineral fluoride, which can help your child’s teeth stay strong!
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What to Do If Your Child Has a Loose Tooth

What to Do If Your Child Has a Loose Tooth

What to Do If Your Child Has a Loose Tooth

kids dentist murray utah

Kids Dentist, Dr. Ari Hobfoll

What to Do If Your Child Has a Loose Baby or Permanent Tooth

You and your child have a lot to look forward to when your youngster loses a tooth for the first time But, before that baby tooth wiggles its way out of your child’s mouth, let’s discuss how to deal with a loose baby tooth. Below, Dr. Hobfoll, the best pediatric dentist in SLC, shares his tips and tricks. 

Be Aware of Your Child’s Emotions

First, we recommend assuring your child that this is a regular part of development. It can be scary for your kiddos! So, if kids are worried about losing a tooth, children’s books can help soothe and entertain them.

Make Them Crunchy, Whole Snacks

Crunchy and wholesome meals like carrot sticks and apple slices can aid in the natural—and nutritious—falling out of a tooth.

Encourage Gentle Wriggling

There’s no need for youngsters to yank or tug; have your child try to gently wriggle their tooth with their tongue, or clean hands should suffice. If moving the teeth causes discomfort, it may not be ready to come out yet.

If a tooth is entirely ready but refuses to come out, you can assist your child without resorting to a thread and a doorknob. Instead, give our pediatric dentist office in SLC a call for some ideas on getting that baby tooth to the Tooth Fairy.

What Do I Do If My Child’s Tooth is Loose Before Its Time?

Our kids dentist in Muray Utah explains that although baby teeth are just transitory, they are vital to your child’s development. They aid in speech production, eating, and chewing, and act as placeholders for permanent teeth to erupt in the proper location and at the appropriate time.

There are some instances why a loose baby tooth necessitates a trip to the dentist:

  • Baby teeth often fall out over a period of years, typically between the ages of 6 and 12. Because children’s teeth tend to fall out in the same sequence they came in, if a molar becomes loose before the front teeth begin to wiggle, contact your dentist.
  • If your child has a fall, a sports injury, or any other type of event that causes a tooth or teeth to become loose, contact your doctor or dentist right away. They will use high tech dental technology, like an intraoral camera, to ensure there are no major injuries or the possibility of infection.
  • Make an appointment with your child’s dentist if you notice a tooth that should not be loose.

Finally, we’ve been discussing loose baby teeth, but loose permanent teeth are a very different story.

Loose Permanent Teeth

If your child has a loose permanent tooth due to an injury, a faulty bite, or night-time bruxism (tooth-grinding), or for any other reason, you must schedule an appointment right once. Then, our pediatric dentist in Murray Utah will be able to identify the source of the problem and propose some solutions. Also, make sure your child only eats soft foods and eats on the other side of the loose tooth. Instead of brushing and flossing, use gentle rinsing to clean the area.

Contact Kaleidoscope Kids Dentistry Today

A loose baby tooth is an important milestone on your child’s path to a beautiful, healthy adult smile. Reassure, support, and assist your child through this rite of passage—and don’t be afraid to contact us for help!

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