When your little one is gleeful about the new gap in their grin and excitedly awaiting a visit from the Tooth Fairy, it doesn’t get much cuter than that. But what if your child knocked out a tooth unexpectedly? While this can be scary for your youngster in the moment, it can be stressful for you too. Like anything that happens without being anticipated, it’s always better to have a plan. Keep reading to find out from a pediatric emergency dentist in McKinney what you should do immediately after the tooth loss as well as learn how a dentist can restore their smile to a pain-free state.

(more…)

You knew having a brand-new baby would be a challenge, but your little one keeps crying no matter what you do – feeding, changing their diaper, rocking – and nothing seems to help for long. Their colic is making you miserable, and you know in your gut that something must be wrong, but what? Have you considered the possibility that your baby with colic could have a tongue tie? This post explains how colic can be caused by a tongue tie in McKinney and how the problem is treated to keep everyone happier.

(more…)

Before the baby arrived, you planned on breastfeeding, but now that they’re here, you’re finding it more difficult than you thought it would be. Don’t give up on this bonding experience! Through your other mommy friends, you hear about their babies’ problems, including a lip or tongue tie. But how do you know that your baby has one? Here are three ways to tell!

(more…)

Losing baby teeth can be a fun rite of passage for kids. Having teeth extracted . . . is much less enjoyable, although sometimes necessary. For whatever reason, if your child needs to have teeth extracted, the healing process can require time and patience. What will your kid need throughout this recovery time after children’s tooth extraction? Read on to find out!

(more…)

Bringing a baby home is one of the most exciting and magical experiences for many – and it can also be a difficult, trying time, especially if breastfeeding doesn’t come easily. Nursing is not a given for a number of reasons, and one significant factor is the baby’s ability to latch on. If your little one is popping on and off the breast or otherwise having issues transferring milk, keep reading to learn the four reasons for latching problems from a McKinney dentist. 

(more…)

There’s nothing better than taking a dip in the pool when it’s hotter than blazes – and it’s almost never been steamier than it is this month! Swimming is great fun for kids and good for their overall health, too, but did you know that the chlorine in the pool’s water can actually affect their little smiles in a not-so-positive way? If you’ve been wondering if swimming is bad for your teeth, a McKinney dentist has the answer below. 

Effects of Chlorine on Teeth

Even if you keep your mouth closed when you swim, some chlorinated water may still seep in. When it’s your child that’s swimming, there’s no way to prevent them from opening their mouth. In fact, they may make a game out of collecting water in their cheeks and spitting it back out – which really exposes their tooth enamel to the chlorine in the water. 

Unfortunately, the pH levels in chlorinated water can cause enamel erosion, which can lead to the following symptoms:

• Discoloration of the teeth
• Tooth sensitivity, especially to heat or cold
• Edges of teeth beginning to look transparent

How to Protect Your Child’s Smile

Because most kiddos swim for short periods of time only in the summer, you should know that, in all likelihood, your child will not experience damage to their teeth as a result of the pool. However, this can be more of a concern in pools that have been overly chlorinated. If you own your own pool, the CDC recommends pH levels to be between 7.2 and 7.8, and the free chlorine concentration should be at least 1 part per million. 

It is still important to take steps to protect your child’s smile from enamel erosion. Even if it is unlikely to occur from swimming, other things pose a threat – like drinking carbonated beverages, eating lots of candy, and chewing gum with sugar. 

Some ways to prevent enamel erosion include:

• Encouraging your child to brush their teeth for two minutes, twice a day
• Using toothpaste with fluoride, which strengthens tooth enamel
• Helping your little one floss between their teeth
• Scheduling two checkups and cleanings with your pediatric dentist

Now that you know a little more about how to protect your child’s teeth this summer, go have fun! The water is calling you and your little one. 

Meet the Pediatric Dentists

Dr. Justin and Dr. Sage lead the team at Sprout Dentistry for Kids. They pair up to provide excellent dental services for little ones with a variety of needs – from basic checkups and cleanings to tooth extractions and more, including holistic dentistry! To learn more about protecting your smile from the summer elements or to book a dentist with your pediatric dentist in McKinney, contact their office via their website or by phone at (469) 813-7127. 

As your baby gets older, they will reach many milestones. Some they’ll enjoy, and others not so much. When your baby begins teething, it’s an important development but one that is likely to cause discomfort. Teeth can begin to erupt for some infants at 3-4 months of age. However, some might not get their first tooth until their first birthday. Here are some symptoms of teething in McKinney and some ways you might be able to help them feel better from a pediatric dentist.

(more…)

Depending on the situation, helping your child improve in some aspect of their life can be quite significant. When it comes to oral health, and specifically brushing their teeth, this is a big deal since it’s a key lifetime habit. Offering them praise for brushing could fuel the motivation for them to do it consistently going forward. Keep reading to learn from a pediatric dentist in McKinney why you should encourage your child to handle brushing teeth on their own and how you should go about it.

(more…)

Do you have a little bundle of joy at home? If so, you may have chosen to breastfeed due to the many benefits it offers for infants and mothers. Admittedly, however, breastfeeding can come with its challenges. For example, many babies experience unpleasant symptoms shortly after they eat, which can often be perceived as infant acid reflux in McKinney. However, acid reflux may not be the problem at all. It might actually be air-induced reflux due to a lip or tongue tie. This blog post discusses what this problem is, what can cause it, and what you can do about it.

(more…)

The first day of summer may technically be June 21, but when you live in Texas it can feel like the spring season already packed up and left town. The temperature rises and leads to a lot of sweating and fluid loss when you are outside on the move for very long. When people forget to replace those fluids promptly, dehydration occurs. Since water comprises more than two-thirds of your body, any loss of fluids can affect regular bodily functions. Did you know it can impact your oral health too? Read on to learn from a children’s dentist in McKinney which signs of dehydration to look out for and the consequences it can have on your smile.

(more…)