Pacifiers: Pros & Cons

By Ashley Valco

According to a very quick google search, the pacifier was invented in 1902 by James Meacham. If that is true, I don’t know if it’s because he was desperate to quell the new screaming baby in his house or if he simply had a grand idea. Either way, moms have been unknowingly praising him ever since. When the sweet infant that just took over your life won’t stop crying, you thank God for that little piece of rubber and plastic! 

As wonderful as they may be, at what point should you be concerned about the use of a pacifier? Here is a simple list of the pro’s and cons of the paci. 

Pros:

Lower the risk for SIDS. This is the biggest pro in my opinion. SIDS, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, grips mothers with fear. With a growing list of things that all of our mothers have responded to with “I never/always did that and you turned out fine!” anything that gives us a little relief from that stress is appreciated. Docs say that using a pacifier during naps and overnight sleep may reduce risk of SIDS by half. 

Happy baby = happy parents.  When you bring home the baby for the first time you realize that life is about to get crazy. Amazing and beautiful, but crazy. When some of those crazy things happen they are much easier to deal with without the screaming. Giving a baby a pacifier will help them learn to self sooth. It helps them relax and feel secure. 

Cons:

That smile. Long term pacifier use can effect the way the teeth meet together. Before age 2, it’s unlikely that a problem can arise. If it does, growing teeth may be able to self correct. As time passes, problems can become worse with slanting and tilting of the front teeth. By age 4 to 6, there will be long lasting effects on the teeth. Around this age is when adult teeth begin to make their appearance. 

If your child has a pacifier habit, discuss with their dental hygienist/dentist if there has been any changes to your child's teeth, or any other implications that may arise. 

Buying a pacifier with a ventilation hole can help prevent oral problems. 

“When the baby closes down on the teat, the air from inside the teat is pushed out through the ventilation system thereby flattening the teat and adapting to the baby´s individual oral cavity. So, the ventilation hole is needed in order to allow for proper development of your baby's jaw and mouth.” ~MAM products

A few things to keep in mind with pacifier use:

• If the pacifier falls on the ground, do NOT use your own mouth to cleanse it. There are many more damaging bacteria in your own mouth that you do not want to pass on. 

• Do not sweeten a pacifier to make it more enticing. It will damage their teeth. 

• Pick a pacifier with a ventilation hole. 

• Wash pacifiers with soap and water to keep them clean between uses. 

• Get the right size. Pacifiers are designed to fit your baby’s mouth based on age. 

As always, ask if you have any questions! 

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My Child Chipped Their Tooth! Now What?

My Child Chipped Their Tooth! Now What?

By Ashley Valco

Like most Americans, I spent the weekend gardening and going to BBQ’s. Beautiful weather for a holiday weekend. One of the BBQ’s I went to had hundreds of water balloons and the kids were going crazy! A friends child was chasing the other kids and fell right on his face and hit his mouth on the stone that outlined the garden. 

Instant screaming ensued, from the child and the Grandmom, as well as a fountain of gushing blood. 

Now what?

Well, let's first make sure nothing was cut open. Luckily, a trip to the hospital on Memorial Weekend wasn’t in the cards for them. Once everyone had calmed down, and the blood had been cleaned off, we could assess the situation. Joey had a swollen lip, a cut tongue, and a chipped front tooth. 

The swelling will go down, the tongue will heal. While tissue trauma to the mouth bleeds very heavily, it also heals faster that any other place on the body. What about the tooth? 

I told Mom it would be all right to wait until tomorrow to get an appointment with Joey’s dentist. There are several different types of “chips” and they are determined by how many layers of the tooth are affected. This can only be seen by an x-ray. Therefore, it is necessary to take an x-ray of the tooth when they go into the office.

If he had a tiny chip on the edge of the tooth, and the x-ray looked fine, the dentist would probably smooth the edge so it isn’t jagged. 

If it was a larger chip it could be or become sensitive to cold air and water because of the exposed nerve. In this case the tooth might require more extensive treatment. 

The biggest concern is if a tooth is knocked out of the mouth or if it is knocked out of position.  In this case, time is of the essence.  You must get to the dentist or hospital within 90 minutes.  If the tooth has been fully knocked out of the mouth, placing it in a cup of Hank’s Balanced Salt Solution or milk will help maintain the tooth until a dentist can be seen.  When touching the tooth, try to hold the tooth by the crown (the part we see when a person smiles) instead of the root (the part that is inside the gum tissue).  

In Joey’s case it was a good sized chip and it was a little wiggly. Even though it is loose now, it can still repair itself and become tight again over time. It might become discolored as time passes depending on the trauma to the nerve inside. I believe Joey’s tooth will just need time to heal. The bone and tissue will tighten. His hygienist and dentist will closely examine it at every visit until it looks normal. 

Then it will just be a bad memory. 

Just keep in mind that the amount of blood you see after a fall is not an indicator to the amount of damage. The mouth bleeds very easily and it is very scary to the child and anyone observing, especially Mom. 

If after a fall, there are no serious cuts that would require immediate attention, apply a cold compress to reduce swelling and contact your child’s dentist. 

I hope you all enjoyed your Memorial Weekend! Did you do anything special? 

Brushing: The Ultimate Battle

Brushing: The Ultimate Battle

By Ashley Valco

Most moms have been there... The before bedtime big brushing battle. Some kids may be very compliant while others are fighting like their lives depend on it. If that toothbrush touches their lips then the world just might end. And man, some kids can put up a serious fight! Trust me, I know. Many of these kids have sat fighting right in my chair while their parents say, “What am I supposed to do?!”

 You know you need to get their teeth clean but you need to pick your battles. Well, this is a battle worth fighting. Your child’s oral health will effect their overall health, their perspective of the dental office, your time, and your money. However, maybe we can find a way for it to NOT be a battle...

• Wipe the gums with a wet cloth after each feeding from birth. You never know when that first tooth will pop through and you want to keep the gums clean incase you miss it!
• The most important thing to do is make teeth-brushing a normal routine in their day when that first tooth appears.
• Make it fun the same way you would with baby spoons during dinner. 
• Some moms have said that brushing after the bath makes it easier because they are wrapped up in their towel still, restraining all limbs. 
• Sit baby on your lap, facing and straddling you while wrapping one arm around him and gently hold his chin, use your other hand to brush. He is much easier to work with. Especially when I make train sounds while doing it! Since the front of his body is facing you he isn’t able to move as much. 
• You could use a two person “knee to knee” technique we use in the office. One parent sits on the chair (I have used my rocking chair in my sons nursery) with your child straddling you. Lay them back with their head placed in the other parents lap. Then you have easier access to brush from above. 
• Most kids like to imitate. Brushing your own teeth in front of them regularly may help. Or let your child brush your teeth first and then brush theirs. Sometimes I let my patients do this to me and they crack up. 
• Create the idea that toothbrushes are fun. Let the tooth brush be a toy, and let them brush teddy’s teeth. 
• We recommend waiting until a child can write in cursive to brush on their own. Thats when they can demonstrate the dexterity to move the toothbrush properly. 
• Give them a visual timer, something to be interested in while brushing. Many times they are just bored. In my office we give out colorful sand timers (2 minutes) some kids really love watching all the sand pour through and will brush the entire time. 
• Bringing music into the bathroom will make it more fun and you could even turn it into a game. 
• Put together a chart to track their progress with a goal or prize (suited to their age) when they are consistent. 
• Education. Show them pictures of what happens when they don’t brush. ie: gum disease, cavities. 
• Go to the experts. At your child’s next dental visit (which needs to be scheduled every 6 months) mention to the hygienist or dentist that you are struggling at home. It might be a good idea to mention it out of ear shot of your child. If they hear you telling us to tell them, the tend to think we are just trying to help you- not them.  

There are a million different ways to get the job done, just like everything else you do as a parent. There isn’t a right way. What have you experienced? Do you have any tricks or struggles you can share?