When food gets stuck between your child’s teeth, reaching for a toothpick might feel like a quick fix. After all, toothpicks are often handed out at restaurants and seem harmless enough. Despite their name, toothpicks are not recommended for cleaning between teeth, especially for kids. In fact, using them can cause more harm than good to growing smiles.

Many parents first notice signs of a lip or tongue-tie when their child struggles to breastfeed, becomes unusually fussy, or has difficulty gaining weight. These conditions occur when the frenulum—the thin tissue connecting the tongue to the floor of the mouth or the lip to the gums—is too short, tight, or thick. While it’s common to hope the issue will simply improve with time, lip and tongue-ties rarely resolve on their own.

If your baby cries for hours despite being fed, changed, and comforted, you may be dealing with colic, a condition that leaves many parents feeling helpless. While colic can have several causes, one that’s often overlooked is a lip or tongue tie. These oral restrictions can interfere with feeding, digestion, and comfort, leading to symptoms that mimic or contribute to colic. Understanding the connection can help you find relief for your baby and peace of mind for yourself.

As children grow, their mouths and oral structures play an important role in eating, speaking, and overall development. One condition that can affect toddlers is a lip tie, a tight or thick band of tissue (the labial frenulum) connecting the upper lip to the gums. While some lip ties are mild and cause no problems, others can interfere with daily functions and comfort. Understanding how lip ties affect toddlers can help parents know when it’s time to seek evaluation or treatment.

You may feel anxious if you have just learned that your child requires a frenectomy for a lip or tongue tie. Surgery, even a minor one, can bring many questions and concerns. Fortunately, you can expect a smooth recovery for your child, especially if the procedure involves a soft tissue laser rather than traditional surgical methods. Here is what you should know about your child’s healing process and how you, as a parent, can support them every step of the way.

A knocked-out tooth can be a shocking revelation, so if your child comes running to you complaining that they are without one of their teeth, you may be surprised and a bit panicked. However, before you begin to fret about what to do next, remember that it’s best to keep a level head when addressing these kinds of problems. Finding an emergency dentist for children is the first step. After that, you can begin to help your child or teen get the care they need without incurring further damage.

Braces are ideal for straightening smiles because they can treat even the most severe bite or jaw misalignments. This method utilizes metal brackets cemented to your teeth, threaded with an arch wire to exert enough pressure to shift them to their ideal places.

However, the brittle material isn’t invincible and can be broken if your child isn’t careful. Whether they broke their braces by eating something too hard or sticky, or didn’t wear their mouthguard during physical activity, it’s natural to wonder what to do next. Continue reading to learn 3 ways to address your kid’s orthodontic emergency!

You might think that your child’s crooked grin is a mere aesthetic issue, but the truth is that overcrowded teeth are also harder to clean. Your little one is more likely to struggle to brush and floss all sides as thoroughly, increasing their vulnerability to common issues like cavities and gum disease.

Invisalign continues to gain popularity as a clear alternative to traditional braces for straightening smiles. However, many parents and guardians want to know if it’s feasible to treat a single arch instead of both. Continue reading to learn more about why this method isn’t usually recommended!

Once they’ve reached their tween years, most kids are good candidates for Invisalign. They’d have all their adult teeth by then and enjoy a smoother treatment than older patients. Still, you may wonder: Does your child’s teeth-grinding habit disqualify them from aligners? It so happens that your Pleasanton pediatric dentist can address this question for you. With that said, read on to learn whether kids can get Invisalign if they grind their teeth.

Metal braces may seem like they’re just your average orthodontic equipment, but you probably didn’t know that they’ve got a few impressive secrets that make them cooler than you think! Before you judge your wires and brackets for being average, keep reading to find out why they’re anything but!