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Apr 15

7 Perfect Books to Read During Children’s Dental Health Month

By Blog

Let’s be real, sometimes an upcoming trip to the dentist isn’t an event your kid is super excited about. They may even feel anxious about it, maybe because they don’t know what to expect. As your Naperville pediatric dentists, we’ve found that a great way to help kids feel more confident about a dental visit is to introduce the idea well beforehand. How? We suggest reading fun kids books about dental health and the dentist.

In honor of Children’s Dental Health Month, the team at Innovative Pediatric Dentistry has compiled a list of seven recommended reads that can help your children with overcoming their fear of the dentist.

1. The Berenstain Bears Visit the Dentist by Stan & Jan Berenstain

A classic series, you can always count on Mama and Papa Bear, and Brother and Sister Bear to cover relatable life lessons. In The Berenstain Bears Visit the Dentist, Sister Bear wakes up with a loose tooth and goes along with Brother Bear to have the dentist take a look. It’s Sister Bear’s first time visiting the dentist and she’s a bit scared so the story aims to set Sister Bear (and your child!) at ease by explaining what will happen at the dentist, including how cavities are filled and what dental tools the dentist uses.

2. Daniel Goes to the Dentist (Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood)

If you have a little one, you’re likely familiar with the show, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood. ICYMI, there’s an episode about Daniel going to the dentist for the first time and it’s been adapted into a children’s book about the dentist. Daniel is nervous about his first time visiting Dr. Plat so Dr. Plat walks Daniel through everything at his check-up and cleaning to put him at ease.

3. Curious George Visits the Dentist by Margret & H.A Rey

Another beloved character of children’s books with a tale (or is it tail?) about the dentist? Curious George. One of the most timeless children’s books about visiting the dentist, George bites into a wax apple which results in a wiggly tooth. The man in the yellow hat takes him to the dentist but since George has never been, he’s a bit nervous. George being George, he gets up to some shenanigans at the dentist’s office, making new friends with other kids and dentist, Dr. Wang. George concludes that the dentist isn’t such a scary place… it’s actually fun!

4. The Tooth Book by Dr. Seuss

With its signature zany rhymes and nonsensical words, this Dr Suess book is one of the silliest and over-the-top books about teeth and dental health. But in its rhyme, you’ll have a great time, learning facts about teeth, the dentist, and the importance of taking care of your smile.

5. Peppa Pig Dentist Trip (published by Scholastic)

Peppa Pig. Need we say more? The book Peppa Pig Dentist Trip is based on an episode of the popular show. Here, good big sister Peppa helps little George see that their trip to the dentist is nothing to worry about. It’s one of the must-read children’s books about visiting the dentist that you and your child will take to heart. Just be sure to remind your child that we don’t have any elephant dentists at Innovative Pediatric Dentistry like in Peppa Pig!

6. My First Visit to the Dentist by Rachel Grider

If your child has never been to the dentist, this is one of the children’s books about visiting the dentist you cannot miss. Written by a dental hygienist, this book teaches kids how to keep their smile healthy, introduces dental terms, and talks about the dentist in a positive way.

7. We’re Going to the Dentist: Going for a Check-Up by Marion Cocklico

Have a toddler who’s a bit worried about going to the dentist? We’re Going to the Dentist is an interactive book that can help preschool children with overcoming their fear of the dentist. Fun flaps, pull-tabs and a wheel provide a memorable sensory experience for learning about the dentist.

No Biggie! Making Kids Dental Care Fun For Your Little One

Hopefully, our picks for the seven best children’s books about visiting the dentist will help your kiddo walk into our Naperville pediatric dental office with confidence. And as a parent, you can have peace of mind knowing that our gentle touch, high-tech approach, and colorful office means a more comfortable, efficient, and exciting experience at every step.

Make your child’s appointment today at Naperville’s award-winning pediatric dentist!

Mar 25

Cavity Culprits: Can You Identify Which Foods are the Worst Offenders for Kids’ Teeth?

By Blog

Hands down, the foods your kids eat play a crucial role in their oral health — whether for good or bad. That’s why your Naperville pediatric dental team at Innovative Pediatric Dentistry wants to highlight the worst and best foods for your kids’ teeth so you know which foods to serve and which to stay away from.

Foods High in Sugar? Oral Health Enemy #1

The worst foods for teeth are the ones high in sugar. Oral bacteria thrives on sugar and in processing it, produces acids that weaken tooth enamel which can then lead to cavities. Foods high in simple sugars like sticky candies, sugary drinks, and fruit juices lead the charge.

What about complex sugars, like carbs? When it comes to dental health, the simple answer is, yes, starchy foods also promote plaque. As this 2021 study shows, simple versus complex sugars have the same effect on teeth health and tooth decay.

Give Your Teeth a Break!

We can’t forget to mention that how often you eat plays a role in your teeth health. Your saliva needs time to neutralize the acids produced by the sugar-eating bacteria and bring your oral environment back to a balanced pH. So constant snacking? Not good for cavity prevention in kids. A good rule of thumb is allowing two hours between meals and snacks.

The Sour Stuff: Another Cavity Contributor

Acidic foods like citrus fruits and sour candies can also contribute to weakening your kids’ enamel and contribute to cavities in your kids’ teeth.

A Reminder About Healthy Foods For Your Kids’ Teeth

Go on the offensive and help your child build strong and healthy teeth and gums with foods rich in Vitamins A, C, and D, along with calcium and phosphorus. Vegetables and fruits, whole grains, lean protein, dairy or dairy alternatives, and healthy fats all have vitamins and minerals for promoting healthy teeth. Plus, crunchy fruits and vegetables like apples and carrots act like toothbrushes, scrubbing away plaque and stimulating saliva while you eat.

Quiz Time! Which Foods Are the Worst for Teeth?

Now that you’ve had a crash course on the best and worst foods for teeth, test what you know by answering these four questions!

1. Which snack pairing represents the worst foods for your kids’ teeth?

  1. Skittles and a soda
  2. Cheese string and salami
  3. Apple slices and orange wedges
  4. Crackers and natural peanut butter

Answer: A) Skittles and a soda. This is the worst food pairing for kids’ teeth as they both are high in sugar (and the soda is acidic, too). BTW, check out our list of teeth-happy snacks for kids.

2. Which of these would contribute the most to tooth decay?

  1. Whole grain bread
  2. Milk chocolate candy bar
  3. Hot dogs
  4. Grapes

Answer: B) Milk chocolate, because it’s full of sugar and sticks to teeth. Grapes come in second because of their acidic pH level.

3. Which drink should be consumed in moderation to prevent the tooth enamel erosion that can lead to cavities in kids?

  1. Milk
  2. Water
  3. Carbonated soft drinks
  4. Sweet tea

Answer: C) Carbonated soft drinks. Soda and fizzy drinks often contain high levels of sugar and are acidic. Sweet tea and milk follow because of the added sugar in the tea and the lactose in milk.

4. Which of these breakfasts is the worst option because of its high sugar content?

  1. Oatmeal with honey and raisins
  2. Scrambled eggs with spinach
  3. Whole grain toast with avocado
  4. Greek yogurt with fresh berries

Answer: A) Oatmeal with honey and raisins. While oatmeal can be healthy, adding honey and raisins increases its sugar content.

More Cavity Prevention from your Naperville Pediatric Dentist

Got the jist of the best and worst foods for your kids’ teeth? Great! Now take cavity prevention for your kids to the next level with regular check-ups and cleanings with your pediatric dentist. Book your next visit with the award-winning dentists at Innovative Pediatric Dentistry and we’ll help bring out your little one’s best smiles.

Feb 25

Dino Dentistry: Imagining the Gigantic Challenge of Keeping a T-Rex’s Teeth Clean

By Blog

If you think brushing and flossing your teeth well is challenging sometimes, imagine T-Rex teeth! Maintaining the pearly whites of the king of dinosaurs? Now, that’s a challenge! Have some fun with your Innovative Pediatric Dentistry team and imagine some of the unique challenges and solutions that would come with keeping T-Rex teeth sparkling clean.

1. Dino Sized-Teeth = Dino-Sized Dental Tools

Scientists say that the T-Rex had the biggest teeth of all the dinosaurs — we’re talking dino teeth as long as bananas! Think about finding a toothbrush for those chompers! Our suggestion? Skip the oral care aisle at the store and head to the cleaning supplies section instead; you’d need something like a floor scrub brush with a long handle instead of a traditional toothbrush.

And how hard or soft a toothbrush? For human teeth, your pediatric dentists at Innovative Pediatric Dentistry typically suggest a soft-bristled toothbrush that’s gentle on gums but tough on plaque. But our prehistoric pal might need bristles with more scrubbing power. And toothpaste? Maybe a whole tube’s worth in one go for those dino teeth. For you, a pea-sized amount is plenty. And forget your usual two-minute brushing time; with a T-Rex, you’ll likely need a good 20 minutes to brush its 50-60 teeth!

2. Those Hard-to-Reach Places

So you’ve got your giant scrub brush/toothbrush, toothpaste… and patience. Given a T-Rex’s massive jaw and height, reaching all of its teeth is the next challenge. Standing upright, an average-sized T-Rex was about 21 feet tall, so you’d need scaffolding to access those dino teeth. And, of course, safety would be key — you wouldn’t want to slip and fall into a T-Rex’s mouth!

3. Epic Brushing Technique

Once you can reach those dinosaur teeth, what would brushing those T-Rex teeth look like? Use the same technique for dino dental care as you would for brushing your teeth, just on a bigger scale. Hold the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gums. Gently move it back and forth in short, tooth-wide strokes. Brush the outer, inner, and chewing surfaces of those giant dino teeth.

4. Flossing Like A Game of Tug-o-War

As predators, T-Rexes weren’t munching on salads; they were feasting on other dinosaurs. Such a carnivorous diet would lead to dental dilemmas like meat getting stuck between teeth. Food debris could lead to tooth decay or gingivitis without proper flossing. Flossing a T-Rex’s teeth would be crucial to good dinosaur dental care, just as it’s crucial for our teeth. It helps remove food particles and plaque between the teeth and under the gum line, which a toothbrush can’t reach.

Make flossing teeth a daily habit for you and your dino pal. A T-Rex might need a rope to clean effectively between those giant teeth — grab a brave friend to help pull that rope back and forth like a game of tug-o-war and up-and-down in a C-shape around each tooth. As for your own teeth, use the same flossing technique but with human-sized dental floss, of course!

5. Don’t Forget the Tongue For Fresher Breath

On top of brushing and flossing teeth, dinosaur dental care (and your own!) should include cleaning the tongue. After all, the tongue can have a layer of bacteria that leads to stinky breath. We can only imagine what a T-Rex’s breath would be like! Ew. Similarly, the human tongue can harbor bacteria and food particles that contribute to bad breath, so give the tongue a gentle brush or gently use a tongue scraper to help remove plaque. Brush the tongue from front to back and side to side, then rinse with water.

6. Regular Check-Ups & Cleanings

Finally, even a T-Rex would need to see a dentist (a brave one, for sure) for regular check-ups and professional cleaning. Regular dental visits are essential for maintaining excellent oral health. A dentist can spot problems early and offer suggestions or treatment for your dental needs. And a professional cleaning with special tools cleans any tartar build-up on the teeth and gum line and helps prevent tooth decay.

Kids’ Dental Care That’s Dino-Sized Fun in Naperville, IL

Keeping a T-Rex’s teeth clean would be an epically fun and zany challenge, that’s for sure. At Innovative Pediatric Dentistry, we approach dentistry for kids in the same spirit of fun and imagination. Our Naperville, IL, office is bright and welcoming, with a movie room, charging stations, toys, and games. And by pairing the latest technology with kid-focused care, families experience dino-mite pediatric dental care designed with efficiency and kid comfort in mind.

Give us a shout to book your child’s next cleaning and check-up!

Jan 30
5 Facts About Infant Tongue and Lip Tie

5 Facts About Infant Tongue and Lip Tie From Innovative Pediatric Dentistry

By Blog

Let’s start by answering, “What is a tongue or lip tie?” Tongue and lip ties are present at birth. A tongue tie is when the lingual frenulum, which connects the tongue to the bottom of the mouth, is too short, thick, or tight and interferes with normal tongue movement. Lip ties are similar, but is when the maxillary labial frenulum connecting the upper lip to the gums causes mobility issues with the lips. 

What complications can come from a tongue or lip tie? A lip or tongue tie can negatively impact a baby’s development. It can make latching difficult, contribute to failure to thrive, cause colic and reflux, and cause nursing pain for the mother. In later years, a child with a tongue or lip tie might experience difficulty with speech, eating, or drinking.

Fortunately, a solution exists — laser frenectomy. As your experts in pediatric oral care, board certified, Dr. Kirby Goodwine, and the team at Naperville’s Innovative Pediatric Dentistry offers five things to know about tongue and lip ties and their solutions.

  1. Who Can Perform a Laser Frenectomy?

Laser frenectomies can be performed by dentists — like your pediatric dentists at Innovative Pediatric Dentistry — or oral and maxillofacial surgeons, pediatricians, ENTs, and other medical specialties.

  1. Who is a Candidate for Lip or Tongue Tie Laser Release?

Anyone who has a tongue or lip frenulum that’s too short, tight, or thick is a typical candidate for a laser frenectomy.

  1. What Happens During Treatment?

A laser frenectomy looks different depending on whether it’s for the release of a lip or tongue frenulum. A laser lingual frenectomy is the laser ablation of the lingual frenum that connects the underside of the tongue to the floor of the mouth. A laser labial frenectomy is the ablation of the tissue that attaches the midline of the upper lip or lower lip to the gums.

Sometimes patients receive local anesthesia, then the laser both snips and cauterizes the frenulum. Depending on the complexity of the lip or tongue tie, a few stitches might also be needed. 

  1. How Long Does the Procedure Take? 

The procedure itself is a same-day treatment and takes about 15 minutes. Typically, babies can nurse right away. Full recovery takes about four weeks, with any stitches dissolving within the first week. 

  1. What Are Its Benefits?

For babies, a lip or tongue release can improve latching and allow for successful feeding and weight gain.  In children, lip and tongue tie release can help with speech and eating.

About Innovative Pediatric Dentistry

Naperville’s award-winning pediatric dentists at Innovative Pediatric Dentistry go the extra mile to make dental care fun, comfortable, and anxiety-free. With special training to care for children’s developing mouths, we use innovative technology and techniques to guarantee kids visit and leave the dentist with smiles on their faces. We love helping babies all the way to thirteen years old on their journey of great oral health!

Nov 21
Guess Which Unbelievable Tooth Facts are Real

Tooth Truth or Tall Tale? Guess Which Unbelievable Tooth Facts are Real

By Blog

Guess Which Unbelievable Tooth Facts are RealYou may not have realized this but there are a lot of funny, strange, or almost unbelievable fun facts about teeth. Your team at Innovative Pediatric Dentistry has collected some here. Take this fun quiz and see which facts are real and which facts are fiction. Find the answers at the bottom.

  1. Tooth enamel is even harder than bone.

Real or Fake?

  1. In the history of brushing teeth, people used to use crushed oyster shells to brush their teeth before modern toothpaste was invented. People also used pulverized brick, charcoal or ground up eggshells.

Real or Fake?

  1. Identical twins have identical teeth.

Real or Fake?

  1. When it comes to famous people with false teeth, George Washington had them, filling out his smile with dentures made of wood. 

Real or Fake?

  1. Your baby teeth start to form while you’re still in the womb and start making an appearance between 6-12 months old. 

Real or Fake?

  1. Right-handed people tend to chew on their left side and left-handed people tend to chew on their right side.

Real or Fake?

  1. The average person produces over 100,000 gallons of saliva over their lifetime.

Real or Fake?

  1. In 1994, an inmate escaped from a West Virginia prison by braiding dental floss into a rope and scaling the prison wall! 

Real or Fake?

  1. Famous smiles with gold teeth? Before Katy Perry, Lil’ Wayne, and Rihanna sported gold teeth, the trend started in the 1980s. 

Real or Fake?

  1. The co-inventor of cotton candy was a dentist! 

Real or Fake?

  1. In the history of brushing teeth, the first toothbrushes were made of animal hair.

Real or Fake?

  1. In the middle ages, people thought kissing a horse would help a toothache.

Real or Fake?

  1. These famous smiles all have gapped teeth: Madonna, Michael Strahan, Georgia Jagger.

Real or Fake?

  1. One of our favorite fun facts about teeth? In 1986, the winner of the National Spelling Bee won by spelling the tooth word “periodontium.”

Real or Fake?

  1. In the history of dentistry, the first licensed female dentist was Lucy Beaman Hobbs in 1866.
    Real or Fake?

Answers:

  1. Real, tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the body. 2. Real. 3. Fake, teeth are unique to each person. 4. Fake, George Washington’s dentures were actually made of gold, ivory, lead, and a mixture of human, donkey, and hippopotamus teeth! 5. Real. 6.Fake, right handers tend to chew on the right, left handers on the left. 7. Real. 8. Real. 9. Fake, gold teeth started way back with the Etruscan civilization who existed between 800 BC – 200 BC. 10. Real, in 1897, dentist William Morrison co-invented “fairy floss” with candymaker John Wharton for the 1907 World’s Fair. 11. Fake, the first toothbrushes were made of twigs. The leaves would be stripped off to make a smooth handle. One end would be chewed to fray the twig and create “bristles,” the other end sharpened into a “toothpick.” 12. Fake. in the history of dentistry, kissing a donkey in the middle ages was considered the custom if you had a toothache. 13. Real. 14. Fake, the winner, 14-year-old, John Pennington, actually won by spelling “odontalgia” which is another word for “toothache.” 15. True.

Your Naperville, IL Pediatric Dentists Are All About the Fun!

Have these fun facts about teeth got you thinking it’s time to see your dentist soon? If so, we’re your go-to Naperville pediatric dentist for comprehensive, yet fun, kid-friendly care. We offer a full range of pediatric dentistry services for kids, from cleanings to tooth colored fillings to orthodontics. 

Schedule your next appointment and ensure your child is on the road to healthy teeth!

Oct 24

10 Fun Ways to Incorporate Halloween into Your Kids’ Brushing and Flossing Routine

By Blog

It’s Halloween season and no doubt, your kids are extra excited about trick-or-treating. But, as a parent, you might be thinking about how to level up your kids’ oral hygiene to tackle all those extra sugar bugs. The Innovative Pediatric Dentistry team loves to make dental care fun so here, 10 spooktacular ideas for incorporating Halloween into brushing and flossing at home.

  1. Toothbrush And Costume Twinsies

The dental care aisle is chock-a-block full of kids’ toothbrushes. Take a look and see if there’s one that matches your kid’s costume: superhero, princess, cartoon character, monster… there might be one that complements what they’ll be wearing.

  1. Candy-Flavored Toothpaste

If they don’t use a sweet-flavored one already, switch up your kids’ toothpaste with a flavor that’s candy-inspired. Try one like this blue raspberry and sparkle fluoride toothpaste which gets its sweetness from xylitol (which is good for teeth) and stevia. 

  1. Creepy Flossers

Kids don’t always have the best flossing habits. Understandable, since flossing can be tricky to get the hang of, especially for younger kids. But this Halloween, your kids just might sink their teeth into flossing with these creepy, black flossers. Flossers are easier to handle than a traditional string of floss and make a great intro to this necessary dental hygiene habit.

By the way, your Naperville pediatric dentists at Innovative Pediatric Dentistry are happy to show your child the best ways to floss. Our comprehensive care includes educating our patients and their families for the best at-home habits between visits. Let us know if you need some pointers from the pros!

  1. Sweet Treat Mouthwash

Surprise your kids with a mouthwash that tastes like a sweet treat: this bubble fruit fluoride mouthwash has a yummy bubble gum flavor that will help clean away lingering bacteria after brushing and flossing.

  1. Halloween Brushing Playlist

Brush and floss to kid-friendly Halloween classics like “Monster Mash” or “Ghostbusters.” Two minutes of brushing will fly by with a spooky soundtrack! 

  1. Haunted Timer

Another way to get kids to brush their teeth for two minutes? A scary sound timer! Ghostly whispers, witch cackles, and creaking doors will make brushing and flossing a new experience.

  1. Spook-tacular Stickers

Stickers? Kids love’em. Reward your kids with halloween stickers to put on a sticker chart when they complete their daily oral hygiene. Or get window clings they can stick to the bathroom mirror where they brush their teeth. Once your kids reach their goals, reward them with non-sugary treats like a small toy or an activity they’ve been wanting to do.

  1. Bewitched Toothbrush Holder

How about a Halloween-themed toothbrush and toothpaste holder? Find a witch’s cauldron to stir up some brushing and flossing excitement. Or a jack-o-lantern-looking cup or container. Or maybe a fun Halloween-themed mug or plastic cup.

  1. A Haunted Setting

Turn the bathroom into a spidery scene! Stretch fake spider webbing across the mirror and lights, hange plastic creepy crawlies from the ceiling, and stick ghoulish window clings to the mirror, window or glass surfaces for haunted house oral hygiene.

  1. Stop By Our Super Mario Bros Spooktacular

We’re joining downtown Naperville’s Halloween Hop! Come down to the Main Street Promenade on Saturday, October 29 from 10:00am – 12:00pm for our Super Mario Bros Spooktacular. Enjoy a meet and greet with Princess Peach and Bowser, strike your best poses for photos and indulge in sweet treats. We’ve got swag bags and candy to take home, too.

Award-Winning Pediatric Dentistry in Naperville, IL

The Innovative Pediatric Dentistry team wants your kids to both enjoy Halloween and maintain great oral health. And after all the extra fun Halloween brushing and flossing, don’t forget to continue that focus on healthy teeth. 

Schedule your child’s next checkup and cleaning with your Naperville pediatric dentist. Our award-winning, advanced and gentle care will bring out the best in your kid’s smile. Naperville families love and trust us — we’re humbled to say we won “Best Dental Practice” again this year from Naperville Magazine’s Best of Naperville.

Oct 12
After-School Snack Ideas for Kids and Teens

Smart Snacking for Strong Teeth: After-School Snack Ideas for Kids and Teens

By Blog

After-School Snack Ideas for Kids and Teens

Ever wonder how to keep your kid’s teeth healthy and strong, while also tackling the afternoon hunger pangs? Well, say goodbye to cavity-causing sugary snacks and hello to nutrient-rich options that support better oral health. Our Naperville pediatric dentists are sharing after-school snack ideas that are full of minerals and vitamins for the teeth and gums. 

Sliced Apples and Peanut Butter

When it comes to foods that are good for teeth, apples always make the list. They’re crunchy and high in water content, which means they naturally clean the teeth as kids eat. Pair them with some peanut butter, which has protein and healthy fats, and you’ve got yourself a winning combo.

Kid-Friendly Snack Plate

Do a play on charcuterie with string cheese or cheese cubes, turkey slices and some grapes. Cheese is rich in calcium, crucial for strong teeth. Plus, turkey’s a lean protein and is high in phosphorus, which teams up with calcium to create the main structural component of the bones and enamel. 

Smoothie With Greek Yogurt, Frozen Fruit, Almond Milk

Smoothies not only contain vitamins for teeth and gum health, but the liquid also rinses off the teeth easily. Since the longer food sits on the enamel, the more damage it does, this is a big bonus. For a smile-friendly smoothie, blend Greek yogurt, frozen berries, almond milk and an optional scoop of protein powder. 

Greek yogurt is rich in calcium, which we’ve established is important for keeping kids’ teeth strong. It also contains probiotics that balance the good bacteria in the mouth. The berries deliver antioxidants, which have a protective effect on gum tissue, while the protein from the powder fuels growing smiles. 

A Banana and Walnuts

A handful of walnuts and a banana contain a satiating mix of carbohydrates, healthy fats and protein. Walnuts are full of nutrients that are integral for oral health, including phosphorus, iron and omega-3s. The act of eating crunchy walnuts removes a bit of plaque and any lingering banana.

Celery Sticks With Cream Cheese

Think of celery as nature’s dental floss. Its stringy, fibrous texture helps to clean between teeth. Slather on some cream cheese for a smooth and satisfying flavor contrast that isn’t high in sugar.

Carrot Sticks and Hummus

Carrots are one of the best healthy foods for kids’ teeth because they contain enamel-strengthening vitamin A and plaque bacteria-fighting keratin. The crunchy texture stimulates saliva production, which neutralizes acids in the mouth. Dipping the carrots in hummus brings protein and healthy fats into the mix.

Sweet Potato Fries

Oven-baked sweet potato fries are filling and, like carrots, high in vitamin A. This makes them an excellent healthy snack idea for both the teeth and gums. Sprinkle them with a pinch of salt and cinnamon for an after-school treat. 

Cherry Tomatoes, Cucumber Slices and Feta Cheese Balls

Talk about a colorful plate! Cherry tomatoes are rich in vitamin C, cucumbers add saliva-promoting crunch, and feta offers the calcium teeth need. It’s a delicious trifecta of nutrients for dental health.

Hard-Boiled Eggs with a Whole-Grain Mini Bagel

Hard-boiled eggs are a fantastic source of protein and essential nutrients, including smile-friendly phosphorus and vitamins D and K. While starchy foods like bagels are best enjoyed in moderation, choosing a whole grain, snack-sized variety and pairing it with protein offers a good balance. 

Nutrition is One Piece of the Oral Health Puzzle

Incorporating these types of foods into after-school snacks and meals can reduce your child’s risk of cavities and gum disease. When combined with diligent brushing and flossing and routine dental cleanings and exams, healthy eating plays an important role in helping kids maintain healthy teeth. 

Looking for a pediatric dentist in Naperville to round out your preventive care plan? Schedule a visit for your child at Innovative Pediatric Dentistry. Our expert dentists and friendly team will work with you to bring out the best in your kiddo’s smile.

Aug 31

The Creative Way Innovative Pediatric Dentistry Helps Reduce Dental Anxiety in Kids

By Blog

The Creative Way Innovative Pediatric Dentistry Helps Reduce Dental Anxiety in Kids

Naperville, IL – August 28th, 2023: For kids, a fun and welcoming environment goes a long way in making dental visits something to look forward to. That’s why Innovative Pediatric Dentistry invited local mural artist Ken Markiewicz of Crayons Gone Wild to turn their office into a series of vibrant, themed rooms featuring beloved children’s characters.

As a winner of Naperville’s Best Dentist for 15 consecutive years, this beloved pediatric dentistry team knows what the ultimate kid-friendly practice should look and feel like. Leveling up their outstanding service once again, kids and their families who visit will find themselves in awe of four bright and exciting murals.

Super Mario & Friends

The first highlight is an immersive Super Mario World scene featuring Mario, Luigi and other iconic characters from the Mushroom Kingdom. Kids will have such a blast looking for their favorite characters, they’ll be in great spirits once it’s their turn for a check-up.

The Superhero Room

Three treatment rooms have each been transformed with a distinct and dynamic theme geared just for kids. Patients obsessed with superheroes will love the Superhero Room featuring the likes of Spiderman, Batman, and the Incredible Hulk. It’s an inspiration scene to help kids embrace their inner heroes and feel more confident about their visits, even help calm the dental anxiety some kids tend to feel.

The Princess Room

Aspiring princesses will be transported into a world of royalty and enchantment in the Princess themed treatment room. Anna and Elsa from Frozen, Ariel from The Little Mermaid, and Cinderella greet patients in a delightful scene designed to empower and uplift patients with the message that they have the magic inside them to do great things, even things they’re nervous about like going to the dentist.

The Adventure Room

The third themed room features the brave and the bold. The Adventure Room sparks curiosity and courage, inviting young explorers to follow the lead of Clifford, Paw Patrol, and Dora the Explorer and have fun doing it.

About Innovative Pediatric Dentistry

At Innovative Pediatric Dentistry, dental treatment is far from boring. Naperville’s award-winning pediatric dentists go the extra mile to make dental care fun, exciting, and anxiety-free. Plus, their warm and inviting office is safe and comfortable, right from the very first visit. 

As a pediatric dental practice, the team is specially trained to care for children’s developing mouths, with tricks and techniques to guarantee kids visit and leave the dentist with smiles on their faces.

MEDIA CONTACT

Innovative Pediatric Dentistry

  1. info@innovativepediatricdentistry.com
  2. 630-848-7336

W. https://www.innovativepediatricdentistry.com/

Jul 27

My Child’s Teeth are Coming in Crooked! Will They Straighten Out?

By Blog

Crooked Teeth

Your child’s life is full of milestones that you as a parent carefully monitor (and celebrate!) at every turn. Included in those occasions? When those baby and permanent teeth start coming in. But what if your child’s teeth are coming in crooked? Should you be worried? And what should you do about it?

At Innovative Pediatric Dentistry, we want to help you understand your child’s oral development at every step of the way — so you can feel confident you’re making the best decisions for their teeth. So in this post, let’s talk about both baby and adult teeth coming in crooked, find out if they’re a problem, and what you can do about it.

Baby Teeth Coming in Crooked — Are They A Problem?

The good news? In most cases, if your child’s baby’s teeth are coming in crooked, you don’t have to worry too much about it. As you know, kids grow and change really quickly, so when it comes to their oral development, their mouth and jaw changes a lot, especially in their early years between 3-6 years old. 

Will crooked baby teeth straighten out? Slightly crooked baby teeth can straighten out over time, and the permanent teeth that take their places might just erupt perfectly okay, even if the baby teeth were slightly crooked or crowded. 

When Crooked Baby Teeth Might Be A Cause For Concern

We should mention, though, that extremely crooked baby teeth might be problematic. If you notice that your child’s baby teeth look severely overcrowded, misaligned, or out of place, these might contribute to problems like speech issues, trouble chewing properly, or difficulty with cleaning that leads to a higher risk of tooth decay. Missing baby teeth or too many baby teeth may also be cause for concern.

Of course, your Innovative Pediatric Dentistry team will keep a close watch on your child’s oral development when you visit every six months. If there’s anything to worry about over your kids crooked baby teeth, rest assured we’ll spot it sooner than later and provide recommendations for treatment.

What Causes Crooked Baby Teeth?

Baby teeth come in crooked for a number of reasons; the most common include:

Genetics: If you or your partner have crooked teeth, there’s a higher chance your child may also have misaligned teeth. 

Prolonged Baby Habits Like Thumbsucking: Thumb sucking, pacifier use, or other oral habits that carry on too long can impact the alignment of baby teeth. These habits can put pressure on the developing jaw and contribute to your child’s baby teeth coming in crooked — like front teeth that stick out or an underbite. If you notice that your preschool child is still relying on these habits to self soothe, visit your Naperville pediatric dentists at Innovative Pediatric Dentistry. We’ll gently examine your child’s baby teeth and provide habit breaking strategies for helping your little one stop thumbsucking or using their pacifier.

Lack of Space: Sometimes baby teeth come in crooked because of lack of space in your child’s mouth. This can be a result of factors like crowded teeth or a smaller jaw size. In these cases, we again suggest you come in to see your board-certified Naperville pediatric dentist. We can assess your child’s teeth and provide the right guidance, whether that’s a “wait and see” approach, or recommendations for early orthodontic treatment with our expert orthodontists at Innovative Orthodontic Centers.

How About Adult Teeth Coming in Crooked?

Around age six or seven, you’ll notice your child’s baby teeth starting to fall out and their adult teeth coming in. But what if those permanent teeth are coming in crooked? Unlike baby teeth, adult teeth are here to stay, so if they’re crooked, they typically don’t straighten themselves. As a result, your child may experience issues with pronunciation, chewing and biting, or maintaining good oral health. Adult teeth coming in crooked can also affect your child’s self esteem, both when they’re young and when they’re older. Crooked adult teeth may also be a sign that your child’s jaw is too small, which can contribute to mouth breathing or teeth grinding.

Fortunately, orthodontic treatment helps straighten adult teeth and align your child’s bite, setting them up for success when it comes to great oral functioning, dental health, and overall well-being. And for our young patients at Innovative Pediatric Dentistry, coordinating orthodontic care comes easy since our expert, board-certified orthodontists at Innovative Orthodontic Centers are under the same roof.

Checking Up on Crooked Teeth With Your Chicagoland-Area Pediatric Dentist

As mentioned, kids’ crooked teeth can either be nothing to worry about or a cause of concern, depending on if they’re baby teeth, adult teeth, and the severity of your child’s case. When in doubt, come visit us at Innovative Pediatric Dentistry for a comprehensive exam by a compassionate team. And our bright, fun, kid-friendly environment and high tech approach helps kids feel comfortable at every visit.

May 19

5 Things to Know About Dental Hypoplasia in Kids

By Blog

We know you want your kids to have the healthiest teeth possible. But even with the best oral hygiene routine and nutritious food, an issue like dental hypoplasia can weaken their teeth, making them more susceptible to damage and tooth decay. In fact, one study found that teeth with enamel issues like hypoplasia are three times more likely to have cavities than teeth without enamel concerns.

But what is dental hypoplasia? 

Simply put, it’s when your children’s tooth enamel is hard but too thin and can’t provide the best protection for the softer dentin underneath. Hyperplasia on teeth can happen to individual teeth, in certain spots on individual teeth, or less common, on all teeth. Sometimes hypoplasia can be confused with hypocalcified teeth, which is not thin enamel but soft and opaque enamel. 

Rest assured, treatment is possible for hypoplastic teeth. But before we get to these, let’s cover 5 things to know about this condition.

  1. Dental hypoplasia can be easy to spot

Hypoplastic teeth are easy to spot by your experienced pediatric dentist at Innovative Pediatric Dentistry. And once we see and diagnose it, we can get right to treating and strengthening your child’s teeth. At home, keep an eye out for the symptoms below, and if you notice any, make an appointment to come into our Naperville office as soon as possible.

  • Teeth that look yellow or brown (the dentin underneath enamel is a yellowish color)
  • White spots on teeth
  • Dips, grooves or striations on the surface of teeth
  • A lot of tooth decay or cavities
  • Misshapen or worn-down teeth

If your child has thin enamel, you might also notice that their teeth stain easily from colorful foods or they complain of sensitivity to cold foods and drinks.

  1. Hypoplastic teeth typically comes from early environmental factors

Dental hypoplasia happens when enamel cells are disrupted during a critical stage in their development. In baby teeth, disruptions can happen when a child is still in utero or after birth. Disruptions that happen later — from infancy through early childhood — can cause dental hypoplasia in adult teeth that have started erupting and developing.

Factors that can increase the likelihood of hypoplasia include:

  • Premature birth or low birth weight
  • Vitamin D deficiency
  • Gestational diabetes in the mother 
  • Viral and bacterial infections like syphilis passed from mother to child during pregnancy
  • Diabetes
  • Hypoparathyroidism
  • Ingesting too much fluoride
  • Inflammation or dental trauma

  1. Dental hypoplasia can happen at different times 

Enamel on a child’s front baby teeth is usually fully formed by five years old while enamel on their molars isn’t fully developed until about age eight. Plus, adult teeth start erupting around age six. This means that hypoplasia can happen on different teeth at different times.

  1. Treatment for dental hypoplasia depends on severity

The goal of any treatment for hypoplasia is to strengthen your child’s teeth, restore enamel, and maintain a healthier, stronger bite. The type of treatment your Naperville pediatric dentist will recommend depends on the severity of your child’s dental hypoplasia. These include:

Remineralization: Fluoride treatment is often the first line of defense for thin enamel, helping strengthen enamel and reduce tooth sensitivity.

Dental sealants: Painting on a dental sealant is like creating a force field around your child’s teeth for extra protection against tooth decay. Dental sealants are a BPA-free plastic coating that takes a quick 15 minutes to apply and can protect teeth for up to 10 years. 

Fillings: If your child has a hypoplastic tooth and a cavity has formed, we use tooth-colored fillings at Innovative Pediatric Dentistry to fill them and prevent further decay. These fillings blend into your child’s tooth color and help support the structural strength of their tooth.

Dental Crowns: For severe hypoplasia, we might suggest a dental crown to protect a tooth and restore its shape and function. It’s possible to place crowns on both baby and adult teeth, although for molars, we generally wait to place a crown on permanent molars.

  1. Teeth with hypoplasia need extra care even after treatment

If your child has dental dysplasia, we’re happy to provide tips for better at-home oral care and nutrition for teeth. We can also recommend a desensitizing toothpaste that, with regular use, helps alleviate sensitivity. 

And don’t forget to come see us for twice-annual check ups so we can keep tabs on your child’s dental health, catch issues before they become serious, and apply those preventative fluoride treatments and dental sealants mentioned earlier.

Your Naperville pediatric dentist for stronger, healthier teeth

At Innovative Pediatric Dentistry, we want your kids to enjoy healthy, happy smiles. If you’re concerned your child might have dental dysplasia, our doctors are here to help with comprehensive, kid-friendly care. 

Contact us to make an appointment at our fun, bright, and happy Naperville office.

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