Cavities and your child, from Pediatric Dental Specialists

Our team at Pediatric Dental Specialists read an interesting article this morning pertaining to cavities and how bacteria spreads from parents to children, and thought we'd share the news with you, our valued patients and parents.

According to the MSNBC article, Streptococcus mutans, or MS, is a bacterium that can pass from person to person through the transfer of saliva, and is the main culprit. Bacteria have been known to spread through blowing on babies' foods, sharing household utensils and even kissing your little one. In fact, a 2008 pediatric dentistry study showed “strong evidence demonstrated that mothers are a primary source of MS colonization of their children; a few investigations showed other potential sources … notably fathers.”

Out staff knows tooth decay is caused by a combination of factors, including the transfer of infectious saliva, genetics, oral hygiene, and feeding practices, such as letting your baby constantly suck on a sippy cup full of juice or milk or other sugar-laden liquids.

Drs. Sanchez, Planells and Cortez would like for you to read the article and learn a bit more about the transmission of bacteria and how it might impact your child. If you have any questions about bacteria or your treatment at Pediatric Dental Specialists, please feel free to give us a call at (562) 377-1375.

Tell Drs. Sanchez, Planells and Cortez what’s on your mind!

By now, you probably the drill: Each week, our dedicated staff at Pediatric Dental Specialists write about topics related to orthodontic care and your health, including innovative dental and orthodontic treatments offered at our office. This week, we thought we’d ask our loyal patients: what’s on your mind? What would you like to know about the always-changing field of dentistry and orthodontics? What would you like us to focus on our blog going forward? Perhaps there’s something you’ve wanted to ask Drs. Sanchez, Planells or Cortez but haven’t found the time?

Let us know and we’ll try to answer any questions you may have for us!

Ask Pediatric Dental Specialists: Are retainers really that important?

If you recently completed treatment at Pediatric Dental Specialists, we’d like to congratulate you! Now that your braces have been removed, Drs. Planells, Sanchez or Cortez will provide you with retainers. After braces are removed the teeth can shift out of position if they are not stabilized. Retainers provide that stabilization. They are designed to hold teeth in their corrected, ideal positions until the bones and gums adapt to the treatment changes. Wearing retainers exactly as instructed is the best insurance that the treatment improvements last for a lifetime. Here are some things to remember when you receiver your retainers:

* Wear your retainers full time, until the doctor instructs otherwise.
* Take your retainers out when eating...and always put retainers in their case! (Most appliances are lost in school lunch rooms or restaurants.)
* Clean retainers thoroughly once a day with a toothbrush and only a small amount of toothpaste. Use warm but not hot water.
* When retainers are not in your mouth they should ALWAYS be in a retainer case.
* Initially, you may find it difficult to speak. Practicing speaking, reading, or singing aloud to get used to them quicker is a good idea.
* Retainers are breakable, so treat them with care. If retainers are lost or broken, give us a call immediately.
* Try to remember to bring your retainers to your appointments.
* Retainer replacement is expensive...with proper care they will last for years!
* Remove retainers when swimming or during any sporting activity in which the retainers could fall out and get broken or lost (cheerleading, basketball, etc.) or when you should be wearing a mouth guard (football, soccer, etc.).
* Keep retainers away from hot water, pockets, the washing machine and napkins.

We hope this helps! You can always contact our team if you have any questions!

What are patients saying about Pediatric Dental Specialists?

Drs. Planells, Sanchez and Cortez deliver the highest quality orthodontic care in a personalized environment here in Long Beach. Our dedicated team makes orthodontic treatment fun and enjoyable. Just see what our patients have to say!

"Dr. Planells understands and is comforting to children who get stressed out at the dentist's office." ~ Karen B.

"Dr. Sanchez is professional and friendly. The kids are very comfortable with her." ~ Anna S.

"I like the friendly staff. The dentists are very professional." ~ Justin C.

"My children are comfortable at the office and with their dentist. They have received excellent dental care and have not had any cavities." ~ Nicholas B.

Keep the great reviews coming! You may post a review of us on our Google Local page or on our social networks! We appreciate all of our patients!

March is National Nutrition Month! From Pediatric Dental Specialists

You might recall our last blog post, in which we discussed February being National Children's Dental Health Month. Well, March is here, and that can only mean one thing: National Nutrition Month®. Every March, our team at Pediatric Dental Specialists and thousands of dentists and hygienists celebrate National Nutrition Month. This March, Drs. Planells, Cortez and Sanchez want you to think obesity, diabetes and periodontal disease, and how healthful eating and physical activity may improve periodontal health. Our team at Pediatric Dental Specialists know small changes can make a big difference, and the American Dietetic Association (ADA) has some advice on ways to start improving your diet:

• Focus on fruits and veggies: Add a serving each day to one meal and increase it every few weeks. Adding more of these foods into your diet is important whether you buy frozen, fresh or organic.

• Think local: From farmer’s markets here in southern California to community-supported agriculture, you have many options to find new, fresh foods in your area.

• Make calories count: When you are choosing between options, focus instead on the one with more of the vitamins and nutrients that you need. Sometimes, foods with fewer calories aren’t always the healthiest options.

• Test your taste buds: Expand your horizons. Try a fish you’ve never eaten before or find a new vegetable recipe. By testing yourself, you might find new health favorites to add to your regular grocery list.

• Trick yourself with treats: If you have a sweet tooth, have fruit and yogurt for dessert instead. If you want a snack in the afternoon, enjoy some trail mix or nuts.

If you have additional questions about periodontal disease or keeping yourself healthy, please give us a call!