New Year, New Habits

Happy New Year! With so many creating resolutions in the new year, we hope your resolutions include taking care of your smile, inside and out. It is never to early to begin a healthy oral health routine, especially a healthy routine you can pass on to your children.

At Pediatric Dental Specialist, we love to encourage our patients to add healthy routines that can add a drastic value to your smile. Here are 4 healthy habits to implement in the new year.

Floss - Floss, floss and more floss. We have all heard how flossing is beneficial, let’s all pledge to floss more in 2020. Getting kids involved in flossing will help them understand from a young age the importance of this healthy routine.

Change Your Toothbrush - When was the last time you switched out your toothbrush? American Dental Association recommends changing your toothbrush every 3-4 months. By switching out our toothbrushes, we can prevent bacteria, keep our mouth fresh and healthy.

Mouthwash - There are different types of mouthwashes, each with a different function. We recommend you utilize one to wash away bacteria and keep your breath smelling fresh.

Mouthguards - Mouthguards are often unnoticed, yet can be important when it comes to playing sports and keeping children’s teeth safe from injuries and hard contact sports.

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Life is too short to hide your smile! Beautiful😍smile Sara. 😃 #PediatricDentalSpecialistsLongBeach #DrPlanells #DrSanchez #DrCortez #PDSLongBeach #LongBeachDentist #LongBeachCalifornia #LongBeach #PediatricDentist #KidsDentist #Orthodontist #Smile #KidsSmile #WeLoveOurPatients #BeautifulSmile.

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Contact our office for for more information about special mouth guards, to protect your smile during sports. If it’s been six months since your last dental checkup, then it’s time to contact our practice and schedule your next appointment!

Thumbsucking and Consequences

Thumbsucking has been a reflex for kids to soothe themselves, feel comfortable, secure or happy. Yet this can have some consequences on the child's permanent teeth. Thumbsucking and sucking on a pacifier can have the same consequences such as problems with the proper growth of the mouth and alignment of the teeth. It can also cause changes in the roof of the mouth.

According to the American Dental Health Association, children usually stop sucking between the ages of two and four years old.

If you would like to help your child stop sucking their thumb, you can try a few things.

• Praise your child for not sucking.
• Children often suck their thumbs when feeling insecure or needing comfort. Focus on correcting the cause of the anxiety and provide comfort to your child.
• For an older child, involve him or her in choosing the method of stopping. 
• We can also offer encouragement to your child and explain what could happen to their teeth if they do not stop sucking.

If you notice changes in your child’s primary teeth, or are concerned about your child’s thumbsucking consult your dentist. If you have any questions, please contact us at (562) 377-1375

Two Braces Friendly Treats for Halloween

If you have visited any of the fun pumpkin patches near Long Beach, you’ll see all the family activities and be reminded of the fun Halloween is with all the costumes, trick-or-treating and endless treats, all making this time of year a fun time.

Halloween can also be a tricky time if you have braces and while there are certain foods you should stay away, there are some types of candies you can eat on Halloween, that won’t damage your braces. Here are two Halloween braces-friendly treats you can eat on Halloween night.

1. Brownies:
A sweet treat that is braces-friendly is brownies. Brownies or other soft pastries won’t damage your braces and are an enjoyable treat on Halloween. Softness is key because your wires and brackets won’t be damaged. Be sure to brush up after eating treats and stick to your oral hygiene routine.

2. Chocolate:
Sugary treats affect our teeth in different ways, especially when it comes to orthodontic treatment and the overall health of our teeth and our oral hygiene routine. Chocolate that has no nuts, is not hard or has additional sticky stuff is the best route to go on Halloween night (and beyond). Chocolate is so delicious, and one of the most popular types of candy given out on Halloween. Chocolate washes off your teeth easier than any other type of candy. Dark chocolate also has less sugar than regular milk chocolate.

Minimize sugary treats and foods and stick to oral hygiene routines. Check out more information here on what to do if a loose or poking archwires happen or brackets become loose. It’s important to regularly check your braces for bent or lose wires and brackets.

Summers Smiles in Long Beach

Summer smiles are in full effect in Long Beach! Did you know the average American spends 38.5 total days brushing their teeth over a lifetime? Dental hygiene and visiting the dentist is so important for our overall health. Here are some of our incredible smiles so far this summer.

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New 😬SMILE😬 coming soon. #Braces #PediatricDentalSpecialistsLongBeach #DrPlanells #DrSanchez #DrCortez • • • • • • #PDSLongBeach #LongBeachDentist #LongBeachCalifornia #LongBeach #PediatricDentist #KidsDentist #Orthodontist #Smile #KidsSmile #WeLoveOurPatients

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The Aguilar Family showing off their pearly whites. 😁#PediatricDentalSpecialistsLongBeach #DrPlanells #DrSanchez #DrCortez #PDSLongBeach #LongBeachDentist #LongBeachCalifornia #LongBeach #PediatricDentist #KidsDentist #Orthodontist #Smile #KidsSmile #WeLoveOurPatients

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Chase & Cruz having fun at our selfie 🤳station. #PediatricDentalSpecialistsLongBeach #SelfieStation #DrPlanells #DrSanchez #DrCortez • • • • • • #PDSLongBeach #LongBeachDentist #LongBeachCalifornia #LongBeach #PediatricDentist #KidsDentist #Orthodontist #Smile #KidsSmile #WeLoveOurPatients

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Happy Birthday to our patient Naya. 🎈🎉🎂 #PediatricDentalSpecialistsLongBeach #DrPlanells #DrSanchez #DrCortez #PDSLongBeach #LongBeachDentist #LongBeachCalifornia #LongBeach #PediatricDentist #KidsDentist #Orthodontist #Smile #KidsSmile #WeLoveOurPatients

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Dr. Santos Cortez, Dr. Estela Sanchez, and Dr. Ana Planells, as well as our team, are committed to supporting and educating our patients to care for their teeth and gums and help in the prevention of dental disease. We strive to achieve this goal in an environment that is soothing and welcoming to both parents and children of all ages.

Oral Health Month

June is Oral Health Month. A good oral hygiene routine is the foundation to a healthy smile, especially for young children. For parents, leading by example, should establish healthy habits like brushing, cleaning between your teeth and seeing your dentist. This ultimately leads to the big difference in the health and happiness of your entire family and in children, less fears about visiting their dentist.

Here are 2 tips from the American Dental Association that are a great reminder to enforce.

Start a Routine and Stick to It:
You may be tempted to let your child skip brushing after a long day or during times when your normal schedule is off (like vacation), but keep at it. The more second nature brushing becomes the easier it will be to make sure your child is brushing twice a day for two minutes.

Kids Need to Floss: 
It doesn't matter if you clean between ​your child's teeth before or after they brush as long as you clean between any teeth that touch. You can use child-friendly plastic flossing tools to more easily clean between your child’s teeth until your child learns to do it.

3 Benefits of Straight Teeth in Long Beach

We have been serving patients in Long Beach and the surrounding areas for over 30 years! We consider dental health to be an integral part of overall good health. Our practice philosophy is to provide dental education and treatment, as well as orthodontics, for children, teens, and those with special healthcare needs. We believe that good dental health can instill a sense of well-being, provide a lifelong smile, and promote good overall health.

Your smile is uniquely yours and it is what makes you YOU! Orthodontics is more than having a straight smile, the health benefits go beyond an aesthetically beautiful smile. Here are 3 benefits of a straight smile.

1. Healthy Gums, Healthy Life: Having healthy gums is a health aspect that everyone should have and so easy to obtain. Healthy gums are also the foundation to a healthy smile, inside and out. Your health is all related, from your mouth to your heart, to your entire body and your gums are an essential foundation. When teeth are spaced out or crowded, it’s possible for gums to be inflamed, which can lead to periodontal disease. Straight teeth aligns your gums to fit well around your teeth.

2. Decrease Risk of Tooth Injury:  Crowded, protruding upper teeth are more likely to be broken in the event of an accident, such as playing sports or during an accidental fall.

3. Healthier Bite: Orthodontics is all about a healthy bite. A healthy bite effects the way your child speaks, eats and chews their food and how their teeth fit overall.

Dr. Santos Cortez, Dr. Estela Sanchez, Dr. Ana Planells and Dr. Gabriela Cervantes, as well as our team, are committed to supporting and educating our patients to care for their teeth and gums and help in the prevention of dental disease. We strive to achieve this goal in an environment that is soothing and welcoming to both parents and children of all ages.

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We are so proud 🙌🏽of Isabella for not having any broken brackets. 👍🏽 #PediatricDentalSpecialistsLongBeach #DrPlanells #DrSanchez #DrCortez • • • • • • #PDSLongBeach #LongBeachDentist #LongBeachCalifornia #LongBeach #PediatricDentist #KidsDentist #Orthodontist #Smile #KidsSmile #WeLoveOurPatients

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Prevent Tooth Decay in Babies

Did you know a baby’s 20 primary teeth are already present in their jaws at birth? Those baby teeth that begin coming through the gums around 6 months help set the stage for future smiles by keeping space in the jaw for adult teeth. Starting your child off with good dental care can help protect their teeth for decades to come.

Baby teeth are place holders for adult teeth and help them develop the way they speak, eat and grow. Though baby teeth are place holders, they are still prone to getting cavities and tooth decay, which can cause pain to babies, lead to life threatening infections and can be costly to treat.

“Tooth decay develops when a baby's mouth is infected by acid-producing bacteria.” This most commonly happens when a child's teeth and gums are exposed to liquid and food for a long period of time. “Natural or added sugars in the liquid or food are changed to acid by bacteria in the mouth. This acid then dissolves the outer part of the teeth, causing them to decay. The most common way this happens is when parents put their children to bed with a bottle of formula, milk, juice (even when mixed with water), soft drinks (soda, pop), sugar water, or sugared drinks. It can also occur when children are allowed to frequently drink anything other than water from a sippy cup or bottle during the day or night.”

You can start caring for baby's gums right away. But at first, the care won't involve a toothbrush and toothpaste. Instead, take these steps:

• Get a soft, moistened washcloth or piece of gauze.
• Gently wipe down your baby's gums at least twice a day.
• Especially wipe your baby's gums after feedings and before bedtime.
• This will wash off bacteria and prevent them from clinging to gums. Bacteria can leave behind a sticky plaque that damages infant teeth as they come in.

When the first baby teeth start to pop up, you can graduate to the use of a toothbrush. Choose one with a soft brush, small head and large handle.

At first, just wet the toothbrush. As soon as teeth erupt, you can start using a bit of training-toothpaste, about the size of a grain of rice. You can increase this to a peas sized amount of fluoride toothpaste when your child is 2 years old. Brush gently all around your child's baby teeth, front and back.

You should brush your baby's teeth until he or she is old enough to hold the brush. Continue to supervise the process until your child can rinse and spit without assistance. That usually happens at around age 6.

When Should I wear a Mouth Guard?

April is National Facial Protection Month! National Facial Protection Month serves as a reminder over the importance of wearing mouth guards during sports, protecting your beautiful smile.

67% of parents surveyed by the American Association of Orthodontists said their child does not wear a mouth guard, yet 70% said their biggest fear is their child getting hurt when playing sports. The most effective way to protect your childs teeth and prevent injuries is to wear a mouthguard.

About 80% of traumatic dental injuries occur to the two front teeth. Injuries can happen at any age and any skill level. So when should you wear a mouth guard? Here are just a few.

• Basketball
• Baseball
• Football
• Soccer
• Skiing
• Rugby
• Softball
• Tennis  

Facial Protection Month: Types of Mouth Guards

Did you know from the ages of 7 to 11 years old, children are most vulnerable to sports related mouth injuries? The importance of protecting our smile should be stressed enough and should remind our friends and community how easy it is to protect our teeth.

Wearing a mouthguard is the safest way to protect your teeth while playing sports or just enjoying sports related activities. Athletes are 60 times more likely to suffer a teeth related injury if they’re not wearing a mouth guard.

Here are the three types of mouth guards you can wear, especially if you are currently in orthodontic treatment.

1. Custom fitted mouth guards - these are made by your dentist and can be molded to fit your smile perfectly 
2. Stock mouth guards - these type of mouth guards are  performed and may be a bit bulky
3. Boil and bite mouth guards - are mouth guards that are softened by boiling water and then insert your mouth, to form to the shape of your mouth.







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The Armenta Family enjoying our selfie🤳station. 👏🏽🙌🏽 #PediatricDentalSpecialistsLongBeach #DrPlanells #DrSanchez #DrCortez • • • • #PDSLongBeach #LongBeachDentist #LongBeachCalifornia #LongBeach #PediatricDentist #KidsDentist #Orthodontist #Smile #KidsSmile #WeLoveOurPatients

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The Lucido Girls showing off their beautiful smiles. #PediatricDentalSpecialistsLongBeach #DrPlanells #DrSanchez #DrCortez * * * * #PDSLongBeach #LongBeachDentist #LongBeachCalifornia #LongBeach #PediatricDentist #KidsDentist #Orthodontist #Smile #KidsSmile #WeLoveOurPatients

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National Nutrition Month - 3 Healthy Foods for Your Teeth

March is National Nutrition Month and a perfect opportunity to showcase foods that help our teeth remain healthy and our smile in tip top shape. While we know the health benefits of eating healthy, the foods we consume on a daily basis, also greatly affect our teeth.

Dairy - Dairy is healthy in various ways, such as yogurt, milk and cheese. The calcium help our teeth remain strong and healthy.

Lean Protein -  Foods rich in protein such as meat, poultry and fish help to strengthen your teeth and contribute to your overall health in your body. Be sure to floss after every meal or at least once a day.

Nuts - Nuts are delicious and greatly benefit our teeth. Various types of nuts contain protein and minerals. Several nuts are low in carbohydrates don’t add to your risk of cavities and help avoid tooth decay. If you are going to snack on a snack, nuts are a safe bet. 

Of course, if you have braces or in the middle of an orthodontic treatment, avoid nuts and hard foods alike.

Bonus Tip: 

You brush your teeth twice a day, follow a great routine of flossing regularly and visit the dentist, but did you know that rinsing with fluoride, a mineral that helps prevent cavities and tooth decay, also helps keep your teeth healthy and strong? Water, especially if it is fluoridated water, is the best beverage for maintaining your oral health.

We proudly serve our Long Beach community and have seen many children's smiles blossom and shine. Seeing an orthodontist at an early age allows us to determine how and when a child's particular jaw and/or dental problems should be corrected, if they need to be.

Check out some of our patient’s beautiful smiles. Contact us to set up an appointment or if you have any additional questions.

3 Tips for Caring for Your Baby's Gum's

There is nothing quite like the first year of your baby's life. It is full of milestones and monumental moments. For a parent, there is nothing more joyous than seeing your baby's smile and seeing those first few sets of teeth coming in. If you take the time to care for your child's gums properly, you can set a precedent of a great oral health in his or her future.

Healthy gums are simple to maintain. It is important to remember oral health care begins before any signs of their teeth appearing. Healthy gums contribute to a healthy smile, before teething occurs.

1. Clean Your Baby's Gums
It's important to begin cleaning your child's mouth even before her teeth come in. Wipe the gums off after each feeding with a warm, wet washcloth or a dampened piece of gauze wrapped around your finger.

2. Avoid Tooth Decay
Most parents believe baby teeth are not as important because they will eventually be replaced by permanent teeth. This is further from the truth because baby teeth are preserving space for the permanent teeth and help your baby chew and speak.

You can avoid tooth decay in your child by not leaving them with a bottle in their mouth for long periods of time, or letting them fall sleep with their bottle.  Tooth decay in infants can occur when sugary liquids are left in your baby's mouth for a long time.

3. Avoid Sugary Foods
Just like in adults, foods that are high in sugar create an environment for bacteria to grow, which leads to tooth decay. When baby's begin to accept and eat solid foods, it is important to be cautions of sugary foods.

Bonus Tip: 
Schedule a dental exam. The American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that Baby get his first dental exam at age 1, or when his first tooth appears.

Open Wide and Say BOOO!

Halloween is around the corner and kids of all ages will be tempted to indulge in sugary treats. Here are some timely ‘tricks’ to safely enjoy those tempting ‘treats.’

Say ‘boo’ to sticky and chewy snacks such as caramel, gummies, taffy, jelly beans, bubblegum and popcorn.  Even if you don’t wear braces, aligners or other orthodontic “appliances,” be careful with these types of treats to prevent damage to your teeth.

While some candy is permissible, such as soft chocolates, peanut butter cups or other melt-in-your-mouth varieties, please remember to enjoy these goodies in moderation during the Halloween season and throughout the year.  Find orthodontic-friendly alternatives at https://www.aaoinfo.org/1/recipes

It’s also important to be especially vigilant about brushing and flossing during any holiday or celebration when you’ll be eating more sweets than usual.

Halloween falls during National Orthodontic Health Month and the American Association of Orthodontists and I encourage everyone to have a safe and enjoyable holiday.

Bad Breath & Braces

After getting braces, new patients may develop bad breath from not cleaning their teeth properly. Simply doing a quick job brushing your teeth is not enough to keep your teeth in great shape, especially when you wear braces. Bacteria feeds on food particles leftover after you eat, and this sneaky bacterium creates an unpleasant odor.

We certainly understand bad breath can be uncomfortable to talk about, but it happens to most of us. The important thing to do if you’re experiencing bad breath (or know someone who is) is to determine the root of the problem. The most common factor for bad breath our patients is almost typically caused by poor oral hygiene.  It's important to brush immediately after every meal or snack or at least rinse your mouth with water or mouthwash if you aren’t able to brush. Bad breath-causing odors and bacteria can also cling to removable orthodontics (like a retainer or clear aligners), so be sure to remove them before eating, even if you're only having a snack.

If you're new to braces, or simply want to improve your dental hygiene, just ask us for a few helpful tips at your next appointment, we're here to help!

Crowd Pleasing Game Day Recipes

If you're still searching for a few more snacks to add to your Super Bowl menu, we've got two that will be sure to score with your friends & family.

Hot Ham & Cheese Party Rolls

• 1 can refrigerated pizza crust
• 1 lb. deli ham (thinly sliced, but not shaved)
• 12 slices Swiss cheese

     Glaze:

• 1/2 cup butter
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon poppy seeds

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat a 9x13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray
2. Unroll the pizza dough onto a cutting board. Press into an approximately 13x18-inch rectangle. Top with ham and cheese slices. Starting on the longer side of the rectangle, roll up the edge tightly. When you reach the end, pinch the seam together and flip the roll so that the seam is face side down. Cut into 12 slices. Arrange in the prepared baking dish. 
3. Next combine the butter, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, and poppy seeds in a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk until the butter is melted and glaze is smooth. Pour evenly over the top of the rolls.
4. Bake uncovered for 25 minutes until golden brown. 

Tip: Make these rolls a day ahead! Refrigerate rolls up to 24 hours before baking. Just make sure to warm up the glaze so you're able to pour it on top of the rolls!

Crockpot Cranberry Meatballs

• 1 bag frozen meatballs (any brand)
• 1 jar chili sauce
• 1 can jellied cranberry sauce

Directions:

1. Add chili sauce and cranberry sauce to a medium mixing bowl. Use a whisk to mix ingredients until semi-smooth.
2. Add half the bag of meatballs to your crockpot. Top with half of the sauce mixture. Repeat with remaining meatballs and sauce. 
3. Cook on low until heated through, typically 3-4 hours. 

This crowd-pleasing favorite can easily be adapted for a larger group! Just double the recipe and increase your heating time to 5-6 hours. In a time crunch? Heat meatballs and sauce on your stovetop until warm. Transfer to your crockpot for a quick, delicious addition to your game day party!