3 Dental Summer Tips

Summer in Long Beach is finally here! That means summer vacation, kids are at home and some free time for your family. Summer is the perfect time to schedule dental appointments or to begin any dental work in kids. Summer can also be a hard time to keep up with oral hygiene routines. According to a nationwide survey by Delta Dental, nearly 30% of parents say summer vacation is the most difficult time to get their children to keep up good oral health.

Here are three tips to help keep your smile and teeth healthy all summer long in Long Beach.

Replace Your Toothbrush - Toothbrushes should be replaced every 3-4 months, so summer is the perfect opportunity to get a new one. A new toothbrush will help you ensure your teeth are being brushed and cleaned properly.

Stock Healthy Snacks - With kids at home and some free time, sugary treats are bound to end up in our diet. Stay ahead of the curve and stock some healthy snacks such as fruits and vegetables already cut up and within reach. Additionally, avoid sugary drinks such as soda, lemonade and sports drinks which can damage your teeth.

Travel Set: Heading to LAX or a road trip, grab a travel-size toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss to keep handy for vacations, slumber parties, and day trips.

We have been serving patients in Long Beach and surrounding cities for over 30 years. We look forward to meeting you and welcoming your children into the Pediatric Dental Specialists family!

Summertime! Dental Tips for Avoiding Mouth/Facial Injuries

Spending time with friends, outdoor adventures, and being out of school make summer an exciting time of year for most children. While the season is filled with good times, it can also present certain risks such as mouth/facial injuries. Our Doctors at Pediatric Dental Specialists in Long Beach, want to help make your child’s summer an enjoyable one by offering the following tips to help prevent mouth/facial injuries. Follow us on our blog www.lbpds.net.

1) Wear a Mouthguard While Playing Sports
Participating in sports is a popular activity. With the beautiful local weather, many children play a variety of outdoor contact sports such as: baseball, basketball, soccer, football, volleyball.  Sports can have risks at times through collisions, accidental elbowing, or being hit with the ball. You want to protect your child’s teeth. Sports related injuries account for 10 to 39 percent of all dental injuries in children. A mouthguard helps to protect teeth by providing an extra layer of cushion to shield their teeth and gums from potential impacts and can greatly reduce your child’s chances of getting a tooth knocked out. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (www.AAPD.org) encourages mouth guard protection for patients at increased risk for orofacial trauma. Our office can provide a custom fit mouthguard, which is the best fit for your child’s mouth and offers the best protection, while still being comfortable.

2) Pool Safety is Key
It wouldn’t be summer without swimming.  Many of the summer emergencies pediatric dentists treat
are pool-related accidents. You can be prepared and help avoid an emergency room visit by ensuring that your child obeys the “pool rules” whether they are at home, the community pool, or at their friends. Running on slippery pool decks, diving into shallow waters, or bumping the pool ledge with their mouth causes many children to either chip or knock a tooth loose.

3) Jumper Safety
For many families, no party is complete without a jumper. Jumpers often lead to a sudden accident such as colliding with another child, being elbowed or kicked. It is recommended that children steer clear of the net. We recommend an adult supervising the children while in the jumper. No matter the type or severity of the injury to your child’s mouth or teeth, it is important to have our Doctors evaluate your child, or contact us for advice on what to do.


Dental injuries are often stressful and emotional. We are here to help minimize some of the stress you and your child may feel. The Doctors are just a phone call away and take call when the office is closed. If necessary, the Doctors are available to come in for an emergency. Our team is here to help. Wishing you and your family a wonderful and safe summer!

10 Summer Water Safety Tips

As summer approaches, statistics show we spend more time outdoors participating in a wide variety of sports, a good portion of those are water sports, sprinklers, and swimming activities. Taking some simple safety precautions can make for great fun over the summer months.  Second to drowning accidents, more dental injuries occur to both kids and adults during this time. The National Safety Council states 75% of the injured will involve persons 19 years and under, and almost twice as many boys as girls will be hurt. 

Water related dental injuries

Many severe injuries result from falling on slippery walkways and decks and falling from diving boards and ladders. Diving and jumping into shallow water also are major causes of serious injuries, as well as swimming laps with eyes closed can lead to a fractured tooth by hitting the concrete wall at the end of the pool. The good news is that the majority of these injuries are preventable.

Here are 10 water safety tips to avoid dental and bodily injuries this summer:

    1. Walk, don’t run.

   2. Make the pool deck non-slippery as possible.

   3. Install barriers around the pool.

   4. Swim in designated areas supervised by lifeguards.

   5. Always swim with a buddy.

   6. Ensure that everyone in the family learns to swim well. 

   7.  Never leave a young child unattended near water.         

   8.  Have young children or inexperienced swimmers wear life jackets.

   9. Cover the pool properly.

  10. Wear a custom-made mouth guard and goggles when diving to prevent dental trauma.

For more information about water safety speak with your dentist, pediatrician, or check out the  “Sun and Water Safety Tips” from the American Academy of Pediatrics .