National Children's Dental Health Month

Public awareness about children’s oral health is celebrated in the month of February, throughout the country.

Baby teeth are very important in a child’s dental development because they help guide the permanent teeth into place. Furthermore, because baby teeth have their own nerves, if a child develops deep cavities tooth-pain and infection may be the result. There is nothing worse than a toothache!

For that reason and more, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that all children see the dentist by their first birthday.  The dentist can guide parents through the child’s formative years and provide guidance in tooth-brushing, flossing, thumb-sucking, braces and many other topics.  Parents may obtain valuable information on teething, preventative care such as application of sealants and the importance of topical fluoride (this information may accessed through links in our website:

Many children have access to sweets in many forms.  Candy and soda or sugar in baked goods are prevalent and most common in the diet.  If the child is out of balance by not brushing well to remove plaque or not flossing, they are at a higher risk for tooth decay.  If the child is not brushing with a fluoridated tooth paste, their risk goes even higher.

Children, teens and young adults should see their dentist for their dental check-up twice a year. This is important, especially if the child is undergoing orthodontic treatment.

Though it is important to maintain good oral health throughout the year, February is the time of year we rededicate ourselves to optimal oral health. Please let our doctors or team members know if you have any questions.

Right Age for Orthodontics

What makes Pediatric Dental Specialists is the ability to meet your child's dental needs under one roof. Patients who undergo orthodontic treatment are able to have their orthodontic wires removed for dental cleanings and then have their braces adjusted during the same visit by Dr. Coretz, Dr Planells or Dr. Sanchez. This service enables you to make fewer visits to the dentist during your child’s orthodontic treatment by having all the care in one office.

At Pediatric Dental Specialist, we can successfully correct most problems regardless of the patient’s age, from children to teens to adults. However, there is a recommended age the American Association of Orthodontics recommends your child see an orthodontics. Time and age plays a big role in when and what type of treatment your child may need.

Children: 

The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends that all children have a check-up with an orthodontist by the time they reach age 7. This is essential for early detection of any potential problems related to his or her teeth or related to jaw growth. By age 7, most of a child's mouth should have a mix of adult and baby teeth.

We proudly serve our Long Beach community and have seen many childrens smiles blossoom 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.

Starting to Brush Your Baby’s Teeth

What sets Pediatric Dental Specialists apart? We offer pediatric dentistry and orthodontics for children, teens, and patients with special healthcare needs in Long Beach, California and our surrounding communities. With years of education, hands-on training, and experience, our doctors and staff are uniquely able to meet the specific dental needs of our young patients.

You may be wondering when you should begin to brush your baby’s teeth or even how to. As your child’s teeth may be coming in, it is important to begin a great oral health care routine by caring for your child’s gums.

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.

Thank You for 2018

To all our patients, vendors and folks who referred their friends and family members to our practice, we strive daily to exceed your expectations in pediatric and orthodontic care at Pediatric Dental Specialists. Your confidence in our practice is truly appreciated.

Dr. Cortez, Dr. Sanchez, Dr. Planells and all of the team members wish you, your family and friends a great holiday season.

Let's all have a banner year in 2019!!

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.

Helpful Dental Tricks and Tips for a Happy Halloween

The Fall season is here, and it is an exciting time of year for many children as they prepare for Halloween festivities and trick or treating. Here are a few “tricks” and tips from the team at Pediatric Dental Specialists that may help protect your children’s oral health.

Inspecting Candy:
An adult should inspect the candy and discard any items that display the following: unusual appearance, tears/ holes in the wrappers, anything homemade should be discarded unless you know who personally gave it to them. For young children, discard any choking hazards such as gum, peanuts, hard candies, or small toys.

Moderation is Key:
After trick-or-treating, set a specific treat time with your child for when they can eat a treat. The best time to have a treat is following a meal such as lunch or dinner. Saliva production increases during and after a meal, and the extra saliva can help wash away sugars and clean the teeth. If your children are eating candy throughout the day they may be at increased risk for tooth decay.

Choose the Correct Candy:

Select candy that won’t be as harmful to teeth. Hard candies can chip or crack teeth. It is best to allow these treats to melt in the mouth. Avoid giving your children sticky candies as they tend to dislodge fillings and crowns and stay in the grooves of back teeth. Plain chocolate bars melt quickly, are softer, and the least harmful to teeth.

Good Oral Hygiene:

It’s important that your children brush their teeth twice daily for two minutes with fluoride toothpaste. Flossing is also recommended to help keep the sugar bugs away where the toothbrush can’t reach. Good oral hygiene will help keep your children’s mouth healthy.

Candy Buy Back:

Consider donating Halloween candy or else join us for our buy back. We want your Halloween candy and will pay you for it! We will give our patients $1 per pound of candy up to 50 pounds of candy. All candy donors will also be entered into a raffle to win a gift card. Come by the office from 11/1 to 11/7 to make the candy switch. Check our website for drop off dates.