Tag Archives: dr. stoker

As a pediatric dentist and a mother, I spend a lot of time talking about the “sugar bugs” and encourage my patients and kids to avoid and limit sugar when possible. The reason being, sugar is the fuel for the harmful bacteria on our teeth. Cavities are formed when bacteria …

Did you know the mouth is one of the most common sites for injury in children? If a child is injured in the face or mouth, a quick general assessment is needed to rule out more serious medical problems. Was there any loss of consciousness, vomiting, trouble breathing, or bleeding …

As a pediatric dentist, I am often asked by parents, “How do I prepare my child for their upcoming dental visit?” When talking to your child about an upcoming appointment, oftentimes less is more is a good start! With the best of intentions, parents believe we can best prepare our …

The market is flooded with different toothbrushes, so as a parent, how do we know which one is best for our child? Each toothbrush out there claims to clean better than the rest. Manual toothbrushes are the most popular type of toothbrush for children because they are reliable, and come …

Fall is most definitely in the air. The trees are starting to change. Pumpkin patches, apple cider, and the anticipation of Halloween is among us.  As a pediatric dentist, I am often asked if Halloween is my least favorite time of year. How could a mother and a pediatric dentist …

A few weeks ago, my very animated, unfiltered 6 year-old son told me that he didn’t want to talk to his friend at summer camp anymore because he had stinky breath. After explaining to him that many people have stinky breath when they wake up in the morning, eat lots …

Did you know that gnashing and grinding teeth, also called bruxism, is a common habit among children? In a study of patients younger than 17 years old the prevalence of bruxism was found to be about 38 percent and most common among pediatric dental patients. While bruxism may occur when …

Colic. The one word strikes fear in the heart of any parent who is familiar with it. Both of my boys had colic, and although they are 6 and 9 years old now, I can still remember the countless hours of uncontrollable crying. To help curb colic, I used a special …