I’ve heard this question many times in the decades I’ve been practicing dentistry. The short answer is that good dental hygiene matters just as much — if not more so — for baby teeth than for adult teeth. The reason is that our teeth affect many areas of development, from …
Read More »7 Diseases That May Be Prevented by Brushing and Flossing
If you could help prevent your children from dangerous, even life-threatening illnesses for something that takes about two to three minutes per day, would you do it? I’m guessing you absolutely would. Scientists are making new discoveries practically on a daily basis about the correlation between oral health and many …
Read More »Back-to-School Shopping? Don’t Forget the Floss!
It’s hard to believe another summer break has come to a close for most of our kids, yet here it is. Though my own children are now in college, I will never forget the days of school supply lists and figuring out what they would be wearing on their first days …
Read More »Postponing a Filling with Silver Diamine Fluoride
By Dr. Whitney Garol, The Smile Shop What do you do when a little one needs a filling? There are a couple of options depending on a child’s ability to sit for the length of a dental procedure. If your child isn’t quite able to sit for a filling, there …
Read More »Postponing a Filling with Silver Diamine Fluoride
What do you do when a little one needs a filling? Read more from Dr. Whitney Garol for a few options depending on a child’s ability to sit for the length of a dental procedure. If your child isn’t quite able to sit for a filling, there is a newer …
Read More »10 Everyday Things That Are Bad For Your Kids Teeth
Teaching children to have healthy habits when it comes to dental health is important to keeping those chompers for their entire lifetime. Dr. Whitney Garol of the Smile Shop reminds us of everyday things that are bad for kids’ teeth: Sugar – An obvious choice for something that is bad …
Read More »When your Tween Needs Braces
My daughter recently lost her last baby tooth, which felt like a major milestone. Also, per conversations with our dentist, I knew that it meant she was ready for an Orthodontist consultation. I turned to my network of friends on Facebook for recommendations, and was advised to shop around. I …
Read More »Toothbrush 101 from The Smile Shop
There are endless options of toothbrushes these days and when you go to the store, the choices can be overwhelming. When it comes to manual vs. electric, there is no right or wrong answer. Studies have shown that when brushing with an electric toothbrush, people tend to brush longer, but …
Read More »Is Charcoal Toothpaste Safe?
Activated charcoal toothpaste has been somewhat glamorized online as the latest trendy way to whiten your teeth, prompting some of our teen patients and their parents to ask about it during their checkups and whether or not it is safe to use. According to the Journal of the American Dental …
Read More »How Sugar Substitutes Can Help Avoid Cavities
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 …
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