Pediatric Dentist in Los Angeles Blog - Page 14 of 14 - Dr. Heivi Kim of Amor Kids Dentistry in Los Angeles specializes in general, family and pediatric dentistry.

How Do Kids Space Maintainers Work?

Posted on September 20, 2017 by admin

Learn more about space maintainers and why wearing dental space maintainers could be the key to preventing early tooth loss in your baby.

When a child loses his/her her baby tooth early, it is very important to preserve the space it occupied before the eruption of permanent teeth to avoid future problems such as misalignment and malocclusion (bad bite).

A dental space maintainer can be used to preserve the space formerly occupied by the lost baby tooth.

Dental space maintainers are custom-made plastic or metal made appliances that are used to hold open space where the baby tooth is lost so that the permanent tooth can easily grow there.

Space maintainers can either be cement painlessly to the teeth or gums permanently or placed temporarily to be removed anytime.

How do kids space maintainers work?

Kids space maintainers work by keeping the space left by lost baby tooth to allow permanent tooth to erupt and come into place in normal fashion.

If a child loses his/her baby teeth and the space left is not maintained, then teeth can shift into open space resulting in problems that may require orthodontic treatment later on.

By wearing dental space maintainers, you can help prevent the need for corrective dental treatments like braces in the future.

How long is kids’ space maintainer left in place?

A dental space maintainer will be left in place and removed as soon permanent teeth begin to erupt through the gum tissue. A routine X-ray will be conducted to reveal when the permanent teeth underneath are ready to erupt naturally.

Once the space maintainer is placed, your child will be required follow proper ways to clean and care for the appliance. It’s important to avoid chewy and sugary foods as they may loosen or get caught on the device.

Not all children who lose baby teeth early require space maintainers. However, you should schedule a consultation with children’s dentist to determine if using space maintainers is needed.

Dr. Heivi Kim – the top-rated children’s dentist in Los Angeles strongly recommends getting your baby, toddler or young child space maintainers to ensure their teeth develop the best bite possible and hopefully avoid the need for braces later on.

Why Choose Dr. Heivi Kim for Kids Space Maintainers in Los Angeles

Dr. Heivi Kim is dedicated and compassionate pediatric dentist offering children in Los Angeles community the ability to achieve the perfect smile they deserve.

She is uniquely trained in pediatric dentistry and has the expertise and experience to provide the best quality early orthodontic care to children in Los Angeles. Her friendly staff will provide your child with gentle dental care in a warm, safe and comfortable environment.

Improve your child’s dental health. Schedule a free consultation with Dr. Heivi Kim and find out if your child is in need of space maintainers.

Posted in Pediatric Dentistry | Tagged los angeles kids dentist, space maintainers, space maintainers in los angeles | Comments Off

Foods That You Should be Careful With!

Posted on August 25, 2017 by admin

Our teeth may be the strongest bone we have in our body, but that does not mean we are invincible from accidental knocked out teeth or even fillings that come out as a result of certain foods. Even worse, as we age our teeth begin to weaken, making us more prone to accidents involving teeth. Don’t be mistaken, however, children can knock their teeth out as well. Here are the foods you should be careful with.

Hard Candies – it seems obvious, but yes – hard candies can damage your teeth if you are not careful with them. You should always suck the candy down until it cannot be bitten into. That’s your safest bet. Problems only arise when you get impatient and bite into the candy.

Ice – believe it or not, ice is responsible for many lost teeth. It typically happens when you least expect it, too. Either make sure the drink you have dissolves your ice completely, or like hard candies, make sure you suck it all the way down so that you cannot bite into it.

Chewy – anything with the words “chewy” in it you should always be careful with. Chewy candies (caramel is usually the worst culprit) are more likely to pull a dental filling out than they are to knock a tooth out. Chew with caution.

Nuts – some nuts aren’t as bad to chew on, but some are – almonds are probably ranked as one of the hardest to chew on. Peanuts, walnuts, almonds, cashews, you name it – nuts have the potential to damage your teeth if you are not careful.

Apples – I am sure you have already heard of someone who managed to bite into an apple only to realize they knocked a dental crown out, filling, or even a fake tooth. Apples offer many benefits, but err on the side of caution when you vigorously bite into one.

Our mission is not to scare you away from foods that you could benefit from – such as nuts and apples – but to warn you of events that have a possibility of happening. If on the rare occasion you do manage a stroke of bad luck, and then don’t panic. Anything that falls out of your mouth – a filling, crown, fake tooth, or real tooth, should be kept and taken to your dentist.

Schedule an emergency dentistry appointment. Fortunately, modern dentistry is able to restore any accidents that may happen.

Posted in Pediatric Dentistry | Tagged broke my tooth, broken tooth, food to be careful | Comments Off

Children to Brush Teeth? 5 Fun Ways to Motivate Them!

Posted on June 22, 2017 by admin

Getting children to brush teeth can be a difficult habit to cultivate, and is usually accompanied with varying degrees of frustration. And with the media suggesting that one in eight children aged three suffers from dental caries, it is certainly important that you find ways to encourage your children to clean their teeth.

Kids love games and fun things. So, here are a few tips to get your child excited about brushing his/her teeth.

1. Children to Brush Teeth? Lead by example

Children love to imitate what other people do, which makes leading by example a great way to cultivate great habits that last a lifetime. Prepare a routine so you can brush your teeth together twice a day, showing them how to clean those hard to reach areas. You also get the chance to educate them on the importance of cleaning their teeth.

2.Children to Brush Teeth? A 2-Minute brushing song

Your children should enjoy brushing their teeth if there is a catchy song playing in the background. The song could be provided by an app or something that you come up with depending on what your child likes. Music is a fantastic way to motivate kids to do something.

3.Children to Brush Teeth? A timed game

Use a stopwatch or kitchen timer to play a racing game with your child. Set the timer to two minutes and challenge your kid to finish brushing at the same time as the countdown. You can even buy kids toothbrushes that play songs that enable kids to keep brushing for the entire two minutes.

4.Children to Brush Teeth? Super hero fan

Something as simple as a piece of cloth or towel nicely fitted in your child’s garment can turn him/her into a cavity crusader. Brushing their teeth is their only weapon in the fight against evil germs to save their precious crowns. Buying a toothbrush with your son or daughter’s most favorite cartoon/movie character or super hero to give them a fighting partner can enhance this feeling.

5.Children to Brush Teeth? A reward system

You can also create a sticker chart or use an app that collects points each time your child completes the task of brushing their teeth, with an award once they reach a certain point. You could arrange the rewards such that he/she gets a new toothbrush every 3 months.

It is recommended that parents start brushing their kids’ teeth twice a day immediately the first milk tooth emerges, which is at the age of 6 months. From the age of three to six years, you can start using a smear of the family toothpaste so the fluoride can help protect new teeth (at 1,350 – 1500 parts per million-ppm-of fluoride). Encourage them to brush for 2 minutes, and supervise them till the age of seven or eight.

Have more questions? Ask Dr.Heivi !

Posted in Pediatric Dentistry | Tagged brushing teeth, children brushing their teeth, fun ways, motivating ways | Comments Off

Tips for Brushing Habits

Posted on May 24, 2017 by admin

Our Pediatric Dental Office in Los Angeles Reviews Tips for Brushing Habits

Having your children develop brushing habits can be a daunting task but very rewarding for his or her health. In some media reports, one in eight children aged three suffers from dental caries or cavities – that stat alone should encourage you to create those healthy brushing habits.

At our Los Angeles Pediatric Dental Practice we communicate these 5 tips

1. Kids Love To Imitate – Have Them Imitate Your Good Hygiene!
Children love to imitate what other people do, which makes leading by example a great way to cultivate great habits that last a lifetime. Preparing a routine so you can brush your teeth together twice a day, where you show them how you regularly brush to lean those hard to reach areas.

2. Kids Love Music – Play their favorite brushing song
Your children should enjoy brushing their teeth if there is a catchy song playing in the background – pick a song they currently love! Music is a fantastic way to motivate kids to do something.

3. Games! How About A timed game
Use a s kitchen timer to play a racing game with your child. Set the timer to two minutes and challenge your kid to finish brushing at the same time as the countdown.

4. Does Your Child Have A Superhero
Create a superhero brushing costume! Something to excite them that motivates him/her to brush their teeth as their “only weapon in the fight against evil germs” to save their precious crowns. Also, something as simple as buying a toothbrush with your son or daughter’s most favorite cartoon/movie character or super hero to give them a fighting partner can enhance this feeling.

5. Rewards! Create A reward system
You can also create a smiley/sticker chart or if you’re modern – use an app that collects points each time your child completes the task of brushing their teeth, with an award once they reach a certain point. You could arrange the rewards such that he/she gets an incentive.

Start Oral Hygiene Habits Early

It is recommended that parents start brushing their kids’ teeth twice a day immediately the first milk tooth emerges, which is at the age of 6 months. Encourage them to brush for around 2 minutes, and supervise them till the age of seven or eight. It will be a great family experience to build healthy habits.

Posted in Pediatric Dentistry | Tagged child dental care tips, dental tips for parents, tooth care for children | Comments Off

Pediatric Dentist Reviews Teaching Kids Healthy Dental Habits

Posted on April 20, 2017 by admin

Teaching Kids Healthy Dental Habits

Teaching your kids good oral hygiene is important, especially since healthy habits need to be established at a young age. Having an experienced Los Angeles pediatric dentist is important, but good oral health starts at home. If you need a little help teaching your kids the right way to care for their teeth, here is a simple guide to make things easier.

Make It Fun– Kids learn to love doing things if the activity or lesson is implement in an enjoyable way. Play a song that signals how long they should be brushing their teeth. Create fun challenges for them to see how clean they can get their teeth. Brush your teeth with your child to set a good example. Kids love to mimic their parents, and brushing your teeth together is much more fun for kids than doing it alone. We always communicate this at our Los Angeles office.
Use Age-Appropriate Products– This ties in somewhat with making it fun. Find tooth brushes with your child’s favorite cartoon characters. Use toothpastes with fun flavors like bubblegum – as long as they are ADA approved. Always make sure your child is brushing with a soft bristle brush that has a head small enough to access tough-to-reach spots in the mouth.
Always Check Technique-Make sure your child is learning the right technique early on – please ask our team about the proper age to start. If your child brushes too hard, they could damage their gums, but if they brush too softly, they could miss food and develop cavities – so the right method makes a major difference. Make sure they learn how to properly floss by showing them how it is done and monitoring how they hold the floss and use it to scrape away debris.

As a parent, your child’s dental health is your responsibility until they are old enough to care for themselves – being active in this process will make a significant impact. By teaching your children good dental habits early on, you will help save them from painful cavities and other costly procedures. Start early and follow our tips to make brushing and flossing more fun for your kids and your family.

Posted in Pediatric Dentistry | Tagged kids oral health, pediatric dentist, teaching kids good dental habits | Comments Off

Amor Kids Dentistry Blog – Pediatric Dental News and Info

Posted on March 29, 2017 by admin

Amor Kids Dentistry in Los Angeles Welcome to our blog! Here at Amor Kids Dentistry, we are committed to providing passionate dental care for your children. We recently launched our new website, which offers Los Angeles, California residents an opportunity to find an established dental practice that specializes in pediatric care.