February is National Children’s Dental Health Month

Because developing good habits at an early age and scheduling regular dental visits helps children get a good start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums, the American Dental Association sponsors National Children’s Dental Health Month each February.

Now in its 63rd year, this month-long national health observance brings together thousands of dedicated dental professionals, health care providers and others to promote the benefits of good oral health to children and adults, caregivers, teachers and many others.

Parents and teachers can help kids celebrate and learn more about the importance of a healthy smile. The ADA offers free downloadable information, kid-friendly oral health worksheets and games on MouthHealthy.org, the ADA’s consumer website. Click on the For Kids tab on the left side of the page for a variety of age-appropriate activities, games and videos and presentations. There are also teaching guides that adults can use at home, in the classroom or in other community-based settings.

To read the entire article visit Colgate.com.

Dentists Romeoville IL
Dental Office
Romeoville Dental Center 
638 N. Independence St. Romeoville IL 60446
Tel: (815) 886-0875

Brushing Your Kid's Teeth

It’s never too early to get children in the habit of good oral care. Of course, it’s up to parents to take the “first steps.” Finding new ways to model good dental habits and practice them with your kids is key. The sooner kids begin to take charge of their own teeth, the happier and healthier they (and you) will be. And the payoffs over a lifetime are immeasurable.

Don’t Worry-You’re Not Alone 
If you think it’s a challenge to teach your kids good oral care, you’re in good company. Tooth decay is one of the most common childhood diseases. And studies show that almost 50% of kids between six and eight have had at least one cavity.1 These are just a couple of reasons why it’s so important to help kids understand right from the start that proper dental habits are a smart idea.

To read the entire article visit OralB.com.

Dentists Romeoville IL
Dental Office
Romeoville Dental Center 
638 N. Independence St. Romeoville IL 60446
Tel: (815) 886-0875

Five Surprising Reasons for Bad Breath in Children

Having your kids brush their teeth before they go to bed each night helps them learn good oral hygiene practices. And while twice-daily toothbrushing is good for developing teeth, it always enough to stop bad breath from occurring. Bad breath isn't always solely an oral health issue, there can be other causes that need a different solution. Here are five surprising causes of bad breath in children and how to stop them.
Sinus Infection
Have any of your kids complained about a sore throat or stuffy nose lately? It might be a sinus infection. Sinus issues cause fluid to collect in the nasal passages and throat, making your child's throat the perfect place for bacteria to gather. The result? Stinky breath that can't be cured with toothbrushing and mouthwash alone. If you suspect a sinus infection (potential sore throat, burning nasal passages and post nasal drip), call your doctor for a visit and see if antibiotics will be prescribed.
Foreign Objects
It may not be your first thought, but your child's bad breath could be the result of something stuck in her nasal passages. Kids are curious, and their nostrils are just the right size for inserting small items such as beads, beans, toy accessories and food. Pediatrician Dr. William Sears explains that when an object gets lodged in a child's nasal passages it can create a nasty smell. If you suspect this is what is causing your child's bad breath, you'll need a doctor to help check your child's nasal passages and remove the object.

To read the entire article written by Jae Curtis , please visit Colgate.com

Dentists Romeoville IL
Dental Office
Romeoville Dental Center
620 Town Hall Drive Romeoville IL 60446
Tel: (815) 886-0875

Dental Sealants for Children

Learn more about what the American Dental Association has to say about the importance of dental sealants as a preventive dental treatment for your children!

The above video is found on the American Dental Association YouTube Channel.

Dentists Romeoville IL
Dental Office
Romeoville Dental Center
620 Town Hall Drive Romeoville IL 60446
Tel: (815) 886-0875

Like Parent, Like Child: Good Oral Health Starts at Home

Parents are a child's first teacher in life and play a significant role in maintaining his or her overall health. Providing oral health education to mothers and families is essential to teaching children healthy habits and preventing early childhood tooth decay, according to an article published in the May/June 2010 issue of General Dentistry, the peer-reviewed clinical journal of the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD).

With all of the challenges that new parents face, they may not think much about the link between their child's oral health and overall health. In fact, an understanding of oral hygiene can help parents to prevent tooth decayóthe single most common chronic childhood disease in Americaóand to create a lifetime of healthy habits for their child.

"Ideally, the oral health education for any family will begin with prenatal education and the establishment of a dental home by the time the child is 12 to 18 months of age," says Tegwyn Brickhouse, DDS, author of the study. "Many people don't realize that the oral health of the mother affects both the infant's future oral health and the child's overall health. In fact, some studies show that periodontal disease has been linked to preterm labor. That's why pregnant women should be evaluated for cavities, poor oral hygiene, gingivitis, loose teeth and diet."

After the child is born, families should become familiar with their child's dental and oral health milestones, which will be determined by discussion with the family dentist or a pediatric dentist. Children should have their first dental visit at age 1 or within six months of the eruption of their first tooth. A dentist will be able to discuss when parents can expect to see a child's first tooth and the best technique for brushing his or her new teeth.

Diet is another factor that affects a child's oral health. Frequent and long-term exposure to liquids that contain sugars commonly results in tooth decay. In addition to eliminating sugary drinks altogether from a child's diet, parents can adopt other habits to prevent tooth decay due to beverage consumption.

"Parents should avoid giving their children milk, formula, juice or soda at naptime or nighttime," says Bruce DeGinder, DDS, MAGD, spokesperson for the AGD. "The sugars will linger on their teeth and gums for a prolonged period of time, promoting decay."

Parents are responsible for their child's oral hygiene practices and are advised to meet with a general dentist to determine the best way to establish and maintain their child's oral health. A general dentist also can provide families with oral health literature that is designed to educate both the parent and child. This education has multiple benefits; as Dr. Brickhouse notes, "Healthy teeth in early childhood can provide a positive self-image and improve the child's quality of life."

To read the entire article please visit KnowYourTeeth.com

Dentists Romeoville IL
Dental Office
Romeoville Dental Center
620 Town Hall Drive Romeoville IL 60446
Tel: (815) 886-0875

When Should My Child First See a Dentist?

Your child's first visit to the dentist should happen before his or her first birthday. The general rule is six months after eruption of the first tooth. Taking your child to the dentist at a young age is the best way to prevent problems such as tooth decay, and can help parents learn how to clean their child's teeth and identify his or her fluoride needs. After all, decay can occur as soon as teeth appear. Bringing your child to the dentist early often leads to a lifetime of good oral care habits and acclimates your child to the dental office, thereby reducing anxiety and fear, which will make for plenty of stress-free visits in the future. 

To read the entire article, visit: KnowYourTeeth.com

Dentists Romeoville IL
Dental Office
Romeoville Dental Center
620 Town Hall Drive Romeoville IL 60446
Tel: (815) 886-0875

Dental Sealants for Children

Learn more about what the American Dental Association has to say about the importance of dental sealants as a preventive dental treatment for your children!

The above video is found on the American Dental Association YouTube Channel.

Dentists Romeoville IL
Dental Office
Romeoville Dental Center
620 Town Hall Drive Romeoville IL 60446
Tel: (815) 886-0875

Children's Dentistry in Romeoville IL 60446

We Care about Kids!
We make children of all ages feel at ease, so bring the whole family. We use the latest advancements in dentistry that we deliver to your children with care and compassion. We enjoy your child’s first visit at age one and look forward to seeing them change year after year. We always encourage them to take care of their teeth at home so they have their natural teeth and a healthy smile for a lifetime.

Calming Dental Fears
We understand that a dental visit can be very fearful for children. We make our office a happy and relaxed place, and according to the parents of our young patients, we are successful in calming their fears and meeting their dental needs. We are here to help you whether you have a very active five-year-old or a scared eight-year old.

Choosing Your Child’s Dentist is Like Choosing Their Pediatrician
It is important to instill good habits at an early age. With even the smallest cavity, a tooth is permanently damaged and will require a restoration. Children are more prone to cavities because of several factors. They often do not brush well in their formative years. They are still learning good habits, and we encourage parents to oversee their daily dental care. They also eat more often throughout the day, which gives additional exposure to acid (the food produces acid in the mouth) that can accelerate the development of cavities. Also, if teeth are not as clean as they should be to begin with, the continual grazing of more food throughout the day will speed up the rate of cavity formation.

Encouraging a healthier selection of foods and better hygiene habits can help. An application of a fluoride varnish at a young age will mineralize teeth to significantly reduce the occurrence of cavities.

Preventing Child Tooth Decay – the Easy Way!
Even proper brushing may miss some of the grooves of the back teeth. Once bacteria builds up and acids form, plaque will develop into decay. There is a preventive measure to keep this from happening. One application of a dental sealant is what is needed.

First, all the teeth are cleaned and then sterilized. A thin application of the sealant is applied to all the teeth. It is clear or white in color and invisible. A curing light is used to bond the sealant to the teeth. This is the whole procedure, which takes just a few minutes. No shots or drilling are necessary, and the entire tooth stays intact. It is safe and one of the best preventive measures to help keep children‘s and adolescents’ teeth cavity-free. 

Dentists Romeoville IL
Dental Office
Romeoville Dental Center
620 Town Hall Drive Romeoville IL 60446
Tel: (815) 886-0875

No More Nasties: Brushing for Kids!

With a little imagination, brushing can be fun! In this animated video, a child teaches proper brushing tips while fending off the Invisible Nasties living in her smile.

From the video library at Colgate.com we have a short video providing fun & educational tips to teach children how to brush and why they should brush.

To view this video in its original library, please visit: Colgate.com

Dentists Romeoville IL
Dental Office
Romeoville Dental Center
620 Town Hall Drive Romeoville IL 60446
Tel: (815) 886-0875

Halloween Tips

Halloween is around the corner, which for most children means bags of free candy and a

chance to build up the stockpile of sweets for the winter. Being one of the most fun times of the year for families, Halloween can also present parents with a variety of health and safety challenges.

The American Dental Association, America's premier source of oral health information, has prepared a list of 10 suggestions to help parents maintain good oral health for their children around the Halloween holiday and throughout the year.

1. Consume Halloween candy and other sugary foods with meals.

      Saliva production increases during meals and helps neutralize acids produced by bacteria in   your mouth and helps rinse away food particles.

      2. Avoid hard candy and other sweets that stay in your mouth for a long time.

      Besides how often you snack, the length of time food is in your mouth plays a role in tooth decay. Unless it is a sugar-free product, candies that stay in the mouth for a long period of time subject teeth to prolonged acid attack, increasing the risk for tooth decay.           

        3. Avoid sticky candies that cling to your teeth.

      The stickier candies, like taffy and gummy bears, take longer to get washed away by saliva, increasing the risk for tooth decay. 

Click here to read more tips.

Above article from: ada.org

Dentists Romeoville IL
Dental Office
Romeoville Dental Center
620 Town Hall Drive Romeoville IL 60446
Tel: (815) 886-0875

Dentist Romeoville IL - Children's Dentistry

Dentist Romeoville IL
Children's Dental Care

Children’s dentistry is very different from adult dentistry. Many people had unpleasant experiences at the dentist when they were growing up. We want to ensure that sort of thing does not happen with our young patients. We are proud to treat our younger patients with the understanding and compassion they need. Helping children form healthy oral habits and making their visits to the dentist a fun experience will be the foundation of a lifetime of dental health.

We believe good children’s dentistry is about more than just regular dental visits. Our job is to educate parents on good dental habits that lead to healthy smiles that last a lifetime.

Romeoville Smiles provides caring quality dental care for children in Romeoville, IL.