Frequently Asked Questions

After the recommended initial visit around age one, a child should attend pediatric dentist appointments twice a year. These bi-annual exams help keep your child’s mouth healthy by monitoring oral hygiene, detecting cavities early on and identifying potential orthodontic problems while they can be easily fixed.

Thumb sucking and pacifier use are common soothing behaviors in babies and young children, but when these habits continue beyond the first year, they can negatively impact your child’s oral health and facial development. Prolonged thumb or pacifier sucking puts undesirable pressure on the developing mouth, which can lead to:

• Changes in the Shape of the Jaw and Palate – The constant sucking motion can cause the upper jaw (maxilla) to narrow and develop a high-arched palate, leading to bite issues such as an open bite or crossbite.
• Misalignment of Teeth – Children who suck their thumbs or pacifiers are at higher risk of developing teeth that are pushed forward (protruding front teeth), making it difficult to bite and close the lips properly.
• Speech and Swallowing Problems – The tongue’s position during sucking can interfere with normal swallowing patterns and speech development, leading to lisps or other articulation issues.
• Mouth Breathing & Poor Facial Growth – When the tongue does not rest on the roof of the mouth due to a pacifier or thumb habit, proper nasal breathing can be disrupted, leading to long-term changes in the way the face develops.

Having trouble breaking the habit? We can help! We provide personalized recommendations and solutions that will empower your child to make the transition out of these habits. Early intervention can help your child develop a healthy smile, strong jaw, and well-balanced facial structure.

Many times, cavities develop in the molars, or the grooved and pitted chewing teeth at the back of the mouth. Sealants can provide a necessary barrier against food particles that can become stuck in these deep grooves. This simple and fast procedure can help keep your child’s teeth protected and cavity-free for many years. At our office, we use BPA-free sealants and follow a specialized five-step process to ensure teeth are thoroughly cleaned, cavity-free, and protected for years to come!

A well-balanced diet includes the right portions of fruits, vegetables, grains, meat, beans, and dairy to support your child’s overall health. However, frequent snacking and a diet high in sugars and starches can dramatically increase the risk of cavities. That’s why we assess your child’s diet and offer personalized recommendations to help them maintain a healthy smile and body as they grow.

Beyond nutrition, chewing plays a crucial role in facial development. Proper chewing stimulates the jaw muscles, helping to strengthen and shape the developing bones of the face. For babies, learning to chew solid foods is essential for jaw growth, airway development, and proper alignment of teeth. Encouraging your child to chew a variety of textures helps set the foundation for stronger muscles, better breathing, and a healthy, well-formed smile!

Once your child’s first tooth comes in, you can start brushing twice a day with an infant-sized toothbrush and fluoride-free toothpaste. As more teeth arrive, especially if there are no spaces in-between teeth, it’s time to add flossing to the routine. Limiting sugary foods and drinks also goes a long way in preventing tooth decay.

We know that brushing during the first few years can be tricky—wiggly toddlers and toothbrush battles are real. Don’t give up! A consistent brushing routine is essential for your child’s overall health, not just their smile. Establishing good habits early helps protect their teeth, supports proper development, and sets the stage for a lifetime of healthy grins!

We’re Here When You Need Us Most!

Life happens, and sometimes it’s a dental emergency. From toothaches to tumbles, Dr. Santos-Cordero and her team are your go-to superheroes for handling dental trauma.

Establishing a dental home early means you’ll always have a trusted resource in times of need.

Our doctors are specially trained to assess, treat, and follow up on dental injuries, so you can rest easily knowing your child is in expert hands. Whether it’s a knocked-out tooth or a broken one, we’re here to guide you through it all.

• Toothache: Clean the area, floss gently, rinse with warm salt water, and avoid aspirin on the gums. If swelling occurs, apply ice and give acetaminophen for pain relief. Call us for an evaluation!
• Knocked-Out Tooth: Stay calm, find the tooth, and rinse it gently. Try reinserting it or store it in milk or saline. Time is critical—see us immediately!
• Broken Tooth: Gather fragments, rinse the area, and apply a cold compress. Call us right away!
• Tongue, Lip, or Cheek Injury: Clean and apply pressure if bleeding. If it doesn’t stop in 15 minutes, seek immediate care.

We take a conservative approach to X-rays, only recommending them when truly necessary for your child’s oral health. Following the guidelines set by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, we ensure that your little one receives the safest and most effective care. When X-rays are needed, our state-of-the-art digital technology minimizes radiation exposure to less than a quarter of a second—far less than what they’d be exposed to on a plane ride or a day at the beach. For added protection, we use shielding safeguards for both our patients and team members.

We understand that some parents have concerns about radiation exposure, and we want to assure you that dental X-rays play a crucial role in early detection. They help us catch potential issues before they become bigger, more complex problems. Beyond spotting cavities, X-rays allow us to monitor jaw development, track the transition from baby teeth to permanent dentition, diagnose bone conditions, and assess any damage after an injury. Since a child’s dentition can change dramatically in just a few years, evaluating their growth and development is key to keeping their smile healthy and thriving!

We understand that some parents may have concerns about fluoride, and we respect your desire to make informed decisions about your child’s health. Here’s what we want you to know: fluoride is a natural mineral that strengthens teeth and bones, making them more resistant to fractures and decay. It works by replenishing essential minerals lost to acid and even helps reduce the amount of cavity-causing bacteria in the mouth.

For children at low risk of cavities, frequent exposure to small amounts of fluoride—such as drinking fluoridated water and using fluoride toothpaste twice daily—can help maintain strong, healthy teeth. Fluoride should always be used appropriately. It is not safe to swallow toothpaste, rinses, or other topical fluoride products.

At our office, we take a personalized approach. We evaluate each child’s fluoride intake, oral health, cavity risk, and medical history before making any recommendations about fluoride use or supplementation. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises using only a tiny smear of fluoride toothpaste (the size of a grain of rice) for babies and a pea-sized amount for children ages 3 to 6.

While some families choose to avoid fluoride due to health concerns, it is widely recognized as beneficial for preventing cavities when used correctly. Our goal is to provide you with accurate information so you can make the best choice for your child’s oral health!

If your child participates in basketball, baseball, football, hockey or any other contact sports, they are at risk of severe injury to the mouth. Mouth guards help protect teeth and oral tissues from fractures, lacerations and bruising. They are made of soft plastic and fit snuggly around the teeth. There are different types of mouth guards:

• Pre-formed: Ready to wear but often do not fit well.
• Boil & Bite: “One-size-fits-most” mouthguards that you soften by boiling them in water and then bite down to mold them to your teeth. A more affordable option, they offer less protection against dental injuries compared to custom-made mouthguards.
• Sport Pal: a fully customized, performance-enhancing mouth guard with patented technology and a breath training program that provides neuromuscular re-education of your tongue to optimize your child’s performance. It works to maximize oxygen intake, improve endurance, and speed up recovery during training and competition. You can drink and speak clearly while wearing it. Our office is a certified provider of Spot Pal & Sport Pal products.