THANK YOU!!

All of us at South Davis Pediatric Dentistry have had the opportunity to be a part of the amazing communities in Davis County for 5 YEARS now and cannot believe how quickly it has gone.

When Dr. Jason had the opportunity to extend his practice from Salt Lake County to Davis County, he knew he could not pass it up. He had been practicing for the previous 18 years in the Taylorsville area and had always wondered if a location closer to home would be in his future. Building the location had its challenges and (of course) its unexpected extensions, but we ended up with a BEAUTIFUL, state of the art, award winning office.
It’s easy to say the wait was worth it!

Dr. Jason and his wife put their heart and soul into designing and creating an office that was warm, fun and inviting for our patients and their families. From our three story tree house, a (how many) gallon fish tank, and TV’s above every dental chair loaded with all the kids’ favorite movies, this is definitely not your average dentist office! Looking back after these first 5 years, we are all SO grateful that Dr. Jason took that opportunity to build his practice in Davis County.

We have also had the most amazing doctors and staff join the team over the years here in Davis County. We have strived, since the day we opened our doors, to always put our patients first! With that as our goal, the doctors and staff have been meticulously hand picked. Our doctors have ALL completed specialist training and additional education to specifically treat infants, children and adolescents.

Our staff is always happy, helpful and ready to give the best experience possible while visiting the dentist! We are grateful to be able to say that at South Davis Pediatric Dentisty, we are more than just employees, we are your friends!

In the past five years we have been able to accomplish so much! From holiday donation drives, yearly parade routes in North Salt Lake, Stansbury Park, West Stansbury Park, Centerville, Farmington, Layton, Kaysville, and our personal favorite, the annual patient appreciation back to school carnival right here at our office.

We have truly enjoyed serving our community and being able to give back in some fun and exciting ways! It is definitely one of our highlights in what we do and are always thinking of new ways to give back to our patients in the future.

As with anything we do in the community, we always look forward to and enjoy the time spent getting to know all those around us! It is so fun to get to know our patients on a more personal level. Thank you for taking the time to chat with us and learn our names! So many of us mention the times that we run into our patients outside of the office. Whether it’s at the store, in a gym, or our own children’s school functions/ sporting events, we love being recognized and greeted as your friend!

If we could sum up how we feel about the last 5 years at South Davis Pediatric Dentisry in one word, that word would be GRATEFUL!!

We are so grateful to have been able to meet, treat, and become friends with all of our amazing patients and their families!

We are so grateful to be able to live and work in such a community where we all feel the authentic and genuine love towards those we are able to serve on a daily basis.

Thank you, Davis County, for your continued support, we can’t tell you how much YOU mean to us!

How did the Tooth Fairy hype begin?

Where does she come from? According to an article by Salon Magazine’s Michael Hingston, the tooth fairy is only 88 years old. But every culture has a tradition going back thousands of years built around the loss of children’s teeth. Middle Eastern cultures offer their teeth to the sun by throwing their teeth up in the air, while some Asian cultures believe that by throwing their lower teeth on the roof and their upper teeth on the floor (or under) they can ensure healthy tooth growth.

In many European cultures, teeth are offered to a mouse or rat so that children’s adult teeth will grow to become as strong as the teeth of a rodent. In Spain and other Spanish speaking countries they call the mouse Ratóncito Pérez who exchanges the tooth for a gift. The list goes on and on.

In the US, we started the tooth fairy tradition in 1927 by mixing the figure of the mouse that exchanges the tooth for a gift with the much more pleasing form of the good natured fairy from European stories. And instead of leaving gifts, we leave money.

Tips for Making the Tooth Fairy More Fun

Just having your children put their teeth under the pillow every time they lose their tooth can get repetitive and boring. Help make their transition into a “big kid” extra special. Here are some ways you can help your child feel more engaged and keep the magic alive with these great, yet inexpensive tooth fairy ideas.

Proof of Purchase

Certificates of good healthy teeth can help your child keep their teeth clean enough for the tooth fairy. These certificates can include the child’s name, date of tooth loss, method of tooth loss, and how much the child received in return for the tooth. Receipts are also a cute keepsake for the tooth. You can make these from scratch from Pinterest templates or print them out. My favorite printable Tooth Fairy receipt is from Oh My Gluestick because it includes a checkbox for quality of tooth. Both the certificates and receipts can be a great addition to your child’s scrapbook.

Caught in the Act

Icaughtthetoothfairy.com is a fun service that provides photographic “evidence” of the tooth fairy. Just upload a picture of your sleeping child to the site and they’ll put an image of the tooth fairy caught in the act of taking the tooth. Leave it by your kid’s bed or give it to them at breakfast. They’ll be so excited to show off their amazing photo with the tooth fairy and make their friends jealous.

Tooth Box or Pillow or Jar

If your child is a light sleeper, having them put their tooth under the pillow may be a bad idea. Instead, make a special box out of cardboard or wood and have your kid decorate it however they want. This lets your child feel even more involved in the tooth fairy tradition. Matchboxes are the perfect size for a tooth box plus they’re pretty inexpensive. Customized pillows and jars will also do the trick.

Letters

Have your child write letters to the tooth fairy like they would Santa Claus. Creating a personal relationship with the tooth fairy will make sure your child looks forward to losing their teeth. You can use this opportunity to teach them a lesson about good brushing habits. Miniature letters from the tooth fairy encourages good dental health or keeping their room clean.

Letters from the tooth fairy can also positively reinforce your child’s behavior by praising their good dental habits. Tell your children that the tooth fairy pays more for healthy teeth. For a fun easy kit, visit www.officeofthetoothfairy.com for “The Official Tooth Fairy Kit” which includes a certificate with the official tooth fairy seal as well as a reusable cloth bag to store the certificate and teeth in.

Count the teeth

A tooth punch card is a great way to keep track of how many teeth your child has lost. A punch card can also keep costs down. Twenty teeth can get rack up a hefty sum so employ the punch card method that restaurants use. Every tooth lost gets a quarter and once the child has lost five or ten teeth they get a whole dollar or five or however much you want to give them.

A chart of the teeth can also help keeps track of the teeth your child loses. Labeling the teeth will help your children understand what each tooth is called. This way they can learn about the way teeth are placed in their mouth and why it’s so important to brush all the way in the back.

Fairy dust

Fairy dust can be a fun way to bring the magic alive. Pinterest has some great ways to make fairy dust. My favorite is a recipe for edible fairy dust that uses sugar, food coloring and your oven. Make use of the homemade fairy dust and bring the tooth fairy alive by making little footprints on the windowsill with Barbie shoes. You can also use glitter hair spray found at Walmart, party store, or Halloween store. Spray the glitter on the dollar bill and coins to make it look touched by a fairy.

The tooth fairy can be a great tool to teach your children the importance of good dental hygiene. Plus activities including the tooth fairy make for great meaningful family time fun. Talk about two birds with one stone!

Sugar erodes teeth

Every mother knows that sugar = cavities. So naturally fruit juices, which are high in sugar, cause cavities. Especially since most fruit juices have a ton of added sugar, it isn’t as good for your teeth as you might think. Avoid giving fruit juices to your children at night and right before bed. Sleeping decreases saliva production, which leaves your teeth defenseless.

The acids wear away enamel

Fruit juices like lemonades, apple juices and orange juices are very high in acidic content that wears on our teeth. The acid reacts with the bacteria already in the mouth and the sugar from the juices to cause lesions or soft spots in the tooth’s protective enamel. Research has found that each time our child takes a sip of juice; an acid attack begins on their teeth for up to 20 minutes. And each sip that they take can reinforce that 20 minute attack all over again.

Tips to prevent tooth erosion

If your child likes having a juice box with their lunch or a glass of apple juice at dinner, here are some tips to reduce tooth decay.

Drink all of the Juice at one time

Make sure your children drink their juice quickly and all at once. The frequency of contact with the juice is what really matters. If your kid drinks juice all day, his teeth are in constant contact with the tooth harming sugars and acids. The best time to drink juice is with a meal since the sugars and acids present in our meals are already attacking the teeth. This way it limits the amount of time your child’s teeth are in contact with high acid and high sugar content.

Use a straw

Using a straw decreases a drink’s contact to your child’s teeth. By limiting the amount that touches your child’s teeth, we don’t immerse teeth in liquid and lower the chances of the acidic coating and destroying your teeth.

Substitute acidic beverages with water

Water is great for teeth and the best hydrator. If your child absolutely must have juice, you may want to consider watering it down so it isn’t quite as damaging to teeth as concentrated juice (plus it makes the juice last longer).

Don’t brush your teeth without rinsing

Juices, especially acidic juices like apple juice, cause the enamel on the teeth to wear out. But brushing them right after you bathe your teeth in acid can do more harm than just drinking the juice. The bristles of the toothbrush may damage and brush away the protective enamel and leave your child’s teeth exposed. Instead, rinse your mouth with water right after to wash away the residue of the juice or chew sugar-free gum preferably sweetened with Xylitol.

Switch to whole fruit juice

Fruit juice has many beneficial qualities for our children’s bodies. But store bought fruit juices like Minute Maid and Tropicana has a lot of additives. Limiting teeth exposure by switching to whole fruit and drinking more water can help make sure your children’s teeth stay strong and healthy.

We are passionate about helping your child to have great oral health at South Davis Pediatric Dentistry. If you have any specific questions about which beverage options are healthiest for your child’s teeth, feel free to send us a message or give us a call!

Radiation

Radiation is a pretty scary word. But radiation isn’t always something to fear. The basic definition of radiation is any source of energy that travels in the form of a particle or a wave. For example, the light coming from your lightbulb as well as the signal being emitted from your cell phone are considered radiation. While there are definitely some types of radiation that are more harmful than others, many types of radiation occur all around us and are not considered dangerous.

When X-ray imaging was first introduced to the medical field, it was more dangerous due to amount of time required for an image to be captured. This meant that a patient received more exposure to the X-rays. However, today’s dental X-ray technology has been improved so drastically compared to the early days of X-ray use that both the duration and amount of radiation exposure are significantly lower.

So can a dental X-ray cause cancer?

Frequent and unnecessary dental x-rays can increase the chances of getting cancer in much the same way that going out in the sun without skin protection can cause skin cancer. As long as they are not having X-rays performed more often than needed, your child’s health should not be negatively impacted by X-rays.
How much radiation is in a dental X-ray?

The average American receives a dose of 3 millisieverts (mSv) of radiation from natural sources (sunlight and elements in soils) each year according to the Department of Health and Human Services. A routine dental radiograph only emits around 0.04-0.15 mSv. This means that your child would have to receive between 20-75 dental X-rays a year to be exposed to the same amount of radiation they will be exposed to by nature.

With that said, children are more radiosensitive than adults (radiation has stronger effects on their developing bodies) so it is important that their dentist has been specifically trained to perform X-rays on children.

The Benefits of dental X-rays

When you are preparing your child’s next dental visit, remember that x-rays make it possible to see cavities, growths and damage to their jaw or teeth that would be otherwise impossible to see. Knowing about any problems early on will allow us to treat them before they become dangerous (and much more expensive to fix).

If you have any other questions about X-rays, please feel free to give us a call at (801) 294-8880, message us on Facebook or send us a message using our contact page. We are looking forward to seeing you and your child in our office for their next checkup!

To Chew

There are many reasons chewing gum can be good for your child. It’s a tasty low calorie snack that lasts a long time. But besides that, there are a few other cool things that make chewing gum a healthy choice for your child!

Chewing increases production of saliva

The physical act of chewing increases the flow of saliva which helps wash food particles and neutralizes the harmful acids that cause tooth decay. An increase in saliva flow also helps move calcium and phosphate to your teeth, which strengthens them. Just make sure to choose a sugar free gum to help fight tooth decay. Chewing gum right after eating is a great habit to have to help clean your teeth and get rid of remaining food. Plus, it can be a fun alternative to sugary, high calorie treats.

Chewing gum regularly can strengthen the jaw

A few years ago my jaw was so weak that it hurt to eat hard foods. It got so bad that even chewing cooked carrots was beginning to make my jaw sore. My dentist told me to try chewing some gum to help strengthen my jaw and my biting strength. It worked wonders!

Gum contains helpful Ingredients

Gum containing ingredients like Xylitol, a natural sugar substitute, helps reduce cavities and plaque. Xylitol is sweet and tastes really similar to sugar so children can still get that sugary sweet taste when they chew. Sugar free gum isn’t just for adults anymore. Instead of having the regular mint flavors, most gum brands have yummy flavors like Trident Layers’ Grape Lemonade and Wrigley’s Extra Sweet Watermelon.
Calcium Lactate is another ingredient in chewing gum that can help your kiddo’s teeth get stronger. Calcium Lactate helps remineralize teeth’s enamel surfaces faster and makes teeth stronger so they last longer.

Not to Chew

Despite all these great reasons for chewing gum, there are some downsides to this tasty treat.

Sugary gum causes cavities

It’s pretty common knowledge that eating lots of sugary treats can cause cavities. Most big bubble producing varieties of gum are sweetened with sugar. Even with thorough brushing, the sugar from these sugary gums does significant damage since they are pressed tightly to teeth for long periods of time. The sugar reacts to the bacteria found in dental plaque and produces acids that erode tooth enamel. Sugary gum is no longer as big of an issue due to the discovery of artificial sweeteners but there are a few brands that still use sugar to sweeten gum.

Over-chewing can trigger Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD)

Even though chewing can improve jaw strength, it can go too far. Chewing more than a couple pieces a day can trigger symptoms of TMJ. These symptoms can include jaw pain that is associated to the chewing muscles and the joints that connect the lower jaw to the skull. If your child’s jaw makes popping noises or they feel any discomfort when their mouth opens, have them stop chewing gum.

Gum Poses a potential choking hazard

Young children don’t understand how to chew gum without swallowing yet and it’s up to us to show them how to responsibly chew gum. Since every child’s development is different, there is no age recommendation for safe chewing. So if you have any questions about whether it is a good idea for your child to chew gum, get in touch with one of our dentists at South Davis Pediatric Dentistry.

Whether you choose to let your child chew gum, make sure that gum chewing does not take the place of other healthy habits such as brushing twice a day and flossing! A good dental routine is the best way to prevent tooth decay and cavities while keeping your smile brighter than ever.

This is just a fun fact but we were honored to recently win an award for the best new dental office design in America!

Tip # 1: Start Young

Children can develop a fear for things at a young age. Bring your child to South Davis Pediatric Dentistry before their first birthday. Starting at a young age will help your child get into a routine, which can prevent a lot of issues with dental anxiety.

Tip # 2: Make Brushing Fun

Kids can dread brushing their teeth if this becomes a chore you nag them about. At South Davis Pediatric Dentistry, we want to bring the fun back into brushing your teeth! Our toothpaste flavors and brightly colored toothbrushes will make it fun for your kids to use. Another great way to help your kids enjoy brushing their teeth is to sing a song or to create a game when they brush their teeth. Click here for more ideas that will make brushing teeth more fun for your child.

Tip # 3: Make It a Habit

You need to make caring for teeth and gums a family habit. When your children see you brushing your teeth, they will follow suit. Try to have a routine where you can brush your teeth with your children at night. Brushing as a family is a great way to help your kids maintain proper oral health.

Tip # 4: Play Dentist Games

A great way to prepare your kids for the dentist is to play the dentist game with your kids. Take turns allowing them to be the dentist and you to be the dentist. This is a fun way to practice what will happen when they visit our office. Playing dentist with stuffed animals is another fun way to prevent kids from being nervous about visiting the dentist.

Tip # 5: Go as a Family

Another way to help your child feel comfortable when visiting the dentist is to schedule a family visit. A younger child might feel less worrisome when they watch their older sibling have their teeth cleaned and examined first. Going together also prevents your child from feeling alone when they are in the dental chair.

Tip # 6: Talk to the Dentist

Our friendly dental team wants to make your child’s visit go as smoothly as possible. Bring up any fears you may have with our office and we will work with your child to help them feel comfortable. We have the latest tools and techniques in Pediatric dentistry and we provide sedation dentistry to help your child feel relaxed when they are in the dental chair.

Tip # 7: Prepare Your Child

Don’t just spring up a dental visit on your child without plenty of warning. Children need to have time to process things that can be new or different. Discuss what the visit will entail so your child can be prepared. If your child needs to have a dental filling, make sure you discuss this with your child so they aren’t scared when they are in the office.

Tip # 8: Stay with Your Child

Some kids need to have their parents with them to hold their hands and reassure them while the dentist works on their teeth. If you know your child needs your reassurance, stay near them to hold their hand during the appointment.

Our Bountiful dental office is inviting for children and it is a fun place for children to play while learning about their oral health. Call South Davis Pediatric Dentistry today to schedule your child’s visit; (801)294-8880.

The Baby Tooth Timeline

When it comes to teething, most babies follow this general toothing timeline:
● 6 months: lower central incisors
● 8 months: upper central incisors
● 10 months: lower and upper lateral incisors
● 14 months: first molars
● 18 months: canines
● 24 months: second molars

Some babies will not appear fussy at all and their first tooth seems to simply poke through the gums in no time. Other babies can struggle when teething and deal with fevers, pain, redness, and swelling. At South Davis Pediatric Dentistry, we have noticed several common symptoms associated with teething babies.

Excessive Chomping or Chewing

We often see babies have a need to chew or chomp on several things to take away the pain. The pain of a tooth erupting from the surface is often relieved by counter-pressure, which is why babies often chew on a variety of things. Give your child a cold chew toy as it helps to soothe the gums.

Puffy or Swollen Gums

Before a new tooth erupts, the gums can become red or swollen. The gums often start to bulge where a tooth begins to emerge. Try offering a cool washcloth for the baby to chew on as it will help to reduce the swelling.

Excessive Drooling

A lot of babies will drool excessively when they start teething. Keep a bib and cloth handy to help wipe up the excess drool!

Fussiness

Babies will start to fuss a lot when they are uncomfortable. If your child wakes up at night while they are teething, try using some numbing ointment on the gums. There are infant-approved numbing creams you can safely use to provide your baby with a few minutes of relief.

Ear Pulling

If your baby is tugging at their ear, it can be a symptom of teething because the pain is transferred to the ear canal. If the ear pulling is accompanied by a fever, this may indicate that your baby could have an ear infection.

Change in Eating Habits

When babies are in pain, they can struggle to eat. You need to monitor your child’s eating habits to ensure they are getting enough fluid and food.

How to Help Your Teething Baby

If your baby is teething, you can find yourself trying a number of things to help them feel better. We recommend trying a few tips our Bountiful Pediatric Dental Office has used for years:
● Let your baby chew on a wet, frozen washcloth to help numb sore gums.
● Try using a pain reliever like Acetaminophen and ibuprofen as they help to provide a reduction in pain for a few hours. Alternating the medicine can reduce problems with fevers as well.
● Massaging the gums is another way to help your infant as they are teething. Rubbing the area with your finger is a simple way to help your infant feel better.

When to Call the Dentist

If you are concerned the teeth are taking a long time to erupt, or your child has red, swollen gums that seem to be lasting for several days or weeks, call South Davis Pediatric Dental Office. We will examine their teeth and gums to monitor their growth. If your child has yet to develop teeth by 15 months, bring them in for an x-ray to check on the development of their teeth.

For more information about teething babies, and how you can help your child, contact our Bountiful Pediatric Dental Office (801)294-8880.

When Should I Clean My Infants Teeth?

Has your infant’s first tooth erupted from the surface of the gums? Teething is a great time, but also a stressful time as most parent’s are not aware of what they can do to help keep their children’s teeth clean. A soft-bristled toothbrush designed for infant’s teeth is all you need. Gently scrub around the new tooth twice a day to keep plaque at bay!

How Soon Should My Child Visit the Dentist for The First Check-Up?

The best way to prevent dental problems is to visit the dentist early and often! We recommend our patients bring in their infants and toddlers when their first tooth appears or before their first birthday.

Are Baby Teeth That Important?

We have several people ask us this question! Baby teeth are extremely important to your children’s oral health as they assist in chewing, speaking, and provide the path for permanent teeth. If a baby tooth is decayed, it could potentially infect the permanent tooth forming behind it.

My Child Has a Toothache, What Should I Do?

Call South Davis Pediatric Dentistry as soon as possible! Use a cold compress on the face if you notice swelling and provide the correct dosage of acetaminophen for pain.

Does Thumb Sucking Cause Problems?

If your child is a thumbsucker, or a pacifier user, you need to try and break them of this habit when their teeth start to form. General use of a pacifier is not always destructive, but it can become a problem if it goes on for a long period of time. If your child is past the age of two and continues to suck their thumb, bring them into the office for an oral evaluation.

How Can I Prevent Tooth Decay?

One of the worst mistakes parents make is feeding their infant a bottle at bed time and allowing them to sleep with it. Break this habit as milk contains carbohydrates, which increase the tooth decay process. Daily brushing will break up the bacteria in the mouth, greatly reducing the risk of tooth decay and gum disease.

Should I Use Toothpaste?

Another common question we field at South Davis Pediatric Dentistry is helping parents use the right toothpaste. Use a soft toothbrush and water for the first year of your child’s life. Once your child is three, start using toothpaste that contains fluoride.

Do Dental Sealants Work?

Dental sealants help to reduce tooth decay by filling in the crevasses of the chewing surfaces of the teeth. Sealants are beneficial for back molars where children have a difficult time brushing.

For more information about your child’s oral health needs, contact our Bountiful Pediatric dental office today; 801-294-2880 or use the “Schedule your child’s dental appointment today!” form on this page. 🙂