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Healthy teeth make you happy to share your smile with the world. But there’s more to your smile than its beauty! There’s a lot of hard work going on, too.

Teeth Are Designed for Healthy Eating

Humans are omnivores, which means we can eat both meat and plants. That’s why our teeth have different shapes—they’re designed to help us eat different kinds of food. 

• Incisors, our front teeth, have sharper edges to help cut through meats and other harder foods when we bite.
• Canines, the pointed teeth, help tear food into bite-size bits.
• Premolars are flat topped and have two cusps, or raised points, which help grind food. 
• Molars are the flat-topped teeth in the back of the mouth. They have four cusps to grind and crush food into a paste. 

So: Incisors and canines bite and tear food into smaller pieces, and then molars and premolars crush and grind those pieces into a paste. Bite, tear, crush, grind—that’s a lot of work! But it’s the key to healthy digestion. 

Chewing is the first step in digestion. Digestion means breaking down our food into parts which our bodies can use as fuel to grow. When you chew your food well, it’s easier for your body to break that food down, to swallow it, and to get the proteins, vitamins, and minerals in your healthy diet. 

But when your teeth hurt, it’s hard to chew food well, which makes digestion harder and sometimes uncomfortable. To get the most from your healthy diet, you need healthy teeth!

Teeth Have Other Important Jobs, Too

• They Help Us Speak

Our teeth work with our tongues and lips to form many of the sounds which make up speech. Try saying the word “teeth,” and see how your tongue and teeth work together!

• They Help Shape Our Faces

Our teeth look great in smiles. But there’s more! Your teeth and the way they fit together in your jaw help shape the look of your chin, lips, cheeks, and the front and sides of your face. 

• They Help Make a Healthy Bite

Our teeth and jaws are designed to work together. When something’s not lined up just right, that’s called a malocclusion, or bad bite, and can cause problems with eating, speaking, and self-confidence. Your dentist might recommend orthodontic treatment to help your teeth and jaws look their best and work their best. 

Teeth Can Only Work Their Best with Your Help

You’re in charge! 

• Brush twice and floss at least once every day to clean away plaque and food particles from your teeth. This helps to protect them from cavities. 
• Eat a healthy diet to give you the vitamins and minerals which keep your teeth strong.
• Make sure you wear mouth protection when you play sports or do activities where you may fall, or collide with another person, or be hit with equipment like balls, bats, and pucks.   
• See your dentist regularly for exams and cleanings.

Talk to your pediatric dentist to learn more about how to help your teeth work their best for you—and be ready to share that beautiful smile!

It’s the littlest month of the year, so what better time to think about the dental health of our littlest family members? February is National Children’s Dental Health Month, and we’re here to suggest some of the best dental habits for healthy childhood smiles.

Babies 

• Even before your baby cuts her first adorable tooth, you can start proactive dental care by gently wiping little gums with a clean, moist gauze pad or soft cloth twice a day. This removes bacteria and food particles and helps prepare your baby for brushing.
• When that first tooth does appear, or by age one if it hasn’t yet erupted, it’s time to schedule a visit to your pediatric dentist. Pediatric dentists are experts in children’s dental health, providing them a secure, comforting, and age-appropriate environment as they grow. At this first visit, Drs. Paul Pasternack, Chara Pasternack, and Christine Biondi will check jaw and tooth development. You can also receive expert guidance on teething, brushing, how much and which kind of toothpaste to use, and topics like thumb-sucking and pacifier use.
• When baby teeth arrive, use a small soft-bristled toothbrush designed to fit comfortably in tiny mouths.
• Use toothpaste as recommended. Children under the age of three who use paste should use a very small amount, no larger than a grain of rice.
• Prevent “baby bottle tooth decay”—don’t put your baby to bed with a bottle. This allows the sugars in formula or, when your child is 12 months or older, milk, to bathe the teeth throughout the night. And babies and toddlers never need sugary juices or sodas in those bottles!

Toddlers 

• Help your child develop a positive relationship with his pediatric dental team. Read books or watch videos to help your child learn what to expect. Practice with him by having him open his mouth while you count his teeth. Plan visits when your child isn’t hungry or tired. Be positive yourself—your child will take his cues from you!
• Schedule regular appointments for exams and cleanings. Drs. Paul Pasternack, Chara Pasternack, and Christine Biondi will look for any signs of decay and evaluate potential problems such as prolonged thumb sucking or pacifier use. 
• By age three, children have most or all of their baby teeth. Use a soft bristled brush to clean your child’s teeth twice each day. As she grows, demonstrate how to brush properly. The dental team at Pasternack Pediatric Dental will have some great ideas on technique!
• Daily flossing should begin as soon as your child has two teeth which touch. 
• Around age six, your child may be transitioning to solo brushing and flossing—but your oversight is still needed. Make sure all the surfaces of the teeth, including the tops of new molars, are brushed thoroughly. You might provide a timer or a two-minute song or video to make sure your child spends enough time brushing. Flossing can be tricky for young hands, so you’ll need to help with that task for a few years more.

School-Aged Children

• Dentists and orthodontists recommend a first visit to the orthodontist by age seven, or earlier if you notice your child has trouble chewing or biting, if the teeth don’t seem to fit together properly, or if you have any concerns about bite and alignment. When potential problems are discovered right away, early intervention can prevent more serious orthodontic issues from developing later. The team at Pasternack Pediatric Dental in Vorhees is happy to answer any questions you might have about early interventions!
• Talk to Drs. Paul Pasternack, Chara Pasternack, and Christine Biondi about sealants. Permanent molars usually erupt between the ages of 6 and 12. Sealants are thin coatings which protect the chewing surfaces of these molars from food particles and cavity-causing bacteria which would otherwise collect inside grooves in the enamel.
• Children who play sports and engage in activities with a chance of physical contact should have a well-fitted mouthguard to protect their teeth. Be ready to replace it as often as recommended by Drs. Paul Pasternack, Chara Pasternack, and Christine Biondi or if it’s damaged.
• Increases in hormones during puberty can lead to puberty gingivitis, and swollen, red, and bleeding gums can be the result. Proactive dental hygiene will prevent gum disease from developing. Make sure your child brushes two minutes, twice a day, and flosses once per day. If symptoms persist, it’s time to see the dentist.
• If your child is beginning orthodontic treatment, you can help make the journey easier. Keep up with appointments and adjustments, look for toothbrushes and floss designed for braces, and provide braces-friendly foods. If your child wears bands or aligners, you may need to remind her to wear them for the recommended number of hours each day. 
• A nutritious diet is essential for healthy teeth and gums. Give your child solid nutritional building blocks with a diet rich in proteins, vitamins, and minerals. 

Help your child enjoy a future of healthy, confident smiles by working in partnership with your child’s pediatric dental team. They are ready every month of the year with advice and expertise to make that healthy dental future a reality!

You do everything you can to protect your toddler with safeguards large and small. Installing that complicated car seat. Figuring out which sunscreen is best for delicate skin. Spending weeks childproofing your home. But all the work protecting your child is more than worth it because the rewards are so great. And one more everyday precaution that brings great rewards is protecting your toddler from tooth decay.

• Start Early

The time to start your baby’s dental care is even before that first tooth arrives. Carefully wiping the gums with a clean, damp cloth after feeding gets your child used to the idea of brushing and removes bacteria that might irritate the gums as the teeth begin to erupt. As soon as those teeth arrive, gentle brushing with soft bristles will keep bacteria and plaque from causing tooth decay and gingivitis. We can recommend toothpastes formulated especially for toddlers and suggest the best ways to brush.

• Mind The Menu

We know that sugary foods aren’t healthy for your toddler’s teeth. Bacteria in the mouth feeds on sugar, and a sugar-heavy diet results in more of the bacteria and plaque which cause cavities. But sugar is not the only food that is not tooth-friendly. For example, foods like citrus fruits and juices can also be a problem. Acidic foods can actually weaken enamel after eating and leave teeth more vulnerable to cavity-causing bacteria and plaque. We have suggestions for tooth-healthy snacks and the best times to brush after eating if you and your child indulge in a treat.

• Don’t Misuse Bottles & Sippy Cups

Your toddler might still use a bottle at night or a sippy cup throughout the day. Juices and even milk contain sugar that increases the risk of cavities, and if your child goes to sleep with a bottle or cup, these liquids pool in the mouth overnight allowing bacteria to flourish.  If your toddler wants a drink at night or between meals, water is a much better option.

Those tiny teeth are important for so many reasons. They enable children to bite and chew efficiently, to pronounce sounds properly for speech development, and to save space for adult teeth so they erupt in the right place. Drs. Paul Pasternack, Chara Pasternack, and Christine Biondi and our team recommend that your child visit our Vorhees office after the first tooth comes in, and always by the first birthday. We will make sure your toddler’s teeth are developing as they should be and suggest ways to keep them cavity-free. Your toddler’s healthy, beautiful smile is a reward worth protecting!

Sealants offer many benefits, but the best is their ability to protect your molars. Molars are full of small caverns that can be the perfect breeding ground for tooth decay and plaque buildup.

Use of protective sealants prevents this buildup from happening. Although children often receive sealants for routine preventive care, they aren’t the only ones who can benefit from this treatment. Sealants can also help adults who have deep canyons or grooves in their teeth.

They are commonly placed on the rear molars that tend to suffer the most decay. Because your molars are used substantially as grinding surfaces, food is more likely to be trapped among them.

Sealant solution consists a composite material that contains bonding agents that seal the top of your teeth. The process is quick and painless, which makes it a great solution for both children and adults who have had trouble with cavities and tooth decay. Sealants also last for several years, and repair is a simple process that can be completed by Drs. Paul Pasternack, Chara Pasternack, and Christine Biondi.

The process of putting sealants on teeth starts with the tooth getting cleaned. We clean it with a type of baking soda spray called sodium bicarbonate. Then acid is etched onto the teeth to rough up the surface.

We apply an alcohol-based liquid to dry the area where the sealant is supposed to go. After it completely covers the surface of the treated teeth, the sealant is cured with a light that makes it hard and long-lasting.

Getting sealants can prevent the possible restorative costs that come from cavities. Sealants help to protect your tooth’s enamel from harmful acids and prevent decay, which can be an investment in itself. The whole process is quick, so it should be easy to schedule an appointment at Pasternack Pediatric Dental.

Feel free to call our Vorhees location and we can answer any questions you have about this service.