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Babies, Children and Teens

Dental Care for Your Baby

Pregnancy is an exciting time, but it should also be one in which you give extra attention to your oral health, hygiene and professional dental needs. Your dental and oral habits now can have an impact on your long-term health and the dental and overall health of your unborn child.

After you have your baby, it is essential to understand how your current oral health can affect your child. If a parent or any caretaker has tooth decay or gum disease, it is extremely important not to share a toothbrush or cup with the baby. The harmful bacteria and decay in the adult’s mouth can be passed on to the baby by sharing these items. Two recommended methods to decrease the bacteria are to use a chlorohexidine mouthwash or to chew gum with Xylitol.

We also recommend the following helpful guidelines:

  • Wipe out your baby’s mouth every day with a soft wet washcloth. We recommend doing this even before any teeth have erupted.
  • When a tooth/teeth have erupted, start brushing these teeth with a small, soft bristle toothbrush made for children.
  • Brush your baby’s teeth twice a day — in the morning and before bedtime.
  • Please consult your pediatric dentist or pediatrician about the type of toothpaste to use. Toothpastes contain fluoride, and the amount of toothpaste to use depends on the age and size of the child.
  • Feed your baby healthy snacks, such as cheese, yogurt or fruit. These foods will help build strong teeth, unlike candy, soft drinks and sugary fruit juices.
  • When putting your baby to sleep, do not give your baby a bottle of milk or juice. We understand this will soothe the child, but the sugars in these drinks will stick to the baby’s teeth while asleep. The sugars then develop into acid which cause tooth decay.
  • Likewise, do not give your baby juice until he/she is 6 months old. We recommend only giving your baby 4-6 ounces of juice a day, with a meal, and not in between meals as a snack.
  • If your baby has white spots on his/her teeth, make an appointment with your pediatric dentist. These white spots are often signs of tooth decay and the development of a cavity.
  • Along with the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, we recommend that your child have his/her first dental visit by his/her first birthday!

Dental Care for Teens

No one wants to be embarrassed by gross teeth or bad breath — that’s why excellent oral hygiene habits are so important! With proper brushing and flossing, you’ll be able to joke, laugh and talk with your friends without feeling self-conscious!

We want to eliminate some common myths about dental health. Check it out:

  • MYTH #1 — Once you’re a teenager, you’ve outgrown cavities.
    Actually, anyone at any age can get a cavity, so be sure to brush your teeth twice a day and floss once a day.
  • MYTH #2 — Periodontal (gum) disease only affects elderly people.
    False! Gum disease ranges from mild (gingivitis) to moderate (periodontitis) to the severe (periodontitis). It causes receding gums, exposed tooth roots that are sensitive to heat and cold, inflamed gums and sometimes bleeding gums.
  • MYTH #3 — Except your wisdom teeth, you will keep all your permanent teeth.
    Depending on your bite pattern, jaw alignment and allotted space for your teeth, this may not be true. As you grow, these features will change, and an orthodontic evaluation will determine whether or not you need to have any permanent teeth pulled or if you’ll need orthodontic treatment.

Tips on How to Maintain a Healthy, Beautiful Smile

Your daily home care regimen is the most important part of your dental health. Here are some guidelines to help you keep that dazzling smile!

  1. Be conscious of your food choices! As a teen, you’re busy with school and extracurricular activities. Make sure you eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, and limit your intake of junk food, fast food and sugary foods like candy.
  2. Always brush and floss! These daily habits are the best way to prevent tooth decay. Brush your teeth with fluoridated toothpaste at least twice a day, and floss at least once a day to reach the spaces your toothbrush can’t.
  3. Stay on track with your regular dental appointments! Annual teeth cleanings, fluoride treatments and sealants will help you keep tooth decay and gum disease away.
  4. Just say, “No!” to smoking and chewing tobacco! Everything you’ve heard about tobacco is true — it causes a number of health problems, and it’s nasty! And did you know tobacco can cause oral cancer? Not cool.
  5. If you play sports, always wear a mouthguard to protect your pearly whites! We can make you a custom mouthguard that will fit much better than one bought at a sports store.

Since hopefully you’ve been seeing your pediatric dentist since you were young, we hope you will feel comfortable to talk to us about your smile. We can help correct a number of things you might not like about your teeth — discoloration, gaps or crowding. We can also evaluate the remaining space in your mouth to see if your wisdom teeth will have room to erupt. Please feel free to discuss any concerns you have about your oral health!


Sedation Dentistry

Dental Patient RelaxingThere's so much dentistry can do these days to make your mouth healthier and your smile more beautiful. Yet many people don't take advantage of this because of a long-standing fear of dental treatment. If you are one of these people, rest assured that we can provide an experience that's free of anxiety and pain. We can do this by blocking your sensations of pain with local anesthetics or by giving you medication that can help you relax. Sometimes both are needed to ensure maximum comfort, especially if you are someone for whom the injections that deliver local anesthetics are themselves a major source of anxiety.

When you are afraid of dental treatment, your guard goes up and your pain threshold goes down; anticipating that something will hurt makes you hypersensitive to every sensation — even sound. If this describes your experience in the dental chair, then you should talk to us about sedatives we can give you during your visit to make that anxiety melt away.

Before recommending any particular sedative to you, we will first need to obtain your complete health history, including any medications you are currently taking — both prescription strength and over-the-counter. It is also important for us to know if you smoke or drink. On the day of your treatment, you may need to have someone drive you to and from your appointment as certain medications take time to wear off.

Ways to Relieve Anxiety

Oral SedationOral Sedation — Oral sedation (given by mouth) is a popular option for many people precisely because it does not require the use of needles. Oral sedatives are either swallowed whole in pill form or can be dissolved under the tongue. Both methods work in a matter of minutes. A variety of oral sedative and anxiolytic (anxiety-dissolving) medications have been developed through extensive research and testing to make your experience of dental treatment as comfortable and relaxing as possible. All have long safety records after decades of use, and several even have “amnesic” properties, meaning you will remember little to nothing, even though you are conscious throughout the treatment. Commonly prescribed medications include Valium®, Halcion®, Sonata®, Ativan®, Vistaril®, and Versed®. To learn more, view our chart on Types of Oral Sedatives

Conscious Sedation

Conscious Sedation

We offer an option of in-office conscious sedation with a Registered Nurse Anesthetist for any child that may be anxious for dental work. The in-office sedation goal is for the child not to remember what could be a traumatic experience.

Though not required by the LA State Board of Dentistry, the presence of our CRNA is solely for the safety of your child. Our dentists can concentrate on completing the dental procedure while the CRNA can fully monitor the child’s response to the sedative drug and their response to the procedure. We are aiming for a mild to moderate sedation and most children are fully arousable during the procedure. The CRNA will use a pulse oximeter to monitor the patient’s respirations and oxygen saturation. An EKG monitor and blood pressure cuff are also used on every patient. This has been a very popular choice for many of our parents because they are assured that while we cannot promise the success of every child behaving for this option, we readily use Versed as one of our sedative medications, and it has wonderful amnesic properties. For those parents looking to fully sedate their child for dental work, we would recommend this in a hospital setting. Our doctors are on staff at several local hospitals.


Orthodontics

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that a child receives his or her first orthodontic screening by age 7. By starting treatment early, we are able to recognize potential problems and correct them before they become more serious. This will save you and your child time and money by preventing future problems before they begin.

For early orthodontic treatment, Bippo's Place for Smiles refers our patients to Dr. Kay Daniel (Dr. Jill’s sister) whose practice is located in our building!

To learn more about Dr. Kay Daniel’s practice, please visit her website www.exploreorthodontics.com.


Testimonials

You never have to wait very long at Bippo's Place for Smiles in Mandeville. The check in and check out process is quite smooth and the overall experience is enjoyable. I love bringing my kids here. - Alec H.

We have been taking our kids to Bippo's Place for Smiles since they were little. They do a very good job of making us feel right at home and they treat us like family. - Kenny J.

My wife used to work with Dr. Jill and the original dentist, Dr. Don, at this location and it's such a unique dentistry for children. I know this from taking my own kids here, I wouldn't trust their teeth (and my dollars) with anyone else. - Raymond W.

My son went a few months ago for his first visit. He doesn't do great with doctors, but the staff was really patient and talked to him so he was able to remain as calm as a young kid can me at the dentist! - Lonnie T.

When my daughter was old enough to go to the dentist a co-worker of mine recommended Bippo's. We brought him here and he had an excellent experience. We've been going ever since. - Ellen P.

We have been using Bippo's Place for Smiles for about 7 years and I really like how nice and welcoming the staff is. Overall, I feel comfortable and I always have during my time as a patient. Everything is always done quickly and efficiently and on time, too. - Regina M.

Great friendly staff and great dentists. They make you feel wanted there and is so kid friendly that my kids love going to see Dr. Jill. - Kimberly M.

A former staff member first told me about Bippo's and recommended them to me. When my son was old enough to go to the dentist we brought him here and he had an excellent first experience at the dentist! - Collin B.

I absolutely love the staff at Bippo's Place For Smiles. They are all so very caring and friendly. - Ella O.


Why Patients Love Bippos

From the moment children walk in the door, they know they're someplace special; someplace fun. They're greeted warmly and invited into our play area, where there are toys, video games and special contests to keep them happy.

Once they get to our comfortable dental chairs, we keep them relaxed with a joke, a smile and a hand to hold.

Dentists and kids are on a first-name basis with one another. And our dentists speak kids' language. When they talk about dental care with your child, they'll never use scary words like “shots,” “drill”, “anesthesia,” “X-rays” or “cavities.” Instead they'll use child friendly words like “sleepy-juice,” “taking pictures” or “tooth bugs.”

They'll also use the latest numbing techniques to ensure our care is very gentle. In fact, many kids say they hardly even notice injections because they are so gentle. Plus after their visit, your child will get a prize for being such a good, brave patient.

Parents Always Get to Choose

Here at Bippo's Place, parents are welcomed in our treatment rooms so that you can participate in any decisions regarding your child's dental care. Many parents choose not to accompany their child and rather enjoy quiet time in our parent lounge. Either way, it's your choice.

We Care for Teenage Smiles, Too

It's not easy being a teen. You're not a little kid anymore, but you're not an adult yet, either. And regular dental care is crucial at this time if you're going to have a bright, healthy adult smile.

So we make teens feel right at home. There's a separate waiting room (with a PlayStation and other computer games) and treatment area for teens at most of our offices, so they don't have to hang out with the little kids. And they get the same friendly, gentle care that our smallest patients get.

Your Child's Safety is Important

We've invested in the latest sterilization equipment, so every instrument we use is completely germ-free. And don't worry about bringing in very young or very nervous children. That's what we're specially trained for.


Ask Dr. Jill

Q. Why should my child see a pediatric dentist instead of our regular family dentist?

A. Pediatric dentistry is a dental specialty that focuses on the oral health of young people. Following dental school, a pediatric dentist has two to three years additional specialty training in the unique needs of infants, children and adolescents, including those with special health needs.

Q. At what age should my child have his/her first dental visit?

A. "First visit by 1st birthday" is the general rule. To prevent dental problems, your child should see a pediatric dentist when the first tooth appears – usually between 6 and 12 months of age – and certainly no later than his/her 1st birthday.

Q. How should I clean my baby's teeth?

A. A toothbrush with soft bristles and a small head, especially one designed for infants, is the best choice for babies. Brushing at least once a day, at bedtime, will remove plaque bacteria that can lead to decay.

Q. What is baby bottle tooth decay, and how can I prevent it?

A. Baby bottle tooth decay is a pattern of rapid decay associated with prolonged nursing. It happens when a child goes to sleep while breast-feeding and/or bottle-feeding. During sleep, the flow of saliva is reduced, and the natural self-cleansing action of the mouth is diminished. Avoid nursing children to sleep or putting anything other than water in their bedtime bottle.

Q. How can I help my child through the teething stage?

A. When teeth erupt, sore gums are part of the normal eruption process. The discomfort is eased for some children by use of a teething biscuit, a piece of toast or a frozen teething ring. Your pharmacy should also have medications that can be rubbed on the gums to alleviate the discomfort.

Q. Can thumb sucking be harmful for my child's teeth?

A. Thumb and pacifier sucking habits that go on for a long period of time can create crowded, crooked teeth or bite problems. If children are still sucking their thumbs or fingers when their permanent teeth erupt, a mouth appliance may be recommended by your pediatric dentist. Most children stop these habits on their own.

Q. When should my child start using toothpaste?

A. Do not use fluoridated toothpaste on children until age 3. Earlier than that, clean your child's teeth with water and a soft-bristled toothbrush. After age 3, parents should supervise brushing. Use no more than a pea-sized amount of toothpaste, and make sure children do not swallow excess toothpaste.

Q. If my child gets a toothache, what should I do?

A. To comfort your child, rinse his/her mouth with warm salt water, and apply a cold compress or ice wrapped in a cloth on your child's face if it is swollen. Do not put heat or aspirin on the sore area, but you may give the child acetaminophen for pain. Please see us as soon as possible.

Q. My child plays sports. How should I protect my child's teeth?

A. A mouth guard should be a top priority on your child's list of sports equipment. Athletic mouth protectors, or mouth guards, are made of soft plastic and fit comfortably to the shape of the upper teeth. They protect a child's teeth, lips, cheeks and gums from sports-related injuries. Any mouth guard works better than no mouth guard, but a custom-fitted mouth guard fitted by our dentist is your child's best protection against sports-related injuries.

Q. If my child gets a cavity in a baby tooth, should it still be filled?

A. Primary, or "baby," teeth are important for many reasons. Not only do they help children speak clearly and chew naturally, they also aid in forming a path that permanent teeth can follow when they are ready to erupt. Some of them are necessary until a child is 12 years old or older. Pain, infection of the gums and jaws, impairment of general health and premature loss of teeth are just a few of the problems that can happen when baby teeth are neglected. Also, because tooth decay is really an infection and will spread, decay on baby teeth can cause decay on permanent teeth. Proper care of baby teeth is instrumental in enhancing the health of your child.

Q. What should I do if my child knocks out a permanent tooth?

A. First of all, remain calm. If possible, find the tooth and hold it by the crown (top) rather than the root. Replace the tooth in the socket, and hold it there with clean gauze or a washcloth. If you can't put the tooth back in the socket, place the tooth in a clean container with milk or water, and take your child and the glass immediately to the pediatric dentist. Time is essential, so the faster you act, the better your chances of saving the tooth.