Hygiene Scores

Every time you visit us at Smiles for Kids Pediatric Dentistry for a six month appointment, we provide your child with his or her hygiene score. It’s a rating system that helps you track your child’s progress with home care. Here’s a little more information to shed some light on it.

We rate from 1 to 5 with 5 being the best. Everyone should be shooting for a 5!

Our average score is a 3.5 which means that the hygienist noted some plaque with light tartar buildup. Oftentimes, she may have noticed some light bleeding of the gums, too.  She will give you a detailed report of all that she noted.

A score higher than a 3.5 is above average. Keep up the good work!

A score below 3.5 means that there are areas that your child is missing. With this, we see more bleeding, swelling, plaque and tartar buildup. The hygienist will give you specific recommendations to improve your score. This could mean focusing on a certain area, angling the toothbrush differently, or incorporating flossing to your nightly routine.  

If Dr. Lindhorst or Dr. Jadav feel that your child would benefit from a 3 month appointment with our hygienist for a cleaning in between his or her six month visit, she will let you know. This is especially useful for patients that are in braces or have appliances that are harder to keep clean.

Prevention is key at Smiles for Kids Pediatric Dentistry and a huge part of this prevention plan is hygiene. If you have any questions for us, please let us know. We can’t wait to see your smiling face soon!

Dr. Jadav

Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF)

Silver diamine fluoride has been in the news recently and Smiles for Kids Pediatric Dentistry offers it as an alternative to traditional cavity treatment.

It’s primarily for patients with decay who may be too young or apprehensive for fillings or crowns. It involves no injections, drilling, or pain. Teeth with minimal to moderate decay or hypoplasia (defect in formation) can be treated. Any tooth that has very deep decay that is close to the nerve or a tooth that is abscessed cannot be treated with this technique.

The actual application of the product takes a few minutes. The entire length of the appointment varies based on how many teeth are treated and your child’s behavior. Dr. Lindhorst or Dr. Jadav apply this medication with a small brush to each tooth. Once teeth are treated, there is a chance of having to retreat it. Some teeth only need one application.

At your follow-up appointment, Dr. Lindhorst or Dr. Jadav will let you know if the tooth needs more applications of the product. Some teeth will need fillings or crowns in the future as the patient matures.

The main drawback of silver diamine fluoride is that any active decay on the tooth will turn black permanently. It can be removed if those teeth get fillings or crowns in the future as the affected tissue is removed.

Please call or email us with any questions or concerns. Don’t forget that summer vacation is right around the corner and our slots are filling up fast. We can’t wait to see you!

Dr. Jadav

Smiles for Kids Pediatric Dentistry

Open Sesame!

At Smiles for Kids Pediatric Dentistry, we know it can be hard to get your kids to open wide so you can take a look around! This is a link to a super fun and cute video to help kids learn to open wide (for you and for us). They'll be humming along before you know it!

Foss appeared in a video for a Sesame Street project called, "Healthy Teeth, Healthy Me". The video originally appeared on a DVD given out at dentist offices. https://youtu.be/zx1jA-7NOBk

Mouthhealthykids.org is a fantastic resource full of videos, coloring pages that you can print, games, and activities for the little ones. There’s even a section for preteens and kids that are interested in becoming a dentist.

Check it out and let us know if you have any questions. We can’t wait to see your sparkling smile!

Dr. Jadav

Preventing Tooth Decay

At Smiles for Kids Pediatric Dentistry, one of our major goals is to help prevent tooth decay before it happens. That’s why Dr. Lindhorst and Dr. Jadav always emphasize good oral hygiene, a healthy diet, drinking lots of water, and coming in for your child’s regular dental check-ups every 6 months.

Here are five easy ways to prevent tooth decay:

1.       Use fluoridated toothpaste for 2 minutes 2 times every day

2.       Come in for the first dental visit by your child’s 1st birthday

3.       Don’t share utensils with your child

4.       Eat healthy

5.       Seal out decay

The American Dental Association has a fantastic website MouthHealthy.org where you can find lots of useful information about toothpaste, teething, cavities and prevention.

Have a fantastic weekend!

Dr. Jadav

Smiles for Kids Pediatric Dentistry

How many eggs can you find?

Don’t forget we have our very own Easter egg hunt going on at Smiles for Kids Pediatric Dentistry! Feel free to stop by the office and enter.

You’ll have to search all over the office for the eggs and give us your count! Whoever gets the closest will win. We’ll announce who the lucky winner is on April 13th.  The winner gets a personalized basket of goodies. We can’t wait to see you and hopefully, you’ll be our winner!

Here’s a sneak peek of a few of our eggs around the office!

Best of luck!

Dr. Jadav

Smiles for Kids Pediatric Dentistry

Your Child's First Dental Visit

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that your child’s first dental visit be before his or her first birthday. You may be wondering what we do at Smiles for Kids Pediatric dentistry for a first visit and why it’s so important to start early.

ORAL DEVELOPMENT - A lot of changes happen in a child’s mouth from when they are born until they get their full set of baby teeth.  At Smiles for Kids, we want to explain what to expect. We will talk about timing of new teeth coming in, what to expect when they are coming in, and how many of them are left to come in. Dr. Lindhorst or Dr. Jadav will show you if they note any concerns with their mouth and what that means for your child. By starting early, we can let you know if we see any early signs of decay. Many times, when we see very early changes, we can suggest changes that can prevent having to do treatment on these teeth. Aside from his or her teeth, we will be checking the tongue, cheeks, jaws, and tonsils. We want to make sure every aspect of your child’s mouth, bite, and jaws look healthy!

ORAL HYGIENE - Parents often ask when to start brushing and how to brush their little ones. We will review when to start, how to position them, and toothpaste use.  At our office, we rate oral hygiene on a scale from 1-5 with 5 being the best. That way, you can see how you’re doing in terms of hygiene at each and every visit.

DIET – Diet plays a major component in cavity formation. For babies, we’ll review bottle use. For toddlers, we talk about gummy snacks, sippy cups, and juices. For older kids, we’ll review the types of foods (ooey, gooey, sticky) to try to avoid. Sippy cups, juices, and candy are just a few of the topics we’ll cover.

HABITS - We will talk about habits that your little one may have like thumb sucking, a pacifier, or nail biting. Although a lot of these habits are age appropriate, we will review what long term changes that they can cause in terms of his or her bite if the habit continues.

TRAUMA - We will review what to do if and when your child ever has any trauma. It’s very common and we want parents to know what to look for, when to call us, or when to come see us in the office.

Most of all, we want you and your child to be very comfortable here. The more the child visits, the more likely that they will realize that coming to the dentist is fun! We can’t wait to meet your little one!

Dr. Jadav

Smiles for Kids Pediatric Dentistry

Rethink your drink!

Houston is off to a warm start and an early spring. With the temperatures creeping upwards, our little ones are bound to be thirsty. At Smiles for Kids Pediatric Dentistry, Dr. Lindhorst and Dr. Jadav want to make sure you’re choosing wisely.

Sodas, sports drinks, and juices all have high amounts of sugar and acid. Unfortunately, this can lead to dental decay. It can also play a large role in childhood obesity and metabolic diseases. There is more and more evidence coming out about the harmful effects of sugar. All three of these options have spoonfuls of extra sugar added to them. Take a look at this alarming comparison.

When it comes to choosing a healthy alternatives for our kiddos, milk and water are your best bet. Milk should be offered at mealtimes. Even milk has sugar in it so sipping on it throughout the day can contribute to dental decay.

The main thing to remember is that, when possible, choose water to stay hydrated! We’re looking forward to seeing all of your smiling faces soon. Spring break appointments are filling up fast so give us a call to reserve yours.

Dr. Jadav

National Children's Dental Health Month

February is National Children’s Dental Health month! Smiles for Kids Pediatric Dentistry is so excited to promote this amazing cause and spread the word for healthy smiles!

The American Dental Association (ADA) encourages parents and kids to choose tap water, when possible, to quench their thirst and avoid drinks with added sugar like soda and sweetened juices.  These sugary drinks contribute to dental decay, diabetes, and obesity (just to name a few). It’s also important to maintain good oral health by brushing, flossing and eating healthy. Dr. Lindhorst and Dr. Jadav invite you to help spread the message!

Here’s a recap:

1. Choose tap water for a sparkling smile!
2. Avoid drinks with added sugar like soda and juice drinks!  
3. Protect your smile with a toothbrush, fluoride toothpaste and floss. 
4. Keep smiles sparkling: limit sugary treats, eat healthy and brush two minutes twice a day!

We can’t wait to see your beautiful smiles soon!

Dr. Jadav

Is my child ready for mouthwash?

Many parents encourage their little ones to use mouthwash starting from an early age. Though it can be a beneficial part of his or her oral hygiene routine, you want to make sure your child is ready for it.

At Smiles for Kids Pediatric Dentistry, we stress that if your child hasn’t mastered the “swish and spit”, they are not ready for mouthwash. We don’t want them to accidentally swallow it so please make sure to always supervise. This is especially true for mouthwash with alcohol in it. Always purchase alcohol-free mouthwash for children. If you’re not sure if they’re ready, have them practice with water until their confidence grows.

All mouthwashes are not the same. They can serve several different purposes. Some are simply to freshen breath and others to have the added anti-cavity effect of fluoride. Kids with braces can highly benefit from an anti-cavity rinse in addition to their regular brushing and flossing. To get the optimal anti-cavity effect, always follow the instructions on the back of the bottle. With fluoride mouthwash, don’t eat, drink or rinse after.  It’s best to do the rinse at night so that the active ingredients can stay in contact with the teeth longer.

Don’t forget that mouthwash is just an addition to your hygiene routine. Brushing twice a day and flossing will help keep teeth strong and beautiful!

Dr. Jadav

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year from the Smiles for Kids Pediatric Dentistry team! As everyone is making resolutions, here are some that can benefit your beautiful smile!

1.       Brush twice a day with fluoridated toothpaste.

2.       Floss nightly.

3.       Avoid sugary, chewy or gummy foods because they get stuck in the nooks and crannies of teeth and cause cavities to form. This includes “healthy” foods like raisins/fruit leathers and gummy vitamins.

4.       Limit sweet or acidic drink intake like juices, sodas and energy drinks. This includes organic 100% juices.

5.       Increase water intake.

6.       Increase cavity-fighting foods like cheese, yogurt, leafy greens and nuts.

We hope you get to incorporate some or ALL of these ideas for a healthy 2017!

Take care,

Dr.  Jadav

Holiday Toy Drive

We hope everyone had a delicious and memorable Thanksgiving with family and friends! Here, at Smiles for Kids Pediatric Dentistry, we're kicking off the holiday season with a local toy drive and we need your help!

We’ll be collecting new, unwrapped toys and clothing between now and Friday, December 23rd at our office. These items will be shared with the children at the Oncology Ward at the Texas Children’s Hospital in Katy. Below is a list of the items on the “wish list”.

Please keep in mind they kindly asked us NOT to gift gently used stuffed animals or beanie babies, sporting equipment, toy guns, makeup/lotion, religious items, edible or glass items.

We thank you for teaming with Smiles for Kids Pediatric Dentistry to make a child’s holiday season brighter! Please don’t forget that we’re open the week before the holidays when the kiddos are out of school. Call soon to make your appointment. These spots are filling up fast! We can’t wait to catch up with all of you!

Dr. Jadav

Smiles for Kids Pediatric Dentistry

"Mr. Fishy"

For most procedures, we use what is called an Isolite. At Smiles for Kids Pediatric Dentistry, we lovingly call it “Mr. Fishy”.

It’s a plastic piece that comes in many sizes. It helps your child stay open, keep the area dry with suction, provide light for the dentist, shorten treatment time, and protect your child’s tongue and cheeks. Our assistants are well-trained in picking out the right size for your child. Once one is chosen, they will show it to your child. They’ll get to see the light, hear the suction, and feel how soft it is. Then, the assistant will try it in so that your child can see how it will feel when the dentist starts treatment. We find that this show and tell helps with anxiety especially for patients that are new to “Mr. Fishy”.

Some patients have difficulty tolerating it. Dr. Lindhorst or Dr. Jadav may recommend laughing gas to help with gagging and anxiety. If patients are still having trouble, they will review other options with you. We hope this helps explain why and how we use the Isolite system.

Dr. Jadav

Smiles for Kids Pediatric Dentistry

Halloween Candy Buy Back

It's time for Smiles For Kids Pediatric Dentistry's annual Halloween tradition!  We’re gearing up for the Halloween Candy Buy Back program! We are joining with Operation Gratitude in donating candy and toothbrushes to our troops.

Every child is eligible to receive $1 per pound for all unopened, uneaten Halloween candy. We encourage all of our participants to also write a nice note or letter to the troops so that we can deliver them alongside toothbrushes and the candy.  The program starts on Tuesday, November 1st and ends on Friday, November 11th.

Halloween is just around the corner and we’ve already heard some of your creative and fun costume ideas. We hope you have a safe and fun time trick or treating!

Dr. Jadav

Smiles for Kids Pediatric Dentistry

How are sealants placed?

At Smiles for Kids Pediatric Dentistry, Dr. Lindhorst and Dr. Jadav strongly believe in placing sealants. It’s a protective layer that we place on teeth that goes deep into the “nooks and crannies” of teeth. This layer helps keep food and bacteria out of these vulnerable areas. This, in turn, helps prevent against cavities from forming.

You may wonder how exactly we place sealants. Here’s a step by step rundown of how we place them.

We first prepare the tooth by brushing it. Once it is clean, it is very important that it stays dry during this process so that the material can adhere to the tooth. We often use an Isolite to help with this. It’s a plastic piece that goes into your child’s mouth to help keep them open and allow the dentist to visualize that area. It also helps dry the area with the suction and protect your child’s cheeks and tongue.  Once we have the tooth isolated, we place a solution that etches the tooth to prepare it for the sealant. The tooth is then rinsed off and dried again. The sealant is then placed on with a small brush and hardened with a curing light. We then carefully rinse the tooth and surrounding areas.

Patients can eat or drink right away after the sealant placement. We always warn patients not to chew on ice or hard candy because the sealants can break. Once they break, they no longer can fully protect the tooth from cavity formation. Also, patients still have to practice good oral hygiene and floss. These sealants do not protect against cavities that form between teeth. Dr. Lindhorst or Dr. Jadav will check the sealants at every six month check-up.

If you have any other questions or concerns about sealants, please don’t hesitate to ask!

Dr. Jadav

Smiles for Kids Pediatric Dentistry

When will my child get his or her first tooth?

That is a question that many parents will ask us at Smiles for Kids Pediatric Dentistry and very understandably so.  It is quite the milestone!  

The first teeth to come in are usually the lower two teeth in front. The average age is six months old. However, there is a range for when these new teeth erupt. Some kids will get them as early as few months old and some as late as after the first birthday.

You may first notice a bump or thickening of the gums in the area. Then, as the tooth erupts, it’s normal for the gums around the new tooth to still look a bit swollen. During this time, it is very important to start brushing the tooth. This helps clear food and bacteria from the area and helps that swelling decrease.  Dr. Lindhorst and Dr. Jadav recommend brushing your child’s teeth once you see that very first tooth coming through.  The last thing we want in your child’s mouth before bed is his or her toothbrush. This helps keep the mouth clean overnight and cavity-free!

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During this time, it’s also normal to notice an increase in drooling and biting on objects.  Parents often ask us about using gels to help numb the area. We don’t recommend numbing gels in babies this age due to safety concerns. Cooled teethers really help soothe those aching gums.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that children come in for the first dental visit six months after getting his or her first tooth or by the first birthday (whichever comes first). We’re looking forward to seeing your little one for his or her first visit so we can talk more about an individualized preventative plan, diet, how the teeth fit together, techniques on brushing, what to expect with teething, general developmental changes and more.  Please give us a call at (713) 461-1509 if you have any questions or concerns.

Dr. Jadav

Smiles for Kids Pediatric Dentistry

SILVER DIAMINE FLUORIDE

Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) has been in the news recently and Smiles for Kids Pediatric Dentistry offers it as an alternative to traditional cavity treatment. It’s primarily for patients with decay who may be too young or apprehensive for fillings or crowns. It involves no injections, drilling, or pain. Dr. Lindhorst or Dr. Jadav apply this medication with a small brush to each tooth. Teeth with minimal to moderate decay or hypoplasia (defect in formation) can be treated. Any tooth that has very deep decay that is close to the nerve or a tooth that is abscessed cannot be treated with this technique.

The actual application of the product takes a few minutes. The entire length of the appointment varies based on how many teeth are treated and your child’s behavior. Once teeth are treated, there is a chance of having to retreat them. Some teeth only need one application. At your follow-up appointment, Dr. Lindhorst or Dr. Jadav will let you know if the tooth needs more applications of the product. The decayed area will harden and no longer have active bacteria causing larger cavities.  Some teeth will need fillings or crowns in the future as the patient matures.

The main drawback of silver diamine fluoride is that any active decay on the tooth will turn black permanently. It can be removed if those teeth get fillings or crowns in the future as the affected tissue is removed.

Dr. Jadav

Smiles for Kids Pediatric Dentistry

Back To School

We hope everyone has had a wonderful first few days back at school. The Smiles for Kids Pediatric Dentistry team was so happy to get to visit with many of you over the summer. It was truly a treat hearing about your summer adventures, camps and classes!

We want to congratulate Miss Anna on winning our grand prize in our summer drawing contest. She won a basket full of movie and summer goodies!

Don’t forget to RSVP for our 9^th Annual Patient Appreciation Party on September 18^th! We’re going to watch Oliver and Company over pizza and popcorn at the Studio Movie Grill in CityCentre after we play games, make balloon animals, get some Bingo time in, and paint your little faces!  We can’t wait to see all of you there.

Dr. Jadav

Smiles for Kids Pediatric Dentistry

Which toothpaste is best?

At Smiles for Kids Pediatric Dentistry, we get the question on which toothpaste to use on a daily basis. The answer is that is all depends. Here’s why. AGE

For infants who are less than 2 years old, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends using a tiny smear of fluoride toothpaste to brush baby teeth.  The smear of toothpaste should be about the size of a grain of rice. At about 3 years old, you can start using a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste.

TASTE

Most kids have a preference when it comes to flavor. Usually, children's fluoride toothpaste comes in kid-friendly flavors like bubble gum or watermelon. It gets more challenging if you child does not like those flavors. Fortunately, now, many companies make other flavors. You may have to experiment with them until you find the right one. For those that have trouble with all flavoring, there’s toothpaste called OraNurse which is flavorless but still has the benefit of fluoride.

The main thing to remember is that Dr. Lindhorst and Dr. Jadav recommend using fluoride toothpaste. As long as you have that active ingredient, we’re happy with any brand of toothpaste that you choose to use.

RISK FOR CAVITIES

Some of our patients are at higher risk for cavities. This could be due to hypoplasia, crowding, history of decay, oral hygiene, or having braces. For these patients, Dr. Lindhorst or Dr. Jadav may recommend toothpaste with a higher concentration of fluoride. We have these available at our office for the patients that need them. Using this specific toothpaste can help strengthen areas that may be getting weaker or help prevent cavities on those teeth that are just more prone to them.

I hope that everyone is having a happy summer!

Dr. Jadav

Smiles for Kids Pediatric Dentistry

Summertime at Smiles for Kids!

For most of you, summer is in full swing! That’s no different here at Smiles for Kids Pediatric Dentistry. We’ve been busy seeing all of the kiddos and catching up on exciting summer plans.

Don’t forget to enter our AWESOME summer contest! This year, the kids will have to channel their inner artists. You’ll need to pull out the crayons, colored pencils, and paint! We’d love for everyone to draw a picture of their favorite summer activity and/or vacation. The first place winner will win an AMAZING family summer movie pack. It’ll be filled with movie tickets, popcorn, yummy treats, and summer goodies. You can either drop your picture off at the office or mail it to us. The deadline is August 15^th. The winner will be announced on August 17^th. We can’t wait to see what you come up with!

As always, summer is a great time to get the kids in for their cleanings and check-ups before school starts up. We’ve adjusted our scheduling to accommodate more of our patients. Give us a call to get your summer appointment on the books before it gets filled up! Dr. Lindhorst and Dr. Jadav can’t wait to see you!

Dr. Jadav

Smiles for Kids Pediatric Dentistry

FAQs about RPEs (Rapid Palatal Expanders)

For children with a crossbite, Dr. Lindhorst or Dr. Jadav may recommend a rapid palatal expander (also known as an RPE). Many cases result from a prolonged habit like thumb sucking or pacifier use, however some are idiopathic.  Usually, it’s the result of the upper jaw being narrow. Here are a few common questions that we get asked about these appliances.

Why now?

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends correcting a crossbite as early as behavior allows to help minimize issues with TMJ, skeletal asymmetries, changes in soft tissue growth, and wear of the teeth.  All in all, it’s to help prevent bigger issues down the line.

How does it work?

The appliance helps widen the upper arch to help correct the crossbite. Below is a schematic that explains the before and after.

How does it work?

The first appointment consists of fitting bands and taking impressions. Bands come in all sizes and we have to find the right size for two teeth that serve as anchors.  After they are fit, molds are taken of the upper and lower teeth. We send the impressions and bands to the lab where they will make a custom RPE for the patient.

At the second appointment, we will try in and cement the new appliance with semi-permanent cement.  Parents will be instructed when and how to turn the expander daily with the “key”.  Every child has a different “prescription” based on the degree of crossbite.

At the third appointment (which is usually about 2 weeks later), we check on progress of expansion.  Dr. Lindhorst or Dr. Jadav will then decide whether to keep turning or stop turning. If they want to keep turning, they will let you know how many turns for how many days and when to return.

Once we have the desired expansion, we will keep the RPE in the mouth for at least 6 months so that the teeth do not rebound and go back to old positioning.

Will it hurt?

Due to the fact that we are expanding the bone and moving teeth, there is some soreness that results. However, most all of our patients tolerate it quite well. When the kids are younger, the suture has not filled in with bone, which makes the whole process much easier. During the active movement time, we recommend giving over the counter pain medications if needed. We always tell parents that it takes about a week for the speech to adjust.

Do they have to do anything differently in terms of hygiene or diet?

Yes! More time will need to be dedicated to cleaning the appliance and the teeth. Also, in terms of diet, we recommend staying away from chewy/sticky foods and foods that are especially crunchy. After all of that hard work, we don’t want the RPE to break! We will give you a pamphlet that goes into detail about what foods you need to avoid while you have the appliance.

I hope that helps answer some common questions about the RPE!

Dr. Jadav

Smiles for Kids Pediatric Dentistry