What Is A Tooth Abscess & What Causes Them?

Child with a pained expression holds her cheek in a teal dental chair.

If your child is experiencing a severe toothache, you should contact your child’s dentist right away. Toothaches can be a sign of various potentially serious dental issues, including dental abscesses. In this article, we will cover the following topics related to tooth abscesses in children: What Is A Tooth Abscess? An abscess is a pocket…

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Should Children Get the HPV Vaccine to Help Prevent Oropharyngeal Cancer?

Healthcare worker gives an upper-arm vaccination to a person in a light blue shirt.

Human papillomavirus, or HPV, is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States. The CDC estimates that there were approximately 43 million Americans infected with HPV in 2018, many of whom were in their late teens or early twenties. Most people infected with HPV will never develop symptoms. But in some people, HPV…

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Can Drinking Water Help Prevent Cavities in Kids?

Child in a blue dress makes a silly face while holding a glass of water on the grass.

Did you know that something as simple as drinking plenty of water can actually help reduce your children’s chances of getting cavities? In this article, we will discuss the four primary ways in which serving your children water can benefit their oral health: Staying hydrated helps your child maintain a healthy level of saliva. Saliva…

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When Should You Make Your Child’s First Dentist Appointment?

First birthday cake with roses and a glitter “one” topper; baby in pink sits behind.

When Should You Make Your Child’s First Dentist Appointment? Many parents don’t realize that babies and toddlers can get cavities, but they can and do. As soon as your child gets a tooth, that tooth can begin to decay. This is why it is so important to schedule a dental checkup for your baby when…

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What Is Fluorosis?

Child rests chin in hands at a table, looking up against a plain white backdrop.

Fluoride. The evidence is clear that it is an extremely important tool for preventing painful and costly tooth decay in children. But, as with most minerals, it is possible to have too much of a good thing. Think for a moment about iron. Consuming too little iron can result in anemia, but consuming too much…

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Early Childhood Caries

Child with tooth decay

As soon as a child has a tooth, that child can get cavities. But just because something is possible doesn’t mean it’s likely, right? Unfortunately, tooth decay in very young children is far more common than you might think. According to the most recent data from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, approximately…

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Why Does My Child Keep Getting Cavities?

Close-up portrait of a child with long wavy hair looking at the camera against a white background.

You work so hard to take good care of your child’s teeth, only to find that your child has a cavity. Again. It just doesn’t make sense, you think. You give your child fewer sugary treats than any of your friends give their children, and yet none of your friends’ kids ever get cavities. What…

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Is Milk Good for Children’s Teeth?

Child in a pink‑and‑blue striped shirt sips milk from a glass outdoors.

It seems that avoiding dairy products is becoming increasingly common due to a perception that cow’s milk is unhealthy for children. While there certainly are valid health reasons for some kids to avoid milk, for many other children, cow’s milk is an important source of nutrients that are essential for their development and for keeping…

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When Do Kids Get Their Permanent Teeth?

Grinning child points at the gap where a front tooth is missing, light background.

Is your child approaching the age where you’re starting to wonder when those first permanent teeth will show up? Or has your child already started getting permanent teeth, but the process isn’t going quite as you had expected? If you find yourself filled with questions about your child’s new permanent teeth, you are not alone.…

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What Is Enamel Hypoplasia?

Baby with curly hair resting on a caregiver’s shoulder, gazing toward the camera.

Dental enamel – the outermost layer of our teeth – is the hardest substance in the human body. It needs to be, because enamel is what protects the sensitive, nerve-filled centers of our teeth against hard chewing and biting forces. Unfortunately, dental enamel does not always form properly. Disruptions to the enamel formation process can…

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Tips for A Tooth-Friendly Easter Basket

Wicker basket with speckled eggs and green ribbon, pastel Easter eggs and daisies on a white surface.

While a sweet treat is okay every once in a while, all too often it seems that children’s Easter baskets get filled with excessive amounts of sugar. If you are hoping to give your child a lovely Easter basket, but without a side of tooth decay, read on for our tips on how to make…

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Dental Enamel Formation and Defects in Children

Curly‑haired toddler in a red turtleneck, looking to the side against a soft pink background.

The visible portion of both primary (“baby”) and permanent teeth is composed of several layers. The outermost layer is known as dental enamel, and it is the hardest substance in the human body. Enamel protects the sensitive, nerve-filled centers of our teeth against hard chewing and biting forces. For a variety of reasons, the development…

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