Pediatric Dentist Archives | Poplar Crossing Dental

Should You Throw Away Your Sick Child’s Toothbrush?

Posted on June 17, 2025 by writeradmin.

My son has a virus. I’m trying to figure out if I should throw out his tooth brush now or after he is better from the virus. Is there a best practice for this type of situation?

Lindsey

Dear Lindsey,

I am very glad you wrote. Sorry about your son’s illness. It is never fun when our children are sick. The above picture was taken at a Walmart. This idea has been purported for years, even by dentists, but it is a false narrative. This was started by the toothbrush companies. While a creative way to get customers to throw out and replace their product, there is no scientific basis for what they’re saying.

In fact, I only know of one study that even investigated this issue. In 2013, a study at The University of Texas (you can read the study here) was published that showed there was no transmission of strep throat because of keeping a toothbrush.

Dr. Neil Schachter, a professor of pulmonary and critical care at New York City’s prestigious Mount Sinai School of Medicine said, “Once you’ve had a particular viral illness, you’re protected from it.” In other words, your child cannot re-infect themselves with something they already have.

What If You’re Still Worried?

You’re a mom, and very likely a good one based on your question; that means you are going to worry— a lot. If the above information has still left you with a seed of doubt, here are some options that should hopefully give you an action plan that takes away your fear and allows you to find new things to worry about.

First, you could just buy a new toothbrush. They don’t cost a lot and it won’t do any harm. You can switch it at any point. Another option is to sanitize your child’s toothbrush. You can do that with simple chlorine bleach. Just pour enough bleach into the cup to cover the head (brush portion) of the toothbrush. Let it sit there for about 5 minutes, then thoroughly rinse it off. There will be no residue or aftertaste and the toothbrush will be cleaner than when you first opened the package.

The best things you can do for your child are to get them to a pediatric dentist regularly, keep up with their oral health care at home, and limit their snacking.

This blog is brought to you by Hoffman Estates Dentist Dr. William Becker.
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My Son’s Baby Teeth Aren’t Coming Out

Posted on March 5, 2025 by writeradmin.

My son is six year’s old. He has never had a problem with his teeth until recently. In fact, he’s never even needed to go to the dentist. The issue we’re having is that he has some adult teeth coming in but the baby teeth are not loose. Should I take him in to see the dentist?

Amy

Dear Amy,

I am glad you wrote. I can tell you care about your son a great deal and want the best for him. If you can’t wiggle the teeth out yourself, then you will need to take him to the dentist to have them removed. Otherwise, if they’re left in place, the adult teeth will be deflected. This will lead to bite problems as he gets older, as well as expensive orthodontics.

Because this will be his first dental appointment your son has ever had, I want it to be as easy as possible for him. My suggestion is that you find a pediatric dentist who also has dental sedation available. This way he can sleep through the procedure. You don’t want his first appointment to have any trauma. This will sour him on the dentist for most of his life.

While I understand why many parents feel like if there isn’t a problem then they don’t need to take their young child to the dentist, this leads to their first dental appointment being a more painful invasive one, sometimes as a dental emergency. Then, they associate the dentist with that throughout childhood making them afraid to go.

My suggestion is that even if you get the teeth out yourself you take him in to see the dentist. This way he can have a fun appointment where he just gets his teeth cleaned.

This blog is brought to you by Hoffman Estates Dentist Dr. William Becker.

Why Can’t a Toddler Get a Dental Flipper?

Posted on November 4, 2024 by writeradmin.

Can you tell me why a toddler can’t get a dental flipper? I have a two year old who knocked out one of his front teeth. He’s only had that tooth for barely a year. I’ve read that children’s teeth shift if they fall out too soon, so I wanted to get a dental flipper in order to keep the other teeth where they should be, but my dentist has completely nixed the idea saying that toddlers cannot have a flipper. Why is that?

Annie

Dear Annie,

I am very glad you wrote. Being a parent is incredibly hard. We worry about our children even before they are born. It doesn’t stop when they become adults either. I can tell you are a good parent who is trying to stay informed. When it comes to teeth which have to stay in for their complete lifecycle, it is actually only the back teeth where that matters. Those molars need to stay in place until your son is around twelve years old.

If one of those teeth have to come out because of a dental emergency such as a serious tooth infection, then it will be important that a space maintainer is placed there in order to hold the space open. Otherwise, as you read, the other teeth will drift or tip into the open space. This will lead to overcrowding when his twelve year old molars do come in. Overcrowding means expensive orthodontics. You don’t have that worry with front teeth, so your son should be fine.

I do wish your son’s dentist would have explained why a dental flipper was a bad idea. A good pediatric dentist understands that parents need information in order to make good informed decisions. The problems with a dental flipper for a toddler is two fold. First, it is removable. That means it is unlikely your son will keep it in. Plus, it will be a choking hazard for him. The second issue is that he is constantly growing. This means you would have to repeatedly replace the flipper to fit him.

Fortunately, you don’t have to worry about that because losing a front tooth is no problem at all.

This blog is brought to you by Hoffman Estates Dentist Dr. William Becker.

Does Teething Cause a Fever

Posted on March 22, 2024 by writeradmin.

I am frustrated and hoping you can give me more practical advice than I have been getting. I have a nine month old. She keeps getting mild fevers and cries. We keep taking her to the doctor who keeps telling us that there is nothing wrong with her. The doctor said she’s just a fussy baby and we should relax. I was so frustrated and talked to a friend of mine who has four children. She said that my daughter is probably just teething. She suggested we slit her gums to help the teeth come through. Have you heard of this?

Mariana

Dear Mariana,

The good news is that there is generally an explanation for why a baby is fussy. It just takes some investigating. It’s harder when you’re a new mom because you’re having to learn so much at once. Yes, teething can cause a mild fever. It would not cause a high fever, so if that ever happens, do take your baby to be seen my a doctor.

There are other symptoms that go along with the fussiness if it is a matter of a teething. Here are some other things to look for.

Fussiness
Drooling
Restless sleep
Lack of appetite

In the meantime, you can give her some children’s tylenol and it may relieve some of the symptoms. Once her teeth finally pop in, make sure to start taking her to see a pediatric dentist. Even though her teeth will be healthy, you will not want to wait until she has a dental problem to first visit the dentist. It is much better for her to have positive experiences, that way if there ever is a problem she will not be frightened or fight against the treatment.

What To Do About A Teething Baby

The first thing to tell you is NOT to slit your baby’s gums. Their body’s are designed to do this naturally. As the root of the tooth grows, it pushes up to the gums. Teething is your baby feeling the pressure of those teeth moving up. As it grows, the teeth will eventually break through the gums. If you slit the gums, then you risk the root not getting formed enough to support the adult tooth once it is developed.

This is different than when they are older and their adult teeth are coming in. If a baby tooth is not coming loose and you see the permanent tooth pushing its way through, it is best to pull the baby tooth. Otherwise the permanent tooth gets deflected and you end up needing to pay for orthodontics when they are older.

This blog is brought to you by Hoffman Estates Dentist Dr. William Becker.

Adopted Daughter Terrified of the Dentist

Posted on July 4, 2023 by writeradmin.

I have an eleven-year-old girl we recently adopted from overseas. We tried taking her to the dentist last week and the minute anyone came near her with a dental tool, she began screaming. At some point, she ran out of the room and hid under the receptionist’s desk. I was mortified, but also very worried about our new daughter. I don’t know if she’s been through some trauma at the dentist before or elsewhere. They gave us very little information on her background. Is there anything you can recommend that would help us get her teeth looked at? I’m sure she has not had very good dental care where she came from.

Mirianna

Dear Mirianna,

Let me first say that I really admire what you are doing. Adopting any child is a big moment. Getting one from overseas comes with additional complications, especially if they don’t give you much information on the child’s background.

I don’t know if her trauma comes from a difficult dental appointment or something else, however, I do have some suggestions. What your new daughter needs is a good experience with a dentist. I would start by setting up a tour of the dental office. Assure her that they are not going to treat her. Instead, they are just going to show her around and introduce her to the staff. Make sure it is a practice that is used to dealing with children. Please also tell them about what you do know regarding her background and your fears of trauma. It does not necessarily have to be a pediatric dentist. There are general dentists who love treating children.

After she meets them, she will not be as afraid to walk in the door, which she probably will be right now after the last appointment. That is why I am recommending the tour with no treatment. Shortly after that is when you can work on getting her evaluated. It will probably require seeing a dentist who offers dental sedation. Given the severity of her anxiety, I suggest something strong such as oral conscious sedation. Eventually, you may be able to lower that to nitrous oxide. Right now, however, the important thing is that you get her teeth evaluated so you know what you are dealing with. The LAST thing she needs is to end up with a dental emergency.

This blog is brought to you by Hoffman Estates Dentist Dr. William Becker.

Dark Spot on My Son’s Tooth

Posted on December 16, 2022 by writeradmin.

I’m looking to find a pediatric dentist for my son’s teeth, but he’s only four years old. I saw a dark spot on one of his back teeth, and I don’t know why it is there because I brush his teeth twice a day. He hasn’t mentioned it so I don’t think his tooth hurts. I’m just worried if it is a cavity it will get bigger. Is four years old too early for x-rays and a filling, if they are necessary?

Penny

Dear Penny,

I can already tell you are a caring mother who is taking care of her child, including the oral health. Catching a dark spot on a back tooth, like a molar, is hard to do so you are truly on top of it. Fantastic job on your part?

When Should a Child First See a Pediatric Dentist?

Most dentists who enjoy working with children will recommend you have them seen by their first birthday. It does not have to be a pediatric dentist. General dentists are qualified. Just be aware if they say that they don’t see children until they are five to eight years old, that is not an office truly ready to see children. I would look elsewhere.

An x-ray is perfectly safe for your son. Not only is the equipment child-sized, but the x-rays these days are digital with hardly any radiation exposure at all.

It is always best to have their first dental appointment before there is an actual issue so that they can associate going to the dentist with fun appointment, so in most cases, the earlier the better for their first appointment.

Why a Cavity if You are Diligent?

I can tell that you are taking care of his teeth. Brushing twice a day is great and you’ll want to floss once a day as well. There are a couple of things that could contribute to a cavity if this is one. First, frequent snacking is one of the biggest causes of cavities. Our saliva has decay-fighting minerals, but if your son snacks a lot, even with just juices, it will not give his saliva the time needed to do the job.

A second possibility is the crevices and fissures found on the back molars. They are great at trapping food and bacteria. It sounds like your son hasn’t been to the dentist yet, so he will not have had sealants placed on those teeth. If that is the case, I would recommend moving forward on that after his first cleaning as long as that back tooth is healthy and doesn’t require treatment. The sealants are simply painted on the teeth so there is nothing frightening about the procedure at all.

I recommend taking a deep breath and scheduling his first appointment to see what you’re dealing with before we worry about anything else.

This blog is brought to you by Hoffman Estates Dentist Dr. William Becker.

Baby Teeth Eruption

Posted on November 4, 2022 by writeradmin.

My baby is 9 months old. His front teeth have not come in. However, the teeth next to them have come in. Is this normal? Do I need to worry about the teeth not being about to stay in place?

Callie

Dear Callie,

First, don’t panic. It is not unheard of for the lateral incisors to erupt before the central incisors. Though typically the central ones will come in first, our bodies do not always obey schedules well. As your son ages, he will develop in his own time. This isn’t just physical development. Children have a wide variety in the timing of their intellectual and emotional development as well.

If the central ones don’t pop out in the next few months, then you can take him to see a pediatric dentist. They’ll do an x-ray to see if there actually are teeth under there to erupt. If there are congenitally missing teeth, that’s okay too. Dentists have dealt with this for years and know the solutions so your son can have a healthy, beautiful smile.

You’ll want your son to have a checkup around that time anyway. It is always best to make sure your child’s first experience at the dentist is a fun, positive one when there are not problems, than it is to wait for them to get older and develop a cavity.

Here is a schedule which provides general guidelines for when teeth will erupt in children. But, remember, as Captain Barbossa reminds us, “They are more guidelines than actual rules.”

Lower Central Incisors – 6 to 10 months

Upper Central incisors – 8 to 12 months

Lower Lateral Incisors – 10 to 16 months

Upper Lateral Incisors – 9 to 13 months

Lower Cuspid (Canine) – 17 to 23 months

Upper Cuspid (Canine) – 16 to 22 months

Lower First Molar – 14 to 18 months

Upper First Molar – 13 to 19 months

Lower Second Molar – 23 to 31 months

Upper Second Molar – 25 to 33 months

I hope this helps. This blog is brought to you by Hoffman Estates Dentist William Becker.

Dental Bonding for Children

Posted on June 16, 2022 by writeradmin.

My daughter had a nasty fall that took out a chunk of her two front teeth. I took her to the pediatric dentist we normally go to and he suggested that it be filled with dental bonding. We agreed, trusting he knew what he was doing. Unfortunately, that did not pan out. The bonding looks lumpy and her two front teeth are now uneven. I wondered if this can be fixed. She is absolutely devastated. She is about to start sixth grade at a new school and does not want to look like this.

Kelli

Dear Kelli,

It can be fixed, but with dental bonding that mostly means having it re-done. I’m sorry your daughter is facing this. She’s at a tender age for her self-image, so you want this to be done right. While I am sure your dentist had the best of intentions, dental bonding is quite an advanced cosmetic procedure because it has to be done freehand. Not many dentists have the skills to do this because it requires post-doctoral training. In addition to the ability to sculpt the bonding, it requires materials and tints that most general and pediatric dentists don’t have.

What you really need is a dentist who is skilled in cosmetic work, and specifically in dental bonding. Because of your daughter’s age, most dentists should be willing to work with her. It does not have to be a pediatric dentist. As long as she is able to sit still she should do just fine.

One thing I would do before committing to a dentist is to look at their smile gallery to make certain they can produce beautiful results. If they don’t have a smile gallery, they are not serious about cosmetic dentistry. You’ll also want to make sure that the before and after images are actually of work the dentist has done himself and not just stock photos.

This blog is brought to you by Hoffman Estates Dentist Dr. William Becker.

My Daughter is Terrified of the Dentist

Posted on December 31, 2021 by writeradmin.

My twelve year old has suddenly developed a fear of the dentist. She has a panic attack every time it is time to go. I have always been in her dental appointments with her and she’s never had anything bad happen to her. In all honesty, she’s been developing more and more anxiety as she gets older. I know I need to find a solution, but one thing I need to deal with practically right now is to get her teeth dealt with. I know she has at least one cavity.

Penny

Dear Penny,

That is a hard age. Everything about their life is changing. They have a foot in the teenage world and a foot still in their child world. Their hormones are going nuts. They are trying to figure out who they are and what they believe. It is a confusing time. You are right that you do need to get her teeth taken care of. You do not want her developing a dental emergency, which will give her a traumatic appointment.

My suggestion is you find a pediatric dentist who also offers dental sedation. At this point, given her anxiety, she will need oral conscious sedation. This is administered by a pill that she will take before her appointment. The medication will completely relax her. In fact, she will likely completely sleep through her appointment. This will allow her to get her cavity taken care of without any trauma. Then, as she grows out of her anxiety she may be fine with just nitrous oxide.

These are tough years, but you can get through them.

This blog is brought to you by Hoffman Estates Dentist Dr. William Becker.

My Child Is Afraid of Our Dentist

Posted on November 3, 2021 by writeradmin.

I need some advice. My child had their first cavity and now she is terrified of our dentist. Every time we bring her in, she is an absolute nightmare. They end up coming to get me to take her out. What do I do?

Leslie

Dear Leslie,

There can be a few things going on here. I have not tried to examine your daughter, so I can’t tell you exactly what’s going on, but can give you some things to consider as possibilities and how to get her the treatment she needs.

Possibility One: Your Dentist is Not Great With Children

Not all dentists enjoy treating children. One way to know that is when they first want to start seeing children. If they want to wait until they’re in elementary school, that is a hint that kids aren’t their favorite thing. On the other hand, if they’re happy to see them in their toddler years you can know they enjoy children. You mentioned they have to come get you. You may want a dentist who allows you to come into the operatory with your child. While some kids do better without their parents, others find having a parent nearby comforting. Plus, if you are in there you can gauge how your dentist interacts with your daughter. Does he know how to make her smile? Does he put her at ease? Or maybe he barks orders and is not patient. That can be frightening to adults too!

Possibility Two: Your Dentist is Fine but the Trauma Has Impacted Her

You mentioned she recently had an appointment to take care of a cavity. It’s very possible that her appointment was painful and now she is certain everything the dentist does is going to hurt. Dental anxiety is a serious issue, even in adults. Most of the time, it stems from a traumatic and painful dental appointment as a child. The really good news is there is a solution. Your daughter will need to see a dentist who offers dental sedation options. You can locate them by doing an internet search for “sedation dentist” or a “cater to cowards dentist“.

These dentists are used to working with anxious patients and have medication that can completely relax your daughter and give her that fear-free treatment she needs. They do not necessarily have to be a pediatric dentist, just make sure they like treating children, as mentioned above.

This blog is brought to you by Hoffman Estates Dentist Dr. William Becker.