Pulling a perfectly healthy baby tooth… Why would you even consider this? Interestingly, it can be an incredibly important step in preventing orthodontic problems. We always recommend the most conservative treatment option and often opt to wait and see if your child’s mouth will develop naturally. However, for some kids, extracting a baby tooth that won’t come out on its own can eliminate or minimize future orthodontic treatment. Let’s talk about when this may be the best opt

Now that Thanksgiving break is on the horizon with Winter break not far off from that, it’s time to get out the crafting supplies and start getting creative with the kiddos. If you’re high on holiday spirit but low on ideas, no worries! We’ve gathered up some of the best fall, winter, and holiday crafts for all ages. So, roll up your sleeves, get on those art smocks and enjoy! Fall Harvest & Thanksgiving Crafts Autumn Foam Animal Masks Welcome to Nana’s has outdone themselves

It’s finally summer, every kid’s favorite season! Sleeping in, playing at the park, grilling out and having picnics, running through the sprinkler, lounging in a pool… what could be better than summer? But now that it’s nearly half over, chances are your kiddos have started to occasionally utter those dreaded words, “I’m bored.” The novelty of summer has worn off, and there are still several weeks to go. So, what’s the solution? We’ve gone deep into the corners of the interne

Did you know that people have been drilling decayed teeth for thousands of years? Archeologists have found proof that people were treating cavities long before the wheel was invented. Some of the tools and methods were creative and efficient, others must have been incredibly painful. Read on to learn about some interesting, memorable treatments. How Ancient Civilizations Treated Tooth Decay We have known for a long time that ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans drilled and c

You may have heard of impacted wisdom teeth since they are fairly common. Did you know that other teeth can become impacted? Usually, you will not know if your child has an impacted tooth until their dentist sees it in an x-ray. Sometimes impacted teeth do not need treatment, but oftentimes they will require orthodontic intervention since they can damage nearby teeth and cause a child’s developing bite to become misaligned, and even negatively impact facial structure. The typ

A range of issues can cause occasional bleeding gums in children. These include brushing or flossing the teeth too hard, poorly fitted dental devices, vitamin deficiencies, and more. Once you’ve tried a few simple solutions, most patients can expect things to return to normal relatively quickly. (1) Simple solutions for bleeding gums in children Depending upon exactly what caused the bleeding, some solutions could include: Check the bristles on your child’s toothbrush. They s

Most parents try to serve primarily healthy foods to their children every day. However, some of the foods widely considered ‘healthy’ may actually contain a lot of unnecessary added sugar, a leading cause of dental caries and gingivitis in children and adults. So, what can you do? If you want to learn more about this, you can read our articles about hidden sugar in kids’ foods and healthiest ways to eat sweets. To help you have fun while eating healthy, we have created this l

It may seem like the most interesting thing about teeth is waiting for the tooth fairy to arrive, but there are actually quite a few curious facts about them. If you type the word “tooth” in the Guinness World Records website, nearly 300 tooth-related entries appear! From the longest teeth to most teeth in a mouth (37), and the largest collection of human teeth to the person who could hang from their teeth for over 7 minutes, teeth are the source of all kinds of strange and f

Are you ready for some summer fun? We know it’s been a long year, and we want to make sure our patients and their families enjoy the best possible summer break! To let everyone know about the best options in town we’ve compiled a summer fun guide, since it is never too early to begin planning. (No, we don’t get a portion of anything you spend at any of the locations on this list; we just want to provide this guide as a service to you, free of charge. Enjoy!) *As we begin to e

Some kids may complain of a toothache, others a bad taste in their mouth, or a bump on their gums. Any of these symptoms could indicate that your child has an abscessed tooth. An abscessed tooth is considered a dental emergency, but the good news is that it can be treated completely and can also be prevented. What is an abscessed tooth? An abscessed tooth occurs when the dental pulp, or nerve, within the tooth and its surrounding tissue gets infected. This is common when a de

Orthodontic treatments improve the teeth of 4 million people a year. Chances are that you may be trying to decide if braces are right for you or your family. While it’s always best to be aware of the pros and cons of any matter, some areas seem to end up with more than their fair share of false claims and myths attached to them. One of these subjects is orthodontics, onto which the myths have attached far and wide. Some myths are hilarious, but others can be frightening – whi

Have you ever taken a good look at a desert animal? If so, you may have noticed that some of the Earth’s desert animals have special adaptations to survive the heat of the desert, long periods without water, heavy winds, blowing sand, and more. But what do they eat when there’s hardly anything available? Let’s take a close-up view of 7 super cool desert animals and find out just exactly what and how they eat! Camel One of the first creatures to come to mind when someone menti

If you can remember braces in the 1980s, you might recall visions of large, bulky, metal braces. For those of us lucky enough to wear braces in the 80s, you had to have a large single band placed on each tooth. And are you ready for this? The braces were placed with a “thumper”. The process to adhere the braces to teeth was not only long but quite uncomfortable. In addition, having braces was perceived as something only wealthy people could afford. It’s a bonus then, that ove

We recently discussed the fact that added sugar is hidden in many different kinds of foods, including kids’ snack foods and “healthy” foods. Eating too much sugar is bad for your teeth, your immune system, your blood sugar levels, and your weight, just to name a few. However, it is nearly impossible to eliminate all sources of added sugar and who even wants to live a life that doesn’t allow for any sweets? Interestingly, there are a few techniques when eating sweets that are

We all know that too much sugar causes cavities and gingivitis. Unfortunately, even if you don’t allow your child to eat treats, they can still consume a ton of sugar from foods you would never think of as sweet foods. Pretzels, potato chips, goldfish crackers, yogurt, apple sauce, and cereal bars can be full of sugar. Even if your child never consumes sweets, the hidden sugars in “healthy” foods may easily put them over the recommended daily limit. Just as eating too many sw

If you’ve been told that your child has an ankylosed tooth you may be wondering why it matters. Is it something that really needs treatment? The tooth is fused to the bone, but so what? Aren’t all your teeth attached to the bone? How is this any different? In some cases, an ankylosed tooth will be just fine without treatment. Other cases, if left untreated, can result in some pretty major problems that will eventually require extensive treatment. What is an ankylosed tooth? I

Many people are scared of going to the dentist. In fact, dental phobia is an actual diagnosis and is treated as an anxiety disorder. Some people will even avoid going to the dentist because of fear. This is unfortunate because dental health can have a major impact on your overall health and regular dental visits are a vital part of keeping your mouth and teeth healthy. Since fear of the dentist is common, it makes sense that your kids will also experience it. Fortunately, the

Although many of us are just getting settled back into the routine after the holidays, Spring Break will be here sooner than you think. Our area offers many incredible options for local activities or week-long camps. We have created this list of local programs and activities so you and your children can enjoy a wonderful spring break. It is also a great time to schedule a visit to Jungle Roots Children Dentistry and Orthodontics where your child will experience a unique jungl

Xylitol was discovered over a century ago and was approved for human consumption by the FDA in 1963, but it has only recently become popular. It is used as a sugar substitute in some foods, gum, and mints, and in toothpaste and other dental products to work with or replace fluoride. There are many claims about the benefits for your body and dental health. Are any of them true, or is xylitol another passing fad? The truth about Xylitol. Xylitol is a naturally occurring sweeten

The first time you bring your child to the dentist, you fill out a form that provides information about their medical history. Some of the questions may seem strange. Why does the dentist need to know if they have allergies, anxiety, language problems, or bite their nails? Believe it or not, every single question on the medical history form directly impacts the way we care for your child. Some of the questions help us determine the best way to interact with your child, others