Perhaps you’re sharing a meal with your kiddo, or you’re playing and joking around, when your child grins or open their mouth wide - and you notice a few white spots on their teeth! You think: is that white spot new, or has that always been there? And more importantly, is it a sign that something is wrong? The answer to both of those questions will depend on the cause. Demineralization One of the most common causes of white spots is demineralization, which is the beginning st

As we begin a new year, it’s always fun to reflect on the highlights of years past. For us here at Jungle Roots, it’s interesting to think about how far the dental and orthodontic professions have come since the earliest days of tooth care. Join us as we take a walk-through time and look at some wild and wacky ways the world has thought about teeth throughout history. ANIMALS IN DENTAL FOLKLORE Some of the original dentures of the past were made from hippopotamus teeth, altho

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

It is common knowledge that soft drinks can damage your teeth, but did you know that there is another popular drink that can cause just as much harm? Most sports drinks can damage your teeth as quickly as soft drinks and many people are unaware of this. Any drink that is highly acidic (even fruit juices) can weaken and erode tooth enamel leading to cavities far more quickly than you would imagine. Read on to find out why, and to learn about ways to drink acidic beverages with

What happens when your child is missing a tooth? Sometimes you know when a child has lost a tooth because it got knocked out or had to be removed by the dentist, but what if a tooth just never grows in? What causes that and is there any way to prevent missing teeth? Luckily, there are many different treatment options available if this situation occurs. What are congenitally missing teeth? A tooth that never grows in is called a congenitally missing tooth (CMT). Congenitally m

The teen years can be a wonderful time but even the happiest teenager can be filled with anxiety and fears. For many, their teeth can become a source of worry. Crooked teeth, braces, bad breath, wisdom teeth, and yellow teeth can all cause a teen to feel self-conscious. The good news is that there are plenty of things you can do to keep your mouth and teeth in optimal condition. Bad Breath Any bacteria and food particles that sit in your mouth can cause bad breath, tooth deca

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

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

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

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

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

The holidays are a time of giving, and many people buy toothbrushes to give as stocking stuffers or a present. Toothbrushes can be a fun gift because they are available with so many interesting and fun designs, especially for kids. While the way a toothbrush looks does not have an impact on oral health, the type of toothbrush you choose could make a difference. You may wonder if it is worth it to pay extra money to buy an electric toothbrush. It doesn’t matter if you use a ma

If you are a parent, it may be difficult to know what to do if something happens to your child’s mouth. Do you go to the dentist or the ER? How quickly do you need to get it treated? What if it’s a Friday night? Should you wait until Monday? What qualifies as a dental emergency? How in the world are you supposed to find all this out with a child screaming in pain? It is helpful if you already know what to do when this situation arises, so we have created this guide to provide

It has become apparent that the food we eat has a significant impact on our health. Consuming the correct amounts of calories and nutrients is necessary, but it also important to get them from the right sources. A healthy diet leads to health, while an unhealthy diet leads to disease and feeling poorly. It may seem obvious, but this is also true for our mouths. What we eat plays an important role in keeping our teeth and gums healthy. Even if we have excellent oral hygiene an

Dental sealants are an easy and painless way to protect your child’s teeth and prevent cavities. The CDC states that sealants can reduce the risk of decay in molars by nearly 80% for two years after they are applied. In contrast, a child who does not promptly get sealants is three times more likely to get a cavity in their molars before they turn 12 than a child whose molars are covered by sealants. Since cavities are one of the most common health conditions in children and t

If you have any children, then you know that there is an overabundance of parenting advice floating around. With all this information, it can be hard to discover things that are most important to know. Even when it comes to healthy teeth, it can be difficult to learn what you need to know to help your child’s mouth stay cavity-free. To help you out, we have created this list of important information every parent needs to know so they do not make mistakes that could harm their