Five great snacks for kids

At Pearland Pediatric Dentistry, we know getting kids and teens to eat healthy isn’t always an easy task, especially when they’re busy with school and other school- and social-related activities. At the school cafeteria, it's just too easy for kids to nosh on french fries, chicken nuggets and other fried foods and unhealthy snacks, so Drs. Pamela Clark and Suha Reddy and our team thought we’d pass along five delicious and nutritious snacks we know your child will love.

1. Cheese – Cheese is one of the healthiest snacks for your child's teeth. In addition to providing large amounts of much-needed calcium, cheese also does its part to fight cavities. Cheese stimulates the body's salivary glands to clear the mouth of debris and protect them from acids that weaken them, according to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. This means cheese disrupts the development of cavities, especially when eaten as a snack or at the end of a meal. Calcium and phosphorous found in cheese reduce or prevent decreases in the plaque's ph level and work to re-mineralize the enamel of your child's teeth.

2. Blueberries These tiny nutritional powerhouses are loaded with Vitamin C, as well as folic acid, minerals, fiber and disease-fighting phytochemicals, which have shown to help prevent cancer and diabetes. Kids love them sprinkled with a bit of sugar, topped with whipped cream, added to muffins and pancakes.

3. Whole wheat bread or cereal With bread, kids get their iron, vitamins, magnesium, and zinc. With vitamins, calcium, and fiber, a bowl of enriched whole grain cereal with milk—and even fruit—is a power-packed snack or healthy start to the day.

4. Almonds They’re rich in disease-fighting phytochemicals and Vitamin E, and also have good amounts of fiber, iron, and calcium. Let your kids eat them raw. (Note: Whole nuts are a choking hazard for children under 3 years old.)

5. Yogurt Eating dairy is not just healthy for building strong bones, but is essential for maintaining a strong, healthy mouth. Low-fat yogurt is an excellent source of calcium, especially when whipped up in a parfait with berries and granola. Homemade fruity yogurt pop sure beats sugary store-bought frozen treats!

We encourage you to check out the other 15 healthy snacks your child can enjoy at any time of the day! For more information about which foods are best for keeping your teeth healthy, please post your question here on our blog, give us a call or ask us on Facebook!

Is your child wearing a mouth guard this summer?

We're already in August (yes, it's really had to believe), and our staff at Pearland Pediatric Dentistry would like to take this time to remind our young athletes in to take care of your teeth while participating in contact sports (and non-contact sports) this month while you're still on summer break. Dr. Pamela Clark and Dr. Suha Reddy will tell your child that only by using a mouth guard can people with and without braces avoid serious but common sports injuries.

So the next time you're in for a visit at our convenient Pearland office, we encourage you to ask Drs. Clark or Reddy for a mouth guard, and we will provide one for you! We hope you're enjoying your summer so far! Be sure to post your photos on our Facebook page!

Drs. Clark and Reddy present: 5 easy steps to sun safety

Let's face it, summer can get pretty darn hot, and with the heat wave sweeping through the U.S. during last two weeks, Dr. Pamela Clark and Dr. Suha Reddy want you to think more and more about sun safety when you’re out and about. There are many ways kids can protect themselves during the hot summer months, and Parents Magazine has kindly provided five tips to help you get started.

1. Limit outdoor playtime between 10 and 4. (These are usually the hottest hours of the day).

2. Apply sunscreen properly. (Choose a sunscreen with SPF (Sun Protection Factor) 15 or higher. Apply to nose, ears, hands, feet, shoulders and behind the neck; lips can also burn, so apply a lip balm with SPF protection.

3. Wearing protective clothing. This includes a hat with a brim, sunglasses and a large umbrella.

4. Watch those medications. Some medications increase the skin's sensitivity to the sun, so make sure to ask your doctor whether your child may be at risk.

5. You're the parent: Set the example. If your child sees you following sun-safety rules, he or she will follow suit.

Drs. Clark and Reddy encourage you to please give us a call if you have any questions, and always have a bottle of water handy when heading out! We hope you're all having a fantastic summer so far!

More happy smiles at Pearland Pediatric Dentistry!

Drs. Clark and Reddy love getting patient reviews from happy moms, dads and kids. And lately, Pearland Pediatric Dentistry, serving Shadow Creek Ranch, Pearland, Alvin and surrounding communities around Houston, has been getting some pretty great patient testimonials! We thought we'd share some with you today! Happy Monday!

"How safe Madeline feels when she's there. She loves all of the attention the staff offers her." ~ Maria N.

"She is warm and very friendly. Both of my children trusted her immediately." ~ Connie P.

"Knowledgeable ,skilled , approachable, willing to help my daughter." ~ Naomi O.

"The front office is very friendly and they understand my insurance needs and work effectively with the insurance company. Dr. Clark is good and takes time to answer questions and make the parents/patient feel relaxed." ~ Alyssa D.

"My child loves going there. They are so nice and encouraging to all the kids they see. The dentist can be a scary place for some, but they do the best they can to make the process as comfortable as possible." ~ Hailey O.

Please feel free to contribute your own thoughts about our office!

Anesthesia Reversal at Pearland Pediatric Dentistry!

Your child’s comfort is an important priority in our practice. Children often dislike the lingering sensation of being numb after a dental procedure or may try to chew their lip or cheek causing trauma. To prevent any discomfort associated with the after-effects of anesthesia, Dr. Clark and Dr. Reddy are now offering OraVerse to their patients.

OraVerse is the only product of its kind to rapidly reverse the numbing effect associated with the use of local anesthesia. This gives your child the ability to speak, smile, and drink normally in a very short time following a procedure.

OraVerse is administered by injection but is not felt by the patient since they are already numb. Dr. Clark and Dr. Reddy recommend OraVerse for patients who have had simple procedures done such as restorative fillings, but not for procedures such as extractions.

We hope you had a GREAT Fourth of July weekend!!

Ask Dr. Clark: How often should my child visit your office?

Pearland Pediatric Dentistry is based on preventive care, and we strive to teach good oral care that will enable your child to have a beautiful smile that lasts a lifetime. Establishing lasting relationships with our patient families, based upon mutual trust and open communication, is very important to us.

Your child should visit Dr. Pamela Clark and our team every six months for regular dental cleanings, tooth exams, as well as growth and development exams. We recommend professional fluoride treatments twice a year along with cleanings to keep teeth their strongest. At each recare visit your child will have their medical history updated, radiographs taken as needed, and a dental prophylaxis (cleaning) performed by our Dental Hygienist. Dr. Clark then performs a complete dental exam including caries screening, soft tissue exam, and evaluation of growth and development.

As part of our caries screening process, our office utilizes Caries I.D. technology. Caries I.D. is a pen-sized hand held device that utilizes LED technology to detect cavities in the earliest stages that can often be missed by traditional methods. Early detection means more conservative treatment for your child.

We encourage you to give us a call if you have any questions!

Ask Dr. Pamela Clark: who gets cavities and why?

Pearland dentist Dr. Pamela Clark and our team have discussed cavities before, but how exactly does one get a cavity? A cavity is a hole that develops in a tooth when the tooth begins to decay. It’s important to get a cavity filled as soon as it’s detected so that it does not grow bigger.

So, what causes a cavity? A cavity is caused by plaque, a sticky substance that forms on the tooth as a result of germ and bacteria build-up. Plaque is acidic and as it clings to your teeth the acids eat away the outside of the tooth (also called the enamel) and a hole is formed.

Yes, cavities can be repaired by Dr. Clark and team, but here are a few simple steps you can take to prevent cavities:

• Brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste at least twice daily
• Gently brush your gums to keep them healthy (when choosing a toothbrush it is recommended to use soft bristles)
• Floss your teeth at least once a day to remove plaque and food that may be caught between the teeth where your toothbrush can’t reach
• Limit the amount of soda and sugary treats you eat/drink
• Be sure to visit Drs. Clark or Reddy every six months for a check-up

We hope that helps! We encourage you to contact us at 713.436.4080 if you have additional questions about cavities or your child's treatment at Pearland Pediatric Dentistry!

Share your experience at Pearland Pediatric Dentistry with the world!

At Pearland Pediatric Dentistry, we are committed to providing your child with the highest quality of dental care. Our goal is to make every patient’s visit pleasant and educational.

Our practice is based on preventive care. We strive to teach good oral care that will enable your child to have a beautiful smile that lasts a lifetime. Establishing lasting relationships with our patient families, based upon mutual trust and open communication, is very important to us.

Whether you've visited our office for a week, months or even years, we'd love to hear your feedback about how our office is faring! There are lots of ways you can share your thoughts about our practice with the rest of the world, but we encourage you to head to our Google Local page and write a review there. Or, if you'd like, you may post a review on our Yelp listing.

After all, reviews help Dr. Pamela Clark and Dr. Suha Reddy create wonderful kids smiles in Pearland, Alvin, Shadow Creek Ranch and surrounding communities.

You may write a review here.

Thank you and enjoy your week! Our team looks forward to reading your reviews!

Is your local playground safe for your child?

Spring is here summer is rapidly approaching, and that means your kids will probably be spending lots of time outside. Playgrounds are everywhere from your backyard to the neighborhood park, and it's important to know what safety features to look for before your child hangs out parks here in Pearland, Alvin or Shadow Creek Ranch.

At Pearland Pediatric Dentistry, we found some important safety tips on the American Academy of Pediatrics' website that we'd thought we'd share them with you today. Here's to a happy and safe spring and summer, from Drs. Clark and Reddy and our entire team at Pearland Pediatric Dentistry!

* Carefully supervise young children using playground equipment. Keep children from shoving, pushing, or fighting.

* The surface under playground equipment should be energy absorbent. Use safety - tested mats or loose fill materials (shredded rubber, sand, wood chips, or bark) maintained to a depth of at least 9 inches.

* Install the protective surface at least 6 feet (more for swings and slides) in all directions from the equipment.

* Swing seats should be made of something soft, not wood or metal.

* Children should not twist swings, swing empty seats, or walk in front of moving swings.

* Put home playground equipment together correctly. It should sit on a level surface and be anchored firmly to the ground.

* Never attach ropes, jump ropes, clotheslines, or pet leashes to playground equipment because children can strangle on them.

* Cap all screws and bolts. Check periodically for loose nuts and bolts and broken, rusty, or sharp parts.

* Install playground equipment at least 6 feet from fences or walls.

* Check for hot metal surfaces on equipment such as those on slides, which could cause burns.

Dr. Clark wants to know: Is your child a mouth breather?

At Pearland Pediatric Dentistry, we know breathing through the mouth instead of the nose may lead to trouble for kids. Now we have proof, thanks to a study published in the January/February 2010 issue of the journal General Dentistry.

Kids who typically breathe through their mouth - most often children who suffer from allergies - experience problems getting enough oxygen into their blood, a condition that affects their weight, size and sleep, which often affects their performance in classroom and daily life.

Dr. Yosh Jefferson, who authored the study, also notes that if left untreated, mouth breathing can cause dental and facial abnormalities. But there's good news: mouth breathing is a treatable condition. Doing so, however, requires early diagnosis and treatment. Since Drs. Clark and Reddy see their patients every six months, they may be in a position to identify the symptoms of mouth breathing.

If you suspect your child is a chronic mouth breather, please give our team at Pearland Pediatric Dentistry a call at 713.436.4080.

For more on mouth breathing, we encourage you to read the rest of the Dr. Jefferson's article. For more on children's dental health, head over to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services web site.

The importance of regular checkups, from Dr. Pamela Clark

Is your child brushing his or her teeth twice a day? If yes, that’s terrific! But, don’t forget that it’s also important for your child to visit Pearland Pediatric Dentistry every six months in addition to brushing their teeth a couple times a day. If your child will be visiting Drs. Clark or Reddy for the first time, it’s important to bring them in after their first tooth comes through, and no later than their first birthday. After all, regular dental checkups are important for maintaining good oral health. During the appointment, Drs. Clark or Reddy can:

• Check for problems that might not be seen or felt
• Detect cavities and early signs of decay
• Treat oral health problems early
• Show your child how to properly brush and floss their teeth

During an oral exam the doctor will check the health of your child’s mouth, teeth, gums, cheeks and tongue. Checkups will also include a thorough teeth cleaning and polishing. If your child has not been to the dentist in the last six months, it’s time for you to schedule an appointment!

What puts you at ease at Pearland Pediatric Dentistry?

At Pearland Pediatric Dentistry, we know not everyone is always thrilled to visit their dentist. But our staff and Dr. Pamela Clark strive to bring you the best and most comforting experience at each of your child's visits.

Because our practice is based on preventive care, we strive to teach good oral care that will enable your child to have a beautiful smile that lasts a lifetime. Establishing lasting relationships with our patient families, based upon mutual trust and open communication, is very important to us.

This morning, we’d like to know: What is it about Pearland Pediatric Dentistry that makes your child comfortable or puts him or her at ease? Is it something about our pleasant office environment? Our friendly professional staff? Is it something about Drs. Clark or Reddy?

Let us know by posting here or on our Facebook fan page!

Staying connected with Pearland Pediatric Dentistry

At Pearland Pediatric Dentistry, our staff embraces technology, whether it’s through the innovative treatments we offer, our high-tech web site or our interactive Facebook fan page. As you can probably tell, we love connecting with our patients online, whether it’s by sharing news on our blog or communicating ideas on our fan page. For social media to work, we understand that conversation is vital, and that’s why we invite you to join in and tell us what’s on your mind. Although social networks are hugely popular these days, we know they’re unpredictable and ever-changing.

While Dr. Pamela Clark and our staff take a little time to research how to best use social media, we thought we’d ask you, our loyal patients: How would you like us to use our social networks? What would you like us to share on our blog in the coming months? Please post your thoughts or give us a call!

Ask Drs. Clark and Reddy: When is thumb-sucking a Cause for worry?

Lots of you have asked Dr. Pamela Clark about whether it’s healthy for children to suck thumbs and fingers. If you’ve got a thumb-sucker in the house, you are not alone. Research tells us that between 75% and 95% of infants suck their thumbs.

Is this something to worry about? In most cases, no. Sucking is a natural reflex for an infant, and can provide security and contentment as well as relaxation for your little one. It’s a habit that most children grow out of between the ages of 2 and 4.

However, if your child keeps sucking after he’s gotten his permanent teeth, it’s time to take a closer look. If your child sucks his thumb aggressively, putting pressure on the inside of his mouth or his teeth, it could cause problems with tooth alignment and proper mouth growth. If you’re worried, give us a call and we will help assess the situation, and provide tips for how to help your child break the habit.