First, most people’s teeth naturally have some color in them besides white. Healthy teeth often look a tiny bit off-white or brown. So first it’s good to have realistic expectations of what healthy teeth look like and know that “Hollywood smiles” usually have had some cosmetic help.

Dental plaque can be yellow or orange, so the first step to a white smile is good brushing and flossing. Professional cleanings every six months are also key.

Teeth can also pick up stains from everyday food, drinks and habits. Beverages that are most likely to stain are coffee, tea and dark sodas. Drinking through a straw and sipping some water afterward can help minimize staining. Even healthy foods that are highly pigmented, like tomato sauce and blueberries, can also cause staining. So can habits such as smoking, using chewing tobacco and vaping.

Now on to the good news. Several over-the-counter products can help. Whitening toothpaste has gentle abrasives to help remove surface stains and make teeth look a little whiter. For more significant results, I recommend over-the-counter whitening strips. The strips have peroxide to help break down dark-colored molecules in the tooth enamel. One great example is Crest 3D Whitestrips. (Not a sponsored post, I just really like the product!) If you follow the directions on the box, whitening strips work. They are also safe to use for kids 13 and up! So for teens and adults who want whiter teeth, try whitening toothpaste and Whitestrips. You will likely be as pleased as we are with the results!

Schedule Your Child’s Appointment

If you’re ready to take the next step towards achieving a dazzling smile for your child, or if you have any dental concerns you’d like to address, don’t hesitate to reach out. We at Pediatric Dentistry of San Antonio are here to support your child’s dental health journey. Contact us today at 210-680-7841 to book an appointment with either Dr. Derrick Cantu or Dr. Christi Wengler. Together, we can discuss the best whitening options for your child and ensure they receive the highest standard of dental care.

The post What Can My Teen Do To Get Whiter Teeth? first appeared on Pediatric Dentistry of San Antonio.

If you or your child is prone to aphthous ulcers, try to investigate the triggers. Common triggers are acidic food, chocolate and spicy food. Some people are much more prone to canker sores than others, and the tendency often runs in families. My dad gets canker sores triggered by chocolate, I got canker sores as a kid (though I don’t get them much anymore), and my daughter gets them too.

One common toothpaste ingredient is a trigger for many people: sodium lauryl sulfate or SLS. This ingredient is in most toothpastes and causes the paste to foam up when you brush. For most people SLS is harmless, but those who are prone to canker sores should avoid it.

Where to find SLS-free toothpaste: You can search on Amazon for SLS-free toothpaste. My daughter likes the brand Verve, and using Verve she gets about half the canker sores that she used to. Some toothpastes you can find at your local store are Hello Kids fluoride toothpaste, Sensodyne Pronamel and Burt’s Bees Complete Multi-Care Toothpaste. Make sure you check the ingredients on the back of the box to ensure it doesn’t have sodium lauryl sulfate but does have fluoride to help prevent cavities.

Do you have more questions about toothpaste and cold sores? Come see us at Pediatric Dentistry of San Antonio and bring your child’s tube of toothpaste with you so we can talk about it. We can also examine the sore in your child’s mouth to confirm it’s an aphthous ulcer.

Are you sensitive to the SLS ingredient in most toothpastes? These are Dr. Wengler’s favorite toothpaste without SLS.

1. Verve Ultra
2. Burt’s Bees Complete Multi-Care
3. Hello Strawberry Fluoride Toothpaste
4. Sensodyne ProEnamel

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If canker sores are a recurring issue for you or your child, paying attention to the ingredients in your toothpaste can make a significant difference. Switching to an SLS-free toothpaste is a simple change that may reduce the frequency and severity of these painful ulcers. By being mindful of both diet and dental care products, you can help mitigate the discomfort associated with aphthous ulcers and improve oral health.

If you’re uncertain about which products are best for you or if you have any dental concerns, don’t hesitate to visit us at Pediatric Dentistry of San Antonio. Bring your current toothpaste for a personalized consultation, and let’s ensure your dental care routine is supporting your overall well-being. Together, we can tackle canker sores head-on and keep those smiles bright and comfortable. Dr. Derrick Cantu and Dr. Christi Wengler are always here for your child’s smile. Just call 210-680-7841 today!

The post Understanding Canker Sores: Could SLS Be the Culprit? first appeared on Pediatric Dentistry of San Antonio.

SDF is a great option for young children or other patients who can’t tolerate conventional dental treatment. It’s also a great way to treat very small cavities so they don’t get bigger. Sometimes when we catch very small cavities early and put on SDF, they don’t need fillings or other treatments later. Oftentimes we’ll use silver diamine fluoride to prevent a young child from going through general anesthesia (going completely asleep).

SDF does have a few side effects. The first one is a metallic, bitter taste that lasts for a few minutes. The other side effect of SDF is black staining of the cavity. When the cavity is on a back tooth, it’s often not very noticeable. When the cavity is on a front tooth, the black stain is often very noticeable. Some parents still prefer the black staining on a front tooth if it means their child doesn’t need numbing and drilling.

Do you want to find out if SDF is an option for your child? Bring your child in for an appointment and let’s discuss their options based on their needs. Here’s a link to more information, including before and after photos. Silver Diamine Fluoride.

Schedule Your Child’s Visit

If you’re exploring options to address cavities with minimal discomfort, SDF might be the solution you’re looking for. Scheduling an appointment with our Pediatric Dentistry team in San Antonio, Texas to discuss the suitability of SDF for your child’s dental needs is a step towards a healthier, happier smile without the anxiety traditionally associated with dental care. Our skilled dentists, Dr. Derrick Cantu and Dr. Christi Wengler are always here for your child’s growing smile! You can reach us at 210-680-7841.

The post What Is Silver Diamine Fluoride? first appeared on Pediatric Dentistry of San Antonio.

Giving your child diluted juice all day is a recipe for cavities. Even though your child might not be getting that many grams of sugar, as a dentist we’re more concerned about the frequency that your child’s teeth are exposed to sugar. So drinking a cup of full-strength juice at mealtime isn’t that bad for their teeth, but sipping on juice-flavored water all morning or afternoon is.

Every time the mouth is exposed to carbohydrates, like with juice, the oral bacteria make acid. That acid hangs around for about 20 minutes before the acid is neutralized by your child’s saliva. Unfortunately, those acids on the teeth are what cause tooth decay and cavities. So sipping on diluted juice all day is just exposing the teeth to acid all day and inviting tooth decay.

The best thing for your child to drink in between meals is plain water. Offering water in fun cups and water bottles, or adding ice, can make it more appealing. Also, model healthy habits so your kids see you drinking water between meals. If they still refuse plain water, you can add sugar-free water enhancers, like squeezable Mio or Crystal Light. The goal of squeezable flavor is to slowly wean them off the water enhancers so they are just drinking plain water between meals.

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The key to protecting your child’s teeth and ensuring their overall dental health is to make plain water the go-to drink between meals. Remember, fostering healthy drinking habits is not just about quenching thirst—it’s about setting the foundation for a lifetime of good dental health. To help your child stay cavity-free, please ditch the diluted juice between meals and stick to water for optimal hydration. Our Pediatric Dentistry team of San Antonio, Texas is here to help your child’s growing smile. If you have questions or need to schedule a visit with one of our dedicated dentists, Dr. Derrick Cantu and Dr. Christi Wengler, please call 210-680-7841 today!

The post Drinking Diluted Juice All Day? first appeared on Pediatric Dentistry of San Antonio.

Fortunately, the combinations of healthy snacks are endless if you follow the formula of a protein plus carbohydrate. Some protein ideas are meat, cheese, yogurt, milk, nuts and nut butters, or hummus. Carbohydrates are bread or tortillas, crackers, fruit and vegetables, or pretzels, etc.

Tasty Examples of Carbohydrate With a Protein

• Cheese and crackers
• Apples and peanut butter (Dr. Wengler’s favorite!)
• Pretzels dipped in hummus
• Yogurt with blueberries
• Cottage cheese with canned fruit
• Trail mix of Cheerios, raisins, and almonds
• Tortilla with sliced turkey

Schedule Pediatric Dental Appointment

At Pediatric Dentistry of San Antonio, Texas, we believe the key to ensuring your child enjoys not only delicious but also nutritious snacks lies in the simple yet effective pairing of carbohydrates with proteins. This balance not only provides them with the energy they need throughout the day but also offers protection against dental cavities by mitigating the harmful effects of simple carbohydrates.

By incorporating these balanced snacks into your child’s diet, you’re not just satisfying their hunger; you’re also laying the foundation for healthy eating habits that benefit both their dental and overall health. Dr. Derrick Cantu and Dr. Christi Wengler look forward to helping your child develop healthy smiles in San Antonio, Texas. Call 210-680-7841 to schedule your child’s dental visit!

The post Recipe for a Healthy Snacks: Carbohydrate Plus Protein first appeared on Pediatric Dentistry of San Antonio.

Chocolate is a mix of sugar and fat, so it’s quickly washed off of the teeth. Compare the experience of eating M&Ms versus the experience of eating jelly beans and gummy bears. The chocolate leaves your mouth after a few minutes, while the jelly beans and gummy bears tend to stick in your teeth for an hour or more. The whole time the candy is stuck in your teeth, the “sugar bugs” and bacteria in your mouth are having a blast and potentially causing cavities.

Also, sticky candies and hard candies (like Jolly Ranchers) are more likely to pull off dental work like fillings, crowns and sealants.

Schedule Your Child’s Dental Appointment

While indulging in sweets might be a delightful treat, it’s important to choose wisely for the sake of your dental health and that of your child. Chocolate, especially dark chocolate as preferred by Dr. Wengler, emerges as a surprisingly tooth-friendly option. Its quick dissolvability means less time for bacteria to feast and cause harm, setting it apart from its stickier, harder counterparts.

So, next time you’re child is faced with a choice between a chocolate bar and a pack of gummy bears, remember that chocolate is not only a treat for their taste buds but also a kinder option for their teeth. When in doubt, encourage them to choose chocolate, with a little less worry for their oral health. Dr. Derrick Cantu and Dr. Christi Wengler are pleased to provide pediatric dentistry in San Antonio, Texas, for your child’s smile. Please call Pediatric Dentistry of San Antonio today at 210-680-7841 to schedule their dental visit!

The post Why Choose Chocolate Over Sticky Candy? first appeared on Pediatric Dentistry of San Antonio.

Each profession tends to be its own little niche, which is a good thing because it creates a unique space for our services and a place for you to learn and implement helpful ideas that can benefit you and the people you care about.

We’re excited to share this ongoing knowledge base of blog articles with this online community. These blogs provide timely and relevant information that’s conveniently accessible online. Indeed, we hope that this community will use the valuable information found in our regular blog posts, because they are an effective way for us to reach out to you on a monthly basis, while you still enjoy the comforts of your own home.

If you have any questions or want more information, we invite you to call our team at Pediatric Dentistry of San Antonio in San Antonio, Texas, today at 210-680-7841. We look forward to helping you in any way we can, and we thank you for the opportunity!

The post Welcome to Our New Blog! first appeared on Pediatric Dentistry of San Antonio.