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Many parents have concerns about their children’s teeth not falling out on time. Drs. Sheena Allen, Mark Margolin, and Moein Sadrkhani and our team are here to answer any questions parents may have about when children lose their teeth.

Children have 20 primary teeth that come in around age three. By about age six, these teeth will loosen and begin to fall out on their own to make room for the permanent ones. It is common for girls to lose their baby teeth earlier than boys. Most children lose their final baby tooth by age 13.

Baby teeth normally fall out in the order in which they came in. The lower center incisors are usually the first to fall, around age six or seven, followed by the upper central incisors.

If a child loses a tooth to decay or an accident, the permanent tooth may come in too early and take a crooked position due to teeth crowding. If your child loses a tooth to decay or accident, call Drs. Sheena Allen, Mark Margolin, and Moein Sadrkhani to make an appointment.

Some kids can’t wait for their baby teeth to fall out, while others dread the thought of losing a tooth. When your child begins to lose teeth, you should emphasize the importance of proper dental care on a daily basis to promote a healthy mouth.

Remember to:

• Remind your child to brush his or her teeth at least twice a day and offer assistance if needed
• Help your child floss at bedtime
• Limit eating and drinking between meals and at bedtime, especially sugary treats and drinks
• Schedule regular dental visits for your child every six months.
• Ask about the use of fluoride treatments and dental sealants to help prevent tooth decay.

Call Dallas Dental Arts to learn more about caring for baby teeth or to schedule an appointment at our Dallas office!

Inflamed gums are a fairly common dental issue, but unfortunately, many people don't take the problem seriously enough. If you ignore inflamed gums and continue your usual routine, you could be encouraging a much more severe inflammation problem, and the pain that goes along with that. Fortunately, it is quite easy to relieve inflamed gums if you use the tips below.

Use Soft Bristles

A soft-bristle toothbrush - the softest you can buy - is a must for anyone with inflamed gums. Anything that makes contact with your gums can cause you pain, so fine and soft bristles are always the best choice.

Use Sensitive Formula Toothpaste

The toothpaste marketed as “Sensitive Teeth Formula” contain special ingredients to help relieve sensitivity. When your gums are inflamed, even light brushing can cause some pain. Using a special toothpaste will help reduce that pain and make it easier to brush your teeth effectively. The effect becomes stronger as you use the toothpaste more, so use it for each brushing.

Visit Our Office

If your gums remain swollen for more than a few days or a week, set up an appointment with Drs. Sheena Allen, Mark Margolin, and Moein Sadrkhani. There is a long list of conditions that could be causing your swollen gums, everything from gum disease to pregnancy, so you need to find out where your issue is coming from. Most of the time, Drs. Sheena Allen, Mark Margolin, and Moein Sadrkhani can easily treat the swollen gum issue at our Dallas office, or can give you an effective treatment to take home.

“I have been going here for almost a decade. One of the only times I go downtown anymore, but that is another element that makes it so fun. Parking and traffic are always no problem. The view is amazing and the staff is top notch. Dr. Allen and her team are skilled, kind and bubbly. And Dr. Allen served in the armed forces as a dentist so it is a wonderful feeling to support our troops as an added bonus.” - Heather

It’s Back to School Month! We are hurrying to get all our students in before school starts, especially our out-of-town college students! As a result, we are booking in advance.

To help us best accommodate you, please try to give us as much time as possible before school starts to find you an appointment. We work hard to plan at our office and will do our best to schedule your next dental cleaning before you leave your appointment. If you can give us a month’s notice for scheduling, that will allow us more time to help you.

Our office hours during the school year are from 8am to 4pm. We do have reserved dental cleaning appointments at 7am for students, teachers, and other professionals that need to start their day early! Regular visits to the dentist are important because your dental and overall health have a direct correlation. Patients with pre-existing systemic conditions linked to poor oral health should be seen regularly. These include diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and pregnancy.

For those feeling insecure about their smile leading up to back to school, freshening up your smile with a teeth-whitening procedure is the easiest and safest way to improve your smile. Several whitening options exist, including in-office. We would be happy to discuss options with you.

Our office is happy to offer sports guards for your school athletes of all ages. Make sure to book your appointments soon to ensure you’re ready for the new school year!

Here we are in the middle of the hottest time of the year. Yes, it’s the dog days of summer. But, wait—just what are “the dog days of summer,” anyway?

The ancient Greeks and Romans coined this term for the longest, warmest days near the end of summer when Sirius, the Dog Star, shone in the night sky. And it’s a Sirius (we couldn’t resist!) reminder that while we need to look after our own dental health during sizzling summer days, it’s essential to look out for our pets, too.

• Brushing Regularly

Sure, it’s summer, but relaxed, casual days shouldn’t mean relaxed, casual dental care.

The leading cause of tooth loss in dogs is gum disease. When plaque builds up around the gum line, it irritates gum tissue, causing inflammation. After a time, the gums pull away from the teeth, leaving pockets that become infected. Infection destroys bone tissue, leaving your poor pet with loose or missing teeth.

It’s a good idea to train your dog from puppyhood to let you brush or clean their teeth. Your vet can show you the best techniques.

Use special handled brushes or finger brushes to comfortably reach your dog’s teeth, and use pastes made just for dogs to protect your pet from swallowing the cleaners and abrasives we humans spit out after brushing. There are also single use dental wipes if your pup is no fan of the brush. If your pooch protests, talk to your vet for the best ways to keep your furry pal’s teeth and gums clean and healthy.

When it comes to preventive dental care, we humans have something in common with our best friends—gum disease is the most common cause of tooth loss in people, too!

Don’t let the lazy days of summer lead to lazy dental care. Brush at least twice a day for at least two minutes each time and floss once a day to keep bacteria and plaque from accumulating. A professional cleaning at our Dallas dental office will get the plaque you might have missed, remove tartar buildup, and let you know if there are areas you might be missing.

While you’re looking out for your best friend in these dog days, look out for yourself, too! Dental hygiene, proper hydration, a healthy diet—and regular professional checkups and cleanings for you both—will make sure you and your bestie will enjoy the dog days of summer with paws-itively beautiful smiles.