We all hope for healthy kids, and of course that includes healthy teeth. Thumb sucking and pacifier use arise with younger kids and developing bites, and those problems may be resolved by the time your child meets Dr. Darr—and if issues linger, he can help. As kids get older, they adjust to daily flossing and brushing twice a day for two minutes each time. You can brush your teeth beside them, narrating where you brush, how, and why—and when it comes to making that two minutes stick, you can get creative. Don’t be afraid to be silly and have some fun!

You may wonder how important it is for your young athlete to wear a custom-fitted mouthguard. The statistics for sports-related dental injury seem like a solid argument for preserving those precious grins. A mouthguard is even more necessary for kids wearing traditional braces—not only can the wires and brackets cause injury, the braces themselves can become permanently damaged—not to mention your child’s mouth, face, neck and jaw.

What’s on the mind of teens and tweens when it comes to their teeth? Their concerns are similar to those adults have, but they may be too self-conscious to discuss them with parents. As kids grow up and think more about their looks, they may become anxious about their teeth appearing white or straight enough, as well as their breath being fresh. Dr. Darr and the team discuss those issues with tweens and teens sensitively, sharing advice about oral hygiene and good nutrition connecting to looking and feeling their best. If your teen is approaching adulthood, we can provide wisdom teeth extractions from the comfort of their dental home.