FAQs

Most bad breath in children comes from germs on the back of the tongue, so gently brushing your child's tongue along with their teeth twice a day often fixes it—studies show tongue brushing alone can cut bad breath by up to 70 percent. Morning breath is normal, and water helps. If it lingers, Dr. Bryan can check for cavities and may refer you to your pediatrician to look at causes like sinus infections or mouth breathing.

Children should brush twice a day for two minutes—especially before bed—with a soft toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste, and floss once a day as soon as two teeth touch. Use a rice-grain smear of toothpaste under age 3 and a pea-sized amount for ages 3 to 6. Parents should brush for toddlers and check older kids' brushing until they can do it well on their own. Kid-sized electric brushes and floss holders make it easier.

Most children need a dental checkup and cleaning at least twice a year, starting by their first birthday, though Dr. Bryan may recommend more frequent visits for kids prone to cavities. At each visit we review your child's health history, check every tooth for cavities, gently clean and polish, look at X-rays when needed, check how teeth and jaws are growing, and give parents tips on brushing, fluoride, and snacks.

Yes, once any two of your child's teeth touch, flossing once a day helps prevent cavities between baby teeth, where a toothbrush can't reach. Parents usually do the flossing for young children; kid-sized floss picks or holders make it quick. Most kids can floss on their own around age 10. Healthy baby teeth matter because they hold space for adult teeth and help your child chew and speak, and Dr. Bryan's team can show you how at your child's checkup.

Stains on children's teeth usually come from plaque, dark foods and drinks, iron supplements, too much fluoride while teeth form (fluorosis), certain medications such as tetracycline, or an old bump to a tooth, so a checkup to find the cause comes first. Many surface stains polish off at a cleaning. Whitening isn't recommended for baby teeth; teens should see Dr. Bryan before trying store-bought kits, which are less effective and may not be ADA-approved.

Most children should get sealants as soon as their six-year molars (the first permanent back teeth) come in, and on other back teeth throughout the cavity-prone years of 6 to 16, because more than 75 percent of tooth decay starts in deep chewing grooves. A sealant is a thin protective coating painted on in a couple of minutes per tooth, with no drilling. Baby teeth with deep grooves are sometimes sealed, too. Sealants are checked at every checkup.

If your child knocks out an adult tooth, hold it by the top, not the root, rinse it gently with milk or saliva without scrubbing, and try to put it back in the socket, then call a dentist: care within 30 minutes gives the best chance of saving it. If it won't go back in, keep it in whole milk. Don't put a baby tooth back, call Dr. Bryan's Tooth Station in Folsom at 916-984-6747. A sports mouthguard helps prevent this.

Most children should have their bite checked by about age 7, when the American Association of Orthodontists recommends a first orthodontic evaluation, so problems like crowding, overbite, underbite, or crossbite can be caught early. Dr. Bryan checks tooth and jaw development at your child's regular visits. Straighter teeth are easier for kids to clean, work better for chewing and speaking, and are less likely to be injured. Options later can include braces or clear aligners.

If you have questions about orthodontics and straightening teeth, please contact our office.

Your child should see a dentist by their first birthday or within six months of their first tooth, whichever comes first. At Dr. Bryan's Tooth Station in Folsom, the first visit is a gentle 'well-baby' checkup: Dr. Bryan meets your child, reviews health history, checks teeth, gums, and jaw development, and shares tips on brushing, fluoride, pacifiers, and sippy cups. Babies sit on your lap facing Dr. Bryan so they can see you the whole time.

Keep talk about the dentist positive and simple: skip words like 'shot' or 'hurt,' read a picture book about dental visits, and start checkups early so the office feels familiar. Children do best when parents stay calm, even if you're nervous about dentists yourself. At Dr. Bryan's Tooth Station, your child sees the same dentist *Dr. Bryan* every visit, which helps build trust. If your child is nervous, please tell us before the visit so we can plan ahead.

California requires children to have a dental checkup, called the Kindergarten Oral Health Assessment (KOHA), by May 31 of their first year in public school, whether that's kindergarten or transitional kindergarten. A checkup in the 12 months before school starts also counts. If your child needs a KOHA, please call our Folsom office at 916-984-6747 before the visit to confirm how we can help with your school's form.

Dr. Bryan's Tooth Station accepts every PPO dental plan and uses your child's benefits to the fullest extent possible, per our Financial Options page. Please call our Folsom office at 916-984-6747 with your child's insurance details before the first visit so we can check your plan and help you understand coverage. Families without insurance can ask about our discount for uninsured children.

Most babies get their first tooth around 6 months, and teething can bring drooling, chewing, fussiness, and sore gums. Soothe your baby with a clean, chilled (not frozen) teething ring or by gently rubbing their gums with a clean finger. Skip benzocaine teething gels and amber teething necklaces, which the FDA warns against. Call your pediatrician for a fever or diarrhea, since teething doesn't cause those, and book your baby's first dental visit within six months of that first tooth.

Call our Folsom office at 916-984-6747 right away—Dr. Bryan's Tooth Station is on call for dental emergencies. Until your child is seen, rinse their mouth with warm water, gently floss out any stuck food, use a cold compress for swelling, and save any broken tooth pieces in milk. Never put aspirin on the gums. Go to the ER first if your child hit their head, passed out, or has bleeding that won't stop.