Dr. Zarmin Lalani, a board certified pediatric dentist from Discovery Kids Pediatric Dentistry in Frisco would like to welcome you to our new website. 

Valentine’s Day is a fun, romantic holiday to show your loved ones how much you appreciate them. But have you ever stopped to wonder where Valentine’s Day and its traditions came from? It turns out there are lots of fun and interesting facts about Valentine’s Day and how we celebrate it.

Valentine’s Day Facts

• Teachers receive the largest number of valentines every year, followed closely by children, moms, wives, and partners.
• Around 9 million pet owners will purchase Valentine’s Day gifts for their pets this year!
• More than 50% of Valentine’s Day cards are purchased in the 5 days before February 14th. That’s a lot of procrastinators!
• Men spend almost double on Valentine’s Day than women. On average, a man will spend around $150, while women will only spend around $80.
• Valentine’s Day is one of the largest card-sending days of the year, second only to Christmas. In fact, around a billion valentines are sent every year worldwide!
• In the Middle Ages, young adults would draw names from a bowl to choose their valentines for them. They would wear the name of their valentine on their sleeve for the entire week. This is where the saying “to wear your heart on your sleeve” comes from.
• Around 15-20% of women will send themselves Valentine’s Day flowers.
• The oldest valentine ever found is from the year 1415. It’s a poem written by the Duke of Orleans to his wife.

We hope you enjoyed learning a little more about Valentine’s Day! You can use these fun facts to wow your valentine this year.

To make an appointment for your child to receive a dental cleaning and checkup, please contact Discovery Kids Pediatric Dentistry! Our friendly and knowledgeable child’s dental office is located in Frisco, TX.

If you  would like to learn more about pediatric dental care not covered in our dental topics from Discovery Kids Pediatric Dentistry, please complete an online appointment request or phone 469-365-5437.

The loss of baby teeth is exciting for young kids! It signifies the transition into becoming a Big Kid. Children are proud to show off the new gaps in their smile and can’t wait for a visit from the Tooth Fairy. Many parents have questions about what to expect when their children begin to lose teeth and even though each child is different and it’s normal for this timeline to vary, we’ve put together a few guidelines for parents on what you should know about your child’s baby teeth, that is the importance of baby teeth.

Baby Teeth Timeline 

Children have 20 baby teeth (also called primary teeth), most of which will have erupted before the age of three in teething babies. Even though baby teeth will fall out eventually, it’s still crucial to teach your child good dental hygiene habits. Caring for baby teeth and keeping cavities and tooth decay at bay will set the stage for a lifetime of healthy teeth. 

Teeth will usually fall out in the same order they came in, beginning around the age of six. This is also around the same time the permanent molars will begin to appear in the back of the mouth. Usually, around the age of eight, the four top and bottom primary teeth will have been lost, and their permanent replacements will begin to appear.

After these changes, your child’s teeth will stay the same for a few years and by the time he or she is thirteen, the rest of the primary teeth will be gone and permanent teeth will start to erupt. The last teeth to arrive are the wisdom teeth (sometimes called third molars), around the age of 18-21.

What To Expect When A Tooth Becomes Loose

When your child’s tooth becomes loose, it’s normal for him or her to wiggle it and mess with it. This is fine, but please instruct your child to avoid pulling or yanking on the tooth until it’s ready to come out. If a tooth is lost before it’s ready, it can cause infection, damage to the tooth roots, and pain. When teeth are lost naturally, it will be painless.

It’s important to remember that the above timeline will vary from child to child. Don’t worry if this guide is off by a little bit. However, if you feel that something isn’t happening normally, please contact Discovery Kids Pediatric Dentistry. Our pediatric dental office is located in Frisco, TX.

If you  would like to learn more about pediatric dental care not covered in our dental topics from Discovery Kids Pediatric Dentistry, please complete an online appointment request or phone 469-365-5437.

Pregnancy is an exciting time for expectant mothers! But along with all the excitement comes a few unpleasant side effects. Many of the popular side effects of pregnancy include morning sickness, weight gain, moodiness, and general discomfort. However, a much less popular, but just as important, side effect is an increased risk for gum disease.

The problem comes from the surge of pregnancy hormones, namely progesterone and estrogen. Your gums respond differently to plaque during these hormone surges. Because of this, you can very quickly cause a case of ‘pregnancy gingivitis,’ sometimes occurring as soon as the second month of your pregnancy.

Symptoms of Gum Disease & Pregnancy

Below are a few of the common symptoms of gum disease during pregnancy that you should look out for:

• Red, swollen gums
• Receding gums
• Tooth sensitivity
• Bleeding gums
• Pain when brushing near the gums
• Loosening teeth

Practicing good oral hygiene is the best way to prevent any dental complications during your pregnancy. In addition to regular brushing and flossing, you should also be visiting the dentist every six months. This means we’ll probably see you at least once during your pregnancy anyway!

For more questions regarding your dental health during pregnancy, please contact Dr. Zarmin Lalani and her team at Discovery Kids Pediatric Dentistry Frisco, Texas. Please complete an online appointment request or phone 469-365-5437. When you call to make your appointment, please let our staff know that you’re expecting. We want to make sure you and your child are as healthy as possible!

Setting dental health resolutions this year is important for roral health. Studies have shown that a mere 8% of Americans will actually follow through with their New Year’s resolutions. Our problem may lie in the way we go about setting our resolutions, or that we set resolutions that are difficult to reach. Once we become overwhelmed with the resolution, we simply give up!

Dental Health Resolutions

Here at Discovery Kids Pediatric Dentistry, we recommend adding a few dental resolutions to your list of goals this year. Below are a few suggestions that, with a little time and effort, can benefit your dental and overall health:

• Brush and floss daily: The first goal you should set is to brush your teeth at least twice a day with fluoridated toothpaste – this goes for your kids was well. Set a timer to make sure you’re brushing for a full two minutes each time. Lastly, make sure you’re flossing at least once a day and using an antibacterial mouthwash.
• Visit the dentist at least twice a year: In addition to your at-home oral hygiene routine, you should also be visiting the dentist every six months for a routine cleaning and exam including children with the first sign of teeth. These checkups are important to clearing away plaque and tartar, as well as catching any potential problems early on.
• Quit smoking: The use of tobacco products such as cigarettes and chewing tobacco, are the number one cause of gum disease in the US. Kicking the tobacco habit will not only benefit your oral health, but also your overall health. The risk of mouth cancer increases significantly with the use of tobacco products.
• Cut down on sugar: Losing weight is a popular New Year’s resolution. Many people accomplish this goal by cutting down on their sugar consumption and consuming healthy nutrition for healthy teeth in children. Not only is this a great way to shed a few pounds, but you’ll also find that it benefits your oral health as well. Sugar is the number one cause of dental cavities and tooth decay.

If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to improve your health, don’t forget to add dental hygiene to that list. To start the year off with a clean and healthy foundation, please make an appointment with Discovery Kids Pediatric Dentistry for a dental cleaning and exam for your family!  You may complete an online appointment request or phone 469-365-5437.