Pacific Coast Pediatric Dentistry of Redondo Beach

11/24/2025

“My child’s teeth look perfect, do they really need to see the dentist?” Yes! Just because your child’s teeth look healthy doesn’t mean you should skip cleaning appointments. Routine dental checkups are essential for preventing problems before they start!

1.Early Detection Prevents Bigger Problems
Many dental issues start silently. Your child may not feel pain or show visible signs until the problem is more severe. Regular checkups help detect:

-Cavities forming between teeth 
-Tooth decay in early stages (so we can halt the progress and prevent any need for fillings) 
-Gum inflammation 

2. Dental Visits Help Prevent Cavities
Even with good brushing habits, kids can still develop cavities, especially in hard-to-reach areas. Tooth decay is the #1 most common chronic disease in children

3. Establishing a Positive Relationship with the Dentist
Regular checkups help kids feel comfortable at the dentist’s office. When visits are skipped, children may develop fear or anxiety. Especially if their first experience involves a procedure. . 

4. Checkups Include More Than Just Teeth!
A pediatric dentist doesn’t just check for cavities, they also look at overall oral health, including:

- Jaw & bite development 
- Tongue & lip ties 
- Signs of teeth grinding or mouth breathing

5. How Often Should Kids See the Dentist?
Every 6 months for routine checkups and cleanings
(This can be more often if your child is prone to cavities or has orthodontic needs)

Prevention is Key!  Even if your child’s teeth look great, regular dental visits keep them that way for life!

11/11/2025

Every family’s comfort looks a little different and at Pacific Coast Pediatric Dentistry, we’ve designed our space with that in mind. Whether your kids want to sit side-by-side in our open bay (or maybe even in the same chair 👯‍♂️) or you prefer a little extra privacy in a private room, we’ll make sure every visit feels just right.

11/05/2025

Does Teething Cause Fever?
If you’ve ever noticed your baby feeling fussy, drooling more, or even running a slight fever while teething, you’re not alone! Here are the Myths and the Facts.

Myth: Teething Directly Causes Fevers
Research has shown there is no direct correlation. Teething can cause mild discomfort, but it doesn’t cause high fevers. If your child has a fever above 100.4°F, teething is likely not the cause, and you should look for other signs and sources of the fever.

Fact: Teething Can Cause a Small Temperature Increase
While teething doesn’t cause true fevers, it can lead to a mild rise in body temperature (usually under 100°F). This happens because teething triggers inflammation in the gums, which can affect body temperature. However, if your baby has a persistent fever, it’s likely due to something else.

Common Symptoms of teething to look out for:
- Increased drooling
- Swollen, tender gums
- Irritability or fussiness
- Trouble sleeping/waking up at nighttime
- Desire to chew on objects
- Mild temperature rise (not above 100.4°F)

Symptoms That Are NOT Caused by Teething
- High fever (100.4°F or higher)
- Vomiting or diarrhea
- Severe rashes or body aches
- Persistent congestion or cough
- Constant drooling (months)

If your baby has a true fever (100.4°F+), vomiting, diarrhea, or other unusual symptoms, it’s not from teething and should be evaluated by a doctor for other causes.

Good news it is just temporary! And the most discomfort typically is when the tooth is right under the gums.

09/13/2025

Excited for another weekend of sun and smiles ☀️😎🏖️

07/08/2025

When Should You Wean Your Baby Off the Bottle?
In a perfect world, I recommend weaning a baby off the bottle by their first birthday. Why? Because it makes the transition easier for both you and your child. The longer you wait, the more challenging it can become. Prolonged bottle use can impact facial development and increase the risk of cavities—so the sooner, the better! But I know this can be difficult and it is a process. So the goal is to start the transition at 12 months.
Here are some helpful tips to ease the transition:
1.Introduce a flexible straw cup – Learning to drink from a straw takes practice, so start early and be patient.
2. Eliminate one bottle at a time – Begin with the nap-time bottle, then tackle the nighttime bottle last.
3. Reduce bottle size – Gradually decrease the amount to 4 ounces or less to minimize dependence.
4. Pair a lovey with feedings – If your baby has a favorite stuffed animal or blanket, keep it as a comfort item when the bottle is removed.
5. Dilute the milk – Start by mixing 50% water and 50% milk, then slowly transition to just water.
6. Maintain oral hygiene – While still using the bottle, always brush or wipe your baby’s gums afterward to prevent cavities.
Taking a gradual approach can make this milestone much smoother for both of you. You’ve got this! 💪✨

05/23/2025

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) has released recent guidelines emphasizing a whole-child approach to pediatric dental care—including airway, sleep, breathing, speech, feeding, and jaw development.
Some key highlights from the new guidelines:
🔹 “Impaired nasal respiration may contribute to the development of increased facial height, anterior open bite, increased overjet, and narrow palate.” – (The AAPD now recognizes that mouth breathing can negatively impact jaw and facial development)
🔹 “Tongue thrusting may be associated with anterior open bite, abnormal speech, and anterior protrusion of the maxillary incisors.” – (The tongue’s position during swallowing plays a role in tooth alignment and speech development.)
🔹 “OSA (Obstructive sleep apnea) may be associated with narrow maxilla, crossbite, low tongue position, vertical growth, increased overjet, and open bite.” – (The AAPD is acknowledging that dental and skeletal findings can be linked to sleep-disordered breathing.)
Additionally, they note that certain physical dental characteristics may indicate sleep apnea risk, including small or slow growth, difficulty with nasal breathing, enlarged tonsils, a retruded lower jaw, and midface underdevelopment.
🔹 “The identification of an abnormal habit and assessment of its potential immediate and long-term effects on the craniofacial complex and dentition should be made as early as possible. The dentist should evaluate habit frequency, duration, and intensity in all patients with habits.” – This reinforces the importance of early intervention in addressing habits that can impact craniofacial growth and dental health.
This is a huge step forward for the AAPD in recognizing the importance of early identification and management—helping children achieve a lifetime of optimal airway health, dental health, and overall well-being.
Questions? Schedule a visit with us to talk about our whole-child approach to pediatric dental care.

05/14/2025

Did you know?

Pacific Coast Pediatric Dentistry got its name from…. the Pacific Coast 🤯

Branding is about subtlety 😁

We’re proud to be rooted in the South Bay and inspired by everything living near the coast has to offer - constant sunshine, salty beach hair and endless smiles.

We always love spotting our patients repping our “merch” around town 👀 my husband has fun creating new items every couple months! Ask us about our new giveaways at your next visit!

11/27/2024

Fruit Juice & Pouches vs Fresh Fruits differ significantly in how they impact dental health due to texture, sugar concentration, and the way they’re consumed. We got a lot of comments and DMs on our kids beloved pouches, so here’s some more info about why fruit juice and pouches are generally worse for teeth than whole fruits:

1. Texture and Cleansing Effect
* Whole Fruit: Chewing fresh fruits like apples or pears stimulates saliva production, which helps wash away food particles and neutralize acids. The fibrous texture of fruits can also gently scrub teeth, providing a natural cleaning effect.
* Fruit Pouches & Juice: These are smooth and sticky, often clinging to teeth. This increases the likelihood of sugars lingering on the enamel, promoting cavity-causing bacteria.
2. Sugar Concentration
* Whole Fruit: Contains natural sugars but also has water and fiber, which dilute and slow the release of sugars.
* Fruit Pouches& Juice: Although made from fruit, they often have a higher concentration of sugars due to the blending and sometimes added ingredients. These concentrated sugars are more readily available for bacteria to convert into acid.
3. Consumption Style
* Whole Fruit: Typically eaten quickly, reducing the time sugar is in contact with teeth.
* Fruit Pouches & Juice: Often sipped slowly, prolonging sugar exposure to teeth. Children may also repeatedly snack on pouches throughout the day, creating a constant sugar bath for their teeth.

How to Minimize the Impact
* Encourage drinking water after eating a pouch to rinse sugars away.
* Limit pouches to mealtimes rather than as a snack to reduce frequent sugar exposure.
* Opt for whole fruits whenever possible to reap their oral health benefits.

11/16/2024

It’s Not Just What You Eat, But How Often You Eat.
 
Every time you eat or drink, the bacteria in your mouth breaks down the food particles, producing acids as a byproduct.  This acidic environment causes the minerals that make up the tooth structure to dissolve.   Frequent snacking, sipping, and grazing throughout the day can interfere with our mouth’s natural defenses, especially the protective role of saliva, which is crucial for neutralizing these acids and helping to remineralize tooth enamel.  When we eat or drink too often, our saliva doesn’t get enough time to do its job as effectively.  Over time, this weakens the enamel, making your teeth more vulnerable to cavities. Check out our prior Instagram post on the “Import role of saliva in protecting our oral health” for more details.
 
Frequent eating also affects the balance of bacteria in your mouth. Your mouth has a wide range of bacteria that form a biofilm on your teeth. In a healthy mouth, this biofilm is made up of a mix of good bacteria that help protect against tooth decay. However, when the pH in the mouth remains low (acidic) for extended periods (such as from frequent snacking), it creates an environment where harmful, cavity-causing bacteria thrive, while the good bacteria that support oral health begin to die off.  This imbalance in the oral microbiome, where cavity-causing bacteria are more prevalent, significantly increasing your risk for tooth decay.
 
As parents, we understand how challenging it can be to limit snacks and drinks. Instead of frequent snacking, try to encourage larger meals and fewer snacks in between. This gives their mouths more time to neutralize acids and repair enamel, helping to protect their teeth from the harmful effects of a constant acidic environment.
 
Being mindful of snack habits-and focusing on balanced, less frequent meals- can go a long way in supporting your child’s oral health, ensuring that their teeth stay strong, healthy, and cavity-free!

10/26/2024