Drs. Schmitt and Saini- Pediatric Dentistry, Danville CA.

Dear friends and family, As many of you know, our very own Dr. Wiley has been volunteering with Global Dental Relief for many years now. In celebration of his 80th birthday, Dr. Wiley will ride his road bike up Mt. Diablo on April 5th. His goal is to raise enough money to provide complete dental care to 800 children in need! Be sure to send birthday wishes to Randall and celebrate him by donating to his birthday ride. Here's to 80! - We love you Randall! Drs. Schmitt and Saini- Pediatric Dentistry, Danville CA.

It's all about staying positive. Happy Monday, everyone! #MondayMotivation

Ever wonder why Valentine's Day is celebrated? It's more than a day to shower your loved ones with candy and flowers. Learn about the origins of this day of love on today's blog!

Flossing is one of the easiest and most cost effective ways to freshen your mouth! #FlossEveryDay

In the words of Martin Luther King, "The time is always right to do what is right." Happy #MLKDay!

UN-MINDFUL PACIFIER-ING (see below) ***I posted this last year, and this thought keeps coming to my mind as I continue to see pacifiers hanging out of children’...s mouths... If your child is needing a pacifier, there may be an underlying myofunctional disorder that needs to be addressed (such as tongue tie, mouth breathing, low tongue posture, airway issues, sleep breathing issues)*** UN-MINDFUL PACIFIER-ING I was just in a restaurant, and there was a couple there with this adorable little baby sitting on the mom’s lap facing outward, facing the person across the table. The baby was sucking on a pacifier. All of a sudden the baby smiled hugely at the person across the table, and the pacifier fell out of the baby’s mouth. It was an adorable, huge smile. A beautiful social interaction. The mother, who was not facing the baby, without even thinking, reactively placed (or should I say shoved) the pacifier back in the baby’s mouth. The smile ended, the baby started sucking the pacifier again, and the social interaction was over. The mother did this as a reflexive type of action. This was the use of a pacifier for no particular need. The baby did not need any soothing. The mother, inadvertently, changed some very important things without even realizing: she ended a social interaction, she ended gestural/oral communication, she ended the opportunity for verbal communication (babbling, cooing), she caused the baby to lower the tongue and begin a parafunctional sucking pattern that was completely unnecessary. I just want to caution parents to be aware when they are putting a pacifier in a baby’s mouth, is it really necessary??? There is research that shows that pacifier use can negatively impact speech and language skills (and can also lead to increased ear infections). The tongue needs free movement to imitate speech sounds. Social interactions such as smiling cannot be accomplished when a foreign object is placed into the mouth. Also, when a foreign object is placed into the mouth, the oral cavity can adapt to the size and shape of the foreign object (this can lead to a low tongue posture, narrow palate, tongue thrusting, dental malocclusion, etc.). JUST BE MINDFUL!

A healthy lifestyle is all about balance. Balanced meals, an exercise routine, and making sure you're getting enough rest are a few ways to keep your body in good health!

Learn the best ways to take care of your child’s smile during National Children’s Dental Health Month and today on our blog! KidsToothDoctor.com

February is National Children's Dental Health Month. Developing good oral habits early sets your child up for a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums!

Be a good role model for your children and #ChooseWater! Drinking water is good for the body and makes you feel great. Help your kids build a taste for water early and create a healthy habit for life. https://www.healthychildren.org//How-to-Reduce-Added-Sugar

It’s important to replace your toothbrush or electric toothbrush head every three months or sooner if the bristles start to fray!