Dentists field questions regularly about pacifier use, thumb sucking, and other self-soothing toddler habits that can negatively impact a child’s oral health. It’s important for parents to remember that most thumb sucking and other self-soothing behaviors are not damaging, and they may be helping your child to feel safe and secure. The individual development of the child needs to be the determining factor when it comes to decisions about intervening with self-soothing habits, so when it comes to your child’s pacifier use or thumb sucking, there’s no such thing as “normal” or an exact age when it’s time to stop. Your child’s best interest is always our top priority when you visit us for children’s dentistry services. You can watch our video about toddler habits to hear directly from Dr. Jay McCarl about how pacifier usage and thumb sucking can impact kids. Keep reading our blog below for a little more detail.
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This is a question we are asked all the time, and our dentists know how painful and difficult it can be to struggle with temperature sensitivity. In the summer, there is nothing better than an ice cold beverage during an Orioles or Nationals game or after a sail on the Chesapeake Bay. In the winter, a hot drink can be soothing and warming for the whole body. Dental sensitivity that prevents you from enjoying your favorite beverages is frustrating, but you’re not alone. As many as 45 million people in the US struggle with dental sensitivity related to temperature, and the majority of these cases can be resolved with at-home care. However, some cases do need to be addressed by your dentist. If you’re one of the millions of people in the US struggling with tooth sensitivity and you’re ready to enjoy your favorite hot and cold beverages again, you should determine the underlying cause and work with your dentist to relieve tooth sensitivity with changes to your at-home oral hygiene routine or repair dental damage with 
Cracked or broken teeth are more than uncomfortable, they can also be unsightly and detrimental to oral health. Yet, many patients choose to live with cracked or broken teeth rather than seeking immediate treatment. If you have a cracked or broken tooth, don’t postpone your dental care. Without seeking emergency dental services as soon as possible, your tooth and surrounding teeth may be severely damaged or lost.