Start the School Year Off With a Smile
Every child wants to look their best as they head back to school this fall. Parents help by scheduling haircuts and buying new outfits, but most overlook the simple steps to helping their child maintain one of their most visible features – their smile.
Studies show that one of the first things people notice about someone is their smile and that a good smile creates a positive self-image…something all parents wish for their children. “Back-to-school time is the perfect time to incorporate good oral health habits into a child’s daily routine,” says Academy of General Dentistry spokesperson Cindy Flanagan, DDS, FAGD. “The sooner you make them a priority, the sooner your child will benefit.”
Schedule a back-to-school dental visit
Seeing a dentist twice a year during the school-age years is vital because this is a time of great change in the mouth, with kids losing baby teeth and getting in their permanent teeth. Tooth decay is still the most common chronic childhood disease and, left untreated, it can impair a child’s ability to eat, speak, sleep and learn. However, studies show more than 60 percent of school-age children do not see a dentist annually. Simple preventive checkups twice a year can head off childhood decay and help you and your child learn how to protect their teeth throughout the year.
Establish daily brushing habits with your children
Children should brush at least twice a day. To encourage children to brush after every meal, let them pick out their own travel toothbrush and toothpaste to take to school. “There are many child-friendly products that help encourage younger children to brush,” says Dr. Flanagan, “Make sure your child’s toothpaste contains fluoride and the toothbrush is soft-bristled.”
Make good nutrition a top priority
National studies show that only one in five school-age children eats the recommended five daily servings of fruits and vegetables – greatly increasing their risk of cavities. In addition, only one in five children meets even the minimum standards for calcium consumption. Take charge of your child’s health this school year by packing healthy lunches. And, after school activities require healthy snacks such as bite-sized carrots, fruits, nuts and bottled water. These are much better after-school snack options and give children the fuel they need to excel in physical activity.
Tooth nutrition and Vegetarians
Just read this very interesting article from the Academy of General Dentistry about Vegetarian nutritional risks:
Health concerns about fat and cholesterol have prompted many people to become vegetarians, and the nutritional deficiencies that can sometimes result may reveal themselves during dental exams. Academy of General Dentistry spokesperson Ludwig Leibsohn, DDS says he usually asks patients if they adhere to vegetarian or other special diets.
“Most adult vegetarians are very knowledgeable about nutrition,” says Dr. Leibsohn. “They maintain their diets in a proper fashion.” Children, however, Continue reading “Tooth nutrition and Vegetarians” »
Plano Dentist on “Dry Mouth”
The condition of “dry mouth” is called Xerostomia. This condition occurs when the salivary glands don’t work properly and the amount of saliva in the mouth decreases. Saliva is vital to everyday processes- tasting, swallowing, speaking and digesting. Saliva acts as a natural defense for the teeth. Without saliva, the teeth are extremely vulnerable to fungal, bacterial and viral infections, and decay. Although saliva is mostly composed of of water, it also includes electrolytes, antibacterial compounds, Continue reading “Plano Dentist on “Dry Mouth”” »
Snoring treatment- Dental Alternative to CPAP
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine has designated dental sleep oral appliances as the No. 1 non-surgical alternative for the CPAP intolerant. Although the most successful treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure), there are numerous difficulties patients are having when trying to use it.
People with sleep apnea literally stop breathing repeatedly during their sleep, often for a minute or longer. Perhaps you or your partner suddenly wakes with a startle during the night? Likely this is the body’s reaction to lack of oxygen.
If not treated, OSA can take eight to 10 years off someone’s life. OSA can cause driving and work-related accidents, depression, memory loss, impaired concentration, high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke. More studies are now showing a correlation between sleep apnea and attention deficit disorder (ADD).
Sleep Apnea is more common than you would think. Here are some statistics:
- 100 million Americans snore.
- 60% of all Americans over age 40 snore.
- 27% of all married couples snore.
- 50% to 75% of those who try the CPAP reject it.
Oral dental appliances are used to reposition the tongue and lower jaw forward during sleep to maintain the open airway and prevent soft tissues from collapsing during sleep. Usually, oral appliances are recommended for mild to moderate OSA patients, but can be used in severe OSA patients who cannot tolerate CPAP. Some recent studies show Continue reading “Snoring treatment- Dental Alternative to CPAP” »
