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Summer Parties Can Be Fun for Your Smile Too

Summer Parties Can Be Fun for Your Smile Too

by | May 25, 2022 | Children's Oral Health, Community News, Uncategorized

Summer’s here and we’re so excited about it! A break from the homework and the out-of-the-house rush in the mornings without forgetting backpacks or snack packs is due. Pool parties, barbecues, grill parties, sports team tournaments, rec league games, and all the other summer fun activities are already bringing smiles to your kids’ faces and sweetening their dreams. Nevertheless, those same activities that make them smile, can be hard on those very same smiles. What do we mean by that? Well, the snacks, the drinks, and the types of foods we ingest at these parties can be harmful to our teeth. With this in mind, we’ve put together a list of tips for summer fun to help you and your kids take care of their smiles.

Hot Tips for Healthy Summer Smiles

  1. Choose Crushed Ice: This one may seem like it’s coming at you out of the left-field, but it’s a great tip that’s easy to gain your kids’ approval for. The truth is, that crunching on ice cubes is harmful to the enamel on our teeth. Crunching ice can crack the enamel of the tooth which can result in cold sensitivity and increased vulnerability to cavities. Add to that, the potential for actually chipping or cracking a tooth, which is a legitimately shocking and even painful experience, do we need to say more? Bottom line, everyone wants ice-cold drinks, especially in the Utah summer heat, and we can’t begrudge anyone that desire, so here’s your workaround. Choose crushed ice whenever possible!
  2. Mouth Guards Make a Difference: Just because school sports are on a break, doesn’t mean your kids won’t be playing this summer. Whether it’s competitive tournaments, or a more casual rec league doesn’t matter when it comes to the propensity for dental emergencies. Mouth guards are essential for any sport. A large portion of our emergency dental visits to the office are a result of a broken or chipped tooth from a ball game, a bike crash, or simply falling on the wet, slippery surface by the pool. Mouth guards will protect their teeth in those types of situations, even the more economical versions found at your local store. Give us a call to learn more about a custom-fitted mouth guard that will have the advantage of increased comfort.
  3. Ensure Crunchy Veggies Are Available: You won’t be the menu master at other people’s home parties, but you sure are for your own! When you’re planning a summer bash, make sure you put out vegetable platters with crunchy carrots, celery, bell pepper, broccoli, cauliflower, and more. Go further, and integrate these vegetables into your daily snack options for your kids. Take a morning or afternoon and prep them by cleaning, peeling, and slicing so they’re easy to grab or pack if your kids are headed out the door. Not only are vegetables rich in vitamins, but the crunchiness serves as a scrubber for the teeth, helping to remove sugars or other food debris that is otherwise lodged in their teeth. Also, why not bring a veggie platter to your neighbor’s pool party?
  4. Lemonade in Moderation: Who doesn’t love a lemonade or a limeade in the summertime? Your teeth, that’s who. These delicious summer drinks are a double whammy on teeth: the citrus runs an assault the enamel while the enormous amount of sugar dives in and hides in the nooks and crannies looking for vulnerabilities. We generally prefer to avoid doling out a hard ‘no’ on anything as we know that kids often love what they can’t have, yet we encourage these types of drinks to be limited. Also, after a limeade or a lemonade follow it up with a generous swig of water. Swish the water around and spit it out to help wash away residue citrus and sugars.
  5. Refillable Water Bottles: We love the benefits of water, as demonstrated in the aforementioned lemonade tip. In general, swishing and then spitting a mouthful of water after any snack or meal that has sugars, sauces, or stickiness is highly recommended. When your kids are out and about, they are less likely to splurge on a soda or other sugary drink if their water bottle is already on hand. The same goes for you, parents. Carrying around your water bottle sets a positive example for your kids, and will help you moderate the temptation to buy yourself a cold sugary drink when you’re sitting in the sun watching a game, or hanging by the pool or grill. Other benefits to utilizing refillable water bottles include the fluoride benefit from the city’s water supply, and the cash benefit as well. $1.50 (or more) every day adds up.
  6. Travel Toothbrush and Toothpaste: At any local drugstore, you can find travel-sized toothpaste and toothbrushes that will fit easily into your purse, your kid’s backpack or sports bag, and even the console of your car. Make brushing teeth a priority, even when your family is on a road trip or weekend getaway. 
  7. Schedule a Cleaning: The majority of dental insurance plans these days cover two cleanings per year. When was the last time your kids had a cleaning? If you can schedule around vacations, getting in for cleanings during the summer is easier than pulling them out of school, or utilizing the short afternoons Monday through Friday during the school year. Utilize your dental plan to its maximum benefit, and schedule cleanings for your kids this summer.

Call Utah Pediatric Dentists Today

We have three fully equipped and staffed office locations waiting to hear from you. Our team of staff is dedicated to happy kids with healthy smiles. We’re just a phone call away, and look forward to hearing from you! Happy summer, we hope you enjoy it to the fullest!

7 Kids Dental Health Habits for a Happy New Year

7 Kids Dental Health Habits for a Happy New Year

by | Jan 10, 2022 | Children's Oral Health, Dentistry News

The new year is here folks, and we’re going to start it off right. Dental health and hygiene may not be on your radar for new years’ resolutions, but they should be! Prevention is a major part of happy and healthy smiles for children in your community, and that means more than just regular trips to your pediatric dentist. Here are our top dental health habits just for you!

Dental Health and Hygiene Habits

1. Brush teeth twice per day for two minutes. Mornings before school, and at night before bed are what we aim for. There are fun songs about brushing teeth, or time a song that your little ones enjoy and put it on repeat for two minutes. Brushing teeth should start as soon as the first tooth erupts. Read all about dental care in babies (it actually starts before the eruption) in our guide, ‘Baby Teeth: Eruption Timeline and How to Care for Them‘.

2. Include the tongue as part of brushing. We don’t always consciously think about it, but our tongues actually do quite a bit of work to clear debris between our teeth, and its very presence in the mouth means it is in contact with the same sugars and bacteria as our teeth. Be sure to incorporate a few brush strokes of the tongue into the two minutes. To learn more about how the tongue is a visual indicator of our health, read all about it in our post, ‘Is My Child’s Tongue Healthy?‘

3. Take your child to the store and let them pick out their own toothbrush. Letting them select their toothbrush will give them a sense of responsibility and ownership of their dental health. There are all sorts of fun colors and characters, so let them have some fun with it.

There are electric toothbrushes being marketed for children, however, we encourage you to research a bit before you buy. We wrote a guide for parents about this topic, ‘What’s the Best Electric Toothbrush for Kids?‘, hint (there’s only one on today’s market that has ADA approval).

4. Switch toothbrushes out every three months or sooner if you notice the bristles are worn. With frequent and proper use, those toothbrush bristles will wear out. Bristles that are worn on a toothbrush can actually harm your gums by wearing down the enamel and even causing your gums to recede. Furthermore, the fact is, worn-out bristles simply don’t clean properly. They bend away from the surface instead of stretching into the nooks and crannies of the teeth and in between.

Nevertheless, even if the bristles don’t look worn out, you need to replace it on a three-month timeline. Why? Take a look at your broom and you’ll likely notice a buildup of dust or debris on those bristles. Imagine a toothbrush to be similar to a broom. Its job is to brush away bacteria and debris on your teeth. While proper care of your toothbrush means food debris isn’t likely present, over time invisible bacteria will still build up on those bristles. For more information about proper care of your toothbrush, check out our in-depth article: “Toothbrush Care Guide: Everything Parents Need to Know”.

5. Floss at least once a day. Most parents who bring their kids into our offices will agree with our twice a day tooth brushing recommendation, and back it up by their actions. However, it isn’t uncommon to have a parent sheepishly admit that they don’t floss as often as they should. We aren’t here to shame anyone in regard to their dental habits. Odds are high that the parents who don’t floss very often, simply didn’t grow up flossing! Habits that we learn as children can stick with us throughout adulthood! Start out encouraging your kids to floss, and join them yourself. You are never too old to learn new healthy habits, and flossing is one that is a positive habit for everyone. Check out new and interesting flavors, (remember to look for the ADA seal).

6. Invest in a mouth guard for sports. Mouth injuries happen to kids, even if they aren’t playing a contact sport such as football. We recommend mouth guards should be worn for all sports, including biking and skateboarding. Studies show that wearing a mouth guard will lessen the likelihood of dentofacial injuries by more than 82%. A broken or chipped tooth, a root fracture, or a tooth knocked loose or all the way out is considered a dental emergency. Read our step-by-step guide on what to do in that type of situation to prepare yourself, ‘What Do You Do When Your Kid Breaks a Tooth?‘

7. Up your water intake! Most store-bought beverages have a shocking amount of sugar in them (or sugar substitutes) that might be tasty but are terrible for our teeth. It’s unfair to ask anyone to give up all other drinks, but we do think it’s fair to encourage you to increase the amount of water you and your kids are drinking. City water is treated with fluoride which is a vital defense for teeth. Furthermore, water will help rinse away bacteria and sugars from your meals and snacks in between your brushing routine. One way to facilitate more water throughout the day is utilizing a refillable water bottle and taking it with you on errands, and sending it in backpacks to school. When water is within easy reach, your kids are more likely to drink more of it.

Start Off the New Year by Scheduling a Checkup and Cleaning!

It’s never too late to prioritize the dental health of your children (and yourself!) All of the above tips for healthy habits can be applied to each member of your family, regardless of age. Utilize those dental benefits on your insurance this year, and start out by scheduling a checkup and dental cleaning for each of your kids. Preventative care is the bedrock of happy healthy smiles in our community. Give us a call, and we’ll help you start the year of dental strong.

April Awareness for Facial Protection and Oral Cancer

April Awareness for Facial Protection and Oral Cancer

by | Apr 6, 2021 | Children's Oral Health, Community News, Uncategorized

The month of April is a time of spring blossoms, of new life after the harsh cold has passed, sports activities taking us outside, and biannual dental checkups.  That’s right, your kids (and you!) should be having dental checkups two times per year. April is a great month to do it, because your sports calendars and vacation trips haven’t filled up the calendar yet, and our four locations are offering $25 gift cards for our patients when they have a dental appointment through the end of April.

April is National Facial Protection Month

We’ve shared our stance on the importance of mouth guards and facial protection for your kids and teens when they’re engaging in sports activities, and now is a perfect time to re-iterate its value.

Mouth injuries and head injuries are rather common in the spring months due to the uptick in outdoor sports activities and we’d prefer (as would you as parents!) not to have to reset a knocked-out tooth or fix a broken or chipped tooth for your kid if it can be avoided.

Facts About Mouth Guards

  • Over 20 million kids in the U.S. participate in sports every year.
  • Approximately 36% of unintentional injuries to kids occur due to sports activities.
  • Up to 20% of those injuries are maxillofacial.
  • If your child plays soccer they are more likely to incur a dental injury than if they play football.
  • Basketball is the leading sport in dental injuries.
  • Athletes who wear mouthguards are 82%-93% less likely to have a dental injury.

It should be noted we aren’t indicating that soccer and basketball are dangerous sports to be avoided, the point is that unlike in football, emphasis on facial protection (mouth guards) isn’t made in these sports, in spite of the fact that dental injuries do occur. Football players wear pads and helmets, and also mouth guards are required. Basketball and soccer players wear uniforms and special shoes, and shin guards for soccer, so why not spend the money to also protect their teeth as well?

Mouth Guard Options for Your Athletes in the Family

If we’ve convinced you that mouthguards are a good idea for your family athletes this spring, hooray! You have basically, three options moving forward. If your budget is your primary concern, you can look for stock mouth guards or “boil & bite” mouth guards in just about any sporting goods store. Stock mouth guards are going to come in standard sizes, but a boil and bite is generally a step up in price that will allow a more modified fit. The best protection is a custom mouthguard, and although it will cost more, it will undoubtedly be the most comfortable and provide the best protection. Ask us about a custom mouthguard when your kids come in for their next checkup and we’ll help you work through your options to find a good fit (pun intended) for your budget and your family.

April is National Oral Cancer Awareness Month

Aside from the necessary benefits of routine dental checkups that serve as an important preventive measure to look for plaque, decay, and seek to maintain you and your child’s teeth in a state of cleanliness, routine dental checkups can serve as screenings for oral cancer detection as well.

Facts About Oral Cancer

  • Over 50,000 Americans are diagnosed with oral cancer every year and 450,000 globally.
  • One death per hour can be attributed to oral cancer in the United States.
  • The death rate can be attributed due to the fact it is often diagnosed late in its progression.
  • A person who survives the first diagnosis of oral cancer is 20 times more likely to develop second cancer.
  • Approximately 90% of diagnosed oral cancers are squamous cell carcinomas.
  • Previously, oral cancer was statistically more likely in men over 50 who drank and smoked tobacco. Unfortunately, it is occurring in the younger non-smoking generations as well due to the HPV16 virus.

Check Your Own Mouth and Your Kids’

The Oral Cancer Foundation (OCF) has created a public campaign for awareness encouraging civilians to “check their mouth” for signs and symptoms which include the following (cited directly from the OCF website):

“Signs and symptoms of oral cancer caused by tobacco usage and/or excessive alcohol usage may include one or more of the following:

  • Any sore or ulceration that does not heal within 14 days.
  • A red, white, or black discoloration of the soft tissues of the mouth.
  • Any abnormality that bleeds easily when touched.
  • A lump or hard spot in the tissue, usually the border of the tongue.
  • Tissue raised above that which surrounds it; a growth.
  • A sore under a denture, which even after adjustment of the denture, does not heal.
  • A lump or thickening that develops in the mouth.
  • A painless, firm, fixated lump felt on the outside of the neck, that has been there for at least two weeks.
  • All these symptoms have the commonality of being persistent and not resolving.”

“Signs and symptoms of HPV-caused oropharyngeal cancer persist longer than two-three weeks and may include one or more of the following:

  • Hoarseness or sore throat that does not resolve.
  • A painless, firm, fixated lump felt on the outside of the neck, which has been there for at least two weeks.
  • Constant coughing that does not resolve.
  • Difficulty swallowing; a sensation that food is getting caught in your throat.
  • An earache on one side (unilateral) that persists for more than a few days.
  • All of these symptoms have the commonality of being persistent and not resolving.”

Organize Dental Checkups for Your Athletes This April

Through the end of this month, we’re offering $25 gift cards for each patient who comes in for a dental checkup at any of our four locations. Don’t let the month pass you by, we can answer questions or concerns about oral cancer and facial protection, and be sure your kids’ teeth are happy and healthy this spring.

Why Children Chew on Everything and What They Should Chew on Instead

Why Children Chew on Everything and What They Should Chew on Instead

by | Mar 25, 2020 | Children's Oral Health, Pediatric Dental Treatments

Any parent or guardian with kids, remembers the scary toddler phase where everything in reach is on their non-discerning mental list of things to chew on. The phase when they pick up everything, and to learn about it, they pop it into their mouth. Little toys, scraps of forgotten food that fell off the table at mealtime, a rubber band. Anything. We all breathe easier when that phase passes. And yet, as our kids get older, some of them continue chewing on things. You might catch them chewing on a pencil, or a pen. Biting nails is a common occurrence, and crunching ice also seems popular. Maybe the neckline or cuff of their shirtsleeve seems to be irresistible. That last one can really have parents wondering, “what causes a child to chew on clothes?”

Why Do They Chew on Stuff?

There are a variety of reasons behind kids chewing on non-food things, some reasons include:

Anxiety or stress – the act of chewing as a soothing activity goes back to the days of being a baby when sucking was an act to self soothe.
Sensory needs – chewing is relatively common as a soothing activity for children with sensory issues.
Concentration – the repetition of chewing can help focus and block outside distractions
Habit – chewing can be a habit born of boredom and convenience because there is always something available to chew on (pencils, clothing, hair, etc.)

Is Chewing Bad?

The act of chewing is not in and of itself a bad thing. Chewing stimulates the flow of saliva in your mouth. Saliva is the frontline defense in your mouth against tooth decay and plaque. According to the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA), “Saliva contains important elements such as bicarbonate, calcium, and phosphate. They not only neutralize plaque acids, but also help repair early tooth damage and decay.”

Problems come into play with chewing when the object being chewed is a non-food item. We then can become concerned for safety (choking hazards), concerned for what is socially acceptable (wet shirt sleeves or torn bloody fingernails), and concerned for the health of their teeth (cracked or chipped tooth or a loose dental filling).

Does Ice Count as a Non-Food Item?

Chewing ice is a common habit among kids, teens, and adults. And it is unequivocally, a bad habit. Ice is very hard and possesses the ability to crack or chip your teeth. Our composite fillings that we use on teeth that have cavities can have lifespans of up to ten years or more when properly cared for, but are vulnerable to damage caused from habitually chewing ice. It is painful to lose a filling and usually means an immediate trip to the dentist for replacement. Additionally, any brackets or retainer wires can be dislodged from teeth and damaged by chewing ice. We don’t want that for your kid any more than you do.

How Should You Respond When You See Your Child Chewing Non-Food Items or Ice?

Keep in mind that their chewing habit may not be a conscious one. Do they do it when they seem nervous or stressed? Do they have other sensory issues? Try to point out the habit without judgment and resist any inclination to shame them from doing it. Shaming the habit could lead them to hide it from you but continue the behavior or do it as a form of rebellion. If you believe it to be a sensory issue, consult with their pediatrician. If it is a soothing technique for stress or anxiety, consider talking to them about other coping techniques or consult their pediatrician or school guidance counselor. Provide your child with age appropriate information about the dangers of chewing on non-food items and ice.

Is Chewing Gum Bad?

Chewing gum can be good for your child’s dental hygiene after meals. There are, however, qualifiers. Firstly, if your child has braces or a retainer or TMJ disorder, then chewing gum is a bad idea. The gum will stick to the hardware and be not only a pain to get cleaned but can damage the wires or brackets. For kids with TMJ disorder, chewing gum can cause more frequent headaches and jaw pain. Secondly, the gum must be sugarless.

According to the American Dental Association (ADA), “Research shows that chewing sugarless gum for 20 minutes following meals can help prevent tooth decay. That is because the act of chewing increases the flow of saliva in your mouth, which helps neutralize and wash away cavity-causing acids and bacteria. Over time, acids can wear away tooth enamel, creating ideal conditions for decay. Look for chewing gum with the ADA Seal to be sure it can help prevent cavities.”

For Your Kids Who Like to Chew

If you have a kid that likes to chew on things, consider serving up crunchy snacks. Carrot sticks, celery sticks, and crunchy apple slices are healthy snacks that can satisfy the chewing urge. Nuts are also a great snack. Read our blog post Do-Eats and Don’t-Eats for Kids to Promote Healthy Teeth for more ideas about healthy snacks, and to read about why some of those crunchy foods are also good for teeth.

But Wait!

Yes, we are saying chewing sugarless gum can help with dental hygiene but it in no way should be used as a substitute for brushing and flossing! Morning and nighttime routines of brushing for two minutes and flossing at least once daily are vital to your child having a healthy smile.