Celebrate World Oral Health Day!

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Happy first day of spring AND World Oral Health Day! Celebrated every year on the 20th of March, this year’s theme is ‘celebrating healthy smiles,’ reflecting the major contribution oral health makes to our daily lives. We use this day to raise awareness across the globe about the importance having a good oral care routine is to reducing suffering and the burden of oral disease.

To mark World Oral Health Day, the FDI World Dental Federation has come out with ‘The Tooth Thief.’ This illustrated children’s book aims to install good oral habits for children at a young age:

“Follows the story of Mascarpone, a mouse detective, as he travels around the world trying to solve the mystery of the missing teeth. In his quest he meets different characters such as the Tooth Fairy, la Petite Souris from France, and the tooth spirits in Africa, who will teach him about many traditions in different regions of the globe.”

You can download a FREE copy for your Kindle or Apple device here »»

Healthy Foods For Teeth - National Nutrition Month

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Since we’re more than halfway through March we wanted to check in and see how you’ve been celebrating National Nutrition Month. We know the importance that smart food choices and sound eating habits have on the body as a whole, but they also play a big role in the health of the mouth, teeth, and gums.

Just as a balanced diet is good for our waistline - it’s just as necessary for a healthy smile. So to finish off the month strong, we wanted to provide some key foods for your oral health that you should be incorporating into your meals:

• Cheese: The casein protein found in cheese (or other milk products) helps to fortify the tooth’s surface and protect against cavities. It’s low in sugar and acid, and high in calcium!
• Leafy Greens: Rich in folic acid, this food group supports cell growth and regeneration.
• Cucumber: Did you know gum disease can be effectively treated with cucumber juice? Consuming raw cucumber can increase saliva and will serve to neutralize the acid and base in the oral cavity. These veggies also contain a photochemical that fights the bacteria in the mouth that causes bad breath.
• Ginger: Have a toothache? The anti-inflammatory properties found within ginger root serves as a pain killer and can aid in minor infections, swelling, and discomfort usually associated with a minor toothache!
• Carrots: Eating raw carrots helps stimulate the mouth’s natural cleanser, saliva. Not to mention they are rich in vitamin A - which is necessary for healthy tooth enamel.
• Strawberries: A natural tooth whitener due to the malic acid found inside this delicious fruit.
• Sesame Seeds: These little seeds are rich in calcium which helps to keep teeth healthy. They work to dissolve plaque buildup on teeth as well as strengthening tooth enamel.

St. Patty's Day Crafts for Kids!

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Are you looking for a little luck this St. Patrick's day? If you are, then you've come to the right place! Instead of just wearing green this year, join in the holiday spirit by getting the family together and letting your creative juices flow. With these fun St. Patrick's day crafts for kids, you (and your child of course), are sure to be smiling from cheek to cheek:

To Catch a Leprechaun
Leprechauns have big egos, so a giant version of their own hat is irresistible to them. Once they step on the false top, you'll have caught a 10-gallon prize! Instructions Here »

Shamrock Sprouts
A craft and a science lesson? What could be better! Kids will be amazed watching their plants grow without soil. Instructions Here »

St. Patty's Day Photo Props
Have kids use green felt and scissors to make their own fun photo props. Instructions Here »

Mini Pots o' Gold
These mini pots of gold are the perfect little place setting for a St. Patrick’s Day party. You can make these with large pots for a centerpiece or craft them into this miniature version. Instructions Here »

Leprechaun Hat & Beard
Got a wee mischief-maker at your house that could use a seasonal appropriate costume? How about a printable leprechaun hat craft that includes a kicky beard and eyebrows? Instructions Here »

Share your creations with us on our Facebook page!

Sealants and Cavity Prevention

 www.adelbergpediatricdental.com

Did you know most cavities in children occur in places that sealants could have protected? While brushing and flossing daily are necessary for removing food particles and plaque from the tooth’s smooth surfaces - sometimes reaching the nooks and crannies of the back teeth can be hard, increasing the chance of tooth decay. That’s where sealants come in. But what even are they?

Sealants are just a thin, plastic coating painted on the chewing surfaces of teeth (usually premolars and molars) in order to prevent tooth decay. This painted on, liquid sealant quickly bonds to the tooth’s grooves forming a protective shield over the enamel of each tooth.

Who should get sealants? Typically, children get sealants on their permanent molars and premolars once those teeth come in. This way, the dental sealants can protect the teeth through the cavity-prone years of ages 6 - 14. Sealants can protect teeth from decay for up to 10 years! But they do need to be checked for chipping or wearing during regular dental visits and can be replaced as necessary.

For more information on how sealants are applied, visit WebMD’s article here » If you have questions about sealants and your child, feel free to give us a call today!

Smart Snacking Tips and Tricks for National Nutrition Month

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We know that it’s not always easy to keep your kids from snacking on candy, chips and ice cream.  However, we are encouraging parents to help their kids snack smart this March in honor of National Nutrition Month!  A balanced diet full of nutritious foods can help keep your child’s smile healthy and beautiful.

Here are a few tips to help make healthy snacking a little easier:

• Set An Example – Kids mimic what you do.  Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables instead of sugary snacks.  Remember to set good brushing and flossing example too.
• Be Creative – Healthy snacks can be fun too.  Try a fruit smoothie or a yogurt sprinkled with granola and bananas.
• Shop Together – Ask your kids what kind of snacks they would like from the supermarket. Help them read the nutrition facts label and learn how to check the sugar content. 
• Eat Well-Balanced Meals – Healthy meals are just as important as healthy snacks.  Make sure that your kids have well-balanced lunches and dinners.

Kids don’t have to give up on dessert, but make sure that most of the food they eat is healthy and nutritious.  Try to limit sweets to once a day, rather than snacking on them throughout the day.  Choose fresh fruits, raw veggies, grains, nuts, seeds, meats, and dairy snacks that are low in sugar instead. 

Read more about smart snacks for healthy smiles by clicking here.  We also invite you to contact our office for more information or to schedule your bi-annual cleaning and exam.

 

Spring Sports: The Importance of a Mouthguard

 www.adelbergpediatricdental.com

Spring sports are upon us and while these sports are important for building your child’s confidence, team working skills, and physical endurance, there is also an inherent risk of injury. According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, about 10-39% of childhood dental injuries are sports related.

Although we can never completely remove all risk of dental injury from playing sports, most of these injuries could have been easily prevented had the athlete been wearing a mouthguard:

Fractured Tooth
Enamel and dentin are both protectors of the inner living tooth tissue also known as the pulp. In the event of a serious tooth factor, both the dentin and the pulp tissue would be exposed, calling for an immediate visit to the dentist. To prevent the tooth from completely falling out, the dentist may splint the loose tooth by bonding it to adjacent teeth.

A minor fracture involves chipping of the enamel only. Your child may feel sharp or rough tooth edges irritating the cheek and tongue. Generally, the only thing that the tooth would need is a filling or a cap to protect the pulp from any exposure.

Lost Teeth
Commonly, the upper front adult teeth run the highest risk of being knocked out. In this case, retrieve the lost teeth, keep them moist, and replace them into their sockets as soon as possible. Time is precious, teeth re-implanted within an hour of the incident often reattach to their teeth sockets.

Teeth Displacement
Instead of a tooth being completely knocked out of its sockets, it’s simply displaced. The tooth may be pulled out a bit to appear longer or pushed in to appear shorter. A displaced tooth can be twisted, turned, but never leaves the mouth. The sooner your child sees a dentist the easier it will be to bring it back into proper alignment, whether through splitting or orthodontic brackets and wires.

There’s no need to risk it, any mouth guard is better than NO mouth guard. But when trying to choose which one to go with, how do you decide which is best for your child? Check out our blog “Mouth Guard or No Mouth Guard” to determine the best type of mouthguard for your child to keep their teeth safe from injury. Feel free to discuss your options with us today!

Celebrate Read Across America Day!

 www.adelbergpediatricdental.com

Happy Read Across America Day! Kicking off its 17th year, the National Education Association hosts this annual event on none other than Dr. Seuss’ birthday, today March 3rd. Across the country, thousands of schools and libraries participate in bringing together children and books to encourage a nation of readers.

So what’s the connection between reading skills and oral health? Truth is, oral health problems cause students across the nation to miss 51 million school hours per year. Students who are absent miss crucial instruction time - especially in the early years when improving reading skills are a major focus.

Celebrate today by sharing some of our favorite oral health stories with your kids:

 

The Tooth Book by Dr. Seuss
“In this rollicking rhyming tale, Dr. Seuss takes a hilarious look at teeth, where to find them, what to do with them and how to look after them!”

Open Wide: Tooth School Inside
“It's time for tooth school and Dr. Flossman is excited to meet the incoming class of 32--eight incisors, four canines, eight premolars, and twelve molars, including the four wisdom teeth. There's just so much to learn--from brushing and flossing to dentin and pulp to every student's nightmare: tooth decay!”

Brush Your Teeth, Please: A Pop-up Book

"What child can resist imitating a chimp brushing its teeth back and forth? Or a shark that flosses every day? Youngsters will have lots of fun learning about proper dental hygiene in this delightful pop-up book."

How To Rock Braces and Glasses
For your middle school aged children: When gorgeous, uber-harsh, and uber-stylish, kacey Simon - the undisputed social dictator of Marquette Middle School, finds herself needing to wear Coke bottle glasses and braces - what is she to do? In this hilarious reversal of the 'cool crowd' versus the 'nerd herd', a popular girl finds herself in 'Loserville' and realizes maybe rocking braces and glasses is the best thing ever to happen to her!