Mouth Guard or No Mouth Guard: Is That Even a Question?!

Adelberg Montalvan Pediatric Dental and Orthodontics

www.adelbergpediatricdental.com 

Playing sports is a great activity for kids; the only downside is the risk of dental injury. In fact, more than half of the seven million sports and recreation-related injuries that occur each year are sustained by youth between ages 5 and 24 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).

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?

The Academy of Sports Dentistry requires a mouth guard have the following properties and considerations:

1. Proper fit – a fit that is retentive and not dislodged on impact
2. Adequate thickness – in all areas to provide for the reduction of impact forces
3. Speech considerations – based on the demands of the playing status of the athlete
4. FDA approved material

Before your child's next soccer, basketball, baseball game, etc., make sure a mouth guard is included as part of their uniform. There are three main types of mouth guards that can suit your child: custom made, boil and bite/self fit, and stock mouth guards. Read below for additional information on each:

Custom made:

• Expensive, individually designed and made by your dentist and dental labs. These mouth guards have the most comfortable, perfect fit which provides optimum protection and improved performance. The fit and size are measured by the dentist and the athlete’s medical history, demographic factors, and type of sport are all also taken into account. 

Boil and Bite / Self fit:

• Inexpensive, store bought, and becomes pliable when heated. Athletes will create a custom fit by biting down into the warm plastic after boiling the mouth guard in water. In order to make these mouth guards pliable, they are made with softer material compared to other mouth guards. For this reason they often aren’t as reliable or resilient. 

Stock mouth guards:

• Very inexpensive, store bought, and ready to wear. Unfortunately, these are so poor fitting that they often fall out when the athlete opens their mouth to speak or breathe.  Not to mention will dislodge on impact.

Whichever type you choose, be sure it is resilient, comfortable, fits properly, and does not restrict breathing or your child’s speech. Feel free to discuss your options with us today!

Tooth Fact Tuesday!

Adelberg Montalvan Pediatric Dental and Orthodontics

www.adelbergpediatricdental.com 

How does a mouthful of chalk, ashes, honey-tobacco, lemon juice or charcoal sound? Probably not very appealing; yet if you were born prior to the invention of toothpaste, about a century ago, those were the substances you would have to use to clean your teeth!

Check out some other interesting teeth facts below:

• If you thought the 32 teeth humans have seem like a lot, certain species of dolphins can have up to 250 teeth in their mouths!
• Walt Disney had wooden teeth
• Each year the People’s Republic of China celebrate “Love your Teeth Day” on September 20th 
• In the Middle Ages, Germans often believed kissing a donkey would rid a toothache
• Another solution to rid pain? Ancient Chinese would wrap tiny parchment paper containing written incantations and prayers around teeth that hurt to relieve their pain
• Prior to the invention of a toothbrush, people scrubbed their teeth with their fingers, or leaves and twigs
• Americans spend $100 billion per year on hair care products – and only $2 billion a year on dental care products
• Odontophobia is the fear of teeth
• Prince Charles had his personal valet, Michael Fawcett, squeeze toothpaste onto his royal toothbrush
• Betsy Ross had a fully formed set of teeth when she was born

If you're looking for a pediatric dentist for your children, check us out on the web or on our Facebook page.

Healthy Eating to Kick Start The Summer!

Adelberg Montalvan Pediatric Dental and Orthodontics

www.adelbergpediatricdental.com 

Memorial Day celebrates the unofficial start of summer; which means frequent trips to the ice cream truck and pool snack bar with your little ones. Problem is, most of these foods – though may be convenient, contain loads of sugar that are unhealthy for your child and their teeth!

Need some quick, simple, healthy snack ideas for your kids this summer? Try some of ours, they fit perfectly in packed lunches:

• Ants on a log – spread peanut butter on celery sticks and sprinkle them with raisins
• Cottage cheese with cut-up peaches, nectarines, pineapple, or bananas
• Canned salmon mixed with low-fat mayo and spread on baked whole-grain crackers or celery stalks
• Make your own pizza lunchables – use a multigrain sandwich thin, turkey pepperoni, pizza sauce, and shredded low fat cheese

And, as the temperature heats up – try dipping a banana in yogurt, rolling in crushed cereal, and freezing it for a tasty frozen treat!

To read more on proper nutrition for your child, please visit: http://goo.gl/DiQUh 

If you're looking for a pediatric dentist for your children, check us out on the web or on our Facebook page.