National Children's Dental Health Month

February is National Children’s Dental Month ~ Keep Kids’ Teeth Healthy With These Tips!

Tooth decay affects children in then US more then any other chronic infections disease. Untreated tooth decay causes pain and infections that may lead to problems, such as eating, speaking, playing learning. Luckily, there are things you can do to protect your child’s teeth.

Dr. Singh is the founder & C.E.O of Arch Dental and editor of the Journal of Oral Implantology. He also regularly visits schools to teach kids how to brush their teeth, accompanied by a large stuffed alligator on which he demonstrates how to brush. Here are his top tips for keeping your child's smile healthy:

• How do you get kids to brush their teeth? - There are toothbrushes that light up for the amount of time the kids should be brushing for, and toothbrushes that sing songs for as long as you should be brushing. My philosophy is TELL, SHOW, DO: TELL them why they need to brush their teeth, SHOW them the right way, DO it with them. Other parents have had success by having their kids practice on a favorite doll first, or brushing in the bath where kids can’t get away, or even singing them their favorite song. If they bite down on the brush or try to run off, you stop singing. As a last resort you can even do it in front of a favorite TV show or movie.

• When should you start brushing your kids teeth? - As soon as the first tooth comes in you should be wiping down your kids mouth with a damp cloth. Switch to a soft kids size toothbrush as more teeth come in.

• How much toothpaste should they use? What kind? – Just a pea sized amount of fluoride toothpaste will do the trick. Don’t use fluoride toothpaste until your kid is over 2. Stick to a pea-sized amount, kids who swallow too much fluoride before the age of 6 can have white spots on their permanent teeth! There are tons of flavors, from bubble gum to watermelon.

• Do you need a fluoride supplement? - Probably not, especially if your water has fluoride. If you have city water, you can check your water districts billing statement for the utilities contact info. If you have well water you can have it tested at a lab; local health districts often have testing capabilities. Always check with your dentist or pediatrician about your kids fluoride needs before giving a supplement.

• What are dental sealants? Should my kid get them? – Dental sealants are thin, plastic coatings that are applied to the grooves on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth to protect them from tooth decay. Most tooth decay in children and teens occurs on these surfaces. Sealants protect the chewing surfaces by keeping germs and food particles out of these grooves. They are best for permanent teeth – they should be applied shortly after the permanent back teeth come in, before they have a chance to decay. They last 5-10 years and should be checked by your dentist at your regular visit.

• What should I do if my child’s permanent tooth is knocked out? - Find the tooth and rinse it gently in milk or saliva. (Do not scrub it or clean it with soap, use just water!) If possible, replace the tooth in the socket and hold it there with clean gauze or a wash cloth. If you can’t put the tooth back in the socket, place the tooth in a clean container with milk, saliva, or water. Get to our office immediately. The faster you act, the better your chances of saving the tooth.

• What if my child has a toothache? - Call your dentist promptly. To comfort your child, rinse the mouth with water. Apply a cold compress or ice wrapped in a cloth. Do not put heat or aspirin on the sore area.

Dr. Pankaj Singh is an innovator, educator, author and pioneer in the field of dentistry. In addition to overseeing his three premier New York dental practices in Manhattan, Huntington and Garden City, Dr. Singh is an attending doctor and serves as faculty at LIJ/NS University Hospital in the Department of Dental Medicine and Oral Surgery. He has also served as associate professor in the International Dental Program at NYU College of Dentistry. 

http://www.mommylivingthelifeofriley.com/tips-techniques-how-to-advice/february-national-childrens-dental-month-kids-teeth-healthy-tips

http://www.benlomonddental.com

Ben Lomond Dental is proud to sponsor "Christmas for Kids" with PCAU

HOLIDAY GIVING PROGRAM

Each year, with the help of many community sponsors, PCAU provides Christmas to hundreds of local children. We participate in two programs, Cops, Kids and Christmas and Christmas for Kids.
We suggest sponsors spend about $100 per child and gifts need to be delivered to the Ogden PCAU office by December 13, 2011.

We need more sponsors this year.  Please, if you are interested in sponsoring a child call Carrie at (801)-393-3366 for more information.

Cops, Kids and Christmas - December 10, 2011
PCAU works with the Ogden Police Department to provide the Cops, Kids and Christmas program to more than 50 children.

Christmas for Kids
Funded by generous donations of community members, this program provides a happy holiday to hundreds Utah children.

Christmas Tree Festival
PCAU is honored to again take part in Christmas Tree Jubilee, which sponsors the Weber School District Foundation. Last year, PCAU's tree was voted the crowd favorite in the non-profit area, and we were awarded a $1,000 donation from the Weber School District Foundation.   

http://www.preventchildabuseutah.org/holidaygivingprograminfo.html

http://www.benlomonddental.com

Smart Snacks!

Keep Kids’ Teeth Healthy With Smart Snacks

by Guest blogger  

Maintaining a healthy smile starts with the food we put into our bodies at each meal. Kids may think that candy, chips and soda are great. These kinds of foods, however, leave residue behind that form harmful plaque on your child’s teeth.
Smart snacks will help with your child’s overall health as well as developing a bright, healthy smile.

Good Choices Start With You

“Our kids watch us for behavior cues throughout their years of development,” states Dr. Lance Heppler, DMD, a dentist in Vancouver, WA. In order to keep your child’s teeth healthy with smart snacks, it’s a good idea to work them into your diet as well.
Incorporate plenty of fruits and vegetables into your daily diet, and practice good oral hygiene in front of your kids by brushing and flossing twice a day. These habits will help your kids realize the importance of making good choices to keep their teeth healthy.

Your Kids’ Opinions Count

Including a variety of fruits and vegetables into your family’s diet doesn’t have to be one person’s responsibility. Buy and prepare fruits and vegetables in different ways, then ask your kids’ opinions about which ones they liked the best.
These kinds of conversations can also be a great opportunity for you and your kids to discuss what kinds of foods are good for their teeth. Include your kids when possible, and they’ll be more enthusiastic about the changes regarding what they eat.

List of Smart Snacks

To help your kids choose healthier snacks, begin the transition slowly. I started by shopping for and buying healthier choices and not purchasing the high-sugar foods we were used to eating. I found the easiest way to incorporate fruits and vegetables was to include one of each at lunch and dinner, and a fruit at breakfast. Crunchier foods, like apples and celery, naturally help to clean teeth and don’t leave residue behind.
These smart snacks can be added to a regular meal or eaten as a snack during the day:
Fresh Fruit
These can be served with low-fat yogurt or cream cheese to combine savory and sweet.

• Apples
• Berries
• Bananas
• Pineapple

Raw Veggies
Combine these with condiments like low-fat dressing or peanut butter for a yummy snack.

• Carrots
• Celery
• Cucumbers
• Broccoli

Dairy
Choose low-fat or non-fat options to keep a diet low in fat.

• Cottage cheese
• Yogurt
• Hard cheeses, like cheddar

Basic Dental Hygiene Tips

Build a basic routine with your kids when it comes to basic dental hygiene. They need to brush and floss their teeth twice a day, once in the morning and once before bedtime. Practice this habit with your kids, and make sure to get them in to see a dentist every six months. Together, these steps will ensure healthy, bright smiles for your whole family!
Kelly Wilson is a busy mom and freelance writer. For more information about keeping your kids’ teeth healthy, contact Dr. Lance Heppler, DMD, a dentist in Vancouver, WA
http://www.raisingsmallsouls.com                   
 http://www.benlomondental.com/

Water should be the source of hydration for children and adolescents

AAP: Kids should not consume energy drinks

By Karen Fox, ADA News staff

Dr. Brett Dorney

Dentists routinely caution patients about the over-consumption of soda pop, juice and sports drinks that pack little if any nutritional value and take a toll on teeth.

Now the American Academy of Pediatrics is taking aim at energy and sports drinks, saying that in most cases, kids don’t need them and some products contain substances that can be harmful to children.

In the June issue of Pediatrics, the report’s co-authors point out the differences between sports drinks and energy drinks.

Sports drinks—which contain carbohydrates, minerals, electrolytes and flavoring—are intended to replace water and electrolytes lost through sweating during exercise. Sports drinks can be helpful for young athletes engaged in prolonged, vigorous physical activities, but in most cases they are unnecessary on the sports field or in the school lunchroom.

“For most children engaging in routine physical activity, plain water is best,” said Holly J. Benjamin, M.D., co-author. “Sports drinks contain extra calories that children don’t need and could contribute to obesity and tooth decay. It’s better for children to drink water during and after exercise, and to have the recommended intake of juice and low-fat milk with meals. Sports drinks are not recommended as beverages to have with meals.”

Energy drinks contain substances not found in sports drinks that act as stimulants, such as caffeine, guarana and taurine.

Caffeine—by far the most popular stimulant—has been linked to a number of harmful health effects in children, including effects on the developing neurologic and cardiovascular systems. Energy drinks are never appropriate for children or adolescents, said Dr. Benjamin and co-author Marcie Beth Schneider, M.D. In general, caffeine-containing beverages, including soda, should be avoided.

“In many cases, it’s hard to tell how much caffeine is in a product by looking at the label,” Dr. Schneider said. “Some cans or bottles of energy drinks can have more than 500 mg of caffeine, which is the equivalent of 14 cans of soda.”

Routine ingestion of carbohydrate-containing sports drinks by children and adolescents should be avoided or restricted, AAP recommends, because they can increase the risk of overweight and obesity, as well as dental erosion. Water, not sports drinks, should be the principal source of hydration for children and adolescents.

“There is a lot of confusion about sports drinks and energy drinks, and adolescents are often unaware of the differences in these products,” said Dr. Schneider. “Some kids are drinking energy drinks—containing large amounts of caffeine—when their goal is simply to rehydrate after exercise. This means they are ingesting large amounts of caffeine and other stimulants, which can be dangerous.”

Frequent drinking of soft drinks may be linked to obesity, diabetes and dental erosion, said Dr. Brett Dorney, a dentist and past president of the Academy of Sports Dentistry. The consumption of these drinks has increased 300 percent in the last 20 years, and serving sizes have ballooned from 185 grams in the 1950s to 500 grams in the 1990s.

“Sports drinks have erosive potential,” Dr. Dorney said, adding that the degree of damage will be influenced by the pattern of consumption, salivary flow rates, saliva buffering capacity, pellicle formation and the tooth surface’s chemical composition.

“Athletes will most often consume sports drinks after exercise when the volume and protective effects of saliva will be reduced,” said Dr. Dorney. “The erosive acids in sports drinks have the ability to dissolve even fluoride-rich enamel, which normally inhibits dissolution by the weaker acids, causing caries.”

Dr. Dorney encourages his colleagues in dentistry to caution patients—and parents of young patients—about the negative properties of sports drinks.

“To minimize dental problems, advise parents and athletes to hydrate with water before, during and after sports,” he said.

If sports drinks are consumed:

• reduce the frequency and contact time;
• swallow immediately and do not swish them around the mouth;
• rinse mouthguards only in water;
• seek out dentally friendly sports drinks;
• discuss training and hydration protocol with a dentist.

http://www.ada.org/news/5970.aspx
June 20, 2011  ADA News  http://www.benlomonddental.com/

"HOW TO FLOSS" - CHILDREN'S ACTIVITY

How to Floss Your Teeth: Sequencing Cards for National Children's Dental Health Month

National Children's Dental Health Month is sponsored every February by the American Dental Association. Teach children how to floss teeth with this sequencing activity.

Materials Needed:
* 2 copies of the "How to Floss" poster from the American Dental Association
* Construction paper
* Scissors
* Glue
* Lamination

How to Create the Flossing Sequencing Cards

1. Print 2 copies of the "How to Floss" poster.

2. Mount one copy on a construction paper background.

3. Cut apart the five steps, and mount them onto construction paper cards that are the same size.

4. Laminate all of the cards for durability.

How to Use the Flossing Sequencing Cards

1. Introduce the poster to the children, as part of a presentation on how to floss teeth as a part of good dental hygiene during National Children's Dental Heath Month.

2. Match one card at a time by overlaying it on the poster.

3. Return the cards to the basket, and place the entire activity back on the shelf.

Alternative Ideas for the Flossing Sequencing Cards

* Make cards that separate the picture from the instructions. Make this a reading comprehension activity, as the child has to put the pictures in order and label them accordingly.

* Post a copy of the poster near the bathroom sink as a reminder for children to floss daily.

* If possible, set out dental floss for children to use as practice for flossing at school or at home.

* Use yarn or string to "floss" a set of fake teeth, or an upside-down section of an egg carton.

* Find someone who is willing to have you photograph his mouth, and take real photographs of how to floss teeth.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/6231592/how_to_floss_your_teeth_sequencing.html?cat=25
http://www.benlomonddental.com/

February is National Children's Health Month "Fight Tooth Decay 24/7!"

February is National Children's Dental Health Month

Oral Hygiene Tips for Children

• American Dental Association
• Dental Health
• Children's Dentists

National Children's Dental Health Month is celebrated every February to raise awareness about the importance of oral health - especially the oral health of our children. The slogan for this year's National Children's Dental Health Month is "Fight Tooth Decay 24/7!"
The American Dental Association provides on their website a program planning kit that teachers, dental professionals and parents can download and print out. The planning kit offers different activities, events, and essay contests and school presentations that can be given on dental health. The planning kit also gives time lines on when to start advertising and promoting events and activities for Dental Health Month and provides resources if you need help.

I started taking our son to the dentist when he was almost two years old and I faithfully take him every six months. Good oral hygiene is so important to our overall health.

By taking your child to the dentist every six months and starting them at a young age, they learn early how to take care of their teeth, and their gums and teeth are healthier as they get older. Before I had my son's first dental visit I took him with me so that he could see my teeth being cleaned, see the dentist examine me and talk to me. Even though he was very young, I still felt it important to make sure he knew upfront what to expect.

Finding a Dentist

If you do not think your own family dentist is patient enough to work with children, you can always find a pediatric dentist. These dentists have completed additional training that specializes in treating children only. These dentists work extra closely with children in teaching them proper oral hygiene and are trained to make children feel comfortable. Most of your family dentists treat adults and children. We all use the same dentist, but it is something worth looking into if you don't feel comfortable with your own dentist.

Oral Hygiene Tips for Children

Children should brush their teeth at least two times a day. As a parent, it is our responsibility to make sure our children are brushing appropriately and to supervise them while brushing until they are old enough and  understand how to do it properly.

Flossing should be done at least once a day to remove food particles and plaque that can lead to cavities.

Visit the dentist every six months for oral hygiene cleanings. X-rays are usually taken once every 2 years to make sure that no cavities are present.

If your child is 5 - 6 years old, it is wise to have a sealants applied to their premolars. This will help prevent tooth decay. My dentist explained that sealants should be applied because these teeth in the back have large grooves in them and it is easy for the plaque and food to tuck down inside of the teeth.

Reduce sugar intake in foods and drinks. Sugar causes cavities.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children first be taken to the dentist six months after the first tooth comes through or before they are one year old. They used to recommend children start going to the dentist at three years of age. Due to so many children having cavities before they start school, they lowered the recommended age.


http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/587411/february_is_national_childrens_dental_pg2.html?cat=25

http://www.benlomonddental.com/

 

FLOSS DAILY

Did you know that teeth with plaque are more prone to stains(substances like coffee and tea stick to the buildup).  Neglecting to clean between teeth is one way to develop gum inflammation and may interfere with your teeth whitening results.  visit us at http://www.benlomonddental.com/