Flimsy (Disposable) Flossers

Basically I love anything that makes dental flossing easier or more convenient. As I tell the kids in my

practice repeatedly, "The people who don't floss keep me busy doing fillings. I would rather be busy teaching patients how to have healthy beautiful smiles.

The little disposable Flossers are convenient to have around and have been made cute and attractive for kids.  I have come to discover, however that they are too flimsy for the younger kids to be using.  They don't understand the importance of getting that floss down past the tight place between the teeth.  They haven't developed the feel of knowing the floss is doing the right thing. The Flossers are too flimsy and don't get through the most important real tight places the highest risk kids have. They also have to get their fingers in the mouth to get the job done right, which kids are not very coordinated about.

Sealants Prevent Cavities in Kids

Most of my writing focuses on what we can do as parents to improve and safeguard the oral health of our kids and whole family.  However, there are a few things that your dentist can do to prevent cavities.  Sealants are one of them!  The following is information from a recent study done by Delta Dental, one of the largest dental insurers in the country.  They are very interested in whether the money they spend for their client's oral health is effective!

Cavities are almost entirely preventable, and a recent study shows that sealants — especially when combined with professional fluoride treatments — are among the best tools to help children fight tooth decay early in their lives. However, the study also cites sealants recently ranking ninth in children’s dental procedures, suggesting a lack of community awareness about sealant effectiveness.

Perinatal Care Benefits Your Baby's Teeth

Mom’s oral health is clearly related to a healthy pregnancy, healthy delivery and healthy baby.  However, 2/3 of women do not seek dental care during their pregnancy!  Though it is perceived by most that dental care should be avoided during pregnancy, that couldn’t be farther from the truth.

What is real is:

1) Dental care can be administered anytime during the pregnancy without undue risk to the baby.  A thorough examination in the first trimester would reveal what would be recommended to maximize mom’s oral health and the unborn child’s health.  Emergency work can be done immediately to avoid infection developing.  Significant extensive work is done best during the second trimester, after mother’s morning sickness has subsided and before weight gain makes it uncomfortable to sit in the dental chair.

2) Creating good oral health early in the pregnancy will ensure against the need for antibiotics or pain medications that may carry risk for the developing baby.

Tips for Optimum Oral Heath During Pregnancy

Pregnant?  Your and your baby’s optimum oral health and general health can begin today!

In a previous blog I emphasized how important oral health is to the health of your pregnancy and your baby.  What can you do now, even before a good dental examination to maximize your oral health?

Gum Chewers and Mint Poppers 
If you chew gum or use mints, be sure to buy ones with xylitol as the first ingredient, and preferably the only sweetener in the ingredients list.  Xylitol is well documented as a cavity-preventing sweetener.  Find xylitol (gum, mints, toothpaste, etc.) at your health food store, Internet, and checkout stand (spry, glee, ice cubes, frost, epic, & more).

Then vs Now: Why So Many Cavities?

The rising number of cavities the last 30 years, especially in children, has far outgrown the dental industry’s ability to fill the cavities!  There are simply not enough dentists.  How could this be?  We only need to go back a couple hundred years and cavities were not a problem for anyone except the Royalty and the rich.  Only the rich had dentists, typically in the royal court.  And there is our first clue.

Only the rich could afford the sugar, which needed to be shipped around the world to be used in the Royal Court’s confections and white pastries.  There is a second clue.  Refined white flour, when cooked, becomes a cooked starch that is capable of feeding the bacteria that cause cavities.  Additionally, the starch sticks between the teeth (flour and water paste) where it holds dissolved sugars from a variety of otherwise healthy foods like fruits.