Children’s Dental Awareness

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By Nurse Diane

I remember the first time I went to the dentist as I child.  Well I don’t remember the particulars, like what the dentist looked like - or his assistant - or even what he did - I just remember he had a cork board on his wall that was full of toys, and when I left, I got to pick a toy.  What else do you need to remember other than free toys?  I remember a little more when I took my son to his first dentist appointment.  Things had changed quite a bit.  His dentist was a pediatrician dentist, meaning he only cared for children before the age of 18 years.  He had video games in the lobby, and bright colors and toys everywhere.

He had a young staff who made the kids feel at ease, and I was allowed to go back with him to make sure he wasn't frightened.  They even took his picture so I would have something to place in his baby book.  He continued seeing this dentist every year until he turned 18, and even then he wanted to keep going to see him.  That is an important part of starting dental care.  To make sure the child has a good comfortable experience.

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This is National Children’s Dental Health Month.  The ADA recommends that the first dental visit should begin by the child's first birthday, when the first teeth begin to erupt.

First visits are mostly about getting kids used to the dentist's chair and educating parents about how to care for baby's teeth. If your child has transitioned from the bottle to cup and doesn't snack or drink in the middle of the night, you get a one-year pass, until age 2. That's when the standard every-six-month dental visit recommendation kicks into gear. When your child is between ages 4 and 6, expect your dentist to take a first set of X-rays to check for cavities lurking between the teeth.

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Prevention is the name of the game between ages 6 and 12, when baby teeth give way to permanent teeth. Your child's dentist will probably suggest a sealant, a plastic resin that bonds to teeth chewing surfaces, between ages 7 and 9. Cavity-prone molars are the most likely site for treatment. The resin keeps cavity-causing bacteria from getting into the grooves and valleys of teeth.

Also, when your child is around age 7, his dentist will likely suggest an orthodontic evaluation. Most kids will wait until their early teens for braces, but orthodontics is about modifying jaw growth, so identifying skeletal causes of crooked teeth early helps ensure a beautiful smile later on.

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My stepson took his daughter to her first dental appointment yesterday; she will be 4 in July.  He told me that she will be needing some work done.  That is why it is so important to start early dental visits to ensure good dental health at a early age.  If you have small children in your family, encourage their parents to seek a pediatric dentist to start proper dental care at an early age to maintain a healthy and long lasting smile

National Flossing Day

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By Diane Forrest

Every time I think about flossing, I can't help but think about the scene in the movie Pretty Woman where she is in the bathroom flossing her teeth, but Richard Gere thinks she is doing drugs.  Julia Roberts gets embarrassed that she was caught red handed flossing her teeth.  I remember a dentist telling me once "you don’t have to floss all your teeth, just the ones you want to keep!"

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Today is National Flossing Day.  It comes the day after Thanksgiving as a reminder to clean your teeth properly after all the tasty eating done yesterday.  flossing.org has issued a proclamation for today, :Whereas This Nation will once again have spent a full day focused on food, on Thanksgiving Day, November 22, and since it is good for each of us to floss after meals, Therefore, It is befitting and proper that the following day, November 23, 2012 be celebrated as National Flossing Day.

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During that day each and every person is encouraged to consider the role flossing has played in his or her life during the previous year, and to celebrate flossing so they can Help Spread "Peace of Mouth" in their own lives and the lives of others around them, in ways with and without floss.

All citizens of the universe are encouraged to search for ways to experience the JOY OF FLOSSING and thereby move beyond negative reasons to floss.

On this special day, our children should also be made aware of the richness and health that flossing can bring to life. Be this day so proclaimed in the name of all the Volunteers who have devoted time to the work of the National Flossing Council and to Help Spread "Peace of Mouth!"

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So today, on National Flossing Day, don't forget to floss in between each tooth, in fact, you can do this every day to keep your smile clean and healthy.

Root Canal Awareness Week

While researching the Internet on month, week and day observances I discovered that this week is Root Canal Awareness Week.  Folks, this is one subject that I have lived with for decades.  Why so lucky, well my oldest grandson, Connor, offers this suggestion, that since my birthday is in January, perhaps I was conceived on April 1^st.  He's in Orlando working at Disney - a safe distance away - for now - love him just the same.

Depicts Identification and Process

Since the mid-seventies I have had the opportunity to experience several, with a few that still give me nightmares from time to time – but fair readers – I’ll not dwell upon those.  We will however spend the next couple of days reviewing what is a Root Canal, why we get them, how they are treated, how to prevent them, and the significant advances and technology to improve the process and more importantly, helping the patient.

Root canal definitions 

Function: n

1.  The part of the pulp cavity lying in the root of a tooth called also pulp canal 

2. A dental operation to save a tooth by removing the contents of its root canal and filling the cavity with a protective substance (as gutta-percha)

Source - Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2007 Merriam-Webster, Inc

1. The chamber of the dental pulp lying within the root portion of a tooth. Also called pulp canal .

2. A treatment in which diseased tissue from this part of the tooth is removed and the resulting cavity is filled with an inert material.

Source - The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary

With that as an introduction I'll close out for now and continue getting the next parts ready for posting,  As always, we welcome and look forward to your comments.  Wishing all a wonderful day,

~ Terry

Healthy Habit # 6 Practice Good Dental Hygiene

How many of you dread your visits to the Dentist?  The pain, those long needles, drilling a tunnel in your teeth.  Or that little wedge thing to keep your mouth open, or when the dentist brings in someone to help pull out a tooth?  Egads!!!  Why on earth does one look forward to that visit?

Try spending a long weekend with an abscessed tooth, while your dentist in out of town, and forgot to leave a message who was filling in for him/her and you have no PAIN PILLS.  Now that is motivation my friends.  I’m standing at the door before they open, waiting to get into the chair - fix this NOW!!  He sent me to a specialist and pain was gone within an hour!

Like many other topics on this blog, we are learning more each passing day about so many things, our bodies, the environment, new technology, new discoveries, new ways of treating so many things.

Crowns used to take weeks to make.  Make the mold, send it off to a third party.  Today, a couple of digital pictures, some adjustment by the dentist, and a fancy machine down the hall begins making the one of a kind crown for you.  A few minutes later, a big smile and  you are walking out the door - another satisfied customer.

Remember, practicing good dental hygiene begins at home, with Mom and Dad helping, setting the example for you to follow.  Brushing your teeth, flossing and rinsing at least daily!  Eating the right foods to help you have strong healthy teeth and to last a life time.  It is important that you visit your dentist twice a year for a good cleaning and check up.

We have an excellent dentist who has been given several awards over the years in the Greater Washington DC Metro area.  We are also friends and have a good time during our visits.