School Lunches That Promote Healthy Teeth

With school in session, it is time to start packing lunches for the kids again. It can be easy to pack processed lunches or have children buy lunch at school rather than taking the time to prepare something healthy. But packing a healthy lunch can be critical to children's oral health. Find out what foods to include in children's school lunches to make sure their teeth stay strong.

Healthy Sandwiches

Most lunches will typically include a sandwich. To make it healthier, use whole grain wheat bread instead of white bread. If you're making them a turkey or ham sandwich, consider adding a piece of cheese. Cheese is a great source of calcium and a certain type of protein called casein. You can spice things up further by adding vegetables such as tomatoes and lettuce if your child likes.
If your child isn't a fan of sandwiches or just wants to mix things up, hummus offers a healthy alternative.

Yogurt and Milk 

If your child does not like the food you pack, there is a chance he or she might not eat all of it or simply throw it away. A healthy snack your kids are sure to enjoy is a nice cup of yogurt. Yogurt is packed with nutrients and oftentimes fruit, making it a great choice. Plus, it's easy to eat.  Make sure to read the labels so you don’t buy yogurt filled with sugar!
Milk is always great for the teeth, but if your child is getting bored with traditional milk, try chocolate or strawberry milk. They will still get the added calcium and the added flavor will make it fun to drink. When you're buying milk, skip the whole milk varieties in favor of 1 percent or even skim if your children will drink it.

Fresh Veggies

For a side item, it's easy to pack some chips since it's already packed neatly. Eating a bag of chips every day, even the snack-size version, isn't good for your child's teeth. Instead, try vegetables such as carrots or celery. See what your child likes to dip with them in.  A small amount of ranch can go a long way in making veggies more appetizing for kids.
Packing a lunch can be fun for the parents and the children. Getting your child involved in the process can be a valuable experience. Talk to your child to see which healthy foods he or she likes or is willing to try. That way you know you're packing a healthy lunch that they will enjoy all while maintaining their oral health.

Fun Fall Crafts to do With Your Children

With the cooler weather, visits to the children's dentist for back-to-school checkups and busy mornings rushing to catch the school bus, fall can be a busy time for kids and parents. The perfect way to relax and enjoy the change in seasons is by doing fun fall crafts with the kids. Crafts provide a great opportunity for kids to get creative as well as get outside to collect some supplies that can be used to make their projects.

Personalized Fall Coasters

Fall coasters are easy to make and they are the perfect craft for little hands.

What you’ll need:

• 4-inch square ceramic tiles
• Decoupage glue
• Scissors
• Leaves
• Felt
• Paintbrush
• Marker

Instructions:

1. Clean the tiles with a damp cloth and allow to dry.
2. Let the children use a marker to write their name on the top of a ceramic tile.
3. Allow the marker ink to dry before proceeding.
4. Using a paintbrush, apply a layer of decoupage glue to the top of a ceramic tile.
5. Attach a leaf in the center of the tile.
6. Apply a thin layer of decoupage glue over the top and outside of the leaf.
7. Allow glue to dry and apply three or four more coats of decoupage glue.
8. Cut a piece of felt to fit the back of the tile and glue in place using decoupage glue.

Fall Wreath

After visiting the kids' dentist, take a walk in the park or around the neighborhood to collect a variety of items from nature, such as pine cones, acorns, leaves and twigs. The best thing about this fall wreath is there is no right or wrong way to make it and you can use whatever items you have on hand to decorate it.

Basic supplies needed:

• Foam ring
• Tissue paper or construction paper
• Glue
• Decoration items (leaves, flowers, pine cones, etc.)

Instructions:

• Glue tissue paper or construction paper around the foam ring.
• Cover the outside of the tissue/construction paper by using glue to attach the items found during your walk.

Gather a variety of items from the yard and around the house, get creative and allow the kids to use their imagination. Using recycled items is a fun way to get children to use their imagination. For example, the children's dentist will often give them a new toothbrush during their visit, but instead of tossing the old one, wash it with soap and water, allow it to dry and use it as a paintbrush. Dental floss can also be used to hang decorative items on a fall themed mobile.

How Do I Care for My Toddler's Teeth?

Caring for toddler's teeth can be a challenge. Although a toddler's teeth are small, they are like the teeth of an adult and must be properly cared for in order to maintain good oral health and hygiene. These tips and guidelines will help you keep your toddler's teeth and overall oral health in the best condition possible.

Create a Routine

Your child's oral health starts with you. As a parent, you need to make sure you are doing your part in your child’s brushing and flossing routine because children do not develop adequate hand-eye coordination to do a good job brushing and flossing until about the ages of 8 to 10 years. The most important times a child should brush and floss his or her teeth are in the morning and before they go to bed. Creating a routine can be difficult but it's not impossible. You will have to help your toddler each time.  It is best to let the child brush and floss first, so that way he or she gets to practice and can develop the needed hand-eye coordination to do a good job. The best way to teach your toddler how to brush his or her teeth is to lead by example. Brush your teeth the same time your toddler is brushing his or her teeth. 

Locate a Dental Office

Finding a dental office you are comfortable with is in the best interest of you and your child. A children’s dentist is the ideal dentist for your child. A general dentist can be used, but a kids' dentist specializes in the comfort, care and health of children. When you are trying to find a dental office for your toddler, consider its location, how far it is from your home and the type of insurance that is accepted.

Schedule Regular Check-Ups

Scheduling regular check-ups is perfect preventative care for cavities, gum disease and other issues that can occur due to poor oral hygiene. By your toddler's first birthday, your child should be seen by a kid-friendly dentist.

Ration the Juice

While it is okay to give your toddler juice, do not let them sip it for an extended period of time.  The time it takes them to drink the juice is more critical than the amount of juice they drink.  Juice can be given to your toddler each day but it is only recommended with meals.   Water or a sugar free beverage should be used for between meals or for sipping.

Teach Good Habits

Teaching your toddler good habits is the best way to prepare for the future. Teach them how to properly use a toothbrush, toothpaste and floss, and tell them why it's important to brush and floss their teeth at least twice each day.

Kids Using Tobacco: Why Kids Smoke and the Risk of Using Tobacco

There is a number of health risks associated with smoking, yet teenagers continue to smoke and/or use smokeless tobacco. Each day, there are approximately 3900 children between the ages 12-17 smoke their first cigarette. Over 950 of them will become regular smokers and about half of them will die from smoking in adulthood. For these reasons, it is essential that children understand the dangers associated with smoking and the use of smokeless tobacco.

Why Kids Begin Smoking

There are several reasons why children may start smoking. Some of the most common reasons children may be attracted to smoking and/or chewing tobacco include:

• To act older
• To lose weight
• To look cool
• To do something dangerous
• To satisfy curiosity
• To appear tough
• To feel independent
• To win tobacco related merchandise

Signs Your Child May Be Smoking

It is essential as a parent to establish good communication with children early to make tricky issues, like smoking, easier. Giving children information about the risks associated with smoking may help to protect them from this unhealthy habit. Ask your child’s dentist to talk with them about the risks to their oral health from smoking and if you suspect your child may be using tobacco products, make sure they see a kid’s dentist as soon as possible. Warning signs your child is smoking may include:

• Odor of smoke on their clothing
• Bad breath
• Frequent complaints of throat irritation
• Coughing
• Decrease in their athletic performance
• Shortness of breath
• Stained and/or yellow teeth

The Oral and Physical Health Risks of Tobacco Use

Smoking and/or using smokeless tobacco kills hundreds of people each year. Tobacco contains nicotine and several other poisonous chemicals that cause a range of diseases, including heart problems and cancer. Tobacco use can have a significant impact on the overall oral health of a child. Some of the effects of smoking and using smokeless tobacco may include:

• Throat cancer
• Mouth cancer
• Heart disease
• Bone loss
• Tooth loss
• Gum disease
• Stained teeth

To help prevent your children from using tobacco products, it is important to discuss the issue in a way that doesn't make kids fear a punishment or feel as though they are being judged. It is also important to continue talking to children about the dangers of tobacco use throughout their childhood and into adulthood. Discuss ways your child can respond to smoking and peer pressure and encourage their self-confidence, which will help protect them against peer pressure. Visit a kids' dentist with your child for more information on the dangers of smoking and oral health.

Care and Prevention of Toothaches in Children

A child's toothache can be caused by many different things but common causes of toothaches include tooth decay, dental trauma, loose teeth or erupting teeth and food wedged between the teeth. 

When Should You Contact Your Children's Dentist?

You should contact a kids' dentist when your child shows signs of pain. A few indications your child may need to be seen by the dentist include:

• Swollen face
• Acts or looks under the weather
• Severe pain that has not subsided within an hour or two
• Red or yellow lump present in the area of the gum line
• Visible brown cavity or hole in the tooth

Caring for Toothaches at Home

Until your child is able to see the dentist, try some of these at home remedies to help relieve the pain:

• Floss between your kids teeth to remove any impacted food
• Give your child over-the-counter pain reliever to help dull the pain
• If toothache is caused by an injury or trauma, apply a cold compress to the outside of your cheek.

Scheduling an Appointment

Your child's toothache may require a dental visit to repair any damages and put preventive care into perspective. An appointment should be scheduled if the toothache does not go away within a 24-hour time frame. Most toothache causes can be treated in a timely manner and resolved permanently as long as the proper preventative measures are followed. After the appointment, make sure you help keep your child's teeth in top-of-the-line condition by teaching them proper oral health habits. Depending upon your child's oral health, your child may require more frequent visits to the dentist until all issues and concerns have been resolved.

Dental Sealants for Kids

Dental sealants are an easy, pain-free way to help prevent cavities and are especially useful for kids. Kids can be prone to cavities if they do not form healthy brushing and flossing habits early on in childhood. A dental sealant is applied to the teeth that have grooves, mainly in the chewing or cheek surfaces of the teeth, to prevent food from getting stuck and bacteria from entering the grooves and forming cavities. Here are questions parents often have for their kids' dentist about sealants:

1. Why isn't brushing and flossing enough?

Sometimes the chewing grooves on a tooth are too tight for toothbrush bristles to get in to the grooves and clean out food and bacteria.  Placing a sealant to seal the grooves then makes the surfaces of the teeth that have grooves more cleanable so cavities are not as easily formed.  This benefits children since they are learning how to brush their teeth and still developing the hand-eye coordination to do a good job.  Sometimes cleaning the back molars can be difficult since they are hard to see and reach for the undeveloped hand muscles.  Most children have sufficient hand-eye coordination to clean teeth between the ages of 8-10 years old.

2. What are dental sealants made of? Are dental sealants safe?

Dental sealants are made of plastic that starts off as a liquid and flows in to the grooves of the teeth which is then hardened with a curing light. Dental sealants are very safe. The plastic materials are not made with BPA and there is no health or medical concerns associated with dental sealants according to the American Dental Association.

4. Are they expensive?

Dental insurance typically covers dental sealants. For many patients, sealants are affordable. Dental sealants save many patients money because they prevent cavities and can eliminate the need for fillings if properly cared for.

5. How are dental sealants applied?

Dental sealants are very easy to apply. The sealant is applied directly to the tooth, where it bonds to the enamel. The liquid plastic flows in to every groove in the tooth and essentially makes the surface smooth and cleanable. This boosts the effectiveness of brushing and flossing. It's quick and pain-free.

6. Do they last a long time?

A sealant can last for years. Depending on how children care for their teeth and what foods they eat, the sealants may stay in place for life.  Sticky, tacky foods can pull sealants off however. Your dentist may also apply touch-ups at every visit to ensure the sealant will last even longer.

7. Do they require special care?

A dental sealant does not require specific care or maintenance. Your child will be able to eat and drink normally and can eat his or her favorite foods with the exception of sticky foods like taffy or Tootsie rolls for example. Your child can brush and floss normally. There are no special mouth washes or rinses required. In fact, your child can eat the same day the sealant is applied.

Dental sealants are a great way to protect your children's permanent teeth from decay and cavities. Ask us today to see if they are the right option for your child!

Risk Assessment Tool

Your child's teeth are important, but it may be difficult for parents to determine if their child needs the attention of a dentist or not. While annual cleanings are easy to remember and schedule even if there is not an issue, it may be difficult to determine if your child needs further attention or if they are doing well with their teeth and oral care.

That is where the pediatric risk assessment tool comes in handy. We here at Playtime Dental use this tool at each cleaning to determine if your child needs further care and also to identify any issues or risk factors that may lead to a need for more dental work. The tool first looks at a wide range of factors that may affect the overall health of your child's teeth. Who takes care of the child's teeth, has there been decay in the past 12 months, do they use a bottle or a sippy cup, do they snack often, do they have special needs, etc.? These factors will let the doctor know what type of potential issues they may be looking for so that they can more accurately address any issues that are present.

The tool also looks at what type of preventative efforts you and your child are taking as part of their oral health:

• Does your child visit the dentist regularly?
• Do they brush?
• Do they floss?
• Do they use a fluoride rinse?
• Do they drink fluoridated water?
• Do they snack frequently?
• Do they sip on beverages or drink them quickly?

These factors will help the dentist determine how likely it is that there will be issues with your child’s teeth.
Your kids' dentist will then mark any findings that were present with the checkup. Did they find decay, broken teeth, white spots lesions (start of cavities), or excessive plaque, etc.? This is the chance for the dentist and staff to talk with the parent about everything that they found during the cleaning, which makes diagnosing and choosing a treatment plan option much easier.


The last aspect of the assessment tool is to consider what options are available for treating any issues found. Determining if the patient is a high or low caries risk guides treatment decisions. Some issues will not need dental intervention and can be taken care of at home by improving or increasing the frequency of, or by adding, brushing, flossing or a fluoride rinse to the patient’s routine. If further dental intervention needed, your dentist will suggest the solution that is going to be least difficult or traumatizing for the child and will help parents put a treatment method in place so that your child can have the healthy teeth that they need.