Category: mansfield

Kids Dental Health: Vending Machines in Schools

Posted on by Playtime Dental
Obesity, bad eating habits, and unhealthy food choices do not necessarily originate at home. Parents are not always the ones influencing their children’s unhealthy dietary intake. It could be, perhaps, the vending machines at school. Children are tempted by the items they see inside the vending machines in their schools. The result of unhealthy or sugary snacks can impact kids’ dental health as well as their overall well-being.
It is hard for them to resist so many unhealthy snacks when they are exposed to them every single day. Children with a few dollars in their pockets are tempted with chocolate candy bars, greasy potato chips, and acid filled sodas. These foods fall in the category of non-nutritious snacks, because they offer little or no nutritional value.
Schools can influence their students’ diets if they consider putting healthier food choices in their vending machines. Apples, oranges, milk, juices, and even multi-grain fruit bars are better food choices. Foods such as these aid children and their parents in more than one way.
The Vending Machine and Its Impact on Children
Vending machines containing junk foods actually influence children to eat unhealthily. When children are hungry and want a quick snack, they have to settle for what they can get. The choices they have to choose from are the ones that the vending machines provide. Schools can control what goes into the vending machines, but only if they choose to do so.
Bad eating habits lead children to the kids’ dentist or to a general dentist office. Acidic drinks and sugary snacks destroy the tooth’s enamel and often lead to cavities and tooth decay. Parents spend hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars on dental care to restore their children’s teeth.
How Can Parents Help if Schools Will Not?

The voices of dissatisfied parents speak louder than vending machines. Parents can demand that their children’s school remove the vending machines or, at least, replace the foods inside with healthier foods. Parents can also forbid their children not to buy certain snacks from the vending machines. However, parents can also pack their children’s lunch, making sure to include nutritious snacks that will support overall health.

Oral Health Checklist for Teens

Posted on by Playtime Dental

As your child ages, especially during his or her teenage years, it will be your job to hand over the responsibility of taking care of your child’s teeth. This means it will be your child who has to make sure his or her teeth are brushed after every meal. Although there is quite a bit involved in properly taking care of one’s mouth, your teenager should not feel overwhelmed with dental hygiene. To make sure your child is doing all that he or she can, make sure you hang up an oral health checklist in your child’s bathroom as well as regularly visiting a kids’ dentist. The checklist should outline the following tips and it should be written as if it is talking directly to your teen.

·         Skip the chips and chocolate and eat an apple. Eating unhealthy foods is not only bad for your teeth, but it can be detrimental to your overall health.  Childhood obesity and diabetes are becoming more prevalent, so make sure you’re making healthy food choices.
·         Please buckle up in the car. Not only will wearing a seat belt help protect your mouth, it can also save your life if you’re in an accident.
·         Brush and floss after every meal.  Also consider chewing sugarless gum after each meal; this will help make your breath fresh, and it also helps to prevent tooth decay.  Did you know Xylitol, a sugar alcohol used in sugarless gum, actually kills the bacteria that cause decay! 
·         Do you have a game tonight? If so, make sure you pack your mouth guard, and more importantly, make sure you wear it during your game. You don’t want your permanent teeth getting knocked out do you? Wearing a mouth guard is one of the best things you can do to protect your teeth while playing sports.

·         Forget about getting your tongue pierced. You might think it looks cool, but as you age, you may come to realize it was just a phase you were going through.   Oral piercings can damage the teeth.  To have the best dental hygiene possible, you should skip over the oral piercings.

Tips for Dental Emergency Prevention

Posted on by Playtime Dental
When it comes to taking care of your mouth, of course you know that brushing and flossing on a daily basis are two of the smartest things you can do. But what about dental emergencies? How are you supposed to go about preventing them? More importantly, how can you prevent dental emergencies from happening to your kids? Fortunately, there are many tips you can follow.

Tip #1: Visit a kids’ dentist.

The first and most important tip to follow is visiting a kids’ dentist on a regular basis. When you visit our office, you can rest assured that we will be able to both identify and properly treat any problems in your kids’ mouths.
Tip #2: Wear a mouth guard.
If your kids play sports, they need to wear mouth guards during their sporting events. Not only will a mouth guard help protect the teeth in your children’s mouths, but it will also help protect the bone that holds the teeth.
Tip #3: Deal with emergencies.
You can’t always avoid dental emergencies. If your child gets one of his or her permanent teeth knocked out, it’s important to keep the tooth moist. You can do this by placing the tooth in a glass of milk. However, if a tooth is knocked out, the best liquid to place a tooth in is Hank’s Balanced Salt Solution and the worst liquid is water. Reimplanting the tooth in to the socket as soon as possible is the best thing to do.  The most important thing to do, however, is to visit our office immediately.
Tip #4: Child-proof your home.
There are many steps you can take to child-proof your home. From putting up pieces of furniture that have sharp corners and edges, to making sure your child doesn’t bite down on hard objects, child-proofing the home will go a long way in preventing dental emergencies.
Tip #5: Always make your child sit in a car seat.
Until your child reaches the proper height and weight recommendations, you should always make him or her sit in a car seat while traveling. Not only will this help prevent dental emergencies, but it can also save your child’s life in the event of an accident.
Tip #6: Keep a close eye on your children.

One of the most common times that your child is likely to endure a dental emergency is when learning to walk. No matter the age of your child, though, make sure you keep a close eye on him or her at all times.

Educate Yourself during Oral Cancer Awareness Month

Posted on by Playtime Dental
April is oral cancer, head and neck cancer awareness month, recognizing the danger of oral cancer and instilling the importance of regular dental visits and proper dental hygiene. Oral cancer affects millions of Americans, and they often don’t realize they have it until they visit the dentist. If you are not visiting your general dentist regularly, you could miss the chance at early diagnosis and treatment, which can damage your long-term health. Taking your child to a kid friendly dentist regularly is a great idea and his or her dentist should screen for oral cancer at recall appointments. This awareness month is provided in part by the Oral Cancer Foundation, which offers various sources and educational materials to teach children and adults the importance of maintaining proper dental health.
The Dangers of Oral Cancer
Oral cancer, which affects the mouth and throat, kills approximately one person for every hour of every day a year. Once diagnosed, about 50 percent of the patients live five years, and that is with early diagnosis. Even those who do survive may struggle with facial abnormalities and long-term problems involving eating and speaking. The best course of action for oral cancer is early diagnosis and treatment, thus improving your chances of surviving the cancer.
Symptoms of Oral Cancer
Another danger of oral cancer is the lack of signs and symptoms during the early stages. While a general dentist can see these early signs, you likely will not notice them until the cancer gets to a more advanced stage. Symptoms of oral cancer include:
·         White or red patches and spots in the mouth
·         Sores that bleed easily and don’t heal
·         Unexplained swelling of the jaw
·         A chronic sore throat
·         A change in the voice
·         Lumps, bumps or rough spots on the gums, lips, or anywhere inside the mouth
·         Ear pain
·         Dramatic weight loss
These symptoms may come one at a time, or they may seemingly develop and become aggressive all at once.
How to Prevent Oral Cancer

The best way to prevent oral/head and neck cancer is by taking good care of your teeth and mouth. To prevent oral/head and neck cancer, reduce sugar and alcohol intake, don’t smoke cigarettes or chew tobacco products, and limit your exposure to the sun’s harsh UV rays. Proper dental hygiene, including brushing and flossing daily, is incredibly important not just for general dental health but to prevent oral cancer as well. Finally, see your dentist regularly, at least every six months, for a checkup and cleaning.

Mouth Protectors in Sports

Posted on by Playtime Dental
Most parents would love their children to grow up as athletes. As they begin to engage in sports, the topic of safety will begin to come up. This is common in all kinds of sports including football, soccer, hockey, skiing, and any sport where the player may come in contact with another person or piece of equipment. All these sports involve some level of physical activity that can expose the child to a risk of getting injured.
Dental Safety in Sports
While most players understand the importance of safety in sports, they tend to overlook the importance of a mouth protector. During games, there is probably a high risk that the player may fall, hit his or her head, or have mouth or head contact with other children or with the sports equipment. This fact makes the mouth protector a very essential piece of sports gear that is recommended by all dentists.
Importance of a Mouth Protector
The right mouth protector will go a long way in protecting not only the teeth, but also cheeks, the jaw, tongue, lips, and even reduce the intensity of neck and head injuries. Research has proven that wearing a mouth protector greatly minimizes the possibility of getting dental and/or oral injuries.  This has always been among the most important items recommended by dentists to parents who have children involved in sports. With mouth protectors you have a number of options to pick from nowadays and you can easily find one that is right for your kid. They are available in most sporting goods stores or you can make an order online, but make sure it is recommended by your kids’ dentist.

The most important thing is getting one that is comfortable to wear and it fits according to their mouth structure. You can always consult a reputable dentist who caters to the young and growing to find out which is the best for your kid or if they can make a customized one specifically for your child. It is a fantastic idea to teach your kid how to keep safe during sports.  Make them protect their pearly whites with a mouth protector so that smile stays looking nice!

Establish Good Home Dental Care Habits Early

Posted on by Playtime Dental
Good dental health habits should start young. Proper tooth brushing, flossing and good dental habits affect more than the beauty of your children’s teeth. Poor dental habits, cavities, and gum disease can lead to bacterial infections which can lead to a major infection that could spread to different areas of the body if they are allowed to persist. According to the American Dental Association, gum disease and other health problems may be linked. Oral health and the health of the rest of the body are not separate.
Tips for Encouraging Healthy Mouth Habits in Your Child
·         Start Healthy Habits Early. Before your baby has his first tooth he should already be adjusted to the feeling of a soft rubber tipped toothbrush gently cleaning his gums two to three times daily. This early start will help establish good habits, and keep your child’s oral health in good shape from day one. Some people refer to baby teeth as training teeth, in the context that they do not need to worry if they get cavities. This is a very dangerous mindset.
·         Be a Great Example. Toddlers mimic much of what their parents do. The good or the bad. Letting them see you floss, and brush your teeth after meals, and making healthy choices such as drinking water over sugary beverages will go a long way when it comes time for them to make their own choices.
·         Take Them to Dental Appointments Early. This has a two-fold benefit for your child. One, they will not have a fear of the dentist if they go before they are taught to fear. And two, any problems that may occur will be caught early before they cause extensive damage.
·         Make Dental Care a Positive Experience. Do not turn tooth brushing time into a stressful event. Smile, and start brushing your own teeth if you want to get a hesitant toddler to follow suit. Make it a game, put on silly music to time the brushing and let your child pick out their own tooth brush, floss and rinse cup.

If you are looking for a positive first time dental experience for your child, contact Playtime Dental for an appointment!

First Visit to Dentist Can Be Fun and Educational, Encourage Good Habits

Posted on by Playtime Dental
Whether they arrive early or late in your baby’s mouth, the appearance of baby’s first teeth are a cause for celebration. Despite “teething trauma,” those tiny pearly whites represent a milestone of development, and mark the beginning of a lifetime of varied dental concerns.
Generally relaxed parental attitudes surrounding the initial 20 “baby teeth” can progress through many stages: Brushing and flossing, dealing with the tooth fairy, first “fears,” dental caries, straightening, whitening, wisdom teeth, loss of teeth, possible jaw or gum problems.
Encourage Good Habits
The fact that human beings receive two full sets of teeth does not make it any easier. What many people do not realize is that by the time those first infant teeth appear, somewhere between four and 16 weeks, the “buds” have been developing in the jaw for almost a year. Tooth buds begin to form within six weeks of conception.
Even though it is sometimes said that primary teeth are simply “place-savers,” for a permanent set of ivories, a kids dentist will tell you that it’s never too early to encourage good habits. From the time a child can hold a toothbrush — and even before — it’s wise to establish brushing routines, encourage proper nutrition and limit sweets.
Keep It Friendly and Fun
An early visit to a dentist who specializes in comfortable examinations, preventive care and education concerning health of the teeth and mouth will prepare a child for a lifetime of smiles. Beginning at about age six, the loss and replacement of those first baby teeth signals an ongoing process that will last into early adulthood.
In many cases today, the last four teeth to make their appearance, the so-called “wisdom teeth” at the far ends of the jawbone, will also be the first teeth to be lost. For reasons not fully understood, modern jaws are often not large enough to accommodate these large molars.

Playtime Dental is committed to providing complete children dental care, with the goal of helping you keep the smile on your child’s face through an entire lifetime. Call for an appointment today!

History of the Dentist

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We’ve all been in that place where we sit in the waiting room, expecting the discomfort of sitting with our mouth wide open while a dentist cleans and works on our teeth. Whether you enjoy going to the dentist or you prefer not to think about visiting a dental professional, it is an important part of maintaining good hygiene. The history of dentistry is probably richer than you expect, because it began in 7000 BCE.
Ancient History
In ancient history, dentistry was used to clear decay, drain abscesses and replace teeth that were lost. The methods used in ancient times were crude, but evidence from skulls found in Egypt and the Indus Valley suggest that dentistry began long before modern medicine.
It was not until 500 BCE that measures to replace teeth with metal began to show up. Before gold was used to replace missing teeth by the Etruscans and the Romans, ancient cultures used animal teeth and tied them in place.
Modern Culture
It was not until the 1600s that dentistry began to take on the forms that are common today. Between the 1650s and the 1800s, physicians began taking an interest in dentistry and started working on it as part of treatment for their patients.
The first dental college did not open in the United States until 1840, when the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery opened its doors to students. From that time period, dentistry has rapidly evolved and changed to keep up with modern medicine and humane treatment practices.
Dentists use a variety of tools to remove decay and fill in cavities as well as perform dental surgery and remove teeth that are damaged. In modern dentistry, it is possible to replace teeth with options that look the same or similar to real teeth. Furthermore, cosmetic procedures are available to straighten, whiten and improve the appearance of teeth.

Dentistry has a very long history, which began thousands of years ago. Although the modern use of tools and technology has made it possible for dentists to keep teeth healthy, the advances of medical science are continually providing new opportunities to keep your teeth healthy each year.

Why Fill Baby Teeth

Posted on by Playtime Dental

It would be safe to say that the fear of cavities is a main reason why most parents encourage their children to brush their teeth. No one likes the idea have having tooth pain or experiencing that first drilling, but what happens if you or your child’s dentist finds a cavity?

When a cavity is found in a baby tooth, there are options on how to treat them, such as a preventive resin or a traditional filling. Your dentist will review the options with you so you can choose together your best course of action for your child’s oral health. If you are be reading this and wondering why we would fill a tooth that is only going to fall out in a few years anyway, rest assured, there is a reason!

It is estimated that 51 million school hours are lost due to dental disease each year. Imagine trying to concentrate on multiplication when your tooth hurts! Additionally, a decaying tooth can abscess causing severe pain. Cavities that are left untreated can bring a host of complications that go as far as school performance and peer relationships. Yes, those teeth are going to fall out eventually, but right now they are very important to your child.

Baby (or primary) teeth hold space in your child’s mouth for the permanent teeth to grow in. Therefore, if a tooth is lost to untreated decay, the nearby teeth may shift into the empty space and actually prevent the permanent tooth from erupting properly. When this happens, a crooked smile is often a sad result.

If you find or suspect a cavity in your child’s teeth, don’t hesitate to have it checked out. Of course, we all desire to prevent cavities from forming, but if one sneaks in, early detection and treatment is important!

Children at Risk

Posted on by Playtime Dental

Overall, children in America have the benefit of the best oral care in the world.  The care they receive is so good that only half of the children who are enrolled in our schools have ever had a cavity! We have the advantage of fluoridated water in many public supplies and dental care that is easily accessible. This is wonderful news for our children and their smiles!

Sadly though, 25% of the children we speak of are the ones who have 80% of the cavities in this demographic. Children who have special health care requirements have just that: special needs. Those children, who are chronically ill, physically impaired or developmentally disabled, are some of the children who find themselves in the 25%. Some of these children are in families that rely on Medicaid, as those with medical problems often find themselves in a position where they qualify for this benefit. But even with this benefit, only 7.8% of Medicaid dollars are spent on dental care. Almost all children who are developmentally disabled are likely to have moderate to severe gum disease, which alone can be responsible for many, many trips to the dentist. A child with Down’s syndrome must have an x-ray of the neck before any dental treatment, to determine the position of their spine.  If anything is awry, it may be safest to have their dental work done while they are under anesthesia.

Children fall into the at-risk category when they are from lower income families who have not placed, or have not been able to place, an emphasis on dental care. Not all community water is fluoridated, such as Mansfield, which also places these children at risk for dental disease.

Research has shown that dental disease may negatively impact a child’s performance in school as the pain and discomfort from any tooth decay is distracting and impedes the ability to focus on studies and eat a healthy lunch, which fuels him or her through the day.  Every child deserves to have a healthy and attractive smile. Children with healthy mouths have a better chance of a good general health. With a healthy smile, children are more likely to have confidence in their appearance.