Caries and Sugar—A Sticky Subject

Caries and Sugar—A Sticky Subject

Most of us know that allowing children to snack on sugary foods all day long isn’t the best choice for their overall health. But when it comes to dental health, even foods that have some nutrition can be detrimental. Gummy candies and vitamins, dried fruit snacks and chewy protein bars may seem like smart snacking choices, but they can easily get stuck in between young teeth—and since children typically aren’t the best flossers, this can be a recipe for dental disaster.

Sugar doesn't actually cause cavities; rather, the sugar acts as “food” for bacteria that cause decay. When carbohydrate-heavy foods become stuck to the teeth, they produce an acid that eats away at the enamel of your child’s pearly whites, allowing bacteria to make a nice, comfy home in the dentin, or center, of the tooth. Once the dentin begins to decay, cavities are the next step down the road to the dentist’s drill and fillings.

Interestingly, eating a massive amount of sugar in one sitting is less harmful than sucking on sugary candies or sipping juice all day long. This is because the more time the mouth spends in that sugary, acidic state, the longer the bacteria can do their dirty, decaying work. After eating a sugary snack, the negative effects can be mitigated if children rinse their mouths with water, brush their teeth or floss.

So while it might be a losing battle to try to remove all sugar and sticky carbohydrates from your children’s diets, you can teach them good dental habits such as

• chewing sugarless gum with xylitol
• carrying a toothbrush in their backpack to brush after meals and snacks
• eating fresh fruit instead of fruit leather or juice
• choosing chocolate—if you do allow candy—rather than gummy candy (just as it easily melts in your hand, chocolate can easily melt off your child’s back teeth)

And if all else fails, remind your children that swishing some water around in their mouths after snacks is a lot easier than getting a cavity filled!

If you have further questions regarding your child's oral health and diet, click here to schedule an appointment with Dr. Jared. Or give us a call at (509)-891-7070.

Bulimia’s Impact on Dental Health

Bulimia’s Impact on Dental Health

Eating disorders pose a serious problem in the United States. More than 10 million Americans, especially teen and young adult women, suffer from eating disorders, one of which is bulimia—a cycle of bingeing on food and purging by the use of laxatives or vomiting. Bulimia can wreak havoc on a young person’s health, including causing serious dental problems. In fact, dentists are often the first medical professionals to suspect bulimia in their patients, making us a key part of the recovery process.

Throwing up frequently can affect the mouth in several ways:

It destroys the enamel. When you vomit, your mouth is bathed in digestive acids, along with the foods being regurgitated. These acids can erode the enamel, or top layer, of your teeth. This is a problem because the enamel protects the more fragile layers of your teeth from sensitivity and decay. Studies show that 89% of people who are bulimic suffer from enamel erosion.

It ruins appearance. As the enamel of your teeth is worn away, the teeth take on a yellowish or grayish appearance. If the erosion process continues, teeth can even change in size, appearing longer. Frequent vomiting may cause problems with the salivary glands, and swollen glands can widen your jaw, giving it a “square” appearance.

It can make a person with bulimia feel uncomfortable. Dry, cracked lips; chronic dry mouth; severely sensitive teeth; and a sore throat and tongue are painful conditions common in bulimics.

Dr. Jared can help manage the effects of bulimia on your child’s mouth. He may suggest avoiding brushing the teeth directly after vomiting, because this can make erosion worse. Instead, encourage your child to use a baking soda rinse to wash acid from the mouth. Saliva replacements and fluoride treatments can also help counteract the negative effects of the disease, as is making frequent visits to our office to treat cavities and perform root canals on damaged teeth.

Despite being able to help with the side effects, we at KiDDS Dental can’t help your child recover from bulimia. It is vitally important to get the help your child needs—not only for the sake of his or her mouth, but also for health, happiness and the future.

Call us to schedule an appointment today! (509)-891-7070.

2016 Elf on a Shelf Photo Contest

KiDDS Dental's 2016 Elf on a Shelf Photo Contest

Facebook in no way endorses or promotes this contest. It is solely promoted by KiDDS Dental.

The Rules: 

KiDDS Dental's Elf on a Shelf photo contest begins Dec 21, 2016 and ends Dec 28, 2016.  By submitting a photo, each entrant agrees to the rules and states that they are 18 years or older. 

Who may enter: Adults 18 years or older are eligible to submit a photo.  KiDDS Dental will determine the eligibility of each photo submitted at its sole discretion.

What to enter: A picture of an Elf on a Shelf shot by the entrant.  If a child is in the picture, only a parent or guardian of the child may submit the picture.  
Photos that violate or infringe upon another person's rights, including to but not limited to copyright, are not eligible. 
By entering the contest, entrants grant KiDDS Dental license to display, distribute, reproduce photographs. 

How to enter: Photo must be emailed to elf@growupsmiling.com to be considered. All entries will be included in a Facebook album on the KiDDS Dental Facebook page starting December 21, 2016. Voting will take place in that album only. 

Judging:  Winner will be chosen by a popular vote.  Each "like" constitutes one vote. Voting begins on Dec 21, 2016 and closes on Dec 28, 2016 at 5:00 PM .  Winner will be notified on or before Jan 6, 2017.

Prize:  The entrant with the most votes wins a Kindle Fire HD 8.  Winner must be available to pick up prize at KiDDS Dental by 4 PM on Jan 19, 2017 or prize will be forfeit.
Winners must sign a media release and will be responsible for paying any taxes they may owe on a prize.