Is your child's diet "Teeth-Safe"?

A Diet that Is “Teeth-Safe”

Getting children to eat a healthy, balanced diet can be a challenge. Beyond preventing childhood obesity lies another reason that parents need to pay attention to their families’ eating habits: dental health. Everything your children eat affects their teeth as well as their overall health. Even some healthy foods can be detrimental to their mouths if eaten too frequently or without brushing immediately afterwards.

Timing Is Everything

The longer sticky, carbohydrate-rich foods hang around in the mouth, the more hospitable the mouth becomes to the plaque that can lead to tooth decay. Oatmeal, whole grain cereals and dried fruit are all great choices, but they tend to stick to the teeth. Instead of cutting them out of your children’s diet, have your children brush their teeth right after eating starchy foods. As for sweets, offer them as desserts after a meal rather than on their own; there’s more saliva production happening at mealtime, which can help wash away the sugars and residue. Avoid frequent snacking: The longer your children go between eating, the more time their mouths will have to produce bacteria-fighting saliva.

The Worst Foods for Your Children’s Teeth

Obviously, sugary and sticky foods are the worst offenders—lollipops, sugary gum, candy and dried fruit. But also be aware of highly acidic drinks that can eat away at tooth enamel, such as citrus juices and sodas. Pickles and honey may also lead to decay.

The Best Foods for Your Children’s Teeth

Cheese and apples are a mouth’s best friend—and a great snack option for children. Cheese offers a dose of tooth-strengthening calcium and encourages saliva production to wash away lingering food particles. A crisp apple or carrot is nature’s toothbrush, naturally scrubbing away plaque.

Your best bet for oral health, however, is a balanced diet, including lots of antioxidant-filled fruits and veggies. Not only will this enhance your children’s overall health but it will benefit your children’s mouths by protecting gums from cell damage and infection.

Photo credit: <a href='http://www.123rf.com/profile_sbworld8'>sbworld8 / 123RF Stock Photo</a>

Cheesy Solution to Better Oral Health

A study published in the May/June 2013 of General Dentistry reports that snacking on cheese can actually protect tooth enamel in children, even more than drinking milk or eating yogurt. More good news: The same benefits are offered by no-fat, low-fat and regular varieties.

Cheese works by increasing the pH level of dental plaque, making it less acidic. The bacteria that cause cavities thrive in an acidic environment, so by increasing the pH level, bacteria is prevented from adhering to the tooth surfaces where they can do damage to the protective enamel.

For the study, the researchers enrolled 68 children from 12 to 15 years of age and measured their baseline dental plaque pH levels. Next, the children were divided into three groups: one group was given milk to drink, another was given sugar-free yogurt to eat and the third was given cheddar cheese. After consuming these foods for three minutes, the children rinsed their mouths, and plaque pH measurements were taken at three 10-minute intervals. These measurements showed that the kids who drank milk or ate yogurt had no changes in their plaque pH levels, but those who ate cheese had a rapid and steady increase in pH levels over time.

How does cheese protect enamel? Cheese offers two primary benefits: First, it increases the production of saliva, which in turn protects teeth by helping to keep food particles from sticking to teeth and by keeping pH levels in check. Second, cheese contains substances called pyrophosphates, an organic compound that occurs naturally in the body and is also added to some toothpastes. Pyrophosphates can help teeth that have been surrounded by acid become remineralized, which means the enamel can be restored.

The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) applauded the results.

“It looks like dairy does the mouth good," says AGD spokesperson Seung-Hee Rhee, DDS, FAGD. "Not only are dairy products a healthy alternative to carb- or sugar-filled snacks, they also may be considered as a preventive measure against cavities."

The Power of the Pacifier

I’m regularly questioned by concerned parents about pacifier use.  Some of them approach me with a shamed expression, clearly embarrassed about the situation they are in.  As a dentist, I understand these parents’ concern.   Others openly profess their love for their child’s fixation and assign pet names , such as “bubba,” “ginky,” “jar jar” or “pluggerdoodle,” to the one item they claim protects their sanity.  As a father, I understand this affection.  I often respond to both types of parents with the sentiment  “there is a time for everything . . . even the binky.  But, once that time has passed, move on. ”

I completely support the use of a pacifier by infants.   The action of rhythmic sucking optimizes an infant’s breathing and heart rate.  This explains why pacifiers are recommended to help prevent SIDS.  The use of a pacifier soothes a newborn.  In hospital nurseries, infants cry significantly less if they are given a pacifier between feedings.  Muscular movements of the digestive tract work most efficiently when a baby is sucking.  Sucking on a pacifier helps to re-regulate intestinal rhythms in babies with colic or digestive difficulties. 

 There is a point, though, when too much of a good thing spells trouble.  Children who have continued a sucking habit beyond infancy are regularly affected with crooked teeth, misaligned jaws and even speech impediments.   Problems with prolonged sucking can appear beyond the mouth, too.  One study has shown that children who did not use a pacifier had nearly one third less occurrence of ear infections.  Prolonged sucking habits can also affect a child’s interaction with others.  Children with a pacifier in their mouths can’t talk and for children who are shy, the pacifier creates an excuse to avoid expressing themselves.  This can stunt a child’s emotional and social growth.

So when is the right time to give up the binky?  Not during infancy.  There are both physical and psychological reasons to encourage the use of a pacifier through and beyond a baby’s first year.  Once a child has reached preschool age, however, there is no benefit to sucking.  Parents of children this age who haven’t given up the habit already should take measures to stop the habit before Kindergarten, especially if there are protruding, crooked teeth or their child’s lips are flaring and are difficult to close.  Another sign of an excessive habit is the continuation of sucking vigorously throughout the night.  If a sucking habit continues into a child’s school years, it is unlikely that the effects can be fixed without the help of an orthodontist.

There are steps that a parent can take at all stages of their child’s development.  Introducing the pacifier in the right way, early in life, sets up a child for successful weaning later in life.  Parents of infants should not offer a pacifier unless their baby is fussing.  When a child is fussing, they should first spend a moment to evaluate if something other than a pacifier might solve the problem.   To discover the underlying difficulty and then address it teaches even the youngest infant to deal with distress by problem-solving instead of mouth-filling.  Once a child has reached the status of toddler, a parent can introduce limits to the availability of a pacifier.  Offering a pacifier only at naptimes and at bedtime is one way to start the weaning process.  If a toddler seeks out his pacifier at other times, a parent can present distractions to help him engage in other, healthy activities.  As a toddler matures and starts to hone his reasoning and negotiating skills his parent can reinforce his lack of pacifier use with praise and rewards.   A parent can also foster an excitement about the process by introducing ceremonies to usher the child to a more mature and “grown up” phase of life.

What should you, as a parent, do to help your child move away from the use of a pacifier?  If it is time to say goodbye to your child's pacifier, there's lots of fun ways to do so.  You can call our office at 509-891-7070 and ask about our "Pacifier Fairy Tree" or visit our Pinterest Pacifier Fairy board for some ideas!

Welcome to Your Dental Home

The American Academy of Pediatrics has developed a concept it calls the “medical home.” The idea is to create one place to deliver and coordinate care for infants, children and adolescents. Similarly, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) supports the establishment of a “dental home,” a place where all aspects of oral health that result from the interaction of the patient, parents, non-dental professionals (such as pediatricians) and dental professionals can be coordinated.

Dental problems can begin early in your child’s life. One of the most common diseases among infants is early childhood caries (tooth decay that can lead to cavities), an infectious disease caused by bacteria. As soon as the first tooth erupts, your child is at risk for early childhood caries.

A dental home should be established when your child’s first tooth erupts or when he or she reaches the age of one year, whichever comes first. Frequently, your child’s pediatrician will tell you when it is the right time.

An early visit to a pediatric dentist, before any dental problems have developed, has several benefits:

• The child’s first dental experience will be a positive one.
• Parents will receive important information about how to keep their child’s teeth and mouth healthy.
• The dentist can evaluate the child’s oral health and check for any dental anomalies.

Once your child’s dental home is established, regularly scheduled checkups let us spot any issues, such as the first signs of early childhood caries, before they can develop into serious problems. You can be sure that your child will receive all the appropriate preventive and prophylactic measures.

Studies have shown that children who have a dental home are more likely to receive preventive and routine oral health care. That means both fewer oral health problems and lower overall cost of treatment—and a better smile for both parent and child.

2013 Giving Trees Winners Announcement

The results of our 2nd Annual Giving Tree Contest have been tabulated!  Here are our winners:

Ellingsen Paxton Johnson Orthodontics earned $25 for Spokane Valley Partners with their submission.

Tied for 3rd

McDonald Elementary for Baskets for Babies

Dr. Woodard for Second Harvest Food Bank

Spokane Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery for Hearts in Motion

Each of these trees earned their charity $50.

2nd Place

Dr. DaBell's Giving tree earned $100 for the Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery

1st Place

Peach Orthodontics earned $200 for Children's Village Charity.

Thank you to all participating offices!

Dr. Jared's Reaction to Pre-Schooler's Death After Dental Treatment

The KiDDS Dental team was horrified to hear of the death of a three-year-old girl due to complications from dental treatment in the state of Hawaii. Dr. Evans felt compelled to make this statement:

I’ve been following very closely the case of Finley Boyle. Like so many other parents and dental professionals, I’ve listened to news reports and scoured the internet for information about the case. While I only know what has been reported by the media, I am appalled at some of the facts that have come to light. I’m also concerned with the reaction by the public to this tragic event.

First and foremost, I am concerned with the training of the dentist in question. A quick search at www.aapd.org confirms that she is not a certified pediatric dentist. Pediatric dentists, like myself, have devoted two additional years of residency beyond dental school to be a specialist.  The additional training includes experience in a children's hospital, mentoring by experienced pediatric dentists, and additional examinations. Nonetheless, this dentist could have followed the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry’s guidelines for conscious sedation. Had she, Finley Boyle would likely still be alive.

The community is outraged about this shocking death. I echo many of the comments shared through social media: “My heart goes out to this family,” and “This is horrible.” Unfortunately, there are many other remarks that are circulating. Let me address some of them:

• “Why does a three year old need all that work? Must be a greedy dentist. I’ve never heard of a root canal on a baby tooth.” 
  Unfortunately, dental decay is the most common chronic disease of childhood in the United States.  Over half of our children have undergone dental treatment by the time they reach the second grade.  Decay rates are on the rise nationally and this is an epidemic that is preventable.  Good hygiene and good nutrition are critical.  

         

• “It’s just a baby tooth. Her teeth would have come out on their own in just a few years. The dentist should have just pulled it out.”
  Primary teeth are important and they serve important roles.  Primary molars don't normally come out until the ages of 10-12 (on average).  Primary teeth guide the erupting permanent teeth into the right place.  Without them and without the right interventions, orthodontic problems are worsened.  Appearance, speech, nutrition, health and well-being can all be affected. None of us want a child to suffer if it can be helped.  

Please do not let this tragedy, caused by an inadequately trained dentist with unsafe treatment protocols, scare you and your family from seeking dental care. Avoiding the dentist is even more dangerous. Just a few years ago a child in the United States died from an abscessed tooth. He didn’t have access to a dentist. When a tooth has dental caries (or also called a cavity), it has an infection.  No physician would neglect an infection in the body; the mouth is no different.  The mouth is the nutritional gateway for the whole body. Without a healthy mouth, a body is not healthy either. When a tooth is abscessed, the problem isn’t only the pain. The infection can drain through the various layers and muscles of the head and neck, which can lead to a blocked airway, sepsis and shock.    

So, how do parents move forward after this horrific event?  First, be sure your child sees a pediatric dentist at the first sign of a tooth or by the age of one.  This is a very critical time to be educated about oral health and to start a prevention program.  All 20 primary teeth are generally erupted by the age of three. If you have taken your child to see the pediatric dentist every six months from age one through three, then you have set the stage for him to have a lifetime of pleasant dental visits. If a doctor's treatment recommendations are confusing or overwhelming, get all your questions answered before the treatment starts. If that requires getting a second opinion, do it to ensure you know everything that is going to happen. Discuss all the pros and cons. Get all the information to make the right decision for your child.

Why send candy to troops?

Why send candy to troops?

The planning for our 6th Annual Great Candy Buy Back underwritten by Banner Bank is well underway.  As a reminder, here are the details:

Friday, Nov 1st

4pm - 8pm

Children will get a dollar for each pound of candy they bring in.   We'll also be handing out goody bags with Firefly toothbrushes and other fun stuff!

Parents will be able to enter to win prizes.

Candy will be shipped to troops overseas through Operation Gratitude

Dr. Jared got a question via e-mail once about our buy back that he'd like us to share with everyone:

I have a really good question. Why do you want the troops overseas to eat the candy the kids get at Halloween? Adults get cavities too and are prone to obesity and hyperactivity if they eat too much candy. This doesn't make any sense to me.

Here is our response:

You do, indeed, ask a very good question.  I want to reassure you that we do care about the oral health of not only the children in our area, but the adults who are courageously serving the US in hostile countries. 

We have chosen Operation Gratitude as the organization that we go through to recognize our appreciation for our country's soldiers. The care packages that Operation Gratitude assembles fit into a 12" x 12" x 5" box. This box could probably hold 3-5 lbs of candy.  The packages, however, are not made entirely of candy.  The care packages include other things such as DVDs, stuffed animals, stacks of greeting cards, socks, scarves, CDs, and more.  I would estimate that none of the packages contain more than 2 lbs of candy.  Some of the kids that bring in candy bring in less than 2 lbs.  Most, however, bring in plenty more.  In most cases, we're distributing the candy from one child to multiple service members. 

Although there is no way to track what the one service member does with the one package they receive, I am told that the items in these care packages are often shared with the other members of their team.  There are also reports of troops using the candy to befriend the children in the areas in which they serve, making their territory just a bit less hostile.  So, of the up to 2 lbs of candy that is delivered to one member of the military, it is likely that it is not all eaten by that one individual.  

Another way that we mitigate the effects of the candy on the recipient is by sending toothbrushes and toothpaste to Operation Gratitude.  In the last few years, we've shipped almost 300 toothbrushes and tubes of  toothpaste to be included in the holiday care packages.

The price of the candy and shipping charges are well worth it to us.  Check out these videos that show how amazing this cause is:

http://youtu.be/zOnwb1w8QEk

http://youtu.be/ZUGemsZUpBo

In conclusion,  Dr. Evans believes that candy should be enjoyed by children who have trick-or-treated to earn it, but it is not healthy for anybody to enjoy it in excess.  His suggestion:  Eat a little, save a little to enjoy for the few days following Halloween and then get rid of the rest before having candy daily becomes a habit that is hard to change.  Why not turn that excess candy into a good deed for another?  We're happy to buy that candy from children to give it to others who will be uplifted by the gesture and who should enjoy it, as well. 

If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact us again!

What do you think?  Should we reconsider our efforts to buy back candy and send to troops?  Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.