Happy Father’s Day. Hope everyone enjoyed their day and stayed safe!
Marielaina Perrone DDS (702) 458-2929
Most kids, will always choose to do the fun activity over the boring one. If the task is not fun it will be rushed through or avoided all together. This can also apply to how well children brush and take care of their teeth. This is one area kids definitely need our guidance to maintain a healthy smile.
The following are four easy ways to encourage your kids to own their smile and at the same time improve their oral health:
1) Make Brushing Fun! - Most dentists recommend brushing for a minimum of two minutes. Two minutes can feel like forever for a kid. To get your child to brush and floss properly, try making 
a game out it. Set a timer for two minutes and challenge your child to brush until the timer goes off, or sing twinkle twinkle star twice. Cute, fun toothbrushes are in stores everywhere. Choose one that’s small enough for your child to hold comfortably by his or herself, with a small, rounded head and very soft, polished bristles. I also recommend an electric toothbrush for little ones. Makes it easier to use and makes them feel like big grown ups. Should be replaced every few months, particularly for preschoolers who tend to chew while they brush. For babies, a soft finger toothbrush, or wet washcloth are easiest to use for you and them. Some children’s toothbrushes also have lights that flash or music that plays which serves as a built-in timer. Set the timer again for two minutes for flossing. There are also fun flossers that make it easier to do the best job possible. Another tip would be to brush with your child — Stand side-by-side in front of the bathroom mirror and brush together. Have fun. Let your child mimic your brushing technique. I would also recommend the use of a plaque disclosing solution. This solution will allow you and them to see where the plaque is before brushing and what was missed after brushing. Then you can “help” them remove the last of the plaque. Once the color is gone, the plaque is too!
2) ”But Why??” Explain it all to them – It’s important for kids to know “Why” they are doing things. Brushing and flossing are no different. If they are simply told to do it, it becomes a chore and they will most likely resist. If they realize it’s a good thing for them, or it is fun, they may be more likely to take the challenge on themselves. Be sure to explain the importance of brushing and flossing in simple terms kids can understand. For example: “Flossing is important because it removes cookies and food left between your teeth. Do you want tooth bugs stuck in between your teeth?” At your child’s next dental checkup, ask your dentist to show visually proper brushing and flossing techniques.
3) Monitor Sweets and Candy – It’s no secret that kids love candy and sweets. But it’s important for kids to know that eating too many sweets causes cavities. Try to keep sugary snacks limited to later in the day to ensure you child brushes away the sugar with his or her evening brushing and flossing regimen. Or if they are going to have sugar at other times make sure they at least rinse but preferably brush as well following the sweets. Also avoid fruit gummies or roll ups these are the worst types of sugar because they lodge between teeth, stick and stay . They are candy not healthy like actual fruit and they are not nutritious.
4) Give kids incentives to achieve – Set a goal with your child to get a “perfect score” the next time he or she has a dental checkup. This, of course, means your dentist finds no cavities! Establish a reward your child will earn for having a perfect checkup, such as that new video game or doll they have been wanting. Make sure they understand that brushing, flossing, and limiting sweets are all ways to reach their goal. You can even tape a photo of the reward to the bathroom mirror for daily reinforcement. Tell yourdentist about the reward system, so he or she can also encourage your child at each checkup. If you are still finding cavities, diet may need to be looked at more closely, and Fluoride may need to be incorporated. Ask your dentist to advise. Remember to schedule your child’s dental checkups every six months. Very important to stay on schedule and go when needed. You are laying the foundation for your child’s oral health throughout life.
Ask your dentist for more tips and tricks to keep our kids teeth cavity free!
Gingival Graft
A gingival graft is the name given for any of a number of surgical periodontal procedures whose goal is to cover an area of exposed tooth root surface with grafted oral tissue from another source. Other names for this procedure are gum graft or periodontal cosmetic surgery. Gum recession is a process in which the margin of gingival tissue that surrounds the teeth wears away in a direction toward the end of the root, exposing more of the tooth. This can cause damage to supporting bone. It is a common dental problem (Studies have shown about 75% of americans have some form of periodontal disease) that often goes unnoticed until it becomes more severe. Most people are not even aware that their gum tissue has receded since it is such a slow,gradual process. However, over time, an exposed tooth root can not only look ugly, but it can also cause tooth sensitivity. Tooth loss can occur eventually if the gingival tissue is not restored. To repair the damage and prevent further dental problems, a gingival graft may be needed. There are a few goals the dentist and patient are looking for when recommending or performing this surgery. They include:
1)Prevention of further root exposure.
2)To decrease or eliminate tooth sensitivity by covering the root area that was previously uncovered.
Gingival Graft – Before and After
3)Decrease the possible incidence of root caries as the root is no longer exposed.
4)Improved aesthetics. This is especially true of teeth that are shown during smiling.
A gingival graft is very effective in solving the problem at hand but there is no guarantee that gum problems won’t develop again. However, with regular dental checkups and careful at home maintenance, serious damage requiring further surgery can be prevented. Other ways to prevent periodontal disease include:
*Brush your teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste. I recommend an electric toothbrush like the Rotadent.
*Floss daily.
*Maintain the schedule recommended by your dentist in regards to hygiene appointments. Usually a 6month recall schedule is the norm but it can more often depending on your situation. Ask your dentist what the best schedule is for you.
*Eat a well balanced and healthy diet.
*Do not smoke.
Diabetes affects almost 26 million people in the United States and is a growing problem due to the obesity epidemic. The relationship between a person’s oral health and his/her diabetes is of utmost concern to health care professionals but especially dentists.
Patients with Diabetes have an increased risk of oral health issues due to poorly controlled blood sugars. Diabetes impairs white blood cells, which are the body’s main defense against bacterial infections. These bacterial infections can affect everything in the mouth as well as the rest of the body.
A number of oral disorders are associated with Diabetes. The association between periodontal disease and diabetes has been studied at length with a definite correlation between the two.
The common oral health issues facing Diabetic patients include:
*Increased Dental Caries. There has been no study to effectively correlate this relationship. But anecdotal evidence leads me to believe this is a real problem for Diabetic patients with
out good control over their blood glucose levels. Patients who are type 2 diabetics(meaning that it is not genetically caused but caused by diet) tend to eat more carbohydrates and sugary foods enhancing the possibility of increased caries rate. Also some patients experience xerostomia, which is more commonly referred to as “dry” mouth. I usually recommend Biotene for patients.Biotene has the added benefit of containing a bio-active salivary enzyme protein system that actively combats bacteria, reducing bad breath, improving oral hygiene and relieving oral dryness.Some of the salivary dysfunction is caused by medications and age as well.
*Oral Mucosal Disease and other infections. Different types of oral disease are found, including lichen planus and recurrent aphthous stomatitis. People with diabetes that are often taking antibiotics to fight off infections are prone to developing Oral candidiasis(a fungal infection of the mouth and tongue). Oral candidiasis is found more frequently in patients with diabetes. Candidiasis occurs due to a patient being in a weakened immune state as well as a secondary response to the “dry” mouth mentioned above. This particular fungus thrives on the high levels of sugar in the saliva of people with uncontrolled diabetes. This fungus results in a burning sensation in areas of the mouth and sometimes a loss or change in taste.
*Periodontal Disease(gingivitis and periodontitis) have been shown to have a direct link to Diabetes. It has been noted that elevated levels of Periodontal disease also lead to complications in management of blood glucose levels. This disease tends to be more prevalent and more severe in diabetic patients than in the general population. This is mainly due to the fact that diabetics have decreased wound healing and infection fighting ability.
Diabetics who smoke are at a much higher risk of disease. Their risk factor can be as much as 20x more likely than non-smokers to develop thrush and periodontal disease. Smoking does seem to reduce blood flow to the gums and this can also affect healing in the tissue area.
Because people who suffer from diabetes can be more prone to symptoms that may harm their oral health, it’s very important to follow dental home care instructions and to note any changes in your oral health. Promptly schedule a dental consultation if you notice any changes.
We always recommend visiting the dentist and hygienist at least twice a year but it is doubly important in patients with diabetes. They need to strive to keep their mouths as bacteria free as they can. In conjunction with proper brushing we also recommend that patients floss after every meal if possible. A daily mouthwash can be beneficial as well.
