April Employee of the Month!

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Does anyone else feel like April came and went so fast?! We love to see all the beautiful flowers blooming around the city. We have a new Employee of the Month and it is…

our dental assistant, Brittany!

“Always helping everywhere in the office!”

“Team player - willing to jump in needed”

“Always taking one for the team when needed. Great team leader”

Congratulations Brittany! We are so lucky to have you on our Smiles for Kids team!

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The Child's Airway and Impact on Sleep

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The mouth is the gateway to the entire body. It’s a connection between dentistry and medicine. Routine dental visits are crucial not only for oral health, but also screening for general health concerns because the majority of people visit their dentist at least twice per year which is typically more often than their general physicians. One of the most important things we evaluate is the airway. The airway provides a path for air in and out of the lungs, where it supplies oxygen to the brain and body. We’re meant to breathe through our nose so that it can filter out the dirty air. If not, then inflammation of the airway, respiratory infections, enlarged tonsils or obstructed airway can result. An open airway is important for sleep, rest for the brain, and overall growth and development. For pediatric dentists, a healthy and open airway is crucial for dental treatment with sedation because many of the medications given can cause a temporary depression in the respiratory drive for the patient, with potential severe outcomes in a compromised patient.

 

Sleep apnea (or sleep disordered breathing) is a dysfunction of breathing during sleep. It can be an actual airway obstruction or failure of the brain to send the right signals telling the body to breath.  Sleep apnea is characterized by abnormal patterns of breathing such as repetitive starting and stopping, snoring, abnormally slow or shallowed breathing, or breathing through the mouth rather than the nose. A person can actually stop breathing for at least 10 seconds before “waking up” to catch a breath. The brain and entire body require sufficient oxygen to function. When that is constantly disrupted, it can have detrimental long-term effects such as high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, diabetes, behavior problems (like ADHD), etc. Other signs that a child is having some sort of sleep apnea includes restless sleep, waking up multiple times during the night, wetting the bed, morning headaches, constant nasal congestion, chronic bad breath, trouble focusing in school or falling asleep in class, etc.

 

Our doctors at Smiles for Kids screen all of our patients for airway concerns at every dental visit. We evaluate the TMJ, head and neck muscles, mouth opening, tongue, teeth, throat, tonsils, and overall oral health. There are many clues in the mouth that can signal potential problems with the airway and sleep disordered breathing such as clenching/grinding, pain in the TMJ, large tonsils or adenoids, bite issues (or “malocclusions”), narrow palate, open mouth posture, cavities, gum disease, dry mouth, etc. Any of these signs will lead us to ask questions about the patient’s quality of sleep and a history of signs or symptoms previously mentioned.

 

There is much to consider before treatment of sleep apnea, and we work closely with our medical community, Ear Nose and Throat doctors (ENT) and Myofunctional Therapists for proper referral and evaluation. Dental treatment may include night guards or appliances such as a palatal expander. Expanding the palate can create more room for the teeth and the tongue, open the nasal passages, allowing for more air exchange and more relaxed muscle posture during sleep. Are you or your child experiencing any of the signs or symptoms of sleep apnea? Ask us more about it at your next dental visit!

All The Facts About the Benefits of Fluoride!

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Fluoride is a naturally-occurring mineral, that helps to prevent cavities by making enamel more resistant to the acid attacks that cause tooth decay.

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How Does Fluoride Protect Teeth?

The “systemic” effect: The fluoride we take in our bodies from food and beverages starts to strengthen enamel of our teeth when they’re forming and before they even break through the gums and erupt into the mouth.

The “topical” effect: After teeth erupt, fluoride helps rebuild (remineralize) weakened tooth enamel and reverses early signs of tooth decay. When you brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste, or use other fluoride dental products, the fluoride is applied directly to the surface of your teeth. Even the fluoride in food and beverages provides a topical effect because it becomes part of the saliva which bathes the teeth all day long!

How Do I Get Fluoride?

Drink Water with Fluoride: “Fluoride is naturally found in most all water sources, rivers, lakes, wells and even the oceans. For the past 70 years, fluoride has been added to public water supplies to bring fluoride levels up to the amount necessary to help prevent tooth decay.

Community water fluoridation is like drinking milk fortified with Vitamin D or eating bread and cereals enriched with folic acid. Before water fluoridation, children had about three times as many cavities.  Because of the important role it has played in the reduction of tooth decay, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has proclaimed community water fluoridation one of ten great public health achievements of the 20th century. Studies prove water fluoridation continues to help prevent tooth decay by at least 25% in children and adults, even with fluoride available from other sources, such as toothpaste.  Today, almost 75% of the U.S. population is served by fluoridated community water systems.”

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Use Toothpaste and Mouthrinse with Fluoride: Look for one with the ADA Seal of Acceptance to make sure it contains fluoride. Brush twice daily (morning and night) with fluoride toothpaste. For children under 3 years, use a “smear” or less than the size of a grain of rice. For children 3-6 years, use a pea-sized amount. Remember to supervise your child’s brushing and make sure the toothpaste is kept in a safe place away from where children can access it alone. For children older than 6 years, they can start to use a fluoride mouthrinse after brushing and then spit it out. At this age they should have developed swallow reflexes.

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Visit Your Dentist for a Professional Application: A dentist can professionally apply fluoride gel, foam or varnish to the teeth every 6 months at regular check-ups if you or your child are at high risk for tooth decay.

For more information and sources for our blog post, please visit https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/f/fluoride

Drink More Water!

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As National Children’s Dental Health month continues throughout February, we want to tell you more about the most important beverage for your body: WATER!

Check out these fun graphics from the AAPD to learn more about choosing water over juices and sports drinks for your child. There’s lots of information here, so let us know if you have any questions at your next dental visit!

Key take-aways:

  1. Water is best!

  2. If your child has a sweetened drink as a treat, it’s best at a mealtime, not for snacks.

  3. Over-consumption of unhealthy drinks can lead to obesity, diabetes and tooth decay.

  4. A preference for drinking water is learned, just like a preference for sweets!

  5. Let your child choose a fun cup and/or straw at the store to encourage drinking water out of!

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February is Children's Dental Health Month!

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The American Dental Association held the first national observance of Children’s Dental Health Day on February 8, 1949. The single day observance became a weeklong event in 1955. And in 1981, the program was extended to a month-long celebration known today as National Children’s Dental Health Month.

“Attitudes and habits established at an early age are critical in maintaining good oral health throughout life. By participating in the annual celebration of National Children’s Dental Health Month, members of the dental team, parents, teachers and others can help keep children’s smiles beautiful now and for years to come.”

This year’s campaign slogan, is “Water, Nature’s Drink!”

 

Check out these important facts:

  1. Tooth decay is the most common childhood disease.

  2. 3 out of 5 children are affected by tooth decay.

  3. It is 5 times more common than asthma.

  4. 51 million school hours are missed due to oral disease.

  5. It is recommended to see the pediatric dentist by your child’s first birthday!

  6. Brush your child’s teeth twice a day for 2 minutes. Then floss to clean in between the teeth. Parents should help with brushing until they can clearly write their own name.

  7. Fluoride helps to make enamel stronger and protects teeth against cavities by fighting acid & erosion.

  8. Avoid sticky snacks like gummies and crackers because those will linger on the teeth longer. Instead, try yogurt, cheese, fruits and veggies!

  9. Water is the best drink for your teeth AND your body!