Tips from the ADA for a mouth healthy Halloween

Happy Halloween! Here are a few tips from the American Dental Association (ADA) that help scare away cavities while your kids enjoy their Halloween candy.

•  Eat Halloween candy and other sugary foods with meals or shortly after mealtime. Saliva production increases during meals and helps cancel out acids produced by bacteria in your mouth and helps rinse away food particles.
• Avoid hard candy and other sweets that stay in your mouth for a long time. Besides how often you snack, the length of time sugary food is in your mouth plays a role in tooth decay. Unless it is a sugar-free product, candies that stay in the mouth for a long period of time subject teeth to an increased risk for tooth decay. 
• Avoid sticky candies that cling to your teeth. The stickier candies, like taffy and gummy bears, take longer to get washed away by saliva, increasing the risk for tooth decay.
• Drink more water. Drinking optimally fluoridated water can help prevent tooth decay. If you choose bottled water, look for kinds that are fluoridated. 
• Maintain a healthy diet. Your body is like a complex machine. The foods you choose as fuel and how often you "fill up" affect your general health and that of your teeth and gums. 
• Avoid beverages with added sugar such as soda, sports drinks or flavored waters. When teeth come in frequent contact with beverages that contain sugar, the risk of tooth decay is increased.
• Chew gum that has the ADA Seal. Chewing sugarless gum for 20 minutes after meals helps reduce tooth decay, because increased saliva flow helps wash out food and neutralize the acid produced by dental plaque bacteria. 
• Brush your teeth twice a day with an ADA-accepted fluoride toothpaste. Replace your toothbrush every three or four months, or sooner if the bristles are frayed. A worn toothbrush won't do a good job of cleaning your teeth. 
• Clean between teeth daily with floss. Decay-causing bacteria get between teeth where toothbrush bristles can't reach. Flossing helps remove plaque and food particles from between the teeth and under the gum line
• Don’t be afraid of the dentist: With all of the sweet treats consumed around Halloween, now is a great time for parents to schedule a pediatric dental appointment for their children.

Dr. Matt and the whole Southern Indiana Pediatric Dentistry team love to help keep your children cavity free! Call 333-kids (5437) to schedule an appointment.

The Use of Nitrous Oxide in the Dental Office

Dental appointments can be scary at any age, often times they prove to be especially frightening for children. In a picture-perfect world, every child would look forward to their dental appointments, but unfortunately, we do not live in an idealistic world where all children are eager to visit the dentist. In fact, often times children experience anxiety and are fearful or worried before a dental appointment. Dr. Matt understands that your child may not share our team’s enthusiasm for their oral health. The good news is, we now offer nitrous oxide sedation which aids in relieving any anxiety your child may experience. Thus making his/her dental visits less stressful for both you and your child.

Nitrous oxide is a type of dental analgesia used by dentists across the country to alleviate anxiety associated with dental procedures.  Also known as ‘laughing gas,’ nitrous oxide is highly effective for giving children a sense of comfort and/or happiness during their dental experience. Nitrous oxide is a colorless gas that has a sweet scent. It is administered by inhalation through the nose.. With informed consent from a patient’s parent(s), Dr. Matt will administer and manage nitrous oxide throughout your child’s dental procedure, if indicated. While breathing nitrous oxide, the patient responds normally to verbal commands, all vital signs are stable, there is no significant risk of losing protective reflexes, and the patient is able to return to pre-procedure mobility. Pictured below is an example of a nosepiece that would be used to administer nitrous oxide.

 

 

Nitrous oxide sedation isn’t only for anxious children. In fact, nitrous oxide is an excellent option for children whose fear or anxiety would otherwise prevent them from receiving dental care. It is also appropriate for many other reasons, too. For example, a child who has a sensitive gag reflex may feel physically uncomfortable during a necessary dental procedure. In this case, nitrous oxide would likely be indicated to aid in the completion of treatment.  Nitrous oxide sedation would also likely be indicated for children who have emotional or behavioral disorders that make it nearly impossible to remain still in the dental chair throughout their dental visit. Additionally, children with certain health conditions or special needs can also benefit from nitrous oxide sedation.

 

In accordance with the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) the objectives of nitrous oxide inhalation include:

• reduce or eliminate anxiety;

• reduce untoward movement and reaction to dental treatment;

• enhance communication and patient cooperation;

• raise the pain reaction threshold;

• increase tolerance for longer appointments;

• aid in treatment of the mentally/physically disabled or medically compromised patient;

• reduce gagging;

• potentiate the effect of sedatives

Although some parents are reluctant to request sedatives for their children, Dr. Matt advises that neglecting oral health could have serious consequences later. Without treatment, something as simple as a cavity could cause your child to develop an infection (abscess), thus becoming quite severe and very painful. The AAPD formally recognizes nitrous oxide sedation as a safe means of administering analgesia to children. It relaxes the central nervous system while causing little effect on respiratory patterns. In fact, the AAPD actually recommends nitrous oxide for reducing dental anxiety in pediatric patients. http://www.aapd.org/media/Policies_Guidelines/G_Nitrous.pdf

 

Whether your child has special needs, is afraid of the dentist or is simply too active to sit still through dental treatment, nitrous oxide sedation can act as a helpful tool for pediatric dental patients. Therefore giving Dr. Matt and the Southern Indiana Pediatric Dental team an even bigger opportunity to provide quality dental care, in a fun and inviting atmosphere. Dentistry shouldn’t be frightening! To learn more about nitrous oxide sedation dentistry, other forms of sedation dentistry, or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Matt, contact us at 812-333-KIDS (5437). We welcome new patients of all ages, and look forward to providing an enjoyable, and comfortable dental experience for you and your child.

 

National Children's Dental Health Month

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month, sponsored by the American Dental Association (ADA). Each February, the ADA helps to raise awareness about the importance of oral health by focusing on important information every parent and caregiver should know. This year’s slogan, “Join the Super Smile Team!” helps parents teach their children how to maintain a healthy smile by focusing on ; “2min2x” brush for two minutes, two times a day, floss once each day, and limit sugary snacks between meals. Below is the “Super Smile Story” and poster, as seen on the ADA website. Visit www.ADA.org/ndchm for more fun ideas on how to keep your child’s smile healthy. And as always, feel free to call our office (333-kids) with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your child’s overall oral health.

 

 

 

 

The Super Smile Team!

Meet K-9! He’s a frisky pup who cares as much about good oral health as his buddies Flossy and Buck McGrinn, and Den and Gen Smiley.

One day the whole gang decided to play super heroes. They put on capes, made costumes, struck super hero poses and became The Super Smile Team! Even K-9 got in on the act!

Of course, every super hero needs a mission. The Super Smile Team’s quest? To fight for good oral health by following this simple rule, “2min2x.” That’s code for “brush your teeth two minutes, two times a day.”

Flossy, Buck, Den, and Gen know the importance of good dental habits to keep their super smiles bright. They brush their teeth when they get up in the morning and again before they go to bed at night. They also floss their teeth once each day. Because Den wears braces, he is especially careful about keeping his teeth healthy so he has a sparkly smile when the braces come off.

Being super heroes takes a lot of energy so the McGrinns and Smileys do eat snacks between meals but very few sugary ones. They usually stick to fruit and other healthy foods, and they choose water when they are thirsty instead of soda pop.

Want to be a part of The Super Smile Team? Join in the fun by playing the games and doing the activities to learn how to take good care of your teeth.

And remember the code“2min2x”! For a super smile and healthy mouth, brush your teeth two minutes, two times a day.

(Games and activities can be found on the American Dental Association’s web site at ADA.org/ndchm)