MONSTER-FREE MOVEMENT-Special Agent Flossit

Happy “Tooth-Day”!!!

In honor of National Children’s Dental Health Month, I am reporting today as “Special Agent” Flossit; Mouth Monster fighting hero! This month I am working overtime fighting off our villains- Tooth D.K., Ginger Bite-Us, & Tartar The Terrible! Watch out, these Mouth Monsters will be very sneaky & persistent. They will use their sweet looks to trick you. Moms & Dads need to take measures into their own hands in order to join us in this Monster-Free Mouth Movement.

Did you know tooth decay is the number one chronic infectious disease affecting children in the U.S.? While it’s a scary statistic, the good news is it’s largely preventable with healthy habits and regular preventive care. That’s why the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry is asking parents and caregivers to banish the Mouth Monsters (aka tooth decay) by joining the Monster-Free Mouth Movement. It’s easy – just go to mychildrensteeth.org for tips and tools to help teach your kids about the importance of healthy oral habits.

Little Teeth Are A Big Deal

They may be little, but baby teeth play a BIG role in your child’s oral health – and are key to the development of

healthy, strong adult teeth. Below are some tips to help your child have a happy, healthy smile that lasts a lifetime:

mouthmonsterarticle http://mouthmonsters.mychildrensteeth.org/

Make sure to follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/casasmilespediatricdentistryandorthodontics Twitter https://twitter.com/casa_smiles and Instagram http://instagram.com/casasmiles/ for the latest news, tips, & information about Casa Smiles Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics http://www.casasmiles.com/.

Ortho Corner

Mouth Guards are the most important part of any contact sport uniform!

Dr. Iwanowski here at Casa Smiles http://www.casasmiles.com/orthodontics/ offers the best of both custom & Tapout athletic mouth guards. Consult with her to provide your little & big athletes with the right fit to prevent any injuries to your super stars!

It is estimated by the American Dental Association http://www.ada.org/en/ that mouth guards prevent approximately 200,000 injuries each year in high school and collegiate football alone.

A properly fitted mouth guard must be protective, comfortable, resilient, tear resistant, odorless, tasteless, not bulky, cause minimal interference to speaking and breathing, and (possibly the most important criteria) have excellent retention, fit, and sufficient thickness in critical areas.

Facts from the National Youth Sports Foundation for Safety

Dental injuries are the most common type of orofacial injury sustained during participation in sports; the majority of these dental injuries are preventable.
An athlete is 60 times more likely to sustain damage to the teeth when not wearing a protective mouth guard.
The cost of a fractured tooth is many times greater than the cost of a dentist diagnosed and designed professionally made mouth guard.
Every athlete involved in contact sport has about a 10% chance per season of an orofacial injury, or a 33-56% chance during an athletic career.
The cost to replant a tooth and the follow-up dental treatment is about $5000.
Victims of knocked out teeth who do not have a tooth properly preserved or replanted may face lifetime dental costs of $15,000-$20,000/tooth, hours in the dental chair, and the possible development of other dental problems such as periodontal disease.
It is estimated that faceguards and mouth guards prevent approximately 200,000 injuries each year in high school and college football.
The stock mouth guard which is bought at sports stores without any individual fitting, provide only a low level of protection, if any. If the wearer is rendered unconscious, there is a risk the mouth guard may lodge in the throat potentially causing an airway obstruction.

Facts from the American Dental Association and the California Dental Association

A properly fitted mouth guard reduces the chances of sustaining a concussion from a blow to the jaw.
Mouth guards should be worn at all times during competition; in practice as well as in games.
Contact your local dental society and association for information on dentists and mouthguard programs in your area.
The American Dental Association recommends wearing custom mouth guards for the following sports: acrobats, basketball, boxing, field Hockey, football, gymnastics, handball, ice hockey, lacrosse, martial arts, racquetball, roller hockey, rugby, shot putting, skateboarding, skiing, skydiving, soccer, squash, surfing, volleyball, water polo, weightlifting, wrestling.

HAVE A HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY WEEKEND!!

I look forward to chatting with you again next “Tooth-day”!

Your friend,

Farah Flossit (Special Agent Flossit)