Happy “Tooth-Day”!

Farah Flossit here,…Wishing you well on this rainy day:)

I am thrilled to report some great news!

The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention have reported that cavities in young children are on the decline.  Most people are surprised when I mention that tooth decay is one of the most common chronic diseases among children in the United States.  However, with this recent report, we have many reasons to be optimistic.  The report also stressed that tooth decay is almost 100% PREVENTABLE.  Practicing  proper oral care & establishing a dental home for children by age one, parents & care givers can significantly increase a child’s chance for healthy teeth & optimal overall health.  All of this GOOD NEWS really gets me excited to do my job as Mouth Monster Fighting Super Agent!  I’m here to inform you & help you get on the path to good oral health & prevention.  With Farah Flossit on the case, I can guide you in the funnest way possible:)

Dental services are often underutilized & many children live with untreated tooth decay until it must be addressed due to pain or infection.  To that end, one of the most overlooked & readily available preventative services that you should take advantage of are SEALANTS.  Sealants offer a layer of protection that can save your child from needing expensive & unpleasant fillings.  Sealants are probably the most cost-effective services your child can receive.  Not only do sealants cost less than half of the price of a filling, they are often covered by insurance.  This news is all the more reason to take advantage of an easy way to keep your child’s smile cavity-free.

So when should you have sealants done?  Well, if you take your child to visit the dentist http://www.casasmiles.com/pediatric-dentistry/ every 6 months for routine exam & cleaning, the doctor will definitely let you know when your child is ready.  Sealants are most commonly applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth.  Typically, the first permanent molars erupt & are ready to be sealed around age 6 & the second permanent molars erupt & are ready to be sealed around age 12.  According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) http://www.aapd.org/, most children’s cavities happen in places that sealants could have protected.  In fact, sealants have been show to reduce cavities by 86% after 1 year & 58% after 4 years. 

What can you & your child expect?  Having sealants applied is a quick & painless process–no drilling required!  After the dentist dries & preps the tooth, she simply paints on the sealant in liquid form & allows it to harden for about a minute.  Once the sealants are set, encourage your child to avoid chomping on ice or chewing especially hard or sticky foods that could dislodge the sealant.  Sealants are pretty durable, though, & can last for up to 10 years.  Teeth are most vulnerable to decay when they first come in, says the AAPD, so the sooner a tooth is sealed the better protected it will be.

While sealants are an excellent tool for cavity prevention, they don’t replace the need for a healthy diet & proper oral hygiene.  So, to help moms & dads make good oral health interesting & fun, below I have provided a few new cool finds that will keep brushing & flossing fun!

         Kids’ Activities Printable activity sheets with fun Disney characters for children of all ages.

English Disney – Make Brushing Amazing Activity Book (PDF)

http://www.dentalcare.com/media/en-US/dhm/2015/DHM2015-Kids-Activity-Book.pdf

Past Activity Sheets (PDF)

http://www.dentalcare.com/media/en-US/dhm/DHM2013-PastActivitySheets.pdf

Spanish

Disney – Cepillarse es algo Divertido – Libro de actividades (PDF)

http://www.dentalcare.com/media/en-US/dhm/2015/DHM2015-Kids-Activity-Book-SP.pdf

Hojas de actividades pasadas (PDF)

http://www.dentalcare.com/media/en-US/dhm/DHM2013-PastActivitySheets-Sp.pdf

 

 Fun Toothpaste Caps

http://www.blacklabproducts.com/products/toothpaste-Oscar

 

Thank you for tuning in on today’s Happy “Tooth-Day’s” report!

I look forward to chatting with you all next week!

In the meantime, you can follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/casasmilespediatricdentistryandorthodontics?pnref=lhc. Instagram http://instagram.com/casasmiles/, Twitter https://twitter.com/casa_smiles, Yelp http://www.yelp.com/biz/casa-smiles-pediatric-dentistry-and-orthodontics-coral-gables & Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/casasmiles/ to hear all about our daily news!  You can always call or email us with any questions, concerns, to make an appointment, or for a complimentary Ortho Consultation http://www.casasmiles.com/contact-us/.

Your Friend,

Farah Flossit (Special Agent Flossit)

 

Happy “Tooth-Day”!

Farah Flossit here, wishing everyone well on this blessed day!:)

Today I want to share a collection of fun facts & did you knows.  I’m also going to BUST some myths & give you the real facts.

DID YOU KNOW?

*Dental Floss was first made in 1882 from silk.

*32% of Americans say their co-workers have bad breath.

*Your tongue is as unique as your fingerprint.  No 2 people  have the same tongue print.

*There are more bacteria in your mouth than people on earth.

*In an entire human lifetime, the average person produces around 100,000 gallons of saliva.

*85% of the population can CURL their tongue in a tube.

*The most common disease in the WORLD is tooth decay.

*The tongue is the fastest healing part of the body.

*Unless food is mixed with saliva, you can’t taste it.

*100 years ago, 50% of adults in North America were toothless.

*An elephant’s tooth can weigh over 6 pounds.

*A mosquito has 47 teeth.

*Giraffes only have bottom teeth.

*A snail’s mouth is no larger than the head of a pin, but can contain over 25,000 teeth.

*Tooth bristles were originally made from the hair of cows.

FUN FACTS

MYTH BUSTERS:

MYTH:  Baby teeth aren’t important & don’t need brushing.

FACT:  Not brushing baby teeth can cause tooth decay.  Decayed baby teeth can cause pain, speech problems, and malalignment of adult teeth.  Just because baby teeth are going to “fall out” does not make them any less important.  Baby teeth help maintain the proper structure of the mouth in providing a guide for permanent teeth to move in behind them when the time comes.

MYTH:  White teeth are healthy teeth.

FACT:  Gum disease & tooth decay can hide behind white teeth.  Teeth whitening is not a treatment for tooth decay & gum problems.

MYTH:  I don’t like my smile, but I’m too old for braces.

FACT:  With new technology, even adults in their 80’s can have a great new smile.  There is always time to improve your smile.  Contact our amazing orthodontist for a complimentary consultation to know your options http://www.casasmiles.com/orthodontics/.

MYTH:  Bad breath means poor oral hygiene.

FACT:  While poor oral hygiene can cause bad breath, it can also be caused by one’s diet, medication, or a medical condition.

MYTH:  Eating more sugar means getting more cavities.

FACT:  The longer sugar sits in your teeth, the more cavities you will get.  The real danger is not brushing your teeth after eating sugary foods.

MYTH:  Headaches are mostly caused by stress.

FACT:  Most headaches are triggered by the jaw muscles from tooth clenching.  Teeth clenching is caused by an uneven bite that the dentist http://www.casasmiles.com/pediatric-dentistry/ can fix.

MYTH:  Don’t brush if your gums are bleeding.

FACT:  Gums bleed due to inflammation caused by leaving plaque on the teeth.  Brushing & flossing regularly is the only way to make gums start to heal.

Thank you for tuning in on today’s Happy “Tooth-Day’s” report!

I look forward to chatting with you all next week!

In the meantime, you can follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/casasmilespediatricdentistryandorthodontics?pnref=lhc. Instagram http://instagram.com/casasmiles/, Twitter https://twitter.com/casa_smiles, Yelp http://www.yelp.com/biz/casa-smiles-pediatric-dentistry-and-orthodontics-coral-gables & Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/casasmiles/ to hear all about our daily news!  You can always call or email us with any questions, concerns, to make an appointment, or for a complimentary Ortho Consultation http://www.casasmiles.com/contact-us/.

Your Friend,

Farah Flossit (Special Agent Flossit)

Happy “Tooth-Day”!

Farah Flossit here, wishing you well:)

Tooth-Day’s report is about shark teeth & how you may discover your little one may take on a shark mouth!  The good news is, this phenomenon is actually very common & not as dangerous as a real shark, lol.  Most parents become alarmed when they look in their child’s mouth & see the permanent teeth growing behind the baby teeth.  Parents first reaction is:  What went wrong?  Aren’t permanent teeth supposed to grow under the baby teeth & push them out?  Below you will see an example of what your little jaws may look like.

SHARK TEETH=PERMANENT TEETH COMING IN BEHIND BABY TEETH

Rest assured, permanent teeth coming in behind baby teeth is NOT an emergency!  The clinical term (that you probably don’t want to use when explaining this condition to your child) is lingually erupting incisors.  It is most common with the lower front teeth when a child is about 6 years old and then the upper back molars when the child is about 11 years old.  Often teeth come in pairs, so if one tooth is not coming in correctly its partner on the other side probably won’t either.  Ordinarily, as the permanent teeth push up, the roots of the baby teeth dissolve & the baby tooth eventually falls out, allowing the permanent teeth to come in.  Sometimes, the baby teeth don’t want to leave the mouth, & the permanent teeth come in right behind them.   Don’t be alarmed if the baby teeth don’t find their way out, just tell your munchkin he or she will temporarily be a little like our friend Bruce from “Finding Nemo”:)

There are a few guesses why shark teeth occur.  Some dentists believe that this occurs because the roots of the baby teeth don’t get dissolved like they normally should & the permanent teeth have nowhere else to go, so they just come into the mouth where there is the least amount of resistance.  Other opinions are that the permanent teeth start growing in behind the baby teeth because there is too much crowding.  Another theory is that because the permanent teeth develop behind the baby teeth, this is simply a slight deviation from the norm & they just didn’t make it as far forward as they should have.  Luckily, many times shark teeth will resolve on their own.  If those baby teeth decide they don’t want to fall out on their own, most of the time, the dentist will be able to correct shark teeth before they become a problem.

If your child’s shark teeth don’t resolve on their own within a couple of weeks (like real sharks), it would be a good idea to have a dentist take a look to see what’s going on.  If needed, the baby tooth can be removed & it usually solves the problem & it becomes a great opportunity to involve the “Tooth Fairy” & make it a celebration (https://www.pinterest.com/pin/154037249729643439/).  If the baby tooth/teeth are removed & there is still not enough room for the permanent teeth to move forward & assume their permanent position in the mouth, then the dentist may perform a procedure known as disking where the dentist slims down some of the remaining baby teeth by removing a bit of enamel from them.  Doing this, should allow enough room for the permanent teeth to move into their final position.  Just to clarify, SHARK TEETH happen to approximately 1 in 10 children, so it is more common than most people think.  SHARK TEETH can be resolved & sometimes even without intervention.  When in doubt, just give us a call & we will put you at ease & provide healthy dental guidance http://www.casasmiles.com/contact-us/.  Whether or not your little ones have SHARK TEETH, keep on brushing, flossing, & smiling!:)

Thank you for tuning in on today’s Happy “Tooth-Day’s” report!

I look forward to chatting with you all next week!

In the meantime, you can follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/casasmilespediatricdentistryandorthodontics?pnref=lhc. Instagram http://instagram.com/casasmiles/, Twitter https://twitter.com/casa_smiles, Yelp http://www.yelp.com/biz/casa-smiles-pediatric-dentistry-and-orthodontics-coral-gables & Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/casasmiles/ to hear all about our daily news!  You can always call or email us with any questions, concerns, to make an appointment, or for a complimentary Ortho Consultation http://www.casasmiles.com/contact-us/.

Your Friend,

Farah Flossit (Special Agent Flossit)

Happy “Tooth-Day”!!

Farah Flossit here,…reporting & wishing you well:)

The words we use to communicate can be very powerful!  Using the right words to help our children understand can help & even change the outlook of any challenging or uncertain situation.   Using kid-friendly words to substitute dental terminology can provide an effective sense of understanding.  For example, saying “tooth counting” instead of  “examination” can be a more nurturing way to create a positive attitude toward an essential part of a child’s dental visit.  Explaining that the dentist helps keep their teeth happy & healthy, will help them feel at ease.  Tell your kids that we will be very gentle when we look in their mouths to “count & tickle” their teeth.  After all, going to the dentist should be fun, not scary or intimidating, especially here at Casa Smiles http://www.casasmiles.com/, a FUN & FRIENDLY  dental office!  So let’s avoid using big & intimidating words like needle, shot, drill or pull when discussing their visit to the dentist.  When you are chatting with your child about their next visit to the dentist, it is really important to let him or her know what to expect.  Depending on the reason for your next visit, below you will find alternate words that can empower you to help your child see their next visit a positive one.

*USE*                                                                                      *INSTEAD OF*

TEETH COUNTING                                                             EXAMINATION
TOOTH PICTURE                                                                 X-RAY
TICKLING TEETH                                                                CLEANING
MR. THIRSTY                                                                        SUCTION  
TOOTH VITAMINS                                                               FLUORIDE
SUGAR BUGS                                                                         CAVITIES
MAGIC AIR/ICE CREAM AIR                                            NITROUS OXIDE
WHITE PLAY-DOH                                                               FILLINGS
WIGGLE A TOOTH                                                               EXTRACTION
MS. PIGGY’S NOSE                                                               NITROUS MASK
TOOTH SHOWER                                                                 WATER RINSE
CAMERA                                                                                  X-RAY UNIT
SLEEPY GEL                                                                           TOPICAL ANESTHETIC

Use your child’s likes & preferences to help them become more interested in their dental health.  Does your little girl like Frozen?  Does you little guy like super heroes? Is Monsters Inc. a household favorite? Let them identify with the characters they love!

 https://www.pinterest.com/pin/387450374168862621/

 https://www.pinterest.com/pin/364228688590167238/

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/542754192565177288/

I would love to hear if any of you moms & dads use any other “fun” or “positive” terminology with your little ones to help them understand & love going to the dentist.  Here is a link to a “happy video” you can share with your kids about the dentist & brushing https://www.pinterest.com/pin/453526624950000824/.  Together we can encourage our kids to have a bright & enthusiastic outlook on dental care for years to come  In today’s discussion, we are using this “word power” concept to facilitate an enjoyable visit to the denist, but carefully choosing the right words to create a positive & relaxing mind set can be helpful in our everyday lives.  Helping those around us feel calm & comfortable, promotes happiness & eliminates anxiety.  Joy & smiles are contagious, so spread kindness by using the power of positive words & keep smiling:)

I look forward to chatting with you all next week!

In the meantime, you can follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/casasmilespediatricdentistryandorthodontics?pnref=lhc. Instagram http://instagram.com/casasmiles/, Twitter https://twitter.com/casa_smiles, Yelp http://www.yelp.com/biz/casa-smiles-pediatric-dentistry-and-orthodontics-coral-gables & Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/casasmiles/ to hear all about our daily news!  You can always call or email us with any questions, concerns, to make an appointment, or for a complimentary Ortho Consultation http://www.casasmiles.com/contact-us/.

Your Friend,

Farah Flossit (Special Agent Flossit)

Happy “Tooth-Day”! Farah Flossit here,…I hope everyone had a blessed weekend with family & friends!

For those that did not know, APRIL is Autism Awareness Month!  The Casa Smiles Family http://www.casasmiles.com/pediatric-dentistry/ not only supports & welcomes children with Autism, but we take a lot of pride in providing the best services to all children; typical or with any special needs.  Today I would like to encourage everyone you know to try to become aware of what Autism is & how your awareness can make a big difference (visit https://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism/facts-about-autism?gclid=CMHv-s6t5MQCFdgNgQod66QA1A to learn more). 

“If you have met one child or person with Autism, you have only met one child or person with Autism”!   Every person with Autism is completely different from the next; there are no 2 alike.  This is why it takes some very special people, like our Dentists here at Casa Smiles http://www.casasmiles.com/about-us/dr-abreu-hernandez-dmd/, to offer something as important as “dental health” to a community that is often misunderstood. 

There is usually a great amount of anxiety involved for parents & children when planning a visit to the dentist.  For some children with Autism, oral health habits can be challenging.  Often times, there are sensory challenges for patients with Autism.  Some may not like how the brush feels on their gums & others may not like the sound of the suction.  The reason I mention these small facts is because they may be big factors in making your dental visit a success.  Moms & Dads, when you call to make your appointment, let us know how we can ease any anxieties.  Schedule appointments at the patient’s “best” times of the day.  If we need to accommodate having your child here when we are not so busy, we will!:)

I would like to remind parents about some things that they can do to prepare for a visit to Casa Smiles http://www.casasmiles.com/about-us/.  Prior to the visit, you can try role playing, books, pictures, videos, or even some fun dental apps.  Many children with Autism are very visual; showing your child a video or pictures of what they can expect will be very helpful.  You can start by showing your child one of our recent posts about what to expect when visiting our office http://www.casasmiles.com/casa-smiles-fun-house/.  For a visual schedule for a dentist visit go to https://www.autismspeaks.org/sites/default/files/documents/dentalguide.pdf.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/27654985188134039/
Fun for Role-Playing:)

Through a grant from Delta Dental of Minnesota, “The My Healthy Smile” app was developed.  It helps to teach children about good oral health & to ease anxieties around dental visits.  The app offers 11 audio & visual social scripts to show children what to expect at the dentist & how to have good oral care at home.  Topics include: having your teeth cleaned, taking x-rays & getting fillings, losing a tooth, brushing & healthy eating.

 https://www.pinterest.com/pin/232568768228438956/

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/238972323947851208/
Great book for your little book worms!

The emphasis of your outing to see the dentist should be to have a “fun experience” & after all, we are a very “fun dental office”.  The goal for a first visit should be for it to be “fun” & for the patient to become familiar with the office, the process, the Doctor, & the team members.  Our hearts are big enough for all children:) Together, lets open our minds, embrace our differences, & become aware of what makes us all unique & different!

I look forward to chatting with you all next week!

In the meantime, you can follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/casasmilespediatricdentistryandorthodontics?pnref=lhc. Instagram http://instagram.com/casasmiles/, Twitter https://twitter.com/casa_smiles, Yelp http://www.yelp.com/biz/casa-smiles-pediatric-dentistry-and-orthodontics-coral-gables & Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/casasmiles/ to hear all about our daily news!  You can always call or email us with any questions, concerns, to make an appointment, or for a complimentary Ortho Consultation http://www.casasmiles.com/contact-us/.

Your Friend,

Farah Flossit (Special Agent Flossit)

Happy “Tooth-Day”!!  Farah Flossit Reporting:)

“Tooth-Day’s” report is all about happy “fillings” & not the tooth kind.  There are so many ways to keep the mouth monsters http://mouthmonsters.mychildrensteeth.org/ away for all the holidays!  Leave it to me & I’ll take all the leg work out & lead you straight to “how to” make your Easter, “Egg-static”!

Hoppy Easter from
Casa Smiles Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics
http://www.casasmiles.com/

This weekend is Easter Sunday.  For those who observe this holiday, you know that there are usually a lot of “goodies” involved.  “Tooth” be told, we all love holiday treats, but as parents, it is important to control the things that we can.  We know that aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. will probably show up with lots of chocolate bunnies, eggs, jelly beans, & even sticky peeps, but you can make some smarter choices at home that your kiddos may even like better than candy.  How? you ask, this is where Agent Flossit comes to the rescue!  There may still be enough time to share these good ideas with family & friends you may be seeing at your Easter gathering. There are no “eggs-cuses” because I am giving you all the resources you need to make your Easter baskets & family gatherings healthy & fun!

Just because we are trying to by-pass the candy & chocolate overload, it doesn’t mean that you can’t start your morning off with a holiday inspired breakfast!  Below you will find a cute way to make your pancakes bunny-licious! As long as you all brush, no fuss:)

 https://www.pinterest.com/pin/277393658275081716/

When prepping your Easter eggs & basket, consider what you child really likes:  cars, trains, play dough, bubbles, crafts, legos, nail polish, etc.  Now-a-days it is really easy to find minis of all your favorite characters that can actually fit in the Easter eggs & best of all, that fit into a reasonable budget.  You can also hide clues in the eggs to hunt for the next surprise.   If your big kiddos like to receive some “bunny money” in their eggs, you can see a fun way to fold your bills into Easter shaped $.  Below is a link to a great resource that will give you some fun ideas for every age group.  Dollar Tree http://www.dollartree.com/toys/629/index.cat is definitely a great budget friendly place you can visit for all your holiday “fillers” & event décor.

 https://www.pinterest.com/pin/51791464441302289/

http://www.dollartree.com/toys/629/index.cat

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/63191200997802298/

Depending on how crafty you are, there are quite a few DIY’s you can do for smart Easter snacks & creative activities.  You can put some gold fish or Annie’s bunnies in carrot shaped bags or cover a mini surprise with play dough in the shape of an egg & wrap it in a clear cellophane.  Another good use for those carrot shaped baggies is to fill them with play dough for a fun-filled squeeze activity. Take a look below at some of my fun finds!

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/43487952624228090/ 

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/149181806381026293/

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/211880357443336584/

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/137148751128711436/

If you are hosting an Easter Sunday gathering, I’d like to give you some simple & pretty ideas you can do to decorate for the occasion.  You can use some egg shaped or bunny shaped crayons to decorate & they will have a two-fold purpose; if you use a paper table cloth the kids can use them to draw on the tables (below you can find where to buy these fun & crafty decorations).  Another great idea is to put a small vase inside of a much larger one, where you would fill the small one with fresh spring flowers & then fill the large one with some simple colored eggs.  For some visually pleasing eats, you can also use your favorite egg salad recipe & fill easy baked crescent rolls with the egg salad & then garnish with some parsley to complete the look–pretty & delicious!  Family gathering are always a good time to document those happy moments with your loved ones.  A nice idea is to find a nice spot for some photo booth fun; a nicely shaded area is the ideal place.  Below you will find a cool find for all your Easter photo fun!

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/190980840424697633/

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/278238083201043745/

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/132363676523832465/

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/260082947204973291/

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/64457838391095240/

Moms & dads, hop to it & happy & fun “filling”!  I hope all of my suggestions help you all have a cavity-free & fun-filled Easter weekend!  It’s still important to have good oral hygiene habits, so to keep it in the holiday spirit, below you will find a fun way to get your kiddos to floss after all the Easter festivities.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/382876405791770067/

I look forward to chatting with you all next week!

In the meantime, you can follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/casasmilespediatricdentistryandorthodontics?pnref=lhc. Instagram http://instagram.com/casasmiles/, Twitter https://twitter.com/casa_smiles, Yelp http://www.yelp.com/biz/casa-smiles-pediatric-dentistry-and-orthodontics-coral-gables & Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/casasmiles/ to hear all about our daily news!  You can always call or email us with any questions, concerns, to make an appointment, or for a complimentary Ortho Consultation http://www.casasmiles.com/contact-us/.

Your Friend,

Farah Flossit (Special Agent Flossit)