Happy “Tooth-Day”!

Farah Flossit here, wishing you well after a long weekend of fun!

It may seem as if Summer just started, but I’d thought it would be a good idea to keep you on track & think about what you should take care of while the kids are out of school.  First I’d like to provide a dental timeline for those first-time moms & dads or for those parents that now have big kiddos & have recently added a newbie to the equation.  This will help remind you about what you should be doing at each stage to help promote good oral care from the start.  Good oral hygiene is important for so many reasons, but today I would really like to drive home the correlation between poor oral health & poor academic performance.  The summer is a great time to address any pending cavities or dental concerns so that your child/children do not have to miss school to take care of these issues.  If your child is up to date with their routine cleanings & check ups, then this is one less worry you will have; children with cavities & unattended dental concerns can easily get distracted by pain & discomfort.  If your kiddos are up to date with their dental care, it’s an especially good idea to consider your child’s molars being “sealed” as a preventative measure to avoid future cavities.

I came across a study done by the USC  https://dentistry.usc.edu/2012/08/10/poor-oral-health-can-mean-missed-school-lower-grades/ that explains how poor oral health, dental disease, & tooth pain can place kids at a serious disadvantage in school.  This study that was conducted in 2012 consisted of about 1500 disadvantaged elementary & high school children in the LA Unified School District showed that:

• Children who reported having tooth pain were 4X more likely to have a low GPA compared to those without oral pain.
• Poor oral health is linked to more school absences and missed work for parents.
• 11% of children with limited access to dental care missed school due to poor oral health, as opposed to 4% of children with access to dental care.

My job as a Mouth Monster fighting agent is to help moms & dads do their job of taking their children to the Dentist & to teach them good oral habits from a very early age.  It’s a lot scarier to visit the dentist because of neglect than introducing routine visits to the Dentist from an early age.  If you come in & visit us here at Casa Smiles Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics http://www.casasmiles.com/ your kids will look forward to coming back to our Fun Dental Office.

Summertime is great for vacations, but also a good time to stay on track!  Give your kids the gift of a healthy smile:)  It’s time to beat those cavities to the punch.  Let’s fight off those Mouth Monsters together & stay Mouth Monster Free!!

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 this short work week as we enter our long patriotic weekend of fun & celebration.

In honor of the 4th of July, today’s special report is all about fun & FREE ideas for (healthy) “USA” themed food & snacks, crafts for the kids, & enjoyable activities for the whole family.  I will of course remind you that despite all the fun, don’t forget to brush & floss!  We all know that it’s not a 4th of July celebration without corn & desserts.  It’s early enough in the week where you can pick & choose which activities you’d like to do & what food you’d like to prepare, so based on what you think your family would enjoy, make your shopping list for a fun-filled weekend!

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/56787645278724755/

Start your preparations by printing & asking the kids to cut these fun photo props to help with making lasting memories of this years 4th of July festivities!

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/24206916724021370/

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/197595502373823082/

Enjoy a healthy & refreshing breakfast that will keep you cool & nourished:)

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/326370304219226330/

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/218213544417843382/

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/129126714290110319/

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/489766528197179449/

 

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/401242648021524327/

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/161637074103388935/

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/263249540693710650/

 

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/260434790924460240/

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https://www.pinterest.com/pin/168040629817733829/

I truly hope that these were all FUN ideas for you to share with your friends & family over this long holiday weekend!  Click on the links below the images to get the complete scoop for each of the recipes/activities.  Remember while you are out in the sun to wear sunscreen & stay hydrated.  Have fun & God Bless America!  Just in case your little ones get some corn stuck in their teeth & want to learn how to floss with some easily accessible items, see below for a fun activity that will keep them busy for just a little bit.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/262264378272274209/

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 on this beautiful day:)

I recently discovered a very interesting & innovative product that prompted me to address the topic of toddlers & their sippy cups.  In today’s special report I will be bringing awareness to one bad oral health habit you can avoid.  Tooth decay among young children is on the rise & many experts believe that sippy cups containing sugary beverages are responsible.

Once your child graduates to “sippy cup” status, there are few important things to keep in mind:

1. Limit sippy cups to mealtime & snack time.
2. Unless being used at mealtime, the sippy cup should only be filled with water.
3. Sippy cups should not be used at naptime or bedtime unless they only have water in them.

Because sippy cups prevent spills, they are often used by children for long periods of time over months & years rather than a transitional drinking device, a purpose for which they were intended.  The key word TRANSITIONAL DRINKING DEVICE is actually part 2 of today’s special report!  This new design that I have recently discovered encourages building the skill needed to drink like a “big” girl or boy.

“Sippy cups were created to help children transition from a bottle to drinking from a regular cup, but they’re too often used for convenience,” says American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) http://www.aapd.org/ President Philip H. Hunke, DDS., M.S.D.  “When kids sip for extended periods on sugared beverages, they’re exposed to a higher risk of decay.”

There are actually 2 respectable companies that have developed a modern version of the traditional sippy cup. The first one is by Philips (same company as the Sonicare products) AVENT-Natural Drinking Cup.

This Natural Drinking Cup gives your child some independence without any cleanup for moms & dads.  It is designed for toddlers 12 months & older & has a no leak cup with a unique spill-proof valve activated by the pressure of your child’s mouth.  This design comes with a lid to keep the top clean between drinks, making it perfect for traveling.  One thing to note is the innovative 360 degree drinking, that allows your child to drink from any side of the cup.  This can also improve hand-to-mouth coordination.  Plus, it has two small handles, perfect for toddler hands & fingers to grasp.  It is also a BPA-free product.  With its fast flow valve for 12 months & up, the Philips AVENT Natural Drinking Cup is a good choice if you want your child to transition from a sippy cup to a regular cup.

This affordable product that is perfect for either a boy or girl is a spoutless, strawless cup that allows drinking from all round the rim, just like an adult cup.  It encourages your toddler to get used to grown up drinking, without the mess.  Below you will find a helpful video on how to keep your great new buy germ free & clean.

https://youtu.be/97xBc6iZxbQ

The second brand that has also introduced this modern concept to help toddlers really TRANSITION to drinking like “big” boys & girls is MUNCHKIN–Miracle 360 Trainer Cup.

 

http://abirdwithafrenchfry.com/review-munchkin-miracle-360-cups/

MUNCHKIN hangs its hat on designing a sippy cup with both parents & kids in mind.  It eliminates messes & supports kids’ dental health all at once.  Drinking from anywhere around the rim, like a regular cup, helps support normal muscle development in a child’s mouth.  Below you will find a video where you can see what the Miracle 360 is all about!

Either one of these useful affordable,  & modern products can be found at your local Target, Walmart, Publix, or Babies R Us.  I really hope you found today’s fun find useful & informative.

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”!

Agent Flossit here, wishing you well!

I’m always stressing the importance of Good Oral Hygiene & one of the most important components is FLOSSING!  Too often people (adults & children), either don’t floss or don’t understand the benefits & importance of flossing.  Even flossing can be a fun activity to teach your kids!   It’s time for Agent Flossit to teach all about Flossing Like a Boss:)

BENEFITS OF FLOSSING:

A consistent flossing routine is vital for anyone aspiring to maintain long-term dental health.  Here at Casa Smiles Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics http://www.casasmiles.com/, our goal is to see that our patients have healthy & beautiful smiles.  Flossing gives your teeth a more clean feeling & removes plaque & food particles that can cause long-term damage.  While proper toothbrushing is sufficient for cleaning the tops & outer surfaces of your teeth & gums, the best way to ensure food & particles don’t camp out between your teeth is to floss regularly.  If food & particles become lodged in the nooks & crannies of your teeth, not only can cavities form on the teeth, but the damage can extend as far as causing bone loss (or periodontal disease).  The best way to keep those in-between areas clean is to FLOSS.

 

WHEN TO FLOSS & HOW TO?

For children, remember that as soon as he or she has two teeth that touch, it’s the right time to start flossing!  The most important thing about flossing is to do it!  Because flossing demands more manual dexterity than very young children have, children are not usually able to floss well by themselves until about age 10 or 11.  So, it’s up to SUPER moms & dads to help out our little ones & create good habits early on.

If you are using traditional floss, there are 5 basic steps to follow in order to do it right:

5 Steps to a Flawless Floss

We know we should floss at least once a day, but not everyone knows the right way to do it. Use this step-by-step guide to find out how to properly floss your teeth:

Once you’re finished, throw the floss away. A used piece of floss won’t be as effective and could leave bacteria behind in your mouth.

Another options is to use Floss Picks.  This may be more enticing for the little ones & easier to use.

Yet another option is Water Flossing for children ages 6 & up.  There is a really great one by Waterpik that we recommend.  It is a great option for kids with braces or ones that have trouble flossing.

This product features:

• Extra safe, kid proof electrical design
• 2 Unique Tips
• 20 removable cling labels
• Smaller & quieter than previous models
• Pressure Control System with 3 settings
• Reservoir capacity of 60+ seconds
• Reservoir can be inverted for hygienic storage
• Can be used with water or mouthwash

Below is a helpful video to learn how to use the Water Flosser for Kids:

I came across a very creative way to show your kids how to floss using Legos & Play Dough:)

It’s been a pleasure sharing all about FLOSS!

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 on this lovely day!

With the above message in mind, which is always on the top of the priority list, I would like to inform you all about the benefits of “going electric”!  Here at Casa Smiles Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics http://www.casasmiles.com/ we recommend Sonicare for Kids (ages 4 & up).  I’d like to start off by pointing out just a few facts before getting into more specific details about why Sonicare For Kids is worth considering.

• 75% more effective in hard-to-reach places than manual toothbrushes for better check-ups
• KidTimer gradually increases to 2 minutes to train kids to brush longer
• High & Low power modes for gentle yet effective cleaning
• 8 cool design stickers + 2 bonus sticker sheets for a fun & customized brush

It’s easy to view the mouth & oral hygiene as somehow separate from the rest of your hygiene regimen. That could be because brushing is something we do at the start & end of each day, rather than during our working & social lives.  However, there are many reasons why taking good care of your teeth & gums can have a positive impact on the rest of your life.  Your mouth affects the way you talk, eat & your appearance too.  So it is important to educate your kiddos from an early age about this.  So if you are experiencing a toothache, or tooth decay or even missing teeth, these things can affect the way you are perceived socially, professionally, spoil your enjoyment of food or even affect your sleep patterns.

The good news is oral health problems are both preventable & when caught early, treatable.  Returning your teeth & gums to full health can be as simple as brushing for longer & more often, having a better diet & flossing every day.  A mouth full of healthy teeth & gums can really help you enjoy life.  So, Philips Sonicare is an ideal tooth brush to prevent & treat oral health problems.  Philips Sonicare prevents bacteria known as plaque from growing on your teeth, prevents gingivitis & gum disease.  Sonicare provides state-of-the-art sonic technology & dynamic cleaning action.

My objective is to inform & educate parents first because our children learn from our examples.  Some of what I’ve mentioned applies to adults, but oral health is important for your entire family.  Next, I’d like to give you details about what Sonicare For Kids has to offer you & your kids.

• Ease of us:  Easy snap-on brush heads.
• 2 Brush head sizes available.
• KidPacer delivers fun & engaging musical tones.  Fun sounds encourage kids to brush their entire mouth effectively for the dentist-recommended 2 minutes.
• KidTimer helps increase brushing time.  To help kids ease into a proper routine, this electric toothbrush slowly increases the brushing time over 90 days until reaching the dentist-recommended 2 minutes to help instill healthy habits naturally.
• 2 Kid-friendly power modes deliver a gentle, effective clean.  With 2 Kid-friendly power modes, this power toothbrush provides proper cleaning for different ages; a low mode for younger children & a high mode for older kids.
• Fun interchangeable stickers for customization.  Allows kids to make each brush uniquely their own.
• Removes more plaque than a children’s manual toothbrush.  Philips Sonicare For Kids removes up to 75% more plaque than manual toothbrushes.
• Ergonomically designed to enable parents & kids to brush together or on their own.
• Features a unique dynamic action that gently & effectively reaches deep between teeth & along the gumline.
• 91% of dental professional parents prefer Philips Sonicare For Kids for their own children.
• The rubberized brush head of this electric toothbrush is designed to help protect growing teeth.
• Sturdy handle design allows kids to store upright as well as apply toothpaste while the toothbrush is laying flat.
• Sonicare For Kids strongly supports eco-design of products.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/brush-busters/id889921027?mt=8

Make sure to download this free app by Philips Sonicare:)

Brushing is #1 in Oral Health care.  If you can use good tools (that you can share among siblings with multiple brush heads), you can prevent oral health problems in the future.  I hope today’s report was helpful & if you have any questions, Farah Flossit is always here to help!

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”!

Good Day to all, Farah Flossit here:)

Here at Casa Smiles Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics  http://www.casasmiles.com/, we take a conservative approach to dental x-rays.   There is very little risk in dental X-rays.   Pediatric dentists are especially careful to limit the amount of radiation to which children are exposed.  Lead aprons and digital x-ray machines are used to ensure safety and minimize the amount of radiation.  You can feel at ease that our doctors know when x-rays should be taken & when they are not necessary.  I would like to start off this week’s report with some valid reasons dentists DO take x-rays.

Reasons WHY dentist take X-RAYS:

• LOOK FOR DECAY BETWEEN TEETH:  Sometimes decay isn’t visible to the naked eye & exists in areas the dentist cannot see.
• CHECK FOR BONE LOSS ASSOCIATED WITH GUM DISEASE:  Gum disease can cause bone loss and an x-ray will show who advanced it is.
• CHECK FOR DECAY UNDER FILLINGS:  Sometimes decay under filings can occur & can only be seen with an x-ray.
• LOOK FOR INFECTION AT THE TIP OF THE ROOT:  Infections can appear at the very bottom of your teeth where the bone is, which needs to be confirmed using an x-ray.
• EXAMINE THE AREA BEFORE PROCEDURES:  Dentists need a full view of the teeth & bone before procedures such as braces, implants & tooth removal.

Below you will find a helpful chart with some FAST FACTS about Dental X-Rays:

 

A common myth about Dental X-Rays is that they are particularly harmful because they are using radiation extremely close to the head & brain.  Actually, no matter what part of the body it is, the amount of radiation emitted by a dental x-ray is too tiny to cause any damage.  And, thanks to improvements in technology, modern dental x-ray machines (like the digital ones used here at Casa Smiles http://www.casasmiles.com/) focus radiation beams so that only your teeth are exposed.

If you ever have any additional questions or concerns about X-Rays, do not hesitate to ask your Dentist or Orthodontist.

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)