How much is TOO MUCH, sugar?

Posted on April 26, 2016 by casasmiles

Happy “Tooth-Day”!

Farah Flossit here, hoping you all have a sweet day:)

We have discussed Sugar in the past & know that sugar invites Mouth Monsters. Sugar acts like an acid, dissolving the enamel on teeth. Each time you eat a snack containing sugar, the resulting acid attack can last up to 20 minutes. The natually-occurring bacteria in the mouth uses sugar as energy to multiply & stick themselves to the surface of a tooth. Over time, this turns into plaque & continues to eat away at the tooth’s enamel. Tiny holes will eventually be made in the enamel & become the home for Mouth Monsters–CAVITIES! If left untreated, CAVITIES will continue to grow!

I recently visited healthyteeth.org & found some very useful information to help us understand how much SUGAR is TOO MUCH.

HOW MUCH SUGAR SHOULD WE CONSUME EACH DAY?

*You can avoid the damaging effects of sugar by brushing and flossing your teeth two to three times a day and limiting the amount of sugary foods and snacks you eat and drink.

We don’t always have time to read labels or really know how much sugar certain foods really contain. In order to put some of what is in the chart above into perspective, below you will find a list of common foods that you & your family may consume & how much sugar they contain. This is important because you want to be able to translate your individual food items consumed throughout your day, into what your total sugar intake should really be for the ENTIRE day.

What I have provided above is just a general guide to help you monitor your sugar intake. I suggest you ask your Doctor or Pediatrician for specific needs you or your child may have. Not only is Sugar intake an important thing to be mindful of for the health of your teeth, but also for your overall health. As always, I recommend that good oral habits along with exercise & a healthy diet is what makes you an overall healthy person. Feeling good makes us smile & a healthy smile is what I hope to help you all achieve & maintain:)

Although we are coming to the end of April & Autism Awareness Month, I hope you all continue to spread awareness & acceptance for Auesome individuals.

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)

Parts of a tooth–:)

Posted on April 19, 2016April 19, 2016 by casasmiles

Happy “Tooth-Day”!

Farah Flossit here, wishing you all a magical day!

Last week we chatted about the different types of teeth & what their jobs are, so this week I thought it would be important to learn about the different parts of a tooth. As you may already know, I am a big fan of Pinterst. Below is a diagram (that I found on Pinterest) that shows us the different parts of a tooth. Not only is it a nice diagram, but it is also a great crafty learning activity you can do with your kids to make learning FUN! Don’t forget to click on the image so that you can read more about creating your own Play-Doh tooth!

A tooth is made up of 2 main parts: 1. The CROWN 2. The ROOT

The crown is what you see when you smile or open your mouth. It’s the part that sits above your gum line.

The root is below the gumline. It makes up about 2/3rds of the tooth’s total length.

Within the 2 main parts lies the ENAMEL: The enamel is the durable, white covering that protects the tooth from the wear & tear of chewing.

DID YOU KNOW? The enamel on your teeth is the hardest substance in you body!

Next up is DENTIN: Dentin supports the enamel on your teeth. It’s a yellow bone-like material that is softer than enamel & carries some of the nerve fibers that signal you when something is wrong inside your tooth.

In the center we have the PULP: The pulp as mentioned is the center of the tooth. It’s a soft tissue that contains blood & lymph vessels, & nerves. The pulp is how the tooth receives nourishment & transmits signals to your brain.

Lastly, we have the ROOT: Cementum is what covers most of the root of the tooth. It helps to attache the tooth to the bones in your Jaw. A cushioning layer called the periodontal Ligament sits between the cementum & the jawbone; it helps connect the two.

As we continue to light it up BLUE, in April for Autism Awareness Month, the information above was presented with Autism in mind. Play-doh is great for fine motor skills & also sensory play. In addition, one can present the visual diagram & build it together to learn the parts of a tooth in a Fun way.

Joke of the day: What do explorers call it when they go searching for fossil teeth?—-A molar expedition! LOL

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

I look forward to chatting with you all next week!

Your Friend,

Farah Flossit (Special Agent Flossit)

Your teeth have JOBS too!

Posted on April 12, 2016April 12, 2016 by casasmiles

Happy “Tooth-Day”!

Farah Flossit here, hoping you are all doing a job well done:)

We all have jobs. If you are a child, your job is to be a student, sibling, or a good teammate on a sports team. If you are an adult, you have many jobs, a nurse, a mom, a dad, etc. What we don’t usually consider is that each type of tooth we have, has a specific job. They don’t all have the same shape & purpose. So, today I want to shed some light on what each type of tooth does. This is great information you can share with your kiddos. This will help them understand that if you they don’t have healthy workers in their mouths, their teeth can’t do a good job!

Fist it’s important to identify the 4 different types of teeth 1. INCISORS 2. CANINES 3. PREMOLARS 4. MOLARS

Now we can talk about the function or job each type of tooth has. Teeth help you chew on your food, making it easier to digest. Each type of tooth has a slightly different shape & performs a different job.

INCISORS. Incisors are the eight teeth in the front & center of your mouth (4 on the top & 4 on the bottom). These are the teeth that you use to take bites of your food. Incisors are usually the first teeth to erupt, at around 6 months of age for your first set of teeth, & between 6 & 8 years of age for your adult set.
CANINES. Your four canines are the next type of teeth to develop. These are the sharpest teeth and are used for ripping & tearing food apart. Primary canines generally appear between 16 & 20 months of age with the upper canines coming in just ahead of the lower canines. In permanent teeth, the order is reversed. Lower canines erupt around age 9 with the upper arriving between 11 & 12 years of age.
PREMOLARS. Premolars, or also known as bicuspids, are used for chewing & grinding food. You have 4 premolars on each side of your mouth, 2 not the upper & 2 on the lower jaw. The first premolars appear around age 10 and the second premolars arrive a year later.
MOLARS. Primary molars are also used for chewing & grinding food. These appear between 12 & 15 months of age. These molars, also known as deciduous molars. are replaced by the first & second permanent premolars (4 upper & 4 lower). The permanent molars do not replace, but come in behind the primary teeth. The first molars erupt around 6 years of age (before the primary molars fall out) while the second molars come in between 11 & 13 years of age.
THIRD MOLARS. Third molars are commonly known as wisdom teeth. These are the last teeth to develop & do not typically erupt until age 18-20, and some people never develop third molars at all. For those who do, these molars may cause crowding & need to be removed.

Much like if you are out sick from school or you are not able to go to your place of work, you can do your job. Therefore, the same way you need to take care of your bodies & stay healthy by taking vitamins, exercising & eating right, it is just as important to keep your teeth healthy so that they can do their job! It’s your job to brush your teeth, floss, eat healthy foods, & visit the dentist every 6 months for your checkups & cleanings! Just remember that a healthy mouth makes for a healthy body and a pretty smile!

To continue to support & bring awareness to Autism for “Autism Awareness Month”, check out some tips for helping your “Ausome” friend, family, or patient visit the dentist!

HELPFUL TIPS FOR AUSOME FRIENDS:

Many children like counting. This is a great way to getting the job done. Have the child count with you as they get one side of their mouth cleaned or as the dentist counts how many teeth they have.
Bring a stress ball, silly putty, or play dough. The use of this helps with anxiety & stimming.
Bring a weighted vest or blanket for a sense of security or to help with sensory overload.
Use head phones to block out some of the distracting noises that one can hear at the dentist. At Casa Smiles, we have headphones where children can pick from a wide selection of their favorite movies & shows.

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

I look forward to chatting with you all next week!

Your Friend,

Farah Flossit (Special Agent Flossit)

~Truth from a Baby Tooth & Lighting it up BLUE for Autism Awareness Month~

Posted on April 5, 2016April 5, 2016 by casasmiles

Happy “Tooth-Day”!

Farah Flossit here, lighting it up BLUE for Autism Awareness Month (APRIL).

Today I’m going to briefly chat about Autism Awareness & how we in the Pediatric Dental field can give mom’s & dads of children with special needs some good finds to help their children with their visits to the dentist. In addition, I’m going to share some great information about teething, brought to us by the AAPD.

As many of you may or may not know, Autism consists of a “spectrum”. This means that if you have met 1 child with Autism, you have really just met 1 child with Autism because all children on the Spectrum are very different. Some have difficulty with Sensory Integration, some are non-verbal, others are very verbal, etc., but all are very special & unique. Below I’d like to share with you some resources where you can get helpful visuals to help your children prepare for their visit to the dentist. Most children with Autism like to know what to expect. So, if you can show them what they will be experiencing before it actually happens, that always helps.

I found the youtube video below on Pinterest & I feel it is a wonderful tool!

If your child enjoys reading, below is a great low-budget item you must have. Click on the image to take you to the link.

PECS are a very effective way to help non-verbal children with Autism to understand; it’s giving the child a visual schedule–step by step. Don’t forget to click on the image for the link.

Below is a link to “free printables” related to your child’s dental visit & oral hygiene.

With April being “Autism Awareness Month”, I encourage all families to accept & embrace families that live with Autism. Wear blue & spread awareness. Stay tuned, as I will continue to post more resources throughout the month in honor of Autism Awareness.

For those parents embarking in the teething stages, here’s some useful information: (Courtesy of the AAPD)

Teething: As Told By A Baby Tooth

All parents know teething can be a stressful and trying time filled with sleepless nights. Here are five things parents need to know to navigate the teething landscape, straight from the source – the little tooth that can be a big pain for babies, parents and caregivers alike!

1. You can expect me to show up around the time your little one is 6 – 8 months old. But please have patience! Sometimes I need a little more time, and will arise around 12 – 14 months of age.

2. You will know when I’m about to arrive because your little one might be irritable and attempting to chew on hard objects. I usually show up first in the bottom jaw with a buddy, then my friends, the two top teeth, show up next!

3. The best way to help me introduce myself to your little one is to use a teething ring or gently rub your child’s gums with a cool, wet washcloth with a clean finger.

4. Once I’ve arrived, it’s time to start brushing each morning and night and begin flossing once I’m touching another tooth. This will typically happen around or after age 2. You should supervise brushing until your little one is 7 or 8 years old. Most children will master flossing by age 10.

5. After I appear, it’s time to visit the pediatric dentist! He’ll be able to tell you how to take care of my baby teeth friends and me once we all arrive. Part of keeping us healthy means being prepared for any emergencies – be sure to place this guide on your fridge with your pediatric dentist’s contact information in case I’m knocked out or chipped!

If your little one’s baby teeth have already arrived, but haven’t been introduced to a pediatric dentist yet, remember it’s never too late! Visit Casa Smiles Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics for all you Dental needs.

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

I look forward to chatting with you all next week!

Your Friend,

Farah Flossit (Special Agent Flossit)

What to know about N2O

Posted on March 29, 2016 by casasmiles

Happy “Tooth-Day”!

Farah Flossit here, wishing you a fun-filled day:)

Most of us have heard of or even used “laughing gas” at the dentist. Many parents are hesitant or even fearful to have their children use Nitrous Oxide (AKA-Laughing Gas). Because there are these common concerns & feelings of uncertainty, today’s report will be focused on the use of N2O & why it is a safe option when needed.

While most parents hope that their children will love going to the dentist, there are some children that feel anxious, fearful, or have special needs. Casa Smiles does their very best to make every child’s experience a great one, but as Pediatric Dentists, we have a lot of experience with all types of children & we are ready to accommodate each individual patient as needed. A safe go-to is Nitrous. We want to make your child feel special & relaxed.

Nitrous Oxide is a blend of 2 gases–Oxygen & Nitrous Oxide. A fitted mask is placed over the nose and the patient breaths normally. The child will smell a faint, sweet aroma & experience a sense of relaxation. If your child is sensitive to sights, sounds, or sensations of dental treatment, N2O can be very helpful. Nitrous is considered to be very safe–the safest sedative in dentistry. It has a rapid onset, is well tolerated, it’s reversible, can be adjusted in various concentrations, & is non-allergic. The patient remains fully conscious & capable of responding to questions/requests. At the end of the treatment, any effects will be eliminated in a short period of time & has no lingering effects. We at Casa Smiles realize that not all children are the same. The use of Nitrous may not be effective for some children, but it may ease feelings of anxiety in some patients & get them through their dental treatments.

We encourage parents to ask questions & clear up any uncertainties that they may have. After all, we both want the best for your child! I hope the information provided today was helpful & informative.

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

I look forward to chatting with you all next week!

Your Friend,

Farah Flossit (Special Agent Flossit)

Spring is here,…Hop to it!

Posted on March 22, 2016March 22, 2016 by casasmiles

Happy “Tooth-Day”!

Farah Flossit here, wishing you a beautiful start to Spring.

This Sunday is Easter:) For those that are familiar with the Easter Bunny & for those that celebrate Easter, we know all to well that he has some big front teeth. This year, share with your little ones how important it is to take good care of their teeth, just like the Easter Bunny. So in the spirit of promoting good oral hygiene by means of the Easter Bunny, let’s celebrate in a Non-Candy way!

Spring is the time of year where we start to go outside for fun activities. Kick off your Easter Sunday with a basket full things your kiddos can use for Fun outdoor activities. Here are some that your kids may like: