Is Your Child Missing School?

Has your child missed valuable instruction time at school due to dental problems?

Surprisingly 31% of parents answer in the affirmative that they have had to pull their child out of school due to a dental problem.

In a study conducted by Dental Dental, they broke down the school absenteeism in this fashion:

• How much school missed: 18 percent of parents reported their children missed at least a half a day of school, four percent said their children missed one day, four percent reported children missing two days and six percent said their children had to miss three or more days.
• By region: School children in the Northeast reported the most absences because of a dental issue, with 36 percent of parents reporting their six to 12 year olds missed school, followed by the South (33 percent) , the Midwest (28 percent) and the West (28 percent).
• By parents' age: Parents age 35-44 reported the most amount of school missed by their children (35 percent), followed closely by parents 18-34 (34 percent), while parents 45 and older reported the least amount of school missed (19 percent).

So what does this data tell us? Many of the oral health care issues our children, and even ourselves experience, can be thwarted with a few simple tips. You've heard these steps or tips before, but they bear repeating, especially if it can help your children remain in school.

• Brush all surfaces of the teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste.
• Brush gently for about two minutes and pay special attention to the gum line.
• Floss at least once a day.
• Limit not only sugary snacks but also high-starch or refined carbohydrate foods. These include foods like chips, pretzels, cookies, breads, and dried fruits, including raisins. The bacteria that cause tooth decay thrive on simple sugars, especially those in sticky foods and treats.
• Limit fruit juice or other sweet/sugary drinks to mealtimes. Between meals and especially at bedtime, give your child water, it keeps them hydrated and helps prevent tooth-decay if your community water is fluoridated.
• And, of course, go to the dentist early enough before school starts to learn about current or looming issues that could pose a problem. 

lt is our hope that by reviewing these simple tips and evaluating your own personal habits of oral health care and hygiene in your home, you will find happier, healthier mouths and brighter children because they are not missing school or suffering needlessly from dental issues that can be avoided.

If you have any questions about your dental needs, please do not hesitate to call. One phone call can save yourself time and money by preventing further problems from developing.

We are here to help!

(541) 451-1440

Cheer Your Child On!

Getting your children to brush their teeth consistently can be a challenge. We recognize this, and have gone through the same things with our children. What you may not realize, however, is that these small efforts can pay big dividends down the road.

The time you have to instill good habits in your children is limited. Before you know it they will be old enough to make those decisions on their own, and we know your efforts will pay off, even if it feels like a struggle now.

World Dental Health.org had a great article on how to encourage your kids to brush and floss. We wanted to highlight two tips they offered.

Have The Right Tools
Companies make kids’ dental hygiene products for a reason. Get your kids a fun toothbrush, perhaps one that lights up or sings, in addition to a tasty and child-friendly tooth paste. Many parents make the mistake of disallowing their kids to use bubble gum or fruit toothpaste because they fear that their children’s teeth aren’t getting as clean as they would if they used a regular mint paste. However, as long as you’re using a dentist-approved brand like Colgate or Crest, you can rest assured that these kids’ toothpastes are just as effective as their adult counterparts.

Make it Musical
Ideally, your child should spend two minutes brushing his or her teeth. Creating some kind of musical timer system that plays for two minutes and ends when they may stop brushing is a great idea to train your kids on how long to brush. If you don’t want to sing or create a playlist, invest in one of the many toothbrushes that come in with a built-in musical timer.

We have a great special on Invisalign right now - receive $700 off for a limited time. Get the smile you've always wanted without the hassle of metal braces!

Call today!
(541) 451-1440

Toothbrush and Toothpaste - What a Pair!

We have several parents who have admitted that they skip the toothpaste sometimes when brushing their child's teeth. They have figured that brushing with water is better than nothing. 

While that sentiment is true to some extent, we wanted to touch on a few facts about the importance of using toothpaste.

Know Your Teeth.com had a great article that focused upon the following points:

"Brushing with toothpaste is important for several reasons. First and foremost, a toothpaste and a correct brushing action work to remove plaque, a sticky, harmful film of bacteria that grows on your teeth that causes cavities, gum disease and eventual tooth loss if not controlled. Second, toothpaste contains fluoride, which makes the entire tooth structure more resistant to decay and promotes remineralization, which aids in repairing early decay before the damage can even be seen. Third, special ingredients in toothpaste help to clean and polish the teeth and remove stains over time. Fourth, toothpastes help freshen breath and leave your mouth with a clean feeling."

Thankfully there are so many products on the market that make keeping your teeth and gums clean and healthy. And just as the picture above mentions - don't forget the floss! Your oral hygiene routine is NOT complete without it!

As a reminder, we do carry a great line of oral health care products in our office. Stop by anytime to pick them up.

We are here to answer your questions - please don't hesitate to all.

(541) 451-1440

A Clean Mouth is as Easy as 1, 2, 3!

World Dental.org had a great article discussing easy ways to teach your kids about oral hygiene. We want to highlight a few of their ideas this week.

They first suggest to make it visual. Teaching a child about the consequences of poor dental health is one thing, but showing them is quite another. This can be done by printing of some pictures at home of individuals who have not taken care of their teeth. This visual brings the consequences of not brushing into reality for a child, and is a motivating factor with very little words.

The second suggestion offered is to create a practice dummy. Provide a puppet with a large mouth, or use cardboard and create giant teeth in order for your child to practice brushing, flossing and cleaning the tongue. If they have can fun cleaning their dummy's teeth, it will make brushing their own more enjoyable and engaging.

The final suggestion we want to highlight is to make a connection. Good dental habits may seem pointless to a child, but by helping them connect the habits to other things it will make more senses. Help them understand that good dental hygiene habits avoid bad breath, prevent cavities, help them keep their teeth, etc. If a child has a purpose of why they clean their teeth, it may help them work that much harder.

We also want your child to feel comfortable at the Dentist office. This is not a place to fear. Bring them into our practice, we would love to give them a tour, discuss what happens in each area of our office, and of course, show of the surprise box! That is always their favorite spot.

Creating positive, lasting relationships now will allow them to create habits for their future that will greatly impact how they care for their own teeth, and for their future children's mouths. 

Call to schedule a cleaning for you and your child today!

(541) 451-1440