I Feel a Song Comin' On!

Photo Courtesy of PatientConnect.com

With school back in session, many children choose to participate in their school music program. This is a wonderful skill to learn, and research proves playing a musical instrument enhances a child's overall ability to learn.

There are, however, a couple of things to consider. First of all musical instruments can be a prolific breeding ground for bacteria. Brass and wind instruments can harbor molds, yeast and bacteria which can result in asthma or a host of other illnesses. Regularly cleaning instruments is your best line of defense against these harmful substances.

The second issue that presents problems for your child is lip and tooth trauma. PatientConnect.com indicates because playing a wind or brass instrument requires the player to forcefully hold their instrument against or within the lips to produce a sound, this pressure can present problems for delicate lip tissue and growing teeth. There are soft acrylic guards that can be purchased to offset some of this pressure, and are especially common for children who wear braces.

The outbreak of cold sores can also be associated to playing musical instruments. By monitoring these outbreaks and noticing where the cold sores appear can help you mitigate the pain associated with cold sores. For woodwind instruments these outbreaks tend to be on the lower lip, whereas for brass instrument musicians the outbreaks tend to happen on the lower lip. And strangely enough, woodwind players can experience outbreaks twice as much as non-musicians.

With a little care and attention to the cleaning of musical instruments, your children can enjoy this wonderful skill and develop it with confidence. The benefits far outweigh the risks, but including a routine scheduled cleaning of your child's instrument will keep your child healthier and happier in their oral health care needs.

If you have any questions about this topic, feel free to contact our office. Dr. Clark can easily tell if your child's music instrument is causing damage to your child's tender teeth, and offer suggestions of how to prevent further damage.

As Dr. Clark likes to say, "I feel a song comin' on!" Keep on learning, keep on singing and keep on playing that wonderful music!

Call us with any questions

(541) 451-1440

Do I Need to Wear a Mouthguard?

My child doesn't play hockey or football, is a mouthguard really necessary? 

We hear this question often, and the answer is a resounding yes. There are many sports activities that place our teeth in danger, and wearing a mouthguard is by far one of the best ways to prevent serious injury.

Although mouth injuries can still occur with a mouthguard, the severity is always lessened. A good rule of thumb is to wear a mouthguard in an activity when you can accidentally fall or run into a wall or another person with force.

No doubt you've seen the ready-made mouthguards in the toothpaste aisle at your grocery store. While this type of mouthguard can offer some support, it is not an exact fit, and so protection is not at its fullest.

Dr. Clark and his team can make you a custom made mouthguard that will give you the best fit and most comfortable protection. Having mouthguards sit firmly in your mouth, surrounding all teeth is the key to protect against sudden impact.

Call today if you have any 

questions about mouthguards.

(541) 451-1440

Our website has great information for all of your 

oral health care needs.

www.laserdennist.com

Sources:

'Mouthguards." Delta Dental, http://oralhealth.deltadental.com/adolescent/Safety/22,21533n

“Mouthguards.” Mouth Healthy, American Dental Association. www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/m/mouthguardsAccessed 2013 - See more at: http://oralhealth.deltadental.com/adolescent/Safety/22,21533n#sthash.sacNCmRN.dpuf

The Cost of Missing School

As our children head back to school, it is important they do not become distracted by common dental aches and pains caused from untreated cavities. Although toothaches are common among school-age children, some toothaches need immediate attention.

Photo Courtesy Children's Dental Health Project

Children's Dental Health Project shares two common problems that missing school can cause:

• Dental pain can lead to school absences. North Carolina children with poor oral health were nearly three times more likely to miss school due to dental pain. Such absences were linked to lower school performance.  
• Students with toothaches may have lower GPAs. A Los Angeles study found that children with toothaches were four times more likely to have a low grade-point average. Children's dental problems also caused parents to lose an average of 2.5 days from work or school. 

If your child seems to be continually complaining of a toothache, please don't ignore her. It only takes a few minutes to swing by our office so we can take a look at what might be causing the pain. Listening to the cues our bodies give us is key to maintaining good oral health.

Call today if you have any questions about toothaches.

(541) 451-1440

Our website has great information for all of your oral health care needs.

www.laserdennist.com

No Cut, No Sew, No Fear!

The simple phrase "gum surgery" can strike fear into anyone's mind, however, with technology today, this is no longer the case.

Dr. Clark has been performing the No Cut, No Sew Gum surgery since 2002 called LANAP or Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure.

We could talk all day long about the amazing benefits this procedure provides, but we thought you might like to hear if from one of our patients, Tim Wilson, share his story with you.

Patients undergoing laser gum disease treatment enjoy a number of benefits, including a fast healing time, bone regeneration, and low or no risk of gum recession. There is far less bleeding (if any) with this procedure and most patients can return to their regular activities the following day. 

If you have been diagnosed with gum disease and need treatment right away, this minimally-invasive procedure may be right for you.

Please do not hesitate to call and schedule a free consult. Relief from loose teeth is possible. No longer are dentures your only alternative to replace loose teeth.

Call Us Today!

(541) 451-1440

Find more patient testimonials at:

http://www.laserdennist.com/new-patients/patient-testimonials