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

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