Our Blog

Posted by Berlin Dental Arts
Heading back to school with the latest jeans, hoodie and backpack, is likely high on your child’s list of “cares”, but as a parent you likely also want to ensure your child is well prepared for school mentally and physically. That is why having a dental checkup and cleaning is a great idea when you’re making your “back to school” plans.

A healthy mouth and a bright white smile is perhaps one of the most important features your child can arrive to school with. Just as your child is immunized for a variety of illnesses to prevent disease, so too does healthy oral habits aid in maintaining optimal health. In fact, tooth decay affects children far more than any other chronic infectious disease, yet nearly 20% of children have untreated dental concerns.

The back to school dental visits include the examination of the whole mouth, teeth, gums and jaws. We monitor jaw growth and development and make orthodontic recommendations as needed.
It is also the right time to review your family’s nutrition and diet. Decay is on the rise due to the high consumption of sticky food, gummy vitamins, starchy snacks, juice, sports and soft drinks. Good snacks and lunches should include fruits, vegetables, milk, yogurt, cheese, nuts… If kids eat in the school cafeteria, we should talk about making smart eating choices and reducing the consumption of sugar.

Preventive measures are discussed at these dental visits. We recommend sealants to protect newly erupted teeth, the use of fluoride to strengthen enamel and restorative procedures when indicated. We also discuss mouth protection and the importance of wearing well fitted sports guards during PE and organized sports to prevent mouth trauma.

When buying school supplies, it is a good idea to stock up on tooth brushes, floss and fluoride rinses. It is recommended to change brushes every 3 months and after an illness. As a reminder, change brushes after each report card.
• Back pack, check
• Booster shots, check
• Back to school dental visit, check
A healthy and cavity free child is happy and confident. We wish all students and parents a wonderful, productive and healthy new school year!!!

Summer is finally here! Great news!

You can maintain a healthy summer smile without having to give up many of your favorite activities and foods! Here are a few tips to keep your teeth and gums healthy this summer!
summer smiles

ESTABLISH A BRUSHING ROUTINE! Stress the urgency of tooth brushing to your kids. The normal routine of school will be a distant memory, so have them focus on a solid night and morning tooth brushing routine. That way, when school is back in session, it’ll be second nature.

FOCUS ON THE FIRST MEAL OF THE DAY! Focus on eating a healthy breakfast. Sometimes mornings can be rushed during the school year. If you have more time, try to focus on stepping away from the quick, sugary cereals, and on to a well-balanced breakfast full of fruits, whole grains and protein – not processed sugar.

GO TO THE DENTIST! Make a follow up appointment for your children – there’s more time in the summer to go to the dentist. Make sure you take advantage of the time to get any necessary procedures done!

CHOOSE YOUR SNACKS WISELY! Snack on protein-filled food! Nuts and cheese are good, healthy choices, and protein is an excellent acid-buster!

HYDRATE! Stay Hydrated With Water! Choose water over sports drinks, juice or soda. The sugar in sports drinks, juice and soda mixes with the saliva in your mouth and produces acids that eat away at your precious tooth enamel!

CHOOSE ICE CREAM! If you must eat sweets, choose ice cream instead of sticky candy. Candy can attach to teeth! Residual ice cream is easy to wash away with a quick glass of water afterwards. Plus, it refreshing on a warn summer day!

PROTECT YOUR SMILE! Use proper mouth protection while playing outdoor summer sports like baseball, soccer and basketball. Though it might seem unconventional, using a mouth guard can prevent damage to braces or other orthodontic work, as well as prevent mouth cuts, jaw injuries and tooth damage

GET A NEW TOOTHBRUSH! If it’s been 3 months since you last changed your family’s toothbrush, it’s time to get a new one!

WEAR LIP BALM WITH SPF 15+. Let’s not forget about your lips. It’s important to use lip balm with SPF throughout the summer months because UV rays can also burn your lips with long exposure.

DON’T FORGET TO FLOSS! – It’s always important to floss, but when what you’re eating is likely to get stuck between your teeth –(Think: corn on the cob at a weekend barbeque!) – it’s especially important to get rid of any food particles that are stuck between teeth.

Thank you for taking the time to visit our blog. Please check back often for weekly updates on fun and exciting events happening at our office, important and interesting information about the dental industry, and the latest news about our practice.

Feel free to leave a comment or question for our doctor and staff – we hope this will be a valuable resource for our patients, their families, and friends!