Happy World Oral Health Day everyone! WOHD happens every year on March 20th, but perhaps you have never heard of it! Well, this is your lucky day! Let’s take a few minutes and learn all about this great project. What is World Oral Health Day? World Oral Health Day (WOHD going forward) is an international day where we celebrate and educate on the benefits of having a healthy mouth, as well as spread worldwide awareness on the issues of oral health and the importance of oral health from babies to adults. But most of all it is a day for everyone to have fun and help a good cause! Why is WOHD important? Over 90% of the world’s population will suffer from some type of oral disease in their lifetime and many of them could be avoided with increased funding for prevention, detection and treatment programs. It is also a day for all the dental and oral health community to let their voices be heard and take action to try and help reduce the global oral disease burden. What can you do to help? For starters you can help by making sure you and your children floss and brush your teeth two times a day! The best way to stop oral disease is to have good oral hygiene so it never gets to that point. Did you know a recent survey showed that 2/3 people over the age of 55 regret not looking over their teeth while they were younger? So floss and brush now so you won’t regret later! You can also help by...
Concerned parents often ask Dr. Dutta about which kinds of snacks are best for a child’s teeth. While most understand that candy isn’t always the best choice, many parents are confused about which kinds of after-school snacks can actually be good for teeth. Left for their own devices, children might find the sugary snack that will come in colorful packaging. You can find, however, choices which are definitely better for the child’s teeth. Below is a list of food for a healthy smile. Go Natural The foods which are best for the children’s teeth will also be the best due to their overall health. Choosing whole foods, such as for example fruits and vegetables, is obviously the best option for snacks. Try sticks of celery and let your children dip it into all-natural peanut butter, or a juicy and crunchy apple cut into wedges. Lean Proteins Lean protein, such as for example chicken white meat, fish, turkey, and lean cuts of pork also make good snacking options. To discover the best all around health, avoid giving your youngster lots of lunch meats, because such products in many cases are higher in sodium. However, these proteins will also be low in sugar, which will be always a preferable choice when it comes to teeth. Avoid Packaged Foods Sugars are unhealthy partly because they stick morereadily to the surface of the teeth. Even foods that seem to be healthy, such as for example many brands of granola bars, can in reality be laden with hidden sugars. Sugar may also be present in higher concentrations in dried fruit, honey,...
Valentine’s Day is around the corner, and just like any other holiday, it is a time when sugary sweets and candies flow generously. Whether it’s your child’s classmates at school passing out sweet Valentines or his favorite auntie giving him a giant chocolate heart to show her love, your child will be surrounded with more sweets than you can control. While chocolate covered strawberries, gummy bears and candy hearts are quite tasty, they aren’t the best choices for his oral health. We understand that you are probably not going to have him skip out on this sugary holiday, so we would like to share with you some information on the sugary treats he may receive this Valentine’s Day. As a pediatric dentist we understand how much kids love candy! A few of the most common treats your children may receive this holiday include: chocolate, chocolate covered fruit, hard candy, and sticky candy. It is important to remember that while all of these sugary treats are delicious, they can do some damage to his overall oral health if not eaten in moderation. Hard and sticky candies are known for coating teeth with sugar and have the tendency to be hard to remove. Also, even though you might think it the best idea and solution after allowing your child to enjoy more sweets today, it very important to know not to brush his teeth immediately after eating candy. By doing so, you can brush away the enamel on the teeth. Instead, rinse his mouth out with water to get the sugary residue off the teeth. Your pediatric dentist recommends brushing after...
The 28th of February is National Tooth Fairy day, but did you know the Tooth Fairy that American kids grow up with originated in 17th-century France? Or that kids in Mexico and Spain expect the Tooth Mouse to come and take their baby teeth from under their pillows? As a children’s dentist office we have a very close relationship with the tooth fairy! She even visits our office!! So we thought it would be fun to see all the different tooth traditions from around the world. Tooth traditions around the world are pretty diverse: while we have the Tooth Fairy in common with a few other countries (like Canada, England, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, Germany, Norway, and Denmark), most of the world celebrates the loss of a child’s baby tooth differently. The Tooth Mouse is common in Spanish and French-speaking nations, while many countries throw their baby teeth onto the roof, including Botswana, the Dominican Republic, India, the Philippines, Vietnam, Albania, Cyprus, Honduras, and Greece. Here are a few other fascinating tooth traditions from around the world: Afghanistan – the child drop the lost tooth down a mouse hole to receive a strong, new tooth like a mouse’s. Argentina – children put their tooth in a glass of water for the Tooth Mouse. Austria – the tooth is made into a key ring, or thrown under the house. Bhutan – the tooth is thrown on the roof as an offering to the moon goddess. Brazil – the tooth is thrown on the roof, so it can turn into gold. Cambodia – the child throws the tooth into the sky so...
The weekend is finally here, and your kiddos are ready for two days of fun and play. Running, jumping, or simply being absorbed in the latest video or text while walking to get a snack are all common ways for kids to unwind today. Although these activities are all relatively safe, and you always try to keep a watchful eye on all their surroundings, accidents might happen. Keeping calm and reassuring your child are first on your mind, but it is also good to have a plan of action ready so when one does occur, you will know what to do. This can make a difference between saving and losing a tooth. We at World Pediatric Dental agree with and would like to share some tips recommended by the ADA for properly handling common dental emergencies. When you have a dental emergency, it’s important to visit your dentist or an emergency room as soon as possible. • For a knocked-out permanent or adult tooth, keep it moist at all times. If you can, try placing the tooth back in the socket without touching the root. If that’s not possible, place it in between your cheek and gums, in milk, or use a tooth preservation product that has the ADA Seal of Acceptance. Then, get to your dentist’s office right away. • For a cracked tooth, immediately rinse the mouth with warm water to clean the area. Put cold compresses on the face to keep any swelling down. • If you bite your tongue or lip, clean the area gently with water and apply a cold compress. • For toothaches,...
In China (1600 B.C.), aromatic tree twigs freshened breath. Later, the first hard-bristled toothbrush was invented there. In 1690, the word “toothbrush” was written into an autobiography — the word’s first known use. French dentists were the first to promote toothbrush use. By 1780, William Addis created the first modern toothbrush… while in prison in England! It was made of cattle bone and swine bristles. In 1857, H.N. Wadsworth was first to patent the toothbrush. Less than 30 years later, mass production of toothbrushes began in America. In 1938, DuPont changed the way we brush with nylon synthetic bristles: softer and more hygienic than the hard hair bristles used at the time. Following WWII, U.S. Army soldiers brought the toothbrushing habit home with them. Just a short time later, in 1954 Switzerland, the first electric toothbrush was produced. It took just 7 more years to produce a rechargeable/cordless electric toothbrush, then a rotary. By 2003, the toothbrush was deemed the #1 invention people can’t live without. Now, toothbrushes vary by head shape, bristle hardness, and handle curve. Specialty toothbrushes like chewable plastic, end-tufted (for gums) and interdental (for braces) are also prominent, along with mouthwash products, floss, and other dental hygiene implements. What’s your favorite type of toothbrush? ...
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