Creating Good Dental Habits in Children

It is important to teach good oral hygiene to children very early, to help prevent cavities and other dental problems,as they grow.


Once a child develops their first tooth, you can clean it with a toothbrush and water, no toothpaste.


Toothpaste - You may introduce toothpaste around the age of 2 or 3. Children should have the ability to spit after brushing, so they don't swallow any toothpaste.  Use only a pea size amount.


Make it Fun - Let children pick out their own toothbrush, they will be more excited to use it. There are alot of choices with kids toothbrushes today,characters, bright colors, movie themes and also spin brushes. You can have them brush their teeth to a song, that way they brush for a certain amount of time. Brushing for 2 minutes is recommended.

Flossing - Parents can help children with flossing if they are not coordinated enough to handle this task on their own. Usually around the ages of 6 to 8, they can begin to try this on their own. Again, there are many different options for flossing, check with Rhonda, Maureen or Linda for helpful ideas on what to use. Here is an example of kid friendly floss aids.

Diet - Control sugar  by limiting the amount of sugary drinks and snacks. Teach them to rinse their mouth out with water after drinking sugar drinks, such as soda , gatorade or fruit juices.


Dentist - Children should come for their first dental visit around the age of 3. The first visit should be a fun and positive experience. You can talk to your children about getting a ride in the dental chair, their teeth will be counted and polished, and the Dentist will come in and meet them as well. 


Begin good oral hygiene habits early to help children understand the importance of  maintaining a happy healthy smile.

The Importance of Brushing Twice a Day

A biofilm is the layering of different species of bacteria into a colony. Within the oral environment, there are several species of bacteria: some good,even protective, while others are bad and virulent. The first bugs to start forming the biofilm are the beneficial ones, then the more destructive bacteria arrive later. The colony always follows this pattern. The virulent pathogens will soon become the dominant species which may lead to periodontal(gums,bone) destruction.


By brushing and flossing frequently ( at least twice per day brushing,and once flossing), we are able to breakup the biofilm before it becomes established. Therefore, none of the bad bugs are able to adhere to the colony. The biofilm needs to start anew; colonizing with the beneficial bacteria again. This cycle continues on and on.

So the next time you consider skipping that brushing and/or flossing, remember the millions of destructive bacteria circling around your teeth and gums, just waiting to invade!

Franklin 5k Road Race

On Sunday May 20th  Dr. Smyths office completed their first 5k road race. For some of our employees it was their first time training and running in a road race. The race we chose to do was HMEA Independence 5k, which raised money for children and adults with developmental disabilities. and was held at EMC in  Franklin.

  

We started our training the first weekend in March, the plan we followed  is called Couch to 5k. It was great to hear running chatter throughout the office for the next 12 weeks. There was talk of sneakers, shin splints, and most importantly , what are we going to wear! Dr. Smyth decided to purchase matching dry fit t-shirts with our names on it,along with our website address.

Although the weather was hot, we all had a great time, there was even talk about wanting to do another 5k road race in the future. I would call that a success!!

To our surprise we even had a couple of top finishers in our group. Amy Smyth, Dr. Smyths sister  n law, came in first in her age division. Carol, Dr. Smyths assistant came in 3rd in her age division. Congratulations to both of them !!

To see more of our photos from the race you can visit our website franklinfamilysmiles.com .

Charter Oak Dental Meeting

On Thursday May 10th, Dr. Smyth, Kim, Cheryl, Linda and Carol traveled to Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut for the 147th Annual Charter Oak Dental Meeting. 

The course we attended  was named, How to Love Dentistry, Have Fun and Prosper.

  

The Madow brothers, Rich and Dave, were the speakers of this course. Rich and Dave are well known Dentists from Baltimore, MD,who have built their own dental practices from scratch over 20 years ago. They now travel the country speaking at seminars and also consulting with private dental practices on how to love dentistry, have fun and prosper.  In November , they will be hosting the Best Seminar Ever(TBSE) in Las Vegas. Rich and Dave are a very enthusiastic, energetic,and  musical duo. The course commenced with a parody video called "I Got a Filling"starring Rich and Dave..These two brothers aim to not only educate their audience, but also to entertain, they did just that. We look forward to implementing some of their ideas into our practice.

Here is the video of " I Got a Filling", let me know what you think of it. Stay connected with us, we will have a surprise for our social media friends soon!

Top Ten Reasons For Cavities

1. Poor Oral Hygiene- brush at least 2-3 times a day, followed by flossing. Floss cleans in between the teeth, where your toothbrush cannot reach.


2.Xerostomia/Dry Mouth-medications can often inhibit or stop the flow of saliva.

3.Diet- fruit juices,soda,energy or sport drinks all contain high amounts of sugar.

4.Grinding/Bruxism- tooth grinding strips away the hard enamel exposing the dentin, which is soft.The exposed dentin makes teeth more susceptible to tooth decay.


5.Medical Conditions- such as acid reflux and eating disorders can erode the teeth, which can make them more vulnerable to decay..


6.Malaligned /Crooked Teeth- if teeth are crowded it makes it that much harder to keep clean.Proper brushing and flossing become imperative in the prevention of decay.


7.Lack of Fluoride- You can increase your fluoride intake by using a prescription toothpaste called Clinpro 5000.


8.Poorly formed Enamel/Deep Grooves-plaque tends to stick to these areas. Dental sealants can be placed to help prevent decay in these grooves.


9.Mints/Lifesavers- habitually sucking on mints and lifesavers increases your chances in getting decay. Look for sugar free mints.

Herbal Supplements and Your Dental Visit

An herbal remedy is considered a dietary supplement, a product that is taken in addition to a balanced diet, but is not considered a food or drug. Research is being conducted on the many kinds of dietary supplements to determine if they are effective in treating diseases and ailments, as many currently claim.


Many herbal supplements have significant pharmacological effects. The problem that arises for the dental team, is the effects that herbal products have in combination with prescription medications,as well as the patients general response to dental treatment.


Some concerns about the effects and interactions are the following:

Blood Clotting
Excessive Bleeding
Anesthesia
Cardiovascular
Inflammation
Immune Response


It is always wise and recommended that you research and consult with your physician for  complete information about the possible side effects and adverse reactions, before taking any dietary supplements.



Source: ADAAF

April

April is birthday month here at Dr. Smyth's office. On April 12th , we celebrated Rhonda's birthday.This week on Monday April 23rd, we celebrated Carol's birthday , and today we celebrated yet again with Dr. Smyth's birthday. Here are a few pictures to commemorate the special occasion.

Rhonda's flowers

Birthday desserts

 

Carol's cake from her family

Here at Dr. Smyth's office , we like to acknowledge everyone's birthday with something sweet to eat.This month we chose fruit, chocolate covered strawberries and a chocolate cake with white frosting for Dr. Smyth, his favorite.Dr. Smyth also received a gift basket from a former employee, who has moved away.I'm sure everyone celebrates their birthday, leave us a comment telling us how you celebrated,we would love to hear from you!

OOPS- On our last blog regarding interesting facts, I mistakenly forgot to mention that our hygienist Linda, has also been here over 20years!! Sorry Linda!