Fluoride Use in Adolescents

Fluoride is a mineral that plays an essential role in oral health. In fact, the significant reduction in American tooth decay in recent decades can be attributed to a greater availability of fluoride in public water supplies, toothpaste, and other resources. When it comes in contact with the teeth, fluoride helps protect the enamel from acid and plaque bacteria. In some cases, it can even reverse tooth decay in its earliest stages.
Despite the benefits of fluoride, tooth decay is still common, especially among teenagers. The Centers for Disease Control reports that cavities can be found in more than half of young teens and two-thirds of older teens over age 16. Many of those teens are deficient in fluoride, either due to a lack of public water fluoridation or the use of bottled water. So how can parents ensure their teens are getting the fluoride they need to facilitate strong, healthy teeth?


Monitor Fluoride Exposure
Dr. Bander, Dr. Baldwin and our team recommend you start by measuring your teen’s fluoride exposure. Make sure you purchase fluoridated toothpaste for your household, and find out if your tap water is fluoridated. If your teen primarily consumes bottled water, examine the bottle to determine whether fluoride has been added. The majority of bottled waters are not supplemented with fluoride, but those that are will be clearly labeled.


Fluoride Supplementation
Dr. Bander and Dr. Baldwin may recommend topical fluoride treatments at routine dental exams. These treatments are painless for your teen and may help establish stronger enamel that is more resistant to plaque and tooth decay. If you have a public water supply that is non-fluoridated, we may recommend fluoride supplementation between visits. These can be administered as drops, tablets, or vitamins.
Keep in mind that fluoride is critical for children and teens under the age of 16. Be proactive about your teen’s oral health by speaking with us about your family’s fluoride needs at your next dental visit.
For more information about fluoride, or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Bander or Dr. Baldwin, please give us a call at 616-949-5980!

What should I use to clean my baby’s teeth?

You might think babies don’t need to brush their teeth, especially when they don’t have any. But by starting good habits like brushing when your child is young, you can lay the foundation for them to continue those good habits into adulthood.


When do I start?
The best time to start brushing your baby’s teeth is before he or she has any. Develop the habit of wiping your baby’s gums with a wet, soft washcloth or gauze every day. There is no need to use toothpaste, just wrap the gauze or cloth around your finger, moisten it with a little water, and gently rub it over the gums.
This helps your little one get used to brushing while it eliminates bacteria in the mouth that can harm emerging teeth. You don’t need to apply a lot of pressure or even take very long: just a quick, gentle rub over the gums will do it.


What do I use?
When your child’s teeth begin to come in, you will need to switch from a cloth to a baby toothbrush. Find one that has a grip big enough for your hand, but a head that is small enough to maneuver easily in your infant’s mouth.
You don’t need to use any toothpaste until your son or daughter is about a year old. Even then, though, you’ll want to use just a tiny amount: about the size of a grain of rice. When your toddler is about two years old, you can use a pea-sized amount.
By around six years of age, your child will probably rinse and spit without your help. At that point, you may want to introduce a child-friendly fluoride mouthwash.


How do I do it?
Your child probably won’t be able to brush his or her teeth alone until about the age of five or six. This means that you will need to do it. To brush your child’s teeth, gently use the brush over all the teeth and gums, even areas where the teeth have not come in yet.
As your child grows and becomes more independent, you can allow him or her to hold the toothbrush while you guide your child’s progress. Make sure you talk to your child while you are brushing, and explain why you brush: what you are doing and how you are doing it.
In addition to regular visits with Dr. Bander and Dr. Baldwin, instilling good oral health habits in your child early on will ensure a lifetime of good dental health.

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The Nutrition Plan That Will Save Your Life

Believe it: Three simple, cost-effective changes can help prevent and reverse heart disease, and reduce the risk and progression of cancer. The facts will have you overhauling your kitchen, your eating habits and your bill of health.

The groundbreaking book, The China Study, authored by Dr. T. Colin Campbell, reveals what can be described as a startling, yet wholly intuitive, relationship between nutrition and disease. Dr. Campbell found that a whole-foods, plant-based diet can not only lower your risk for certain diseases, it can reverse their progression.

The 20-year China Study allowed Campbell to test and compare laboratory findings against a participating human population. Across China, over 100 villages participated – and the findings were consistent: a high consumption of animal-based foods is associated with more chronic disease, while those eating primarily a plant-based diet were the healthiest.

The key of this nutritional dietary overhaul: avoiding meat, dairy and processed foods.

Meatless Protein
Animal protein, including fish, delivers a heavy dose of saturated fat and cholesterol, which can put you at risk for heart disease. Saturated fats raise your cholesterol and, over time, attack arteries leading to strokes and heart attacks. As a source of omega-3 fatty acids, fish has long been touted as one of the staples of a healthy diet, however 15-30% of fish is saturated fat.

Instead, get protein from beans, like pinto beans, black beans and kidney beans. Beans also contain soluble fiber that helps lower cholesterol. Click here for recipe ideas featuring the cholesterol-fighting power of beans.

Whole grains, such as quinoa, amaranth and millet are also good sources of protein. Nuts, including walnuts, pistachios and almonds are all high in protein.

You can also get protein from vegetables. For instance, broccoli is 30% protein in addition to containing highly absorbable calcium.
Dairyless Calcium, Potassium and Vitamin D
It may surprise you, but meat isn’t the highest source of bad fat. That title goes to dairy. Additionally, casein, a protein found in milk, has been linked to the growth rate of cancer. Give up dairy without depleting your supplies of calcium, potassium and vitamin D.

Boost your diet with leafy green vegetables, like collards, Brussels sprouts, kale and broccoli, for calcium, and fruit, like oranges, for potassium.

Sunlight is the natural and best source of vitamin D. The vitamin D found in milk is artificially added – you’ll notice that products will boast of being “vitamin D fortified.” Soy, almond, rice and oat milk can also be fortified with vitamin D, and they are lower in saturated fat than dairy milk.

The Ultimate Diet Don’t: Processed Foods
Processed foods are stripped of nutrients and injected with sugar, salt and trans-fats, three substances that lead to obesity, diabetes, cancer and heart disease. Swap out these health saboteurs in favor of whole grains, including bread, pasta and seeds. Ditch processed sweets for fresh fruits – and enjoy as much as you like.

It’s important to remember that added vegetable oils, like olive oil, can be considered processed. Get creative with your cooking and experiment with lemon and lime juices, vinegar and spices. Plant-based foods contain natural oils, so added oils aren’t necessary during cooking.

This type of eating isn’t a diet; it’s a nutritional commitment. While vegans avoid animal and dairy products, they don’t ideologically avoid processed foods like potato chips.
Here’s a sample menu to help you adjust to this lifesaving whole-food, plant-based food plan.

Breakfast
Steel cut oatmeal with apricots

Lunch
Spinach salad with tofu, vegetables and roasted red pepper vinaigrette

Dinner
Whole grain fettuccine with sundried tomato sauce and grilled vegetables
 

This website is for informational and entertainment purposed only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

© 2016 Harpo, Inc., All Rights Reserved

Stress and Your Oral Health

Stress symptoms—which include high blood pressure, severe aches, and insomnia—may be affecting your health, even though you might not realize it. You may think illness is the culprit when in fact stress may actually be the reason. While stress can be good for us sometimes, Dr. Bander, Dr. Baldwin and our team know stress can be physically harmful. But what is often overlooked is that stress can also take a toll on your mouth. Here’s how:


Teeth Grinding
It’s not uncommon for people dealing with stress to develop teeth grinding, also known as bruxism. People who grind their teeth at night may do so unconsciously, but the condition requires treatment to prevent the development of headaches, TMJ, and tooth damage. If you’re a night-grinder, talk to Dr. Bander or Dr. Baldwin. They may recommend a night guard.


Mouth Sores
Research suggests stress and depression harm your immune system, making it easier for infections to develop and stick around. That can mean canker sores or a cold sore outbreak. If mouth sores are a recurring problem for you, give us a call to schedule an appointment with Dr. Bander or Dr. Baldwin.


Bad Habits
Stress can lead to bad oral health habits such as smoking, drinking, and neglecting your daily brushing and flossing routine. If you’ve been feeling under pressure lately, try to keep up with your oral health routine—it will serve you well when your stress levels return to normal.
Dr. Bander, Dr. Baldwin and our team know there’s not always an easy way to reduce your stress levels, but eating healthy, exercising regularly, and spending time with friends and family are all good places to start.

Practicing Good Dental Hygiene at all Ages

To keep your teeth healthy as long as possible, it is important to practice good dental hygiene. Age and lifestyle can easily change your oral hygiene needs, but regularly visiting your family dentist can help you learn new hygiene techniques to better address your specific dental needs.

We’re happy to support healthy smiles by providing our patients with age-appropriate tips for thoroughly cleaning their teeth each day and night and preventing tooth decay.

Pediatric Dental Needs

Children are at a higher risk for dental caries (cavities) as their teeth are more porous and pitted and can trap bacteria. Small children may not have the dexterity to properly clean teeth with floss and therefore require assistance from their parents to get a healthy smile. By teaching kids how to care for their baby teeth, children develop a strong foundation of hygiene habits for the healthy development of permanent teeth.

Teens and Young Adults

Around adolescence, wisdom teeth may begin to surface. Failure to clean correctly around erupting molars can cause a bacterial infection known, as bits of food and bacteria become trapped. Maintaining proper dental hygiene can help reduce the risk of infection as wisdom teeth begin to create obstacles for teens’ oral health. 

In addition to wisdom teeth complications, teens and young adults who participate in school sports may find themselves at higher risk for dental trauma. If left untreated, dental emergencies can cause further complications and require extensive restorations. Seeking care for dental trauma, and keeping up regular visits so your dentist can keep an eye on wisdom teeth, is important for oral health.

Adults and Senior Dental Patients

Routine wear and tear can easily take a toll on dentition for mature patients. Regular visits to your dentist help identify dental problems, such as tooth decay or gum disease and worn-down teeth. In the event that these conditions are present, professional dental attention can limit damage and restore oral health.

Age can also put individuals at greater risk for tooth loss. This can be a direct result of insufficient dental hygiene and requires immediate attention. While some may choose to undergo restorative dentistry for cosmetic reasons, others may find that restorations like dental implants or crowns offer functional benefits as well.

Regardless of age or dental condition, actively practicing preventive dentistry throughout life can help you keep your smile beautiful, healthy, and functional. Contact our Grand Rapids dental office to learn more about age-appropriate preventive care and dental restorations. 

Frequently Asked Questions about Sedation Dentistry

Sedation dentistry is popular topic – many people are anxious about visiting the dentist and consider sedation an effective way to get the care they need in a worry-free manner. Our office helps our patients get important oral health treatments in a relaxing environment with the help of sedative treatments.

If you’re interested in sedation for your next visit, consider some of the most frequently asked questions we hear about this procedure:

When is Sedation Necessary? Dental sedation is most commonly used during more extensive treatments or for patients who have a severe dental anxiety that prevents them from comfortably sitting through an appointment.  Examples of more comprehensive treatments where sedation is needed include full smile restorations with dental implants or oral surgeries. Most patients, who do not experience anxiety, do not need sedation for common procedures, like teeth cleanings and fillings.

Is Sedation Dentistry Safe? Sedation is very safe and is widely used for administering care to fearful patients and those needing dental surgeries. While sedated, you will be closely monitored to ensure that the medication is doing its job.

How Will I Feel During my Sedation Appointment? Sedation is intended to make you feel relaxed, and comfortable. You’ll feel groggy and sleepy and won’t recollect much of your treatment time. You may still feel groggy after your appointment is complete, as different sedative medications stay in your system for a few hours. However, you’ll be feeling back to normal by the next day and can return to your normal, daily activities.

What Ways Can Patients Be Sedated? Depending on the dentist you visit, you can be presented with a variety of different treatment options, which are usually IV sedation, oral conscious sedation, or laughing gas (nitrous oxide). Nitrous produces a feeling of relaxation that is easily reversed with the inhalation of oxygen, while the oral conscious and IV sedation methods produce deeper feelings of grogginess and will remain in your system for a little longer. For most patients, comfortable care can be achieved through the use of nitrous and/or oral conscious sedative medication.

Will I Be Asleep during Treatment? Oral conscious sedation does not immediately put you to sleep, like you might experience with intravenous sedatives.  While dental sedation can produce intermittent sleep because of how relaxed it makes patients feel, you will technically still be awake and able to let your doctor know if you’re uncomfortable in any way. Many patients believe they are asleep during sedation because they don’t remember their appointment.

If you have a question that we didn’t answer here, please contact our Grand Rapids sedation dental office for more information. We’re happy to provide nitrous oxide and oral conscious sedation to help our anxious patient feel at-ease, or to help longer dental visits pass quickly and comfortably.

What To Do if You’ve Broken or Lost a Tooth

Accidents occur all the time. Even if you are a very cautious person, you never know when something may happen. Accidents involving teeth are more common than you realize. People can crack or lose teeth in a variety of situations such as a car crash, in a fall, due to a sports injury, or even just biting down on something hard. If teeth are damaged, it is important not to panic and do the following:

If a Tooth is Knocked Out

First, find and gather the tooth or any fragments. Teeth need to be handled carefully in order to be re-implanted. You should only touch the crown of the tooth, not the root and, if necessary, rinse the tooth with water.

Next, reinsert the tooth. First rinse your mouth with warm water and, if the tooth is still intact, reinsert it into the socket and bite down on gauze to make sure it stays in place. If the tooth is unable to be reinserted, store it in whole milk or between your cheek and gums to keep it from getting dry.

It’s also important to treat any symptoms. If your mouth is bleeding, hold gauze or a cloth to the source. For any swelling or pain, apply a cold compress. If the pain lingers, try taking aspirin or another pain reliever.

Finally, see your local dentist. Losing a tooth is a serious matter, and only a dentist will be able to help. Even if you were able to reinsert your tooth, you should still see your dentist to make sure everything is okay.

If a Tooth is Broken or Cracked

A tooth that is badly broken could have exposed nerve endings. To avoid possible infection and to alleviate the pain, you need to see a dentist as quickly as you can. If your tooth is chipped, and if there is a jagged or sharp edge that could cut your lips or tongue, it's important to have it fixed.

If your teeth are damaged in an accident, the best thing you can do is stay calm, follow the tips above, and give your Grand Rapids, MI dentist a call. If you would like more information about emergency dental care, contact Dr. SamuelBander today!