Many parents want to know: At what age should I brush and floss my child’s teeth? A good rule is to start flossing as soon as the child has teeth that are in contact with each other, usually around age two to three years. Once teeth reach this point, food particles can get caught between them and foster the growth of bacteria and the development of plaque. Not all children need to have their teeth flossed at this age, so ask your dentist for advice. But the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that parents should be brushing a toddler’s teeth twice daily with a soft-bristled brush specially designed for toddlers’ small mouths and delicate gums, like the Oral-B® Stages® line of toothbrushes.
It’s not uncommon for a child to suck his or her thumb, or the lip, or a finger, as a way to self-soothe or to help fall asleep.
Most children outgrow thumb sucking between ages 2 and 4 years, which is the time when the first baby teeth fall out and permanent teeth appear. But it’s important to break a child of a thumb-sucking habit before the permanent teeth start to arrive in order to prevent problems with tooth alignment and development of the mouth.
How intensely your child sucks his or her thumb can make a difference in the risk of problems with dental health later on. A child who sucks the thumb or finger aggressively is at greater risk for damaging teeth than a child who keeps a thumb or finger passively in the mouth.
Hosting a Halloween party this year? Treat friends to fun homemade goodies—these 14 recipes are a bit healthier, much cuter, and way more inventive than prepackaged candies. From fresh fruit to low-fat cheese, these tasty All Hallow’s Eve recipes from around the web won’t send you running to the dentist.
Start the evening with a nutritious, protein-rich dinner that will keep you fueled through hours of Trick or Treating (or Monster Mashing). Add some fiber by subbing in whole-wheat tortillas.
These healthier treats are made with almond flour, coconut oil, and unsweetened applesauce. Make the creepy-crawly design by dragging a toothpick through the center of concentric circles of icing.
Children’s Halloween dream — to get lots of candy — can be their parents’ nightmare. But pediatric dental experts say Halloween can be a time to teach your children good oral health habits for life, without depriving them of Halloween treats (think moderation). Here are their five best tricks for healthy teeth.
Halloween Candy vs. Cavities: Don’t Make Kids Choose
Don’t deny your children the Halloween experience. That can send the entirely wrong message — deprivation — and make candy seem even more irresistible, leading to other problems. They may end up sneaking sweets or eating too much candy once they’re out on their own. Instead, let them have the joy of Halloween in all its sticky goodness and the experience of going to a party or trick-or-treating.
https://www.mcbiermann.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/halloween-tips.jpg300702mbiermannhttps://www.mcbiermann.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/lgoo.pngmbiermann2015-10-28 00:28:542015-10-28 00:28:54Oral Health Challenge: 5 Tricks for Dealing With Halloween Treats
Dental bridges have many advantages for people who are missing teeth as a result of dental disease, fractures or injury. If you maintain good oral hygiene and see your dentist regularly, a fixed dental bridge can last for approximately 10 years.
A dental bridge consists of dental crowns for the teeth anchoring either side of the bridge, and a false tooth (or teeth) between them. There are three main types of bridges: Read more
https://www.mcbiermann.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/dental-bridges.jpg300702mbiermannhttps://www.mcbiermann.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/lgoo.pngmbiermann2015-10-24 03:41:432015-11-11 03:14:55Types of Dental Bridges
Braces can help realign your teeth and make for a nice smile, but even so many people want to get them off as soon as possible. There are several things you can do to help keep your mouth clean and help let your braces do the work they need to. Some things you can do to help your get your braces off as soon as possible include:
https://www.mcbiermann.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/get-braces-off-sooner.jpg300702mbiermannhttps://www.mcbiermann.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/lgoo.pngmbiermann2015-10-21 01:58:432015-11-11 03:15:04How To Get Your Braces Off Sooner
Braces do a lot more than improve your smile. They also play an active role in correcting overcrowded and misaligned teeth. This is important because an abnormal bite (also known as “malocclusion”) may cause other problems, such as impaired plaque removal around misaligned teeth, which can lead to gum inflammation and cavities.
Taking good care of braces can help prevent damage to the braces themselves and the teeth underneath as well as make the braces more comfortable to wear. Learning the basics of orthodontic care will help you follow your dental professional’s recommendations to keep your teeth and gums healthy during the time you’re wearing braces.
The Basics: Brushing And Flossing
Careful cleaning is required with braces, because plaque bacteria are easily trapped inside and around them. The following procedure will make daily brushing and flossing both simple and effective.
Did you know that pediatric dental disease, also referred to as childhood tooth decay, is the #1 chronic childhood illness? When left untreated, childhood tooth decay can have devastasting consequences that extend beyond the dental chair. Rampant decay can negatively impact a child’s overall quality of life, inhibit their cognitive and social development and compromise their growth, function and self esteem.
Pediatric dental disease is 5 times more common than asthma and 7 times more common than hay fever.
Left untreated, pediatric dental disease can lead to malnourishment, bacterial infections, required emergency surgery and even death.
Pain and infection caused by tooth decay can lead to problems in eating, speaking and learning.
Dental disease has been linked to heart disease, stroke, diabetes, pneumonia, poor pregnancy outcomes and dementia.
Look at yearbook or prom pictures from the 1950s or ’60s and you’ll see many smiles framed with heavy metal braces. It’s a sight that’s less common in high schools today. Why the change? Children today tend to get braces at a much earlier age. Some patients with special problems begin orthodontic treatment at age 7 or younger.
“The American Association of Orthodontics (AAO) recommends that all children receive an orthodontic screening by age 7,” says Thomas Cangialosi, D.D.S. “Permanent teeth generally begin to come in at age 6 or 7. It is at this point that orthodontic problems become apparent.
“Because bones are still growing, it’s an ideal time to evaluate a child,” Dr. Cangialosi says. “Then we can determine what orthodontic treatment, if any, may be needed either now or in the future.”
Dr. Cangialosi is chairman and professor of Orthodontics at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.
Making Braces Hip
To make braces more acceptable and fun for young people, manufacturers have made brightly colored elastics. These are the tiny rubber bands that hold the wires to the braces. Children can choose elastics with their school colors or a holiday color scheme, such as orange and black for Halloween.
Choosing the color of the elastics allows patients “to feel that they are more involved in their treatment,” Dr. Cangialosi says.
https://www.mcbiermann.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/braces-for-kids.jpg300702mbiermannhttps://www.mcbiermann.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/lgoo.pngmbiermann2015-10-10 03:45:012015-10-10 03:48:00Early Orthodontics May Mean Less Treatment Later
It seems children today get braces or other types of orthodontic treatment earlier than their parents did. Is that the case and, if so, why?
Perhaps one can say there was a paradigm shift in the early ’80s. There is better understanding today of the underlying causes of orthodontic problems, many of which begin in early childhood. As a result, orthodontists pay greater attention to the ideal timing of treatment. We have learned that early intervention may, in many cases, lead to better outcomes.
Orthodontists do much more than just straighten crooked teeth. Orthodontists make sure the top and bottom teeth fit together properly. They are trained to guide and influence the eruption of teeth, as well as growth of the bones in the face and jaw, which can be achieved before an individual stops growing.
The older model – waiting for all the baby teeth to fall out and all the permanent teeth to come in before seeing an orthodontist for the first time – resulted in what today would be considered missed opportunities in many cases. Delaying treatment until adolescence increased the incidence of extraction of permanent teeth because, as the bones became more rigid and growth ceased, the window of opportunity for expansion or growth modification closed. Many correctable habits or skeletal mismatches were allowed to continue, while earlier intervention could have led to a more stable, and less invasive correction. In addition, as a result of increased public awareness of dental and orthodontic health, many more young children are seen by pediatric dentists than ever before. Pediatric dentists have additional training in growth and development and recognize developing dental and skeletal problems in young children. This has led to an earlier referral of their younger patients for an orthodontic evaluation.
https://www.mcbiermann.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/does-my-kid-need-braces.jpg300702mbiermannhttps://www.mcbiermann.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/lgoo.pngmbiermann2015-10-07 09:27:002015-10-07 09:37:14Does My Child Need Braces?
Start Proper Oral Hygiene Early
/in Orthodontics For ChildrenWhen To Start Proper Oral Hygiene For Kids
Many parents want to know: At what age should I brush and floss my child’s teeth? A good rule is to start flossing as soon as the child has teeth that are in contact with each other, usually around age two to three years. Once teeth reach this point, food particles can get caught between them and foster the growth of bacteria and the development of plaque. Not all children need to have their teeth flossed at this age, so ask your dentist for advice. But the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that parents should be brushing a toddler’s teeth twice daily with a soft-bristled brush specially designed for toddlers’ small mouths and delicate gums, like the Oral-B® Stages® line of toothbrushes.
Read more
Break The Thumbsucking Habit
/in General CareIt’s not uncommon for a child to suck his or her thumb, or the lip, or a finger, as a way to self-soothe or to help fall asleep.
Most children outgrow thumb sucking between ages 2 and 4 years, which is the time when the first baby teeth fall out and permanent teeth appear. But it’s important to break a child of a thumb-sucking habit before the permanent teeth start to arrive in order to prevent problems with tooth alignment and development of the mouth.
How intensely your child sucks his or her thumb can make a difference in the risk of problems with dental health later on. A child who sucks the thumb or finger aggressively is at greater risk for damaging teeth than a child who keeps a thumb or finger passively in the mouth.
Read more
14 Healthy Halloween Recipes
/in Holiday Tips, Tips & TricksBY SOPHIA BREENE | Featured on Greatist
Hosting a Halloween party this year? Treat friends to fun homemade goodies—these 14 recipes are a bit healthier, much cuter, and way more inventive than prepackaged candies. From fresh fruit to low-fat cheese, these tasty All Hallow’s Eve recipes from around the web won’t send you running to the dentist.
1. Candy Corn Chicken Quesadillas
Start the evening with a nutritious, protein-rich dinner that will keep you fueled through hours of Trick or Treating (or Monster Mashing). Add some fiber by subbing in whole-wheat tortillas.
2. Gluten-Free Spiderweb Cupcakes
These healthier treats are made with almond flour, coconut oil, and unsweetened applesauce. Make the creepy-crawly design by dragging a toothpick through the center of concentric circles of icing.
Read more
Oral Health Challenge: 5 Tricks for Dealing With Halloween Treats
/in Holiday TipsArticle By Kathleen Doheny | Featured on WebMD
Children’s Halloween dream — to get lots of candy — can be their parents’ nightmare. But pediatric dental experts say Halloween can be a time to teach your children good oral health habits for life, without depriving them of Halloween treats (think moderation). Here are their five best tricks for healthy teeth.
Halloween Candy vs. Cavities: Don’t Make Kids Choose
Don’t deny your children the Halloween experience. That can send the entirely wrong message — deprivation — and make candy seem even more irresistible, leading to other problems. They may end up sneaking sweets or eating too much candy once they’re out on their own. Instead, let them have the joy of Halloween in all its sticky goodness and the experience of going to a party or trick-or-treating.
Read more
Types of Dental Bridges
/in About OrthodonticsTypes Of Dental Bridges
Dental bridges have many advantages for people who are missing teeth as a result of dental disease, fractures or injury. If you maintain good oral hygiene and see your dentist regularly, a fixed dental bridge can last for approximately 10 years.
A dental bridge consists of dental crowns for the teeth anchoring either side of the bridge, and a false tooth (or teeth) between them. There are three main types of bridges:
Read more
How To Get Your Braces Off Sooner
/in All About BracesThings You Can Do To Get Your Braces Off Quicker
Braces can help realign your teeth and make for a nice smile, but even so many people want to get them off as soon as possible. There are several things you can do to help keep your mouth clean and help let your braces do the work they need to. Some things you can do to help your get your braces off as soon as possible include:
Read more
How to Clean Braces
/in All About BracesBraces Do A Lot
Braces do a lot more than improve your smile. They also play an active role in correcting overcrowded and misaligned teeth. This is important because an abnormal bite (also known as “malocclusion”) may cause other problems, such as impaired plaque removal around misaligned teeth, which can lead to gum inflammation and cavities.
Taking good care of braces can help prevent damage to the braces themselves and the teeth underneath as well as make the braces more comfortable to wear. Learning the basics of orthodontic care will help you follow your dental professional’s recommendations to keep your teeth and gums healthy during the time you’re wearing braces.
The Basics: Brushing And Flossing
Careful cleaning is required with braces, because plaque bacteria are easily trapped inside and around them. The following procedure will make daily brushing and flossing both simple and effective.
Read more
Facts About Tooth Decay
/in Oral HealthArticle Featured on ncohf.org
Did you know that pediatric dental disease, also referred to as childhood tooth decay, is the #1 chronic childhood illness? When left untreated, childhood tooth decay can have devastasting consequences that extend beyond the dental chair. Rampant decay can negatively impact a child’s overall quality of life, inhibit their cognitive and social development and compromise their growth, function and self esteem.
THE GOOD NEWS? TOOTH DECAY IS PREVENTABLE!
Read more
Early Orthodontics May Mean Less Treatment Later
/in About OrthodonticsLook at yearbook or prom pictures from the 1950s or ’60s and you’ll see many smiles framed with heavy metal braces. It’s a sight that’s less common in high schools today. Why the change? Children today tend to get braces at a much earlier age. Some patients with special problems begin orthodontic treatment at age 7 or younger.
“The American Association of Orthodontics (AAO) recommends that all children receive an orthodontic screening by age 7,” says Thomas Cangialosi, D.D.S. “Permanent teeth generally begin to come in at age 6 or 7. It is at this point that orthodontic problems become apparent.
“Because bones are still growing, it’s an ideal time to evaluate a child,” Dr. Cangialosi says. “Then we can determine what orthodontic treatment, if any, may be needed either now or in the future.”
Dr. Cangialosi is chairman and professor of Orthodontics at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.
Making Braces Hip
To make braces more acceptable and fun for young people, manufacturers have made brightly colored elastics. These are the tiny rubber bands that hold the wires to the braces. Children can choose elastics with their school colors or a holiday color scheme, such as orange and black for Halloween.
Choosing the color of the elastics allows patients “to feel that they are more involved in their treatment,” Dr. Cangialosi says.
Read more
Does My Child Need Braces?
/in About Orthodontics, Do I Need Braces?It seems children today get braces or other types of orthodontic treatment earlier than their parents did. Is that the case and, if so, why?
Perhaps one can say there was a paradigm shift in the early ’80s. There is better understanding today of the underlying causes of orthodontic problems, many of which begin in early childhood. As a result, orthodontists pay greater attention to the ideal timing of treatment. We have learned that early intervention may, in many cases, lead to better outcomes.
Orthodontists do much more than just straighten crooked teeth. Orthodontists make sure the top and bottom teeth fit together properly. They are trained to guide and influence the eruption of teeth, as well as growth of the bones in the face and jaw, which can be achieved before an individual stops growing.
The older model – waiting for all the baby teeth to fall out and all the permanent teeth to come in before seeing an orthodontist for the first time – resulted in what today would be considered missed opportunities in many cases. Delaying treatment until adolescence increased the incidence of extraction of permanent teeth because, as the bones became more rigid and growth ceased, the window of opportunity for expansion or growth modification closed. Many correctable habits or skeletal mismatches were allowed to continue, while earlier intervention could have led to a more stable, and less invasive correction. In addition, as a result of increased public awareness of dental and orthodontic health, many more young children are seen by pediatric dentists than ever before. Pediatric dentists have additional training in growth and development and recognize developing dental and skeletal problems in young children. This has led to an earlier referral of their younger patients for an orthodontic evaluation.
Read more